Camp Iwannascrap 2014 Water Wonders: Gel Medium

Hi there!  Today I have another video tutorial for you; this one on how to use gel medium to create a resist effect.

I mention in the video that I'm using a "soft gel," so I thought I would explain a little bit about what that means.  There are a wide variety of gel mediums out there, and they are used for different purposes, such as glazing, decoupage, adding texture, and extending paints.  "Soft" gel is thinner than some of the other gels, so it spreads on in a super thin layer and doesn't create peaks as much as other gels do.  It's great for resist techniques.

When I first ventured into using art mediums I bought a sample box that came with six different Golden gel mediums in it.  I haven't tried them all yet, but I'm having fun just playing around and seeing what each can do.  I bought mine at Michael's using a 40% off coupon (yahoo!), but they are also available from Dick Blick Art Materials, which also has an excellent description of the different types of gel mediums.

Now, on with the show!  :)

I used acrylic paint for this project, but you could use pretty much any colorant, such as watercolors, spray ink, ink pads, markers, stains, etc.  Here is the finished card I made using the background:

Directions:

1. Cut a 4" x 5.5" piece of blue patterned paper and cover the front of a card blank with it.
2. Cut a 3.5" x 4.75" piece of tan Subway Art patterned paper.
3. Use gel medium to isolate just a few words.  Let dry.
4. Paint over entire paper with acrylic paint to tone down the other words.  It doesn't have to completely cover the words -- if a hint of the typography shows through the paint it will add visual interest to your card.
5. Wipe paint off gel medium to expose the isolated words.  Let paint dry over the rest of the paper.
6. Wrap ribbon around lower part of the paper and secure to the back with tape.
7. Attach this painted background sheet to the front of the card.
8. Attach flower embellishment with bling.

Materials Used: card blank: Recollections, patterned paper: Teresa Collins, gel medium: Golden, acrylic paint: Plaid, flowers: Recollections (white) and Heartfelt Creations (the blue flower was die cut and stamped on HC paper using HC die and stamp set), ink: Tim Holtz, flower center: Prima, other: ribbon

Camp Iwannascrap 2014 Water Wonders: Gelatos and Gesso

Hi Campers!  I hope you enjoyed the first week of Camp Iwannascrap!  To start off Week 2 in the Water Wonders Unit I have a tutorial that uses Gesso and Faber Castell Gelatos in a reverse masking technique.

As promised, here is the card I created using the background I made in the video:

Directions:

1. Attach a 3.5" x 5" piece of the background to a 4" x 5.5" white card blank.
2. Color wood veneer with yellow pigment ink.  Attach to top right corner.
3. Attach turtle embellishment with foam dots.  Mine is a die cut I made with an Ellentina metal die.
4. Add enamel dots to create water bubbles.
5. Add "It's Your Birthday!" sentiment to the inside of the card.

Materials Used: card blank: Recollections, cardstock: American Crafts, gesso: Folk Art, colorants: Faber Castell gelatos (blueberry,metallic mint, and cotton candy) and Scrappy Cat pigment ink (yellow), wood veneer banner and Enamel Dew Drop Stickers: Freckled Fawn, metal die: Ellentina, other: patterned paper

Camp Iwannascrap 2014 Water Wonders:Goosebumps Waterdroplets

Hello Campers!  Welcome to another fun-filled, creative day at Scrappin' Peeps Camp Iwannascrap 2014!

Today I have a tutorial that introduces you to a dimensional spray called Goosebumps, and shows how it can be customized with color to create a waterdroplet effect.

I used India Inks in the video to color the Goosebumps, but you could use other inks such as the Tim Holtz Distress Ink in reinker bottles.  You could even use spray mist, though the higher water content in those may dilute the Goosebumps causing the bumps to be flatter than usual.  Experiment and see what you can come up with!  There's no such thing as failure here -- just learning experiences.  :)

Camp Iwannascrap 2014 Water Wonders: Watercolor Brush Stamps

Watercolor is all the rage in the crafting world right now, and I have to say I'm all for it.  I love the look!  But what if you're not that good with a paint brush, don't like to get messy, or don't have room to store even more craft supplies than you already hoard, ahem, have.  Enter the watercolor brush stroke stamps!  There are a lot of companies making these, and for digi or hybrid scrappers there are lots of options out there, too. Just Google watercolor stamps.

