Sumi Painting ATC Cards and Display

When the April 2009 Pure & Simple SR Kit came out it included a Sumi paintbrush and some instructions, in the Scrap Rap, to help you learn a few different traditional Sumi designs! I tried my hand at a few of them, and some others, and some came out great, while others were OK ;) It'll take some getting used to, but it's such a fun thing to try and the black watercolor paint is incredible for very solid abstract patterns that remind me of the Zentangles that we did at the 2008 Main Retreat! And, since the Club Stamp kit included an awesome ATC Art Display (complete with an easel and a tacky mount to stick ATCs on and off of the display whenever you feel like it), I just had to put it together! I think that I'll add a few small mirrored tiles/rhinestones to the display, but I'm loving solid black with the rich texture for now!

Now, I'm anxiously waiting for my shipment of the two brand new Crafter Classics, Nature's Wonders in vibrant fucshia, lime, and lavendar... plus Color in Black & White in bold primaries (and b&w, of course)!

Club Scrap - Pure & Simple 4/09: Niji Black Watercolor Tube, Sumi Paintbrush, SR Scrap Rap painting instructions, Borders & Backgrounds UM Stamps, CSt UM Stamps, CSt Project ATC Art Display, Spring Green, Black, Grey, and White Papers;
Ranger - Nick Bantock Collection: Chartreuse Leaf; Adirondack Dye Ink: Citrus, Lettuce; Adirondack Pigment Ink: Pitch Black;

By The Seashore Crafter Classic ATCs

To show you a little recent creation... here are two ATCs that I made using the new FFC Crafter Classic Remix By The Seashore Unmounted Stamps!



Club Scrap: By The Seashore Crafter Classic 2008 - UM Stamp Remix; Body and Soul 5/08 - Light Green; Varsity 6/05 - Green;
Ranger: Adirondack Dye Inks - Latte, Lemonade, Mushroom, Willow; Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap, Peeled Paint;
Technique Junkies: February/March 2008 - Reinker Splash Technique;
Manila Tags;
Multigenerational Stamping;



Stay tuned and I'll have some new sample creations using the latest Crafter Classic Kits posted! Vibrant Polynesian and elegant Orient also come with the full array of papers, photo mattes, and 12x12 printed cut out along with a separate, newly created sheet of UM Stamps!

Have a Very Groovy Christmas! (New ATC)

Finally getting better after a month totally knocked out by a killer sinus infection and low blood pressure! I've been crocheting and knitting up a storm for some holiday gifts, but yesterday I got out my ink and paper! This ATC is fully inspired by Club Scrap's seasonal A Very Groovy Christmas Too Collection, using its stamps and solid papers along with some Ranger goodies and a new Sizzix die that my girls gave me for my birthday! (Scanned on top of Groovy Christmas Too 2007 Translucent Print.)



Supplies Used

• Club Scrap: A Very Groovy Christmas Too UM B&B Stamps; Serengeti 11/07 Yellow CS; Be Still 9/07 Brown CS; Bistro 7/07 Grape CS; Simply Beautiful 5/07 Tan CS; Color in Black & White 4/06 Translucent;
  
• Ranger: Adirondack Ink Pads in Citrus and Wild Plum; Archival Ink Pad in Jet Black; Nick Bantock Ink Pad in Sapmoss Green; Perfect Pearls in Blue Patina and Perfect Gold (in real life, the reindeer's collar appears fully gold, but it doesn't scan well); Stickles in Burgundy;
• Sizzix: Sizzlits 655187 Reindeer #2 by Stu Kilgour;
• Xyron: Create-A-Sticker #250;

Academy - 2 Mini Books, 2 Bookmarks, and 2 Layouts!

Can you tell that I'm really loving the new Academy 8/07 Kit from Club Scrap? Here are two Mini Books, two Bookmarks, and one Digital Layout in two color options, all using the same kit! For the first projects, I took the theme and ran with it!




For this Mini Spiral Bound Book, I used photos from school events for the 2005-2006 School year and then laminated each page in driver's license sized laminating pouches! I trimmed the pages down so that the tabs were actually protruding... My Crop-A-Dile came in handy for creating nice and even hole punches for the spiral binding!

Supplies Used: Club Scrap - Academy 8/07 CSt and Jr WM Stamps, B&B and CSt UM Stamps, and Cardstock in Blue, Brick, Brown, and Tan; Ranger - Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber in Aqua, Archival Ink Pad in Coffee; We R Memory Keepers - Crop-A-Dile; ABC - Heat Seal Laminating Pouches;






These little treats are samples of new free gifts that I've made for my customers! The top image is of a lined notebook with a handmade laminated cover, sharing designs and techniques with the laminated bookmark below it. I stamped my images with archival ink onto glossy paper and then colored the images in with Distress Inks using a Niji Waterbrush plus both Cut 'n' Dry Nibs and Foam! The bottom bookmark was made by monoprinting with the extra ink from the top projects and then collage stamping over it!

