Fall Paints a Pretty Picture

IMAGINE Crafts and RubberMoon Art Stamps are excited to share with you the amazing projects that our design teams have created to kick off the Holiday Season! Over the next few days, we'll be sharing with you inspiration and techniques using IMAGINE Crafts' line of ink products featuring rubber stamps from RubberMoon. Be sure to visit the IMAGINE Crafts and RubberMoon blogs daily for more projects and ideas!

"In between fall’s final harvest and winter’s first bite comes a golden hour, a time to mull things over, plan for next time, and feel thankful for all the good fortune that drifted our way while we were too busy to notice."

I think this is my all-time favorite quote about my all-time favorite season of the year, and the inspiration for the art journal page created below.

I prepared my base with a layer of  Golden Acrylics, then added envelope scraps and portions of a vintage fall scene postcard.  The white gesso circle in the center will house another portion of the vintage postcard.

Next I added a scribble frame (Stampin' Up) and two leaves in the lower right corner (promotional leaf-shaped cards from Starbucks). 

Then I had some fun with Imagine Crafts irRESISTible color texture sprays in Cottage Ivy and Bronze. You can see the delightful dimension they add in the photo below.

To ensure my final images showed up clearly on top of the acrylic paint and irRESISTible's ink, I stamped with my all-time favorite standby ink pad: Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko StazOn ink in Jet Black and Ganache. Additional stamped images from Stampin Up: Hardwood and RubberMoon: Carved Leaf, Carved Leaf Corner, Round Tree, Mixed Media Scribble, Mixed Media Corrugated, Paint Brush and Kre8tiv Elements stamps.

I double stamped the Mixed Media Scribble with white gesso and StazOn Ganache and highlighted the paint brush with an irRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Wedding Dress (white).

Now, please take a moment during your Thanksgiving holiday weekend and "feel thankful for all the good fortune that drifted your way while you were too busy to notice."

by Colleen Bodvig

Origami Gift Boxes by Martice Smith II

Hi! Martice here, reminding you: it's about that time, friends! The holidays are right around the corner and people are getting ready for gift-giving.

I've always loved a beautifully hand-made gift...who doesn't?! Especially when the gift comes from someone who cherishes YOU just as much as the gift they are giving.

Today, I'm sharing what's on my desk: Origami Gift Boxes!! These are super easy ("last-minute-gifts") to make and I love making them because each part is hand-crafted + I can embellish them however I want.



No two will ever be the same and as a bonus to me, folding paper can be a great stress reliever...especially around this time of year!



I folded several sheets of 12x12 inch scrapbook paper to create these one-of-a-kind origami gift boxes. Some are commercially printed sheets but I adore the gelli printed ones I created myself, so of course I had to use them too.

For the happy snowman box, I applied a string of silver Craft Twinkles Glitter Paint (DecoArt) along all four edges of the lid, after I did all the folding.



Black gesso, is now, one of my 'go-to' mediums when I'm working with anything that has glitter on it. The black gesso (DecoArt) dries to an opaque, matte finish and I love the smooth consistency. It's a perfect contrasting element to use with any glitter or sparkly sprays because it allows the glitter to take center stage and shine, shine, shine!

I sprayed White irRESISTible Colored Texture Spray and Sheer Shimmer Spritz in Sparkle (both from Imagine Crafts) on a piece of lightweight paper that I had dry brushed with black gesso. I was excited to learn that the irRESISTible Colored Texture Spray dries very quick AND has incredible texture!



This paper was used to line the insides of the origami gift boxes. How extravagant!

The box's base was made from collaged magazine pages and covered with tracing paper I painted Lipstick red. I like how the layering of these two papers interact with each other: the text gives a contemporary edge while the soft transparency of the tracing paper keeps it toned down yet allows some energy to still be present.

Another box is created from my stash of gelli prints. I added my graffiti script with a Micron brush pen.

The inside is lined with sparkly paper and commercial scrapbook paper.

Tags were made with recycled cardstock from product packaging. I used the Tags & Labels stencil (Americana Mixed Media), threaded mini jingle bells and glass berry beads on the embroidery floss for some festive charm.


To complete my Origami Gift Boxes, I stamped Snowmen w/ Scarf in Onyx Black onto the white tag. Look how much fun he's having in the snow! I love the snow and can't wait to jump in it myself!

Snowmen w/ Scarf stamp

 

 A smaller piece of the sparkly paper was folded to create a pull tab for the lid and glued on top of the embroidery floss.

I hope this project has encouraged you to present your gifts in a more personalized way.



Do you like gifting hand-made items to your friends and family?



Happy holidays!

