enamel accents technique...

sometimes an idea works &

 you can share a fun NEW technique...

this one DID work...

here's another way to use enamel accents...

I posted a 1 minute video yesterday,

 explaining this technique 

using my new enamel accents...

you can see it here on Instagram...

and here on Facebook...

for some reason Blogger won't publish it here...

probably tech error on my part...

anyway...

here's the tag I made using the technique...

it's the same tag you see in the video...

I started with  a #8 heavystock tag...

it's a very nice surface to work on...

it's swiped with potting soil and

watering can enamel accents...

they're thin & when applied this way, 

they dry in about 2 minutes & add

 both texture & shine...
they also act as a resist for inks...

I used my "never enough hearts" stencil & traced the heart on the back of the tag, then cut it out...

tracing on the back is best, 
that way no tracing lines show, if your cutting isn't perfect...

here's the heart...

I inked the white edges with potting soil...

to create the background for the heart,  

I used a #8 heavy stock tag...

it's cut down to 5 ½ inches tall...

I inked the tag with orange blossom & 

cornflower blue archival, 

then added potting soil to the edges...

I stenciled the square grate on the left side of the tag with cornflower blue...

then stenciled some polka dots with potting soil over the square grate stencil...

moving on to the right side, 

I knew the ink was not completely dry & that embossing powder would stick where there was wetness...

perfect...

I wanted melted embossing powder

in the background as extra texture, 

but with no foiling...

I was careful to only added bits of foil on the stamped lines,

so I wouldn't end up with a big blob of foil...

I inked the old wood floor background with cornflower & sprinkled on the  

cornflower blue embossing powder & melted it...

I reheated it & pressed the 

turquoise foil sheet

over the warm embossing powder...

it will release easily when it has transferred...

it takes just a few seconds...

here's a video that explains 

how EASY this is......

***I am addicted to foiling 

the embossing powder***

be warned!

if you try it...

I'm NOT responsible

for YOUR addiction...

haha!

I added 3 pieces of tim's new design tape

all 3 are from the new aristocrat set...

I used watering can to stamp the flourishes that you see below...

look closely & you'll see the screen background stamped in several places, 

using the 3rd generation tiger lily...

(I stamped off 2 times)

I wanted it barely visible...

here's the tag base...

next are the components...

the little "make art" is from 

the "just say it" background stamp...

stamped with jet black onto a scrap, then inked with potting soil & orange blossom...

the new mat mini flower was stamped with cornflower blue, using the plaid background, embossed with cornflower blue embossing powder, then foiled with the same turquoise foil sheet...

the center is a hex head fastener, inserted thru a fluted fastener collar, then thru a mini gear...

I held the pieces together with a hemostat, 

heated them as one, 

then dipped them into the cornflower blue embossing powder...

the hot metal holds the embossing powder in place...

once cooled, I used the sanding grip to sand part of the hex head back to the original color...

those leaves are tim's gold 

metallic kraftcore cardstock 

glued to clear, clearly for art...

they're die cut, 

then inked with fern green...

I sprinkled on the 

frosted crystal embossing powder 

to give it a bumpy look...

crummy photo...

but trust me...it's pretty cool!

***since archival inks are translucent, you can easily change the color of these metallic card stocks & tint them to any color of metallic***

then I stamped over them with 

the "les roses" background with watering can...

I cut off the last 2 leaves, because

I thought it was a bit too long...

but then...

I dug them out of the trash...

this is normal for me...

and turned them the opposite way when I added them to the heart...

why?

NO CLUE...

but I liked it!

here's the tag all assembled...

I used Ranger's black foam adhesive tape 

under the heart to add dimension...

it's great stuff for it's adhesive properties & the perfect dimension!

I added an extra strip of the same 

aristocrat design tape 

to the bottom, edged the tag with the tarnished brass paint dabber & used 

my CUTE

forget-me-not enamel accents...

to add some dots...

it's got a vintage feel & when the light hits it, 

the bling is really cool!

I hope you'll

give this enamel accents technique a try & 

you'll see how fun it is...

have a GREAT weekend...

I hope YOU can

take some time to...

make art!

wendy

it's all about LOVE...

the 2nd "make art" challenge

 begins today & the theme is 

HEARTS/LOVE...

it's a nice broad theme...

so however you choose to interpret it will be cool...

here's my contribution to the challenge...

first of all...

remember...

there are no rules in art!

not every Valentine needs to be red...