Supplies Used: Club Scrap - Academy 8/07 Kit CSt and Jr WM Stamps, B&B and CSt UM Stamps, and Cardstock in Blue and Tan; Niji Waterbrush; Ranger - Archival Ink Pad in Coffee, Cut 'n' Dry Foam, Cut 'n' Dry Nibs, and Distress Ink Pads in Aged Mahogany, Brushed Corduroy, Mustard Seed, Peeled Paint, and Weathered Wood; We R Memory Keepers - Crop-A-Dile; Duck Brand - Heat Seal Laminating Pouches; Bridgeport Memo Book;


This pair of Digital Layouts is identical, except that I altered the hue of the background and "9" block to match the shade of the curtains in the photo! You may recognize it from this month's DigiRap :) I was careful to use a feathered edge when cutting the digital version of the Edified Felt, keeping the edges soft like they would be in real life! I also made use of the Ivy League stamp image to create an all over background pattern on the Brick paper.

(Please click on the blue version if you wish to see the full sized image.)

Supplies Used - Club Scrap Digital Academy 8/07 Kit.

Remember, this is the same kit that I used for my Ducklings layout and ATCs! Love the versatility of it!

Make Way for Ducklings

I must say that I fell absolutely in love with the flourish stamp from this month's Club Scrap Academy Kit and I immediately thought of some photos from the Boston Commons to use with it! You all know the story Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey? Well, in the Commons there are wonderful little statues of the ducks and children often pose with them! My mother snapped this shot of my girls there this Summer and it seemed perfect!

I used the stamp in a repeating pattern to make each of the three paper mats. I also used the Edified Felt from the Sr Kit for a fourth mat and the Tonic Border System with the Royal Punch (now available through Club Scrap and me!) to create the paper lace strip.

Ranger's Aqua Adirondack Paint Dabber was used to hand paint the flourishes under the title and to stamp the flourishes onto the brown cardstock. I inked the chipboard corner flourish with Ranger's Copper Adirondack Paint Dabber and made sure to pounce and get the paint to be dimensional and then I glazed over it with some Chianti Radiant Pearls that I wiped most of the way off. That gorgeous chipboard flourish, title chipboard letters, and the lovely transparency overlay are from Scrapbook Takeout.

I loved the look so much that I took the same supplies, and created some ATCs to match!

Supplies Used:
Club Scrap: 8/07 Academic Kit Sr - 12x12 Brick Print, Sr Edified Felt in Tan, Borders & Backgrounds UM Stamps, Jr Ivy league Stencil, and Cardstock in Blue, Brick, Brown, and Tan; Tonic Border Punch System; Tonic Royal Punch;
Scrapbook Takeout: 8/07 Adventures in Altering Kit - Maya Road Fresh Chipboard Scroll Corners; 7/07 Clearly Speaking Kit - Hambly Urban Chic Frames in White; 5/07 Fresh and Funky Kit - Queen & Co Chipboard Alphadots in Bold Black;
Ranger: Adirondack Paint Dabbers in Aqua and Copper; Archival Ink Pad in Plum; Distress Inks in Aged Mahogany, Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain; Cut 'n' Dry Foam;
Angelwings: Radiant Pearls in Chianti;

Asi Es La Vida! - New Cards and Waterbrush Technique!

On these cards and ATCs, I used a technique that is based on last month's Technique Junkies Ink Wash Technique! (Definitely check out the newsletters they offer that are chock full of great techniques and ideas!) I changed things a little bit to suit the colors and intensity that I wanted and to work best with my stamps!



Club Scrap Salsa 11/03 Stamps and Papers from Refresh 2/07. Wheel & Sprocket 8/06, Collections 6/06, and Culinary 3/04; Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink Pad and Adirondack Ink Pads in Butterscotch, Lettuce, Meadow, Red Pepper, & Terra Cotta; Niji Waterbrush; Xyron Sticker Maker; Adapted Technique Junkies Ink Wash Technique;



In order to color the chilis and tomatoes, I wanted to use the Technique Junkies Ink Wash Technique, but wanted my colors a little but more vivid and wanted to still use my Adirondack Inks! So I revamped it to make it my own! First, I stamped the images (as seen on the left and on the right) and then used my Niji Waterbrush with the matching ink to go over the stamped lines (first images from the left). I allowed this time to dry and then did a lighter wash of ink, water, and ink from the stamped image to color in the area. This really made the images pop while making them look as if they may have been handpainted!

You Bring Me Joy (new cards and ATCs)

Here is a series of cards and ATCs that I just finished!

