This can be a messy process so wear old top or an apron and a pair of gloves to protect clothing and hands …. just in case you are like me … a right royal messer….

you need

white cardstock,

food colouring ( your own colour choice)

a thick wad of paper to protect your benchtop…(I used brown paper)

a spritzer bottle or a tap…

and drag out the iron

clean sheets of paper ( the white paper bags are perfect )

Step #1

spread out paper , spray or placecardstock under a running tap to thouroughly dampen

Step #2

screw dampened paper into a ball

Step # 3

carefully open out crumpled paper, scatter spots of selected colours

Step #4

mist with water or quickly place it under the tap, recrumple and open out

step #5

add some more spots of colour,

Step #6

remist, crumple & open out

be very gentle as the cardstock can become fragile

I now gently spread some colour with my gloved hands

Step #7

leave sit for a while on a dry pad of paper, when it has dried out a little place between two white paper bags and iron dry

there is no limit to how many colours you use

I hope you enjoy playing with this technique

my LO using my dyed paper … TFL

Hi there and welcome to the Custom Made Patterned Paper and Cardstock Tutorial.
I will show you how easy it is to make your own patterned paper and cardstock using stamps and ink. This is also a great way to jazz patterned paper that may just need that something extra added to it.

First of all gather all the supplies you will need, stamps of your choice, ink pads, acrylic blocks, patterned paper and cardstock.

Here I have started using a fairly plain piece of patterned paper with some Staz-On Ink and a vine like stamp to create a border around the whole outside edge.


To create an effect similar to this piece of patterned paper

You need to use a few different coloured inks and a few different types of stamps.
I have started with a plain pink cardstock

and I have used a few different coloured and types of inks, a flourish stamp, a script stamp and a small border stamp.

Next I wanted a border for a card, instead of using just the plain cardstock background, I used a white ink and a flourish stamp, stamped all different ways around the very edge.

Here is my finished card using the base cardstock with the stamped border.

I hope I have given you a few tips on how easy it is to jazz up your patterned paper and cardstock and also how to custom make plain paper and cardstock. Thanks for looking, happy scrapping and stamping!!
Tarrah

Making your own chipboard buttons is so quick and easy. There are so many ways that you can decorate them. Try painting, inking, embossing, covering with cardstock, pattern paper, fabric, felt, glitter, Mod Podged napkins. You can even leave them raw and tied up with string for a more rustic look. They make fabulous flower centres or just use them on their own. Whatever way you use them, they will be perfectly co-ordinated because you made them yourself!

Here are a few examples of different techniques so you can give it a go.

Pattern Paper and Cardstock

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Simply punch circles from pattern paper and cardstock. Stick down on chipboard and then cut them out once the glue is totally dry. Sand the edges for a smooth finish. Ink the edges and punch the ‘button holes’ in the centre. You can use a ‘real’ button as a template to mark where to put the holes. Glossy Accents or Dimensional Magic can be used over the top for a shiny finish.

Dry EmbossingHeat Embossing

Try covering your chipboard buttons in Core’dinations cardstock and then running them through a Cuttlebug in an embossing folder. Sand lightly to reveal the core colour.

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Use embossing ink to stamp an image onto a cardstock covered button. Working quickly, sprinkle over some embossing powder. Shake off the excess and then apply heat with a heat gun until the powder is set.

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For a variation on this, try embossing with a thick clear embossing powder directly onto the raw chipboard. Once set, use a sponge to rub ink into the chipboard.

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Mod Podged Napkin

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Most napkins are 3 ply so to start with remove the 2 white sheets at the back. Apply a layer of Mod Podge onto some white cardstock and then lay the napkin over it, patting down to remove any air pockets. Apply another coat of Mod Podge over the top and set aside to dry. Once dry, glue your chipboard buttons onto the reverse side and then cut out. Sand and ink the edges.

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Here is an example of how chipboard buttons can be incorporated into a card…..and just in time for Mothers’ Day too!!!

