This is a fun and easy project that will spruce up your wardrobe, or make a fabulous gift! I purchased a Rayon scarf from a second hand shop that was solid green, w/o pattern. A little craft paint and Layers of Color art stencils added the splash of decorative color! I wear it with a turquoise blouse, either around my neck or in my hair.

Materials:

• Scarf
• Layers of Color Natural Flourish and Belle Brocade art stencils
• Acrylic craft paint (turquoise and apple green)
• Fabric medium
• Wedge make up sponge
• Newspaper or spare paper for underneath project
• Optional hairdryer

1. Lay down a stack of newspapers and put the scarf flat on top of the paper. Position the Natural Flourish art stencil on top of the scarf.
2. Mix craft paint and fabric medium according to medium instructions. I didn’t use medium on my scarf, but it will allow the paint to be less stiff.
3. Using the wedge make up sponge, dab a light coat of mixed paint over the art stencil. Add a second layer of paint if necessary.
4. Lift the scarf off of the paper and dry with a hair dryer before moving on to the next area. Don’t allow the scarf to dry on the paper or it will stick to it.
5. Repeat with Belle Brocade art stencil, using a portion of the stencil design.

TIPS:

It’s best to clean the stencil between applications. It’s easier to clean the stencil when the paint is wet, and you’ll be less likely to get paint seeping under the stencil. Change paper between stencil use as well.

I wore my stenciled scarf the day I made it! Try matching jeans, a bag or a hat,  too! What fun!

Have a colorful  and creative day,

Natural Flourish Art Stencil Tissue Box Tutorial

This decorative tissue box is easier than it looks, just a few simple steps from basic to beautiful!

MATERIALS

• Layers of Color Natural Flourish art stencil
• Acrylic craft or house paint (tan and dark brown)
• Paint brush
• Spackling Paste (hardware store)
• Flat wide knife for spreading (spackling, cheese spreader, or cake icing knife – or an old credit card)
• Firm sided tissue box

I used a wooden tissue box. It would work just as well on a firm cardboard, or plastic box. You could recycle one or find one at a thrift shop. If it has a shiny surface, just rough it up with sand paper so it accepts the paint well.

Paint the entire box with 1 – 2 coats of tan colored acrylic paint. Let dry.

You’ll need Spackling Paste, Natural Flourish art stencil and a spreading tool, (cake icing knife shown).

Put the tissue box on it’s side so that the surface you’re working on is horizontal. Lay the stencil on the tissue box. Spread the Spackling Paste evenly over the stencil. You can spread it very thin for a slightly raised effect, or very thick for a heavy raised effect. A thin layer tends to make a more crisp design, thicker is more rough and will take a little longer to dry. My example has an uneven layer with thick and thin areas.

Immediately after spreading the paste, (before it dries), gently and slowly lift off the stencil.

The remaining design can be touched up with a toothpick if desired. If it doesn’t turn out well, you can quickly wipe it all off with a paper towel, clean off the stencil, and re-spread the paste. Let this dry for the amount of time listed on the Spackling Paste container. Clean off stencil with water before paste dries.

Since this project has five sides to decorate (and it’s too hard to work vertically), I had to paste three sides then let it dry. Very gently lay it down on the dry paste side so you don’t chip the design.

Add another coat of tan colored paint. Let dry.

To add an aged antique look, mix dark brown colored acrylic paint with water. I used a raisin-sized dollop of paint to 2 Tablespoons of water, mix together. Paint this on the entire surface with a paint brush, one side at a time, keeping it heavy in the crevices. You can use any color paint on the tissue box to go with your decor, but always use dark brown to achieve this antique look.

While it still wet, wipe away some of the paint with a paper towel. Let dry.

Maybe this pretty tissue box will cheer you up next time you have a cold!

This Piece of Cake Tutorial has several steps, but is a easy as pie!

You can use it as a box to fill with goodies, or seal it shut and put it on a shelf as delicious eye candy.

MATERIALS

• White card stock
• Cake Box Template by Mirkwood Designs
• Scissors
• Bone Folder
• Ruler
• Ink pads; Versa Magic “Spring Pansy”, “Mango Madness”, “Thatched Straw” and  VersaFine “Imperial Purple”
• Clear acrylic block
• Makeup sponge or Finger Dauber
• Layers of Color Belle Brocade art stencil
• Layers of Color Flutterescent art stamp set
• Masking tape
• Glue
• Embellishments of choice (rhinestones, fancy yarn)
• Additional Materials for OPTIONAL Paper Doily:
• Scallop Edge decorative scissors
• Layers of Color Vintage Medallion art stencil

Print Cake Box Template from Mirkwood Designs on white card stock. Cut out along solid lines. Score along dash lines with a bone folder.

My favorite tools to use with LOC art stencils are make up sponges and Tsukineko’s Finger Daubers. I use Tsukineko ink exclusively as I find them to be the highest quality archival inks in a marvelous range of desirable colors.
Add ink in a graded shade to the sides of the cake pattern. I started with Thatched Straw then added Mango Madness along one edge.

