“Just Because” card by Beatriz Jennings

This fresh and lovely card would make a sweet and thoughtful gift that would brighten anyone’s day!

Bety used “Just Because” , one of the many heartfelt sentiments from the Sent With Love art stamp set.

Detail of embossed vellum designer paper

Bety has created a very special layer on her card by clear embossing a Butterfly Collector stamp on clear vellum.

This adds a soft textural dimension that begs to be touched. Here’s another view…

Close-up of clear embossing on clear vellum

This embossing technique is perfect on this vintage card. For more details, see Bety’s blog, “iralamija “.

Here’s another pretty example that Bety made using Vintage Roses embossed in white on pink vellum.

Detail of white embossing on pink vellum

It’s quick and easy to create these fabulous custom designer papers!

I hope you’re inspired to try embossing on vellum with Layers of Color stamps!

For more unique ideas visit our art galleries, Facebook and Flicker!

May your days be filled with layers of color,

Layers of Color Guest Designer

for December,

Heather Jensen!

Card by Heather Jensen

Mmm, what a delicious card…like mint chip ice cream with whipped cream! I love the gentle colors, and the softness of the seam binding bow and the  butterfly (from Butterfly Collector art stamp set).

Heather used a special dryer sheet technique for this look. It’s  like a lovely morning fog over the garden. A feminine card with an old vintage quality. Beautiful card in every detail!

Welcome, Heather! It’s a joy to have you on board this month! This is a marvelous way to start your guest designing with us! I’m looking forward to each Wednesday with joyful anticipation!

Please visit Heather’s blog, “Simply Handmade by Heather“, for more lovely inspiring projects…and to find out how she created this wonderful effect!

Colorful blessings to everyone today,

Splashes of vibrant colors spilling all over the paper…getting inky with sunny orange, joyous pink and calming greens…what fun! This tutorial shows you how to easily make your own Splash Paper, which is perfect for all your colorful creative paper projects.

MATERIALS:

• White card stock 80 – 120lb
• Tsukineko Memento 0.5oz re-inker bottles in your choice of 3 colors (For this tutorial I used ~ Tangelo 200,Rosebud 400 ~ Pear Tart 703 ~ 2 warm colors and 1 cool color)
• Spray mist  bottle filled with water
• Paper towels
• Oven and iron ~ optional

On a protected surface, stack 2 sheets of white card stock on top of each other and lay them down on your surface. You will be creating 2 pieces of Splash Paper at the same time. You add color to the top sheet and the bottom sheet will automatically get created at the same time as it absorbs the ink from the paper above it.

With the Memento re-inker bottle in one hand and the spray mist bottle in the other, squeeze both at the same time (gently on the ink). As the drops of ink land on the paper, spray water on the ink causing the ink to spread out. Repeat this over the entire sheet of paper.

As the paper gets soaked with water, dab with paper towels to absorb the puddles.

Continue inking and spraying over the entire sheet of paper. Dab well with paper towels.

This left side shows the paper that was underneath and the right side shows the paper that was inked. It’s great to get two from one project! I’ve tried three, but it doesn’t absorb enough ink to create an lovely effect like these.

Let dry flat overnight or put on the oven rack for 10minutes at 250 degrees. Once dry they will have curled edges. I iron mine flat with a hot iron on cotton setting.

TIP: You can also dry and use the paper towels as a colorful, affordable and interesting texture to add to your projects.

Splash Paper Gallery

Card and Door Gem samples made with Splash Papers featuring Memento ink and Layers of Color art stamps

Show as slideshow or click a pic to zoom

Splash Paper - Memento inks: Pear Tart, Tangelo and Rosebud.

Door Gem - Memento inks: Pear Tart, Tangelo and Rosebud. Dotted Delights and Flowering Gems art stamp sets

Door Gem detail - Memento inks: Pear Tart, Tangelo and Rosebud. Dotted Delights and Flowering Gems art stamp sets

Splash Paper - Memento inks: Pear Tart, Grape Jelly and Bahama Blue.