On each piece, I used the same Club Scrap products! The Written Word 11/05 Cream, Dark Blackberry, Light Blackberry, and Medium Blackberry papers plus the Stewart Superior Dark Blackberry Ink Pad which came with the kit. The stamps are from Mother's Day 2006 UM Stamps plus the woman from Extra! Extra! 6/04 CSt UM. I also used Ranger's Adirondack Ink Pad in Eggplant and Sea Bright Ink Pad in Mussel Black and their Posh Silver Accent Pen.

I used some simple collage stamping with both dark purple ink pads for the background, a little distressed inked edges, a silver edge, and paper tearing. All to create a simple, yet pretty finished set in time for Mother's Day!

Five Artists' Trading Cards (ATCs)

Well, right before I left for Canada (school vacation week!) I had to churn out about 80 Artists' Trading Cards (ATCs or 2.5"x3.5" creations) spread between about 9 designs! Only two were designs I had made before! Yes, I was up a little late, but these were all relatively simple and not too time/mind consuming!

Club Scrap - Stratosphere 4/07 Fuchsia, Green, & Light Blue Papers; Retro 9/06 B&B UM Stamps & CSt Right On UM Stamps; Ranger Adirondack Ink Pad in Pool; Stewart Superior Palette Ink Pad in Noir Black;


Club Scrap - 2007 Mocha Java Remix UM Stamps; Ivory Elegance 12/06 Cream & Dark Brown Papers; County Fair 7/04 Tan Paper; Ranger Archival Ink Pads in Coffee & Sepia; Ranger Adirondack Ink Pads in Butterscotch, Caramel, & Ginger;
Brushless Watercoloring and Torn Paper;


Club Scrap - Stratosphere 4/07 Fuchsia Paper; Club Scrap Fizz 1/07 White Translucent Paper, Club Stamp WM Stamp, & CSt Crazy About Fizz UM Stamps; Ranger Adirondack Ink Pads in Pebble, Raspberry, and Watermelon; Stewart Superior Palette Ink Pad in Noir Black;
Zig Memory Pen in Black;
Technique Junkies - Modern Grid Technique;


Club Scrap - Imagination 2006 Host Reward UM Stamps; Stratosphere 4/07 Dark Blue & Light Blue Papers; Ranger Archival Ink Pad in Cobalt;
Ranger Nick Bantock Ink Pad in Cerulean Azure;


Club Scrap - Nature's Wonders 5/06 Borders & Backgrounds UM; Wings 7/05 Dark Blue & Mustard Papers; Niji Waterbrush; Ranger Archival Ink Pad in Sepia; Ranger Adirondack Ink Pads in Butterscotch, Caramel, Lemonade, Oregano, Pesto, Stonewashed, & Sunshine Yellow;
Watercoloring with water-based dye ink pads;

Monoprinting: a great way to have bursts of color on your work!

When I first was reading about this technique, with its proper name, it involved using specialized monoprinting sleeves... I improvised by using a pair of write on transparencies. But, I have since learned that it is soooo much easier to use the Ranger Non Stick Craft Sheet (which I already use every time I ink and glue)!

The ATC, in the right hand image above, was created with the transparencies, Club Scrap 3/05 Road Trip White Paper, Club Stamp 5/05 Painted Desert Unmounted Stamps, Ranger Black Pigment Ink & Black Embossing Powder (the edges of the ATC are inked and embossed also), and ColorBox Ancient Page Harbor, Lime, & Neptune Inks. I applied inks to the paper by dripping reinkers, one color onto the papers at a time, onto a transparency and used the ColorBox Stylus to spread it out, then sandwiched a blank transparency on it and pressed unevenly. I then spritzed the side of the transparency that I was using with the Ranger Perfect Ink Refresher and laid the cardstock onto the damp transparency. I sandwiched the transparencies again and used a brayer to press the ink into the paper. I then repeated the process with the darker ink.

Basically you can press Ink Pads onto the craft sheet, drip and drizzle Reinkers on it, pounce ink on, smear glitter glue onto it, add Paints, drip or draw onto it with Alcohol Inks, dilute with Alcohol Blending Solution or even spritzes of water (for water based inks) and then take your intended project surface and press it onto the inks, swirl or swipe as you lift and marvel over the finished piece! You can also press portions of the Non Stick Craft Sheet onto itself before adding the inks to your project to get more of an ink blot effect! Glossy Paper is wonderful for this technique, but anything will do! The glossy surface just helps the ink travel and fills the paper better.

In the ATC to the right and in the title image for this Blog entry, I used a combination of Ranger Alcohol Inks in Lettuce & Stonewashed, Ranger Alcohol Blending Solution, and Ranger Stickles in Waterfall to create a backdrop for the stamped scratch marks, frame, and focal image. On the ATC, I used also Ranger's Aqua Adirondack Paint Dabber, Adirondack Bottle, Lettuce, & Stonewashed Ink Pads, and Archival Cobalt & Teal Ink Pads as well as Club Scrap's Glossy Paper plus the 2/07 Refresh Kit's CSt UM Stamps, CSt WM Statue & Fern Collage Stamp, Dark Blue, Light Blue, Dark Green, and Light Green Papers.