I started with a 3 x 4 ¼ inch manila cardstock scrap & used the splattered plaster technique with tea rose archival & a tiny bit of tree branch...

you can read about

the technique in this post...

after it was dried, I used jet black to 

stamp my sentiment...

I inked some gold wings with 

watering can archival & 

then embossed them with 

watering can embossing powder...

the wings start out like this...

it's a simple 

total transformation...

and with more embossing powders to choose from, we have more color options...

the next step was to ink 

the old wood floor background stamp 

with tree branch & stamp over my card...

it looked like this...

I used brushed corduroy to ink over the whole card...

then used watering can to stamp 

the small flourishes...

watering can is awesome when used with jet black...

you can see that in the next photo...

the jet black sentiment really pops...

and the flourishes are in the background, 

right where they belong...

I inked the chain stamp with watering can & stamped it between the flourishes...

the heart below was cut with 

tim's movers & shapers heart... 

it's a Sizzix die...

it's cut from the 

new white "magic mat board"...

the heart was inked lightly 

with orange blossom archival, 

then stamped with 

this stripes stamp, 

using watering can...

to add more layers to the background, I used the new vintage ledger stencil 

with tree branch archival to stencil random areas...

sorry for the glare...

my studio has skylights, which I LOVE, but they sometimes are annoying for photos...

you'll see that some areas are light & some are a little darker...

 that tiny addition of the stenciling makes the background much better...

every detail matters!

I added my card to a slightly larger black cardstock panel, then to a coordinating cardstock base...

the ideology heart charm was customized with a new correspondence remnant rub...

using the new remnant rub tool...

(I'll show you a new use for the tool tomorrow)

I used a mini fastener to add it to the wings & heart...

I also like to use a mini fastener at the top of the chain to make it more realistic...

now it doesn't appear to be hanging in mid air...

glue it together...

this is the result...

here's a closer look...

I love the different textures...

the "plaster", the heart, the embossed wings

and the little flourishes 

peeking out from under the heart...

it's a very simple quick creation, 

but the multiple textures make it special...

so that's my non traditional Valentine!

I had several questions to answer...

#1. I have the adirondack snow cap reinker for my ink pad. can that be used with glacier white, if it's the same ink...

YES, you can. NO PROBLEM, since it is the same ink, just rebranded with a new name...

#2. what is the size of the stamp in the new faux graniteware starter set? I'm not sure I need another one.

   it's about 1/4th the size...

I wanted to include a stamp with the mat board & instructions, to make a complete kit to get you started with the technique...

this mini sized stamp is so nice for working on small surfaces & especially curved surfaces like the glass vase I showed in the previous post...

here's a photo to compare them...

the large spatter background 

is on the left & the new mini is on the right...

#3. Have you tested other inks to see if they work with the splattered plaster you showed us?

   I had the big idea to try the technique using the metallic distress spray stains...in my mind, since like the picket fence, they too have pigments, I thought I might get "metallic" plaster...

BUT...

sorry to report...

it did NOT work...

at all...NO clumps...

NONE!

so don't waste your time...

some experiments work...this one didn't...

stick with the picket fence...

it's magic & it works every time!

as far as other brands, I'm familiar with Ranger products & that's what I use & LOVE...

so...I really don't have any other info to offer...

#4. I got the foil packet for Christmas, but have no idea what to do with it. how does it work? do you have any examples of how you've used it?

ah yes I do...

that's tomorrow's blog post...

stay tuned!

#5. THANK YOU for the faux graniteware glass tut. I'm on it. One question. How did you prep the glass?

I did not prep the glass at all...

 I've done it on multiple glass surfaces...

tim's corked vials was the original test piece, 

since they're small...

it has worked perfectly every time...

HOWEVER...

I'm thinking that if you're recycling something...

possibly a salad dressing bottle or something that is oily, maybe a make-up bottle,

then I'd make sure to wash it to remove the oil...

if you read the instructions on the Ranger blog, you'll see that you need to use archival ink...

if you use embossing ink under the embossing powder, it will peel right off...

my new motto is...

EMBOSS it...

DON'T TOSS IT!

or maybe...

DON'T TOSS IT...