Door Gem - Memento inks: Cottage Ivy, Lulu Lavender and Denube Blue. Backyard Birds art stamp set

Door Gem detail - Memento inks: Cottage Ivy, Lulu Lavender and Denube Blue. Backyard Birds art stamp set

Card detail - Under the Sea art stamp sets

Door Gem - Memento inks: Grape Jelly, Bahama Blue and Pear Tart. Architectural Blocks art stamp set

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Door Gems are cut from card stock (3 from 81/2X11), edge punch bottom, circle punch top, decorate and distress with Memento inks and markers. Add sparkle with a spray mist of Tsukineko’s Shimmer Spritz!

May all your creative projects be splashed with Layers of Color,

Melisa Waldorf!

Altered Flower Pot by Melisa Waldorf

Melisa’s talents and creative ideas are a perfect match with Layers of Color art stencils and art stamps. This altered flower pot is a great example! She used Nature Walk art stamps for the flowers and leaves in this gorgeous and unique paper art gift. I love the dynamic coloring, playful polka dots and joyful music!

Altered Box by Melisa Waldorf

This altered box is another treasure created by Melisa. What a wonderful gift! She used Vintage Roses art stamps as the focal point on the box top. Beautiful!

Please visit Melisa’s blog, Art From my Heart, to see more details of these delightful projects! And come back here each Wednesday in July for more creative inspiration from Melisa Waldorf!

Welcome, Melisa! You’re a marvelous addition to the team this month!

I’ve started making a mixed media Bird Book recently. The plan is to make each page from heavy felt and then stitch them together. I found an old book atlas at a thrift store for the background of this page. I put Elegant Touch art stencil on top of the atlas and sprayed over them with Tsukineko’s colored Walnut Inks. When I removed the art stencil it left the outline. The result reminds me of a decorative compass.

I added a star decorative stitch which is designed to have a row of stars, one after the other. I chose to stitch one star and then move the needle to a different location for the next star, and so on. I like this look as it resembles tracking a trip. I chose to add some sparkle by layering metallic netting under the atlas.

I stamped Touch of Elegance art stamp on the bird and the background. Notice this art stamp set is the same design as Elegant Touch art stencil. Fleur Heart art stamp is also stamped off the page. Again I stitched along the right side, this time with another decorative stitch. The bird is cut out of a thrift store bird book. All the pages of my book will have birds from this found treasure.

To make the flower I stacked two Spellbinder’s Scalloped Circles made from the atlas pages and snipped them towards the center to create petals. The coin replica came from a thrift store belt. Then I stitched the flower over a remnant of metallic trim. The crown stamp is from the Regal Wings art stamp set.

I’ve enjoyed the process of creating the first page of my felt Bird Book. I love combining several passions and favorites in one piece. The next page is already complete! I’ll share that with you in the near future. Until then…

May God richly bless you with many satisfying experiences in your artistic journey,

Black and White Flower Pot Card

This paper card is made very similar to the Paper Garden Card from my last post. The main difference is in how I created the leaves and the flower. I used VersaFine Onyx Black on white paper. You can create a tag and tie it around the stem and give it as a gift. Imagine all the colors and fun you could have making many of these! No “green thumb” needed!

I stamped the leaves from Layers of Color Nature Walk art stamps and then enlarged them on the copy machine 225%, cut them out and glued them to the base.

Alternate Card

This alternate card has a simple pot and hand drawn leaves. It has a lovely fine shimmer as I featured Ink Potion No. 9 on the entire card.

Side View

The card stands on its own like a picture frame, using ribbon and cardboard.

Back View

I used recycled cardboard for the base, which is cut as one piece. The stand is cut separately and glued on with the ribbon. If you make it as a gift and want the entire back to match in color, spray paint the entire back and stand before gluing together.

Paper Flower

Layers of Color Polka Dot Love art stamps are stamped on white cardstock, cutout and glued to the base. I added a clear plastic dot over the “Thank U”.

Alternate Flower

Look how pretty the colors and shimmer enhances this flower! VersaFine Onyx Black stamps right on top of the Ink Potion No. 9. I used a metal button for the center.

Paper Flower Pot

Layers of Color Garden Borders makes a beautiful pot rim. Layers of Color Polka Dot Love dots and sentiment decorate the pot. To create the illusion of roundness to the pot, sponge black ink lightly on the edges.

Thank U 4 visiting today!