Using Layers of Color Belle Brocade art stencil, masking tape off the section of the stencil that you don’t want to use. Here I’m using only the decorative border edge. Place it over the center of the inked sides and sponge Spring Pansy over the stencil. Before removing it, also sponge Imperial Purple just along the top edge, as shown in the photo.

This will give the design graduated color.

Repeat on all three sides. Make sure that the designs all face the center triangle so that they will be facing the same direction when you fold it into a box.

Ink the triangle sections with  a light touch of Mango Madness and then stencil over it with another coat of Mango Madness and Spring Pansy in the center.

Completed decorated cake box template.

Fold and glue the box together. You may choose to leave the top open to fill with goodies. In this case, you may wish to ink the inside as well before folding and adding glue.

To create the butterfly, use Flutterescent butterfly stamped and cut out twice. Notice that the paper is inked first with both yellow and orange. As shown in photograph, use both purples when inking the butterfly stamp. After cutting the butterfly out,  ink the back with the lighter purple, Spring Pansy.

Decorate your piece of cake with bling and fancy yarn.

To make the paper doily, sponge both purple inks over Vintage Medallion art stencil on white card stock. Then cut it out using scallop edge decorative scissors.

Enjoy your piece of cake!

For Mother’s Day I made this vintage style paper shoe

with hand-stamped designer paper made with Layers of Color art stamps.

Vintage Paper Shoe  (6″ long from heel to toe)

Paper shoe template is designed by Ellen Hutson.

I printed the pattern on ivory cardstock.  After cutting out the pattern I stamped each piece with Layers of Color Vintage Roses and Touch of Elegance stamp sets.  I used Martha Stewart decorative scallop edge punch on the heel and upper toe, then distressed the edges and assembled per instructions.  For Vintage Rose Designer Paper tutorial to match this project, see post below.

I placed the rose stamps across the toe like a garland. And added a wired beaded flower as an accent. Glitter would be a sparkling touch!

This vintage shoe makes a great gift container for a sachet, a small bag filled with treats, a note, or a diamond ring, I mean a special gift. You could make one for each place setting at a bridal shower! But this one is for a special mother on Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day! May you be showered with love and feel celebrated!

God Bless,

I designed these three vintage styled papers

for the Vintage Rose Paper Shoe that I made for Mother’s Day.

Wild Rose, Elegance and Rose Garland Designer Papers

(All papers shown are standard 8 1/2″ X 11″, cut in half)

MATERIALS:

• Layers of Color Art Stamps ~ Vintage Roses & Touch of Elegance
• Acrylic blocks
• Tsukineko Inks ~ VersaColor Ash Rose & Laurel Leaf
• VersaFine Crimson Red & Spanish Moss
• Ivory cardstock
• Makeup Sponge Applicators
• Small point paint brush

WILD ROSE DESIGNER PAPER

This designer paper is made with ivory cardstock, Layers of Color Vintage Roses art stamp set and Tsukineko ink. Ink the large solid rose with VersaColor Ash Rose, then immediately touch the edges on VersaFine Crimson Red ink pad. . .

. . .and stamp randomly all over the paper, varying the direction of the rose.

Use an old paint brush tapped on the Crimson Red ink pad to touch a deeper color on each rose center.

With VersaFine Spanish Moss and the leaf stamp, add greenery to the roses.

Notice that in some areas I inked only the leaves, or just one leaf. Stamp all leaves in various directions.

Using the medium and small solid rose stamps, fill in the blank areas between the large roses. Again, vary the direction of each rose. Notice that I didn’t use two colors this time, just Ash Rose.

Tap the center of all roses with Crimson Red ink.

It’s very pretty at this point and we could stop here.

But for all three papers to have unity, let’s add the same accent color to each one.

UseVersaColor Laurel Leaf, another soft vintage color.

Fill in the white areas using a makeup sponge applicator and gentle circular motions.

Voila! The soft watercolor look makes this Wild Rose designer paper perfect for any vintage project!

ELEGANCE DESIGNER PAPER

This designer paper is made with ivory cardstock, Layers of Color Touch of Elegance art stamp set and Tsukineko’s VersaColor Laurel Leaf  ink. Starting in the center of the paper, stamp vertically, repeatedly and close together until the paper is filled. Voila! Simple, quick and lovely!

ROSE GARLAND DESIGNER PAPER

This designer paper is made with ivory cardstock, Layers of Color Vintage Roses art stamp set and Tsukineko ink. First use VersaFine Crimson Red.

This stamp set is a clear polymer which has the versatile ability to be slightly flexible. So, in this project I applied the stamp to the pad and then opened up the garland a little, widened it so that it has less of an arch. This will allow the garlands to nest easier. . .

Continue this pattern to the bottom of the paper.

Inking only a portion of the rose garland, stamp over edge all along the paper on both sides.

This is a great Toile look, and we could stop here. But let’s continue adding more color. . .

With VersaColor Ash Rose and a makeup sponge applicator, softly fill in the roses.

Touch up the leaves with VersaFine Spanish Moss.

Fill in the white spaces with VersaColor Laurel Leaf.

Fini!

May your day be blessed with layers of color,