EMBOSS it!

that's it for today...

I hope you'll join the challenge...

there is a PRIZE!

our sponsor this month is Linda, 

owner of the funkie junkie & she's giving a $25.00 gift certificate to a random participant!

don't forget to visit the Ranger blog  & enter to win a set of my new archival inks & embossing powders...

they are choosing 3 lucky winners!

make sure to read the intro...

there are several ways to enter...

more chances to WIN!

now it's time for me to...

make art!

wendy

CHA projects for idea-ology...

hello!

I thought that today I'd share 3 of the projects that I made for tim's idea-ology booth and show a few of my MOST FAV things from his new release...

I LOVE the new correspondence papers which were the inspiration for this piece...

you'll see them on 

the large art parts heart & 

also the base it's sitting on...

I LOVE the heart hanging from 

my new chain stamp...

I also LOVE the new ephemera package (emporium) that coordinates perfectly with the papers...

under that collage is a piece of the 

new self adhesive corrugate...

 the cute girl is from the new 

Photo Booth photo strips...

that is one lovely box full of goodies...

I'm addicted...

as you'll see...

I used them on all 3 of today's projects...

the new heirloom rose she's wearing was altered with one drop of alcohol ink...

the alpha parts framed (everyday & adventure) were lightly covered with gold embossing paste to change them from black to a textured vintage gold...

 my art parts film strip frame is the base for this piece...

I'll be sharing the faux gilded technique that I used to alter it soon...

make sure you have 

the gold embossing paste!

or...if you're impatient like me...

you'll find the how-to scoop on 

the new MAKE ART challenge blog...

there's still 7 days to enter!

I hope you can join us...

psst...there will be PRIZES!

here's a side shot to show the dimension...

that's the new rose stamp (SiSi) and the bow...

they are both stamped on newsprint, that I added to my clearly for art (CFA), with glue n seal...

the CFA allows for dimensional layered stamped images that are very strong & sturdy...

so fun...

this photo shows that little red heart charm, embossed with red geranium and a little remnant rub inside...

next up...

this project started on a vintage tray that we found at an antique store...

I'd say it's about 6 x 8 inches...

it starts with a small black book, layered with a vintage doily and then the fun stuff was collaged on top...

once again...I chose a Photo Booth girl...

when I like something... 

I REALLY like something & 

can't quit using it...

LOVE LOVE LOVE 

the new trophy cups...

I toned down the shiny silver with a tiny bit of silver & gold embossing pastes...

I  just finger painted a very thin layer on & let it dry...

I used lots of stuff from 

the new emporium ephemera pack...

the little sprigs are the AWESOME deco sheets applied to CFA, then die cut...

you'll see tea rose embossing powder on the letterpress 3 & on the art parts scallop trim...

there's a new flash card (elementary) stuck into the pages of the book...

a pair of vintage glasses were the finishing touch...

this was a blast to create!

here's another fun piece...

this uses the new foundry frames...

I WILL be ordering 100 just for me...

I will never run out of them...

they are AWESOME!

and inside the frame?

yep..another photobooth person...

she's tinted with archival inks...

the base paper is the new correspondence, added to a 6 x 6 canvas with...

you got it...

glue n seal...

the paper was stenciled with tree branch archival & the polka dots stencil...

you'll see the new ruffles stamp along the bottom...

I hope the next photo shows how cool 

the deco sheets are...

it's the perfect vintage shimmer that is NOT glitter, so it won't be popping off...

no mess...I like that!

I like that the deco sheets work with punches...

that's how I added the bling to 

the custom fasteners

 that make the flower centers...

I didn't take a photo of the finished piece after I put it into an 8 inch square  

black shadowbox frame...

I forgot...

shhh...

what happens on the blog, stays on the blog...

I stole this from Paula's blog...

hmmm..

I guess the watermark is a clue...

LOVE the new filigree stamps...

and the new sentiment was a good fit...

ahhh...that was fun...

you should be able to click the photos to enlarge them...

now I'm off to work on a tutorial for a brand new F U N & E A S Y

technique...

stay tuned...

I hope these pieces inspire YOU to...

make art!

wendy

ps...

FYI...

I just found a SALE PAGE...

it has stamps, SiSi's, and one of my most favorite tiny text stamps...

the sale ends tonight...

HURRY!