----------
Products used:

RubberMoon Stamp: 
ge2747 - snowmen w/scarve

Tsukineko/Imagine Crafts:
White irRESISTible Colored Texture Spray, Sheer Shimmer Spritz - Sparkle, VersaFine Archival Instant Dry Pigment Ink - Onyx Black

DecoArt Products:
Black Gesso, Craft Twinkles Glitter Paint Writer, Bahama Blue
(Americana Multi-Surface Satin Acrylic Paints: Chartreuse & Lipstick)

Stencil:
Tags & Labels (Americana Mixed Media)

Other:
"Snowman Sam" and "Black & White Sketchy Ornate" 12x12 inch scrapbook paper (The Paper Studio), Selection of gelli printed papers, White cardstock, embroidery floss, glass berry beads

A TREAT of a project from Debra V.

RubberMoon Arts is very excited to share this TREAT from the original Moon Goddess, Debra Valoff!
Here Debra shares with you her creative ideas and process for repurposing art and imagery into fabulous folders you can not only have fun making these but you can use and enjoy them every day. Your office supplies never looked sooo good!!

Having lots of wonderful mail art and snippets of projects/ideas I wanted to do something with it that I could enjoy, rather than being in a box that only gets looked at a couple of times a year.  Since I use file folders a lot I figured they would be the perfect way to see all of my fun mail often and serve a useful purpose at the same time.
So the first thing you need to do is select a bunch of loot that would work and that you'd be willing to cut into. The cutting wasn't as hard as I thought it would be because I knew I was turning it into something else that I could still enjoy.  Another huge plus is getting to use small snippets of art that would otherwise be difficult to use.
Luckily office supply stores carry a nice selection of colored file folders so select a color that will compliment your chosen pieces.

Next select pieces that will work for your folder and arrange them in a pleasing way for you. Don't overlook the backs of envelopes or little play pieces you stamped and buried in a pile. After they're the way you want, dab with a glue stick to keep them in place.
*I secured mine in the end by stitching them down so if you don't plan on using a sewing machine please take more time and use a good glue to attach them.

There are tons of great decorative tapes on the market and if you're like me, you probably own half of them! Go grab some and get busy attaching pieces here and there.

Now grab some awesome RubberMoon stamps and embellish some of the blank spaces that are needing attention. Since my folder is a dark color I decided to use a lot of white ink (which I had to cover with a spray fixative since I didn't want to emboss). I also ran a sewing marking tool through some black ink for more added interest and some consistency. (The dot dot dot tool I used in a recent Lynn Whipple class and I want to use it on everything now!)

My last step was to stitch the paper pieces down using a zigzag stitch ( 3.1 wide, 3.1 long) with black thread. When I finished, the back side of the folder wanted to curl but I simply put weight on it for an hour or two and then it was fine.

TA DA!!!
All done and ready to use.

Thank you Debra, your art and projects are ALWAYS a treat!

Summertime Ode

Summer means scattered projects everywhere...some long and some shorter.  I have a lot of gifts to make in the summer, so I like pieces that look like they took longer to make than they really do!  That's the crux of today's project. That, and clean lines.

My studio is so cluttered right now that I want a project that isn't.  So I  spent the day in solitude, listening to music from days gone by, and knocked out several gifts to stockpile. 

You can't tell from the beauty shot, but the final card is actually dimensional and mounted on a 4" x 4" birch cradle.  I buy birch cradle by the pack of six at Dick Blick or the like.  They are great to have around when you want a piece to stand or they can be wired for hanging.

This project involves a  little bit of cutting and a few supplies, but really comes together quickly. 

The first thing I did after the above "materials picture" was to use gel medium to affix the black glossy paper to the 4" x 4" birch cradle panel. 

Then I cut some satin white cardstock into three pieces so it would nest well during construction. 

The outer piece is a  3-3/8" square, then a 3" square, and finally a 2-¼ square.  I also cut a 1/2" wide narrow strip.


I did all my stamping with black Ranger Archival Ink.  The music square and statement were stamped first on the smallest paper. I then followed with a repeated clef motif (Nancy Curry Art) on the strip, and finished with the flowers (along the perimeter as a frame of sorts).

Then I layered them all onto the black glossy paper using ScorTape.  I used cushion to raise the center square up from the other layers.  The final touch was to add a brass treble clef which I attached with matte medium. 

Put them all together and you have your finished gift.  It took me about 30 minutes to complete my part and then it was ready after just a couple of hours drying time.

Simple.  Uncluttered.  Classic.  Now, if my studio could be described in the same way.


Check out RubberMoon Art Stamps for other stamps that go well together and look for me, here.

Your RubberMoon Tuesday Post: Instructions on how to create Painted Pony Power! from Teresa Cox Kolar and Purple Sun Studio!

Mixed Media Painted Pony

Hello and welcome to my first ever art tutorial! :-D 

I do a lot of teaching but, 

have never considered myself a writer/blogger.

 With that being said

I am excited to show you my process for

creating this 5x5 inch mixed media painting. 