The stamp set I have is from the Pink Paisley Color Wash collection.  It includes three brush strokes and a number of words and symbols to combine with them.  I really like the layered effect you can get with these.

image from pinkpaisley.com

All you need is the stamps, ink, paper, and embellies and you have the makings of a quick, easy, and cute card.

 = 

Directions:

1. Layer a 3.75' x 5.25" piece of patterned paper on a 4' x 5.5" white card blank.  If desired, ink the edges first.

2.  On a 3.5" x 5" piece of white cardstock, stamp three brush strokes in different colors, then use black ink to stamp "Happy" over each of them.  Ink the edges and attach the cardstock to the front of the card.

3.  Add a 1.75" flower to the bottom right corner.  

4.  Punch a 1" circle from patterned paper with sentiment on it, or punch a 1" circle of cardstock and add your own sentiment.  A 6x6 sheet of tag paper works well for this:

5. Attach circle to the middle of the flower and ring the edges with tiny rhinestones.  Voila!  An easy peasy card in 10 minutes or less.

Materials used: card blank: Recollections, Patterned Paper: Pebbles, Inc., stamps: Pink Paisley, rhinestones: Queen & Co., ink: Stephanie Barnard for Color Box (Strawberry, Sky, and Celery) and Memento (Tuxedo Black), other: cardstock & flower

Scrappin' Peeps Camp Iwannascrap Blog Hop

Welcome to the Scrappin' Peeps summer camp blog hop!  I am so excited to join this group of talented women in sharing projects with you.  You should have arrived here from Robyn's blog, but if you didn't that's ok!  Here's the complete list of blogs: 

Kraze of MJ  
My Scrap Bliss 
Cozie Nook Homestead
Terrapin Creek Design Studio

This post was inspired by a challenge over at A Cutt Above.  I just love the Splish Splash cut file in their Etsy store!  I have a gazillion pictures of us in the pool, so this was the perfect way to get some of them scrapped.

First I cut the entire file on a 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock.  Before removing it from the Silhouette mat, I pried up the edges near the splash cuts and placed photos underneath, centering them the way I wanted them cut.  I then removed the cardstock and ran the photos through the machine, cutting only the splashes.  I wanted to add two more photos, but I didn't want the splashes to look exactly the same, so I copied the cut file in Silhouette Studio, flipped it, and enlarged the splashes before making two more photo cuts.

Once the photos were ready, I used the original cardstock as a stencil, taping a couple sheets of copier paper over parts of the page to isolate the "Splish Splash" title.  I sprayed the title with two different inks to add a little extra dimension to the letters:

From there I cut the "Family Fun" out of patterned paper and attached it with foam squares to pop it up off the page.  Finally, I sprinkled glass baubles and bling around the page to mimic water droplets.  I thought about adding some journaling, but then decided to just let the pictures tell the story.  On the back of the page I included the date the photos were taken. 

I hope this has inspired you to create, too!  And in that spirit, who would like a little bling?!  All you have to do is:

• Leave a comment on all four blogs in the Camp Iwannascrap blog hop.
• Create a new scrapbook layout or card that has something to do with water (please no back linking -- the goal is to get you creating).
• Leave a link to your creation in the comments on this post by August 22, 2014. 

A winner will be randomly drawn from all who submit.

** UPDATE: Congratulations, islandscrapper!  You are the winner of this fun and fabulous bling set!  Thanks so much for playing along!!

We could be yours!

Thanks for stopping by!  

** Materials used: cardstock: American Crafts, die cutting file: A Cutt Above the Rest (Splish Splash), patterned paper: K & Company (Citronella), spray ink: Ranger -- Dylusions (London Blue) and Perfect Pearls Mists (Turquoise), bling: the Robin's Nest Dew Drops (Water) and Queen & Co. bubbles and rhinestones

Scrappin' Peeps Camp Iwannascrap 2014! Water Wonders: Twinkling H2Os

For those who don't know about Scrappin' Peeps, it's an online community of scrapbookers and card makers who gather together to share our love of crafting. We have active, friendly message boards as well as challenges and swaps, and for the next two weeks, we have SUMMER CAMP!   Camp Iwannascrap starts today!  If you'd like to check out Scrappin' Peeps you can do so here.  It's a private board, so you'll need to be approved by admin, but we love to welcome new peeps to the board!

Welcome campers (and anyone else who happens to find this post)!  Today for our Water Wonders Unit we will be playing with Twinkling H2Os!  This is my first time making a video, so let me know how it is -- especially if there are areas I can improve on.  I should warn you that my Tremors were really having a field day while I made this, so please excuse my shaky hands.  :)