Cracked Mercury Glass Mixed Media Tutorial

Hi guys!  Autumn with you today to share another variation of the cracked glass technique, originally shown on Wendy Vecchi's blog.  This time I've geared my color scheme towards a mercury glass feel.  In my never ending quest for new and exciting techniques to share with you, this has to be an all time favorite.  

I cut my white mat board to size, then painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Metallic White Fire.  Next, I distressed the edges of the panel heavily and sponged black archival ink on the edges and into the center, using a wet wipe to smear and burnish.

I used a palette knife to scrape on IndigoBlu Super Thick Slap It On paste then stamped the Crackleglaze stamp repeatedly into the wet paste.  (Make sure to wash your stamp immediately.)  Next I brushed on black gesso and burnish into the cracks.  You can also use a black Distress Crayon.  I have used both and like the gesso method best because it is more subtle.  I used my panel to create a layered frame to display a favorite santa photo.  My photo is packed away just yet, but I can't wait to dig it out in November and replace this Found Relative.  The clip will allow me to switch the photos easily

I was so pleased with the result in this color combination that I decided to try the same process on a die cut.  Everyone needs a little mercury glass snowflake in their lives, right?!  I cut the snowflake from thin chipboard, then coated with thick white gesso, then repeated the process above.  I laid a weight on the snowflake so it would dry flat.

To finish off this project I inked up a red panel then tried a two step stencil technique (which I just made up and love).  First I taped my stencil down to my inky card then tapped the edges with Versamark ink and applied Silver Liquid Glass EP.  I heat set then repositioned my stencil and sponged with black.  I used a wet wipe to wipe the black off of the silver embossed areas.

I am addicted to the drama of this card!  I think it would be great to finish both sides of the snowflake and make it a removable ornament on a card.  Hmm, maybe next time.  :)

As I said, I've had a time experimenting with this cracked glass technique.  My first, particularly grungy attempt can be found  HERE.

My golden glass project can be found HERE.  Man, I hope your gears are turning and you're thinking up new ways to expand on this technique!  I hope you'll share a link to your project in the comments if you give it a go.  Thanks so much for joining us today, Autumn

Autumn ~ 'The Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness'.

Hi everybody! It's Toni here and I am your host for our October challenge. Autumn is well and truly underway here in the northern hemisphere and I'd love to see your mixed media projects, that are inspired by this beautiful season. You may love the rich colours, the shapes of fallen leaves or the bounty of natural forms. Let's celebrate the wonders to be found around us. The only catch is that I'd like you to use a tag or several tags, as your substrate. Your tag(s) can be any size or shape and made of any material. Remember to use some stamping, stenciling or even both! I think you'll agree that the design team have produced some wonderful inspiring work and now we are looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Autumn

 Ruth

Rachel

Cec

Sue

Toni

An InLinkz Link-up

Stenciled Transparent Gel Tutorial - Inspirational Post

Boys and girls, please be seated and let's begin today's lesson.  Mrs. Clark of SewPaperPaint joining you with today's lecture.  Technique school is now in session.

The subject of today's discussion is transparent gels.  Transparent gels can be found in a number of forms.  For this lesson, I've used IndigoBlu Ultra Thick Slap-It-On.  There are many many other forms, such as gel medium, clear crackle paste, clear texture paste, and even clear embossing would work for this experiment.

I have chosen a number of substrates to test how each would show through the clear paste.  I applied the Slap-It-On gel with a palette knife through a variety of stencils.  The papers were coated with clear gesso before stenciling.
Substrate no. 1: Book Pages

Substrate no. 2: Small Repeating Pattern 

Substrate no. 3: Distress Ink Background with Stamping in Archival Ink (Darkroom Door Stamp)

Substrate no. 4: Distress Oxide Background

Substrate no. 5: Distress Ink Background with Distress Oxide Stamping (Darkroom Door Stamp)

Substrate no. 6: Busy Patterned Paper (Could substitute gelli printed paper here.)

Next, I experimented with a variety of tints to test their reaction to the gel and substrate.
Overlay no. 1: DecoArt Fluid Acrylic - (Stencil by Darkroom Door)
Observation:  The Blue Green Light acrylic was dried completely and adhered to the gel.  It could not be wiped with a wet cloth.  Sanding was required to regain transparency.  Raw Umber acrylic was applied and burnished while wet with a more satisfying result.

Overlay no. 2: Distress Oxides (Stencil by Balzer Designs)
Observation: The gel partially resisted the Oxides, but some of the cloudiness from the oxide dried on the gel, particularly with the lighter color.