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Flowers using techniques of Paper Tole

Tools required:

2 Pieces of the same patterned paper.

Sharp scissors

Foam tape.

• Choose Patterned paper with a clear defined flower/s of you choice. I have used Kaisercraft Peachy Keen Rad. You will need two of the same patterned papers.

• Cut out the Whole Flower in one piece from the patterned paper. Then cut out the same flower from the second patterned paper.
• On only 1 flower cut out all the petals & leaves so they are in different pieces.

• To assmble, start in the middle of the flower and work out. Use foam tape to give dimension and use your fingers to put a slight fold in each petal/leaves. Place each petal on a slight slant to give a 3D effect. Leave the outside petals of the flower flat and the stem.

• If you have more of the same patterned paper, you can add more layers if you wish.
• My layout below using the flowers I made.

Read the rest of this entry »

Requirements:

Sheet of Acetate

Printed Serviettes

Mod Podge ( I use Matte )

Foam Brush

Scissors

There are many paper serviettes around and I really love the idea of using them on my layouts, cards or mini books.

Step 1.

Take your serviette and cut out the section you wish to use. Don’t cut the pattern out at this stage…it’s easier to do this once the serviettes is pasted to the acetate.

Step 2.

There are usually three layers and we want to use the very top layer. Very carefully ( as it’s very fragile ) pull the layers apart.

Step 3.

Take your acetate and brush with Mod Podge. Adhere your layer of serviette over the top and brush with another layer of Mod Podge. Let dry. It doesn’t matter if the paper crinkles…it all adds to the effect.

Step 4.

When dry cut it out and use however you wish.

Hope you enjoyed this little tutorial.

Love Phillipa.

A mask is a stencil like tool used to apply a design to a surface using different types of mediums.

Examples of different mediums you can use for masking but not limited to are paints, inks, chalks, texture paste and Glimmermist.

While there are plenty of manufactured masks around now you can easily make your own masks from things in your stash. Materials like lace cardstock, paper doilies, flowers, chipboard alphas and shapes, die-cuts, wire and mesh can all be used for making inexpensive masks.

I will show you how to get a few different masked looks using different mediums and different masks.

Below I have used a chipboard shape with some acrylic paint

Gently remove the shape to reveal the masked shape underneath

Below I have used a Heidi Swapp Mini Mask with acrylic paint. The Heidi Swapp masks are slightly sticky on one side so it adheres a little to your project and allows for no movement when applying the medium, it then comes off very easily and you just wash and re-use. The butterfly one below is an example of using the mask first with the paint and then I turned the actual mask over and stamped the mask down as it had some left over paint still usable on it.

Here I have used a paper doily with Tattered Angels Glimmermist, it is a good idea when doing this one to have a little double sided tape stuck under the doily and on to your project as these will move when you mist.

You can then gently lift off the doily to reveal the pretty effect the doily leaves

On this next one I have used Glimmermist again with a Tim Holtz mask. These masks are the same as the Heidi Swapp ones being slightly sticky on one side…much easier to use. Gently lift to reveal your mask shape.

Again I had left over Glimmermist so I stamped the opposite side of the image with the remaining Glimmermist. Wash mask with water and re-use when dry.

This time I have used a chipboard shape with ink.

If you plan to use the chipboard piece on your project then choose a colour to suit your project because when you mask with the raw chipboard you essentially are colouring your chipboard piece as well. You can see below that I have used a raw shape, masked with it and coloured it at the same time. I have used this shape on a layout below.

So you can see how easy it is to do masking…it gets a little messy at times but is well worth the effort.

Here are the layouts that I have used masking on. ’Paris’ is using the paper doily and Glimmermist technique. I have used ‘Pearl’ Glimmermist, very effective on black cardstock.

‘Precious Memories’ is the layout I added the chipboard shape that I used earlier on.

I have masked the shape again and then adhered it slightly covering the masking.

I hope I have given you a little insight as to how to do masking…it really is quite simple when you get going with it. You can get some great results as well.

Happy masking!!