Here we go-wheeee!.........:-D

Kristen of  RubberMoon and I met only

a few months ago. Kristen was conducting a workshop at

Lori Sparkly Franklin's studio. It was at that workshop that I fell in love with

RubberMoon Art Stamps.  So, this 

"RubberMoon Creative Team Adventure" is new and exciting and I am loving it! 

First Phase Materials

Time to get down to serious fun. 

My favorite kind!

Begin your painting with these materials

1/2" deep, 5"x5" gessobord

Naples Yellow acrylic paint

Burnt Sienna acrylic paint 

I have used Golden and Liquitex paints here. However, other

 brands of acrylics will work just fine.

Under layer

Apply a smooth under layer of Naples Yellow.

(Can't help thinking this little bottle of paint looks lonely-lol). 

Any type of acrylic brush will work for this step. This is a nice opportunity to

experiment a little. See what kind of brush you like.

Extend your under layer all the way 

around the sides.

Each new layer must be completely dry/ "bone dry" before

continuing with the next layer. Using a blow drier is a great way to

save time.

Texture!

For the next step you will need your Burnt Sienna paint, 

a rough paint brush (one with hard, scratchy, bristly type hairs. 

I save my worn out brushes for these textural treatments like the one shown below). 

Apply Burnt Sienna over the yellow with a nice rough

brush using very light and wispy

brush strokes. Using your brush with this technique will

produce this textural over painting allowing the beautiful yellow to show through. 

You will need to apply your paint sparingly and often. Building up to the look

shown above.

Next, prepare to get a little bit messy. Now it is time for a nice dark color like

Burnt Umber Light on this Linnie Blooms Mixed Media piece. Use the 

fabric like you would a stamp. Your fingers will 

get full of paint. No worries. It will wash off with

soap and warm  water.

Apply this to your canvas like a champ!

I mean stamp!!

This is the lovely result. More wonderful and unique texture!

More layering

Now apply another layer of Naples Yellow. Use a stiff, rough brush. Apply very light and wispy strokes. Gradually build up the application of paint until it covers the surface with some of the

colors and textures from beneath showing through.

Stamping!!

Woop Woop!!

Next apply Burnt Umber Light or any very dark (not black-too harsh)

paint to this RubberMoon Art Stamp 

Use this wonderful stamp

randomly, varying the position of the 

stamp around your painting.

(Little confession-this pattern has always 

been one of my very favorites! I bought this stamp

from RubberMoon and now I can use

it whenever I want, as much as want, how ever I want. Muaaahhh! 

I can get a little revved when in the creative process).

A little more layering

(layering is one of my favorite things- can you tell?)

For the last layer, apply cream colored paint. Again, use your stiff, 

rough brush with wispy strokes.

Stenciling!

Now it is time for your stencil. This is a hand cut stencil I made myself.

I made it from a manila file folder. Simply sketch the figure you would like

and voila! You can use the stencil again and again.

Apply a layer of gray paint using a stiff stencil brush.

  Less is more here. 

Too much paint will squish under the stencil and result in an unattractive, 

globby outline. 

Tweeking

Make the image more sharp with an additional

layer of paint applied with a soft bristled, pointy paint brush.

(Oops! Please excuse the blurry picture. 

My photography skills can be a bit lacking at times) lol!

Nice crisp looking under layer of gray. 

(Thankfully a crispy-I mean crisp! photo as well). 

Next apply a layer of earthy red with a soft, pointy brush.

 And finally a layer of cream.

Shading

Like so! :-)) 

For shading, add a little of the gray to your cream. 

 Use a very small, very pointy brush here.

Leave the 

mane and tail of your pony gray for now.

More Stamping! :-D

I used this little sweetie pie RubberMoon Art Stamp 

for one of the very last details-impressionistic moon shape.

Voila!!!

Add details that you desire with your small pointy paint brush. Here I have enhanced the pony

 with some shading, spots, facial features and added wisps of cream and white in the mane and tail. Some careful wisps of cream and white around the legs with your scratchy old brush, little dots for some added pizzaz - Pony Power!!

Fini! 

More Ponies!

These are additional Painted Pony compositions using

different color combinations. 

The main thing to remember is to have fun!!

When making your own stencils you are free to make anything

you want-flowers, fish, trees, birds-anything. RubberMoon Art Stamps and Linnie Blooms Mixed Media Products add to the creative experience! Visit both of these wonderful companies at http://www.linnieblooms.blogspot.com/and http://www.rubbermoon.com/

Experiment and enjoy!

Find more of my art on my blog: http://teresacoxkolar.blogspot.com/

Also, check out my Etsy shop: http://www.teresaketsyshop.etsy.com

I am on Facebook too: Teresa Kolar and/or Purple Sun Studio

All the very best!-Teresa :-D