Overlay no. 3: Distress Inks
Observation: The archival ink stamping remained vibrant.  A darker application of inks was required for contrast.  A complete resist formed.

Overlay no. 4: Infusions (Stencil by Tim Holtz)
Observation: The pigment granules rested on the gel beautifully.  The watered pigment dried in a very matte finish, creating a beautiful contrast.

Overlay no. 5: Lindy's Stamp Gang Magicals (Stencil by Tim Holtz)
Observation: The Distress Oxide Stamping muddled beneath the gel, however it remained in tact beneath the Magicals and the oxidation showed through, with a complete color variation.

Overlay no. 6: Lindy's Stamp Gang Sprays (Stencil by Joggles)
Observation: Green matte spray and blue pearlescent spray were used.  The matte finish sprays created a complete resist, but the pearlescent sprays tinted the gel.

Before and After Shots:

Your homework assignment is to participate in our Technique School challenge.  This month we want you to play teacher and share a favorite process or new experiment.  Document your findings with at least one process photo.  We can't wait to see your technique tutorials and new ideas!  Remember to use stamps or stencils or both!

I've created a pinnable image for you convenience.

Class is dismissed!

Fabric Covered Tag Book Tutorial

Hi everyone!  Autumn with you today to share a simple substrate concept with you.  I hope you will be inspired by this tutorial to participate in our current challenge, Fabric and Fibres.

To start cut several chipboard tags to form the inner pages.  I used the size of 7 x 3 1/2".  Next cut two cover tags 1/4" larger than the page tags.  Adhered fleece (cotton batting works well too) with Beacon 3-1 adhesive to one side of each cover tag.

Trim the excess flush with the tag's perimeter.

To form nicely mitered corners, start by adhering the cut off sections of your tag.  Next do the opposite side, the bottom.  Working in opposites helps with keep the fabric taut.

Trim away excess fabric and fold in any edges before adhering.  Snip away any loose fabric as you go.  I try to keep the glue within a half inch around the tag.

Once both tags are covered nicely, cut a sheet of designer paper slightly smaller than your covers and adhere completely with the same glue.  Burnish the paper well so you cover all of the seams.  Punch holes at the top and attach a ring to bind everything together.

The pages and cover are ready to alter with your stamps and stencils in whatever theme you choose.

You can easily remove the tags to work with and add them back to your book.  The plush cover feels great in your hands and is nice and thick with the batting.  I hope you will follow my blog to see this project evolve from substrate to art.  Thanks so much for joining me today!

Distress Oxide on Canvas Tutorial

Distress Oxide, what a buzz word in the crafting world these days!  Autumn here today to share an experiment with Distress Oxide ink pads on canvas.  I hope you will enjoy this fun tutorial, please pin it for future reference.

First of all, we learned from Tim Holtz that we should not touch our ink pads to other colors of Distress Oxide because the pads will "contaminate" and muddle.  I applied my pads directly to my canvas board in a grid like pattern to prevent this, hence the white space you see.  I used Peeled Paint, Faded Jeans and Vintage Photo.

Next, I spritzed the panel thoroughly and let the colors pool and blend, using my finger as needed to remove any hard lines.

I was able to move the colors along and blend with water until I heat set my panel, which surprised me!  When I had used Infusions onto a canvas panel, they remained water activated throughout, Distress Oxide (DOX henceforth) became more permanent (not completely, but more).  Water flecks did not completely remove the ink as it had with my Infusions experiments.  This made me happy!

I sponged Distress Ink (DI) onto the edges of my panel.  I wanted to add more earthy green to this very yellowy canvas (which came from the Peeled Paint), so I dipped it into some puddled Cracked Pistachio.

What a happy moment...

Now for my favorite new concept, coordinating Distress texture paste!  I have on several occasions tried to color my texture paste with regular DI, but it causes seepage and makes me sad.  Because DOX is not "wet" the same way as DI, I decided to give it a go.  It tints your texture paste ever so beautifully and does not loose vibrance as it dries.  To me, this is revolutionary!  Imagine creating perfectly coordinating texture paste for every project, in any color!  YES PLEASE!

I used Fossilized Amber to bring in some highlights.  It's funny how much it resembles the Peeled Paint in the background, but there are many color variations in DOX, which is part of the magic.

Here is my completed background.  You can see flecks of watery gesso and how that reacted to the colors and stamping in DOX, lightly spritzed to activate the oxidization.  Below is a peek of my finished canvas.  

Find all of the closeups and details on my blog today HERE.  I hope you will have a go at this process and would love to see your finished work.  Leave me a comment with a link.  <3  And remember to submit your project to our Texture, Crackle and Paint challenge before March 1.