Polka Dot Love

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Tsukineko has just released a really fun new product called, Ink Potion No. 9. It’s a mix-your-own color and sparkle spray that can also be applied directly to paper with their pen applicator called, Fantastix. Isn’t the superfine sparkle lovely!!

Paper Garden

Out of white foam core board I cut out the pot, leaves, stem, and a circle at the top of the stem. They’re all cut as one piece. I sprayed various colors of Ink Potion No. 9 on white cardstock, stamped in black ink with Layers of Color Polka Dot Love art stamps and cut them out. I then bent them slightly, stacked and glued them together making a colorful bloom! I glued on a metal button as a flower center. I set this aside as I decorated the pot and leaves.

I used a Stencil Method to decorate the pot. I sprayed it with a pretty blue Ink Potion No. 9. Then I cut punched out circles from cardstock and laid them on top of the pot and sprayed it again with brown. When I removed the circles there were blue polka dots! Black Sharpie marker was used to edge and define the shape of the pot.

For the leaves I used the Fantastix to dip into the Ink Potion No. 9 colors and “paint” them on. The brush tip works well for the larger areas of color and the bullet point tip makes easy polka dots. Black Sharpie marker was used to edge and define the leaves.

I added a gift tag (also sprayed with color) to create a delightful gift for Susan at Tsukineko.

Stenciling Method Using Ink Potion No. 9

Here’s a background page I created using a Stencil Method with Ink Potion No. 9. It’s really fun, and easier than it looks! I made a stencil out of cardstock by cutting a circle in the center of the page. I laid it down on my paper surface and sprayed it with IPN9. I made a few spheres of each color, overlapping them for visual color blending. The results is like a candy shop of color!! This background page can now be stamped and cut to your wildest dreams! (See above flower as an example)

Close Up of Stenciled Background Paper

You can get an idea of the superfine sparkle that happens with Ink Potion No. 9. But, as taking photographs of glittering surfaces is difficult, this isn’t even close to the “ohh” and “aww” that you express when you see the actual effect in person! Try it, I know you’ll LOVE it as much as I do!!

Easter in Paris

The Paris stamps (Cavallini) added a European touch to this Easter card. I love the Easter symbolism shown of the Royal Bird rising up in front of the Gothic Cross, which reminds me of Jesus’ resurrection.

Background Paper

The beautiful background is easy to create. I used a simple straw colored paper that had some striations in it (Memory Stor – Costco). Randomly stamp all over with Creative Flourish and Turquoise Gem (Versa Magic) ink. Rub Mango Madness (Versa Magic) and Magenta (Versa Color) ink pads directly on the paper. Wow, what a colorful difference!

Background Paper Detail

Allow some of the paper color to show and use varied pressure when applying the inks to achieve this distressed effect.

Background Paper on Card

After cutting the background paper to size, distress the edges with the Mango Madness and Magenta inks. Stitch with turquoise thread. Use Turquoise Gem ink to distress the edges of a larger piece of straw colored paper. Stitch along edge of paper without thread to create the holes.

Card Detail

I used the masking technique to get the cross behind the bird. Stamp the Royal Bird on a piece of paper and cut it out around the general outline (this is your mask). Stamp the bird again on white cardstock with black ink and place the bird mask directly on top. You can hold it down or use a post-it note. Ink the Gothic Cross with black ink but first stamp it lightly on a piece of scrap paper to lighten the effect. Stamp a second time, this time on top of the bird mask. When you lift away the bird mask the cross will appear to be behind the bird. I love this technique! You can leave the mask in place as you stamp the words on the background.

Color in the leaves with colored pencil to match the ink color. Cut the paper to size and stitch with turquoise thread to background paper. When the card is finished, apply Glossy Accents Dimensional Medium (Ranger) over bird, let dry.

Buckle Close Up

The buckle is made of brown cardstock punched or cut into an oval. Cut or punch slots. (Or use Cuttlebug oval buckle die) Stamp Fleur Heart in black ink. Cover with Glossy Accents Dimensional Medium, let dry. String ribbon or trim through buckle and staple to card.

Decorated Soap Gift

Here’s a lovely Easter gift. I wrapped a bar of soap (this one is Irish Spring in a box) with pretty papers and embellished it in fine European fashion. I was inspired by a box of soap my friend recently brought back from France for me. I matched the design and techniques used on the card.

