Mi Corazón Magnet

True Confession: I'm kind of a magnet junkie. I've collected them from around the world - they're tiny and they travel well! But I also love to make them. A few years back a dear friend of mine sent me some credit card "blanks" and said, "Here, Creative Girl... see what you can do with these."

So, naturally, I did. They are inexpensive and tons of fun to alter and embellish - I've long since purchased quite a few of them from the eBay gods. And, when I began playing around using alcohol inks on them? Well, let's just say that I can be a little fixated when I'm having fun working with a medium that I love.

When I saw Kae Pea's new designs over at RubberMoon, my first thought, and a giddy thought it was, was, "Magnets! Those would be perfect for magnets!"

I began by coating my blank with red and yellow alcohol inks. You could always do this with glossy cardstock, but I like that the plastic holds up so well.

After adding a few drops of blending solution, I simply picked up the blank and tilted it until the colors ran where I wanted them. I then blotted up extra ink with a paper towel. The alcohol inks dry faster than I can type this sentence, so it's a really fast process.

I stamped the heart onto the background using StazOn. This you can't substitute - it's necessary to use a solvent based ink on the plastic or it just won't stick at all. (And don't try to heat-emboss the blanks. They melt. Don't ask me how I know... just trust me on this one.)

I also stamped a heart onto a piece of scrap paper, which I then cut out and used as a mask when I stamped the flames. I colored in the flames with sharpies and then added some bling with Stickles.

I stamped the sentiment on cardstock and freehand cut it out to make a little banner which I then glued on. I used last month's RubberMoon Mail Club stamp to add a little extra interest to the background. I added my embellishments, glued magnets to the back, and I was done!

How about you? What sets your artistic heart on fire? Happy crafting!

RubberMoon Stamps Used

Mi Corazón
Doodle Heart
Flames

Other Products Used

Ranger Alcohol Inks & Blending Solution
StazOn Inks
Sharpies
Stickles

Artsy Gifts for Writers - and Honoring Anne Frank with Precious Pieces

For the month of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), writing has been heavy on my mind. When I was little, my interest in art and writing grew up together - side by side. So it's only natural that I want to include writing and art together, whether it's with an illustrated book, art journal, or any of my other crafty/artsy projects.
One of my favorite Rubbermoon stamps is this cute little typewriter, of course. And for the month of NaNoWriMo, I thought it would be fun to create a little series focused around my personal hero, Anne Frank. I believe it was Anne Frank's famous Diary that began my own personal passion of journal writing. In my heart, that girl will always be a historical role model of mine. Her personal expression and her innocent heart has inspired so many, she seems very worthy to be honored with art.
For this little project, I thought it would be fun to create a series of artsy magnets to go along with a series of Anne Frank paintings I've been creating (Art to Inspire Writers).
Here is my quick and easy process, below.
Again, I am a full-time working mom with a lot going on on the side, so when I do something crafty for fun, it has to be done in easy, quick snippets of time.

Gesso 3x3 wooden piece after/before sanding edges.

1. Sand down a batch of 3"x3" wooden squares. You can get these at any big craft store. Then apply Gesso to the side you wish to paint. I simply used my finger to apply the gesso, while getting ready for work in the bathroom. This worked well for me time-wise. The Gesso was able to dry while I was at work, and when I got home I could think about when to fit in time to paint them.

sponge painting the base

2.  Use a sponge piece (I just cut up a kitchen sponge to use) to brush/dab on painted background, using varied colors of acrylic paint. Acrylic dries quickly and is also easy to write on afterward with permanent marker. I didn't apply the paint thickly, as not to get a textured surface (since I knew I wanted to write on it).

Add Rubbermoon Stamp!

3. I should have waited a bit longer to apply the rubber stamp, but I was getting too excited. I think that's why I got a bit more of a textured stamp effect than I wanted originally, but I like the outcome anyway. I made sure to place the Rubbermoon stamp in a different space on every piece, just in case I end up selling them on Etsy (I want them each to look original).

Use Pitt marker to write quotes on the pieces.

4. After Letting the paint dry overnight, to be sure I wouldn't wreck my marker (I used a Faber-Castell fine-tipped Pitt marker), I looked up some Anne Frank quotes and hand-wrote my favorites onto the pieces. I ended up with five, but could easily have done much more than that if I'd had more square pieces to begin with. I'm wanting to definitely go back for more squares to have a ball making these for Christmas gifts. I can imagine making a bunch with angel images instead. They would make great ornaments or magnets.
I chose in the end to make these as magnets. I cut up some Darice 4"x6" Adhesive-Backed Magnet pages. Again, I like simple!

Now, not only do I have a nice collection of art magnets to give away as gifts or sell on my Etsy shop - but I also have a great new writer-themed stamp to display on my writing desk. I can see that the rubber stamp itself would make a nice little stocking stuffer for any passionate writer. It makes a nice little ornament for the desk!