The mattes in the layout below were created with Glossy Paper and Alcohol Inks using a combination of monoprinting and direct pouncing with Alcohol Inks. I dry embossed Tinkerbell with a Plaid Embossing Stencil. The papers are all Club Scrap, using the Mint Frost and Cream Frost from the 1/04 Asian Artisan Kit, and unfortunately unlabelled other CS papers. (I didn't post details in the past!)


Below is another sample made with alcohol ink monoprinting, as you can see in the upper right, eventually the colors will blend all the way, simply soak it up and add new inks! I misted rubbing alcohol onto the Glossy Paper and onto the craft mat, dripping Alcohol Inks at random. Then I laid the Glossy Paper face-down on the inked mat and swirled, swiped, and lifted. I used Club Scrap's 9/05 Science Unmounted Stamps, 7/05 Wings Apricot Paper, and Glossy Paper along with Ranger's Non Stick Craft Sheet, Adirondack Alcohol Inks in Butterscotch, Caramel, & Terra Cotta, and Adirondack Ink Pads in Butterscotch, Caramel, Rust, & Terra Cotta.

Below is the new logo for my tutorials at Diversity Designs! I applied small "spatters" of Ranger's Alcohol Inks in Bottle, Lettuce, and Stream to the Ranger Non-Stick Craft Mat, added the Alcohol Ink Blending Solution, then took Glossy Paper and pressed it onto the sheet, swirling and lifting until the paper was well covered. I added more ink and targeted the white areas. After the paper was filled with ink, I added a little Adirondack Metallic Mixatives in Copper to a felt applicator and pounced away! The black art work is a self portrait of me that was then altered by Roselyn!

Tim Holtz also teaches a version of this with his Distress Inks and calls it Wrinkle Free Distressing. With it, you will often spritz the craft sheet or your project material with water and then iron your finished piece to keep the wet work from warping. Ranger has posted one project with instructions for a Monoprint Card plus Distress Ink Tips. Pennywise Arts has a great online class on Monoprinting with Alcohol Inks.

Club Scrap Digital™ (CSD) Now Available in Smaller Monthly Kits!

Here's more proof that Club Scrap™ listens to their members! Some members wanted just the pre-made digital layouts, some wanted only the digital papers and embellishments, and others wanted the whole kit 'n' kaboodle! Well now, you have three choices for membership! And three choices for individual kit purchases! They've even re-released the previous CSD kits in the new smaller versions!

This layout was created using the Farmer's Market 10/06 CS DigiLayout #7 with the Zero & Zero Font. It is a very quick layout and a lovely design to work with!

These two layouts were created using a portion of the Interior Designs 11/06 DigiLayout #19, DigiGoodies Xtra #19 (laminate brads) and the font Script MT Bold. In the left hand layout I adjusted the Hue & Saturation to change the colors of the layout, enhancing the pattern in the paper through the color shifts! The smaller blue version uses the original color scheme, which just wasn't a match to this pair of photographs! Changing the colors of the papers and embellishments is always a wonderful option to exercise and you may also easily add as many of the DigiGoodies that you like to a premade DigiLayout! This time around, I simply added some digital brads, but other times I've gone hog wild with alterations and additions!

You can also always work from scratch! The Artist's Trading Card shown to the right is one example! It uses mostly the Retro 9/06 CSD Free Trial Kit along with the ribbon from the Farmer's Market 10/06 CSD Kit. I went to http://jacksonpollock.org to create the paint splattered background! (At that website, each move of your mouse will splatter digital paint all over your browser... click on your mouse to change colors!) I saved separate layers of the Pollock paint splatters and cut and pasted the textured CSD Paper into the shape of the splatters, added shadows, and adjusted the brightness to better fit my photograph! In "real life" I've matted a photographic print of the piece on actual papers from the kit and edged the photograph in Ranger's Black Soot Distress Ink!

The piece below made more use of a single printed paper and a coordinating transparency image from the same Retro 9/06 CSD Free Trial Kit. I copied the pattern within the foiled border image to create the page border and fill in the Transparency border images. I also used swatches of the paper, altering the Hue & Saturation to create the deeper shade of pink for my mats and finished the piece out with the Fabulous 50s font!





Made with Club Scrap Digital's Farmer's Market 10/06 Digital Kit. Club Scrap's ALSB Layout #11; "Zero & Zero" font; Digitally "chalked" edges from the Farmer's Market 10/06 DigiRap; Korean text translates to "girl" and "tiger";