Background Paper

The wrapping is made with plain mailing paper stamped with Creative Flourish and Turquoise Gem ink. Wrap it around the soap just as you would wrap any present, taping it closed. Using Mango Madness and Magenta inks, rub the all the edges with the pad to add the sunset effect. Make a paper (copy paper) strip smaller than the soap and tear the edges. Decorate it to match the card without coloring in the leaves and not adding the glossy medium. Make another buckle like the card and tie it to the gift then wrap the bird paper around the box and glue.

Gift Detail

Because the buckle is made out of paper it slightly wraps around the edges of the box. These are so pretty they are not really meant to be opened and used. I’ve stacked three soaps and wrapped them together as well. Mine are very pretty decorations on a bathroom shelf. Make several, as you’ll want to give them away and keep some for yourself! Enjoy!

Have a colorful day!

Accordion Book

I had great fun doing an art stamp demonstration at Bellevue Art & Frame recently. They are one of the newest retail locations that offer my new art stamp line, Layers of Color art stamps. I demonstrated how to use clear art stamps, stamping techniques like masking, and sharing many creative project ideas with other artists. Being surrounded by so much enthusiasm was uplifting!

This week I’m sharing my demonstration with those of you who couldn’t make it to the store in Washington state. Today, I’ll show you the accordion book made to showcase Layers of Color art stamps.

Inside of Open Book Displaying Tags & ATCs

This folded accordion book features various cut-outs on each page which create decorative pockets to hold tags, ATC’s, etc. It’s made with 28″ X 22″ poster board, which can be purchased at office supply, art supply and some pharmacy stores.

Front Side of Book

Pretty designs are revealed on the inside of the pockets when they are empty. This book uses Layers of Color Royal Birds, Old World Flourish, Beaded Frames, Fleur Heart, Nature Walk, Architectural Blocks and Dotted Delights art stamp sets. All inks used in this project are by Tsukineko. I’ve added color by rubbing ink pads on the poster board and highlighted with white opaque gel pen. Details are created with studs, eyelets, brads and decorative scissors. The scalloped circle on the left pocket turns like a wheel with a brad as the pivot. As it turns it reads, “Hip Hip Hurray!”, “Yippee!”, and “LOL!” (Polka Dot Parade art stamps).

Back Side of Book

The back side of the accordion book is also decorated with direct-ink-to-paper technique and stamped with Layers of Color Nature Walk, Creative Flourish, Dotted Delights, & Renaissance Hearts art stamp sets. The covers are made with recycled cardboard edged in foil tape (hardware stores). The tape was cut with scalloped decorative scissors, applied to the edges, embossed with a pencil and then the indentations were colored in with a black Sharpie marker.

Pattern For Accordion Book

This shows the pattern for the accordion book. It’s fan-folded. Some of the pocket edges were made with punches, one was a torn edge and others were cut and folded.The full width of the paper is 19 1/4″. Each pocket section is 3 1/4″ wide and 4 1/4″ tall. This means that the entire poster board needs to be cut 19 1/4″ X 8 1/2″. Fold in half lengthwise, then make five even fan folds (alternating folding left to right at 3 1/4″). Punch, cut, fold, and tear top of each pocket.

Folded Accordion Book

Decorate both sides with inks, stamps, embellishments and fold lengthwise to close. Glue ends to decorated cardboard covers that are a quarter inch larger than ends, (3 1/2″ X 4 1/2″covers) . Be sure to sandwich some ribbon between them if you want to tie the book closed.

Standing Book on Display

This would make a fabulous gift filled with love coupons, photos, ephemera, or verses & scripture for a special occasion. The tags and ATC’s that I made demonstrating various techniques, will be posted throughout the week.

This is a fun project with many creative possibilities! Enjoy, and may you have a colorful week!

In the following examples I’ve shown just a few of the vast ideas possible with the Architectural Blocks art stamp set. Come get inspired by the fabulous artwork of talented artists by visiting our newest art gallery!

Clear Tag

Card by Denise

Pincushion by Heather

Artwork by Hermine

Gothic Arch Background by Karen