Distressed edges on your layouts is such a simple but effective technique. You can use distressed edges on a multitude of layout styles, from heritage, masculine, feminine and fresh&funky. Sometimes the subtle look of distressed edges can really lift a layout.

There are a couple of tools that are very handy in creating your distressed edges on paper, cardstock and photo edges.

I always have my distressing tool and also an emery board handy, as well as my metal ruler.
To create distressed edges on papers and cardstock:
1. Either cut or tear the paper along a ruler edge.
2. Run the distressing tool along the paper edge to give a roughened up appearance.
3. You can run ink along the edge, choose whichever colour suits your layout best.
4. To add extra distressing, tear small pieces into the edge, and also tear out small pieces randomly.

To create distressed edges on photos:
1. An emery board or a piece of fine sand paper is perfect for this job.
2. Hold the photo so the edge is in line with edge of your work desk.
3. Gently run the emery board along the edge of the photo randomly to give an aged look.
4. You can ink along the edges of the photo too if you desire.

Tearing the paper or cardstock either free hand or using a ruler with a tearing edge, and then inking and/or curling the edge is another way of getting a great distressed edge.

Enjoy getting distressed!!!!!

Ness has some beautiful new foam stamps in store right now. I couldn’t resist, and bought the Prima Tree Stamp by Donna Downey – it is totally gorgeous, and comes on it’s own clear acrylic backing board. I had the chance to try it out this weekend, so thought I would share what I did, and how I did it…

You will need:

• Paint tray (I use ice-cream lids),
• Foam roller, or foam brush
• Scrap paper (for trial runs)
• Card stock/patterned paper/canvas to stamp onto
• Paint rag for clean-up

Firstly, I wanted to try the stamp using regular stamp ink. The stamped image was not a full colour block, it was a little faint, so I would only recommend using ink if you want a quick and easy image, or perhaps just a faint background print.

So next, I got out the paint. To apply the paint to the stamp, I used a foam roller. A foam brush would work just as well, probably a little more fiddly, but with less wastage.

Start with a few trial runs on scrap paper, just to get an idea of how thick you want the paint, and how to apply pressure. Apply the paint evenly over the foam surface of the stamp. You need to work quickly with acrylic paint, as it dries quickly, and you do not want the paint to dry on your stamp. If you want more time, try resting the stamp face down on a damp cloth or wet paper towel in-between stamps. Do a few trial stamps on your scrap paper. It is important to use a completely flat surface so that you get even pressure over the stamp. Hold the stamp in place for a few seconds, while you apply even pressure over the back of the stamp.

Once you are happy with your technique, you can go ahead and stamp your image.

Clean up by rinsing under water, and dry straight away using a clean, dry cloth. I finished off by leaving my stamp in the sun for a little while to make sure it was completely dry.

Once you are comfortable with the process, you can try a few different techniques. For a whimsical look, I used a thick coat of white paint, and smudged the image as I applied it. Once it was dry, I applied a combination of green and yellow paint, and stamped a clean image over the top of the white smudged image.

Here are some other techniques you might like to try with your stamp:

• Stamp the image on the back of your patterned paper, and cut out the design, then use the cut-outs on your layout
• Use a pen, or some stitching over the top of the stamped image to highlight the design
• Try using fabric paint, and stamping your image onto fabric
• Use ink to stamp the image on a canvas, and dry-brush a variety of colours over the top of the image to create a soft background effect
• Paint directly onto your stamp using a variety of colours for some beautiul effects. Check out what Donna herself has created here and here.

Don’t forget to give your trial runs to the kids so they can create their own masterpieces!

And here’s the layout I created with my new foam stamp.

Hello everyone !! So today Im going to share a few of my favourit techniques on how to make your own flowers that Ive found while surfing the net ! There are so many out there on the web to explore and try and I would like to Thank all the talented ladies out there that share them with us !

So these are a few of my favourits !!

Have fun !!!

xx Tina

Hi everyone,

Today, will show you a cool project here, how to Transfer an image with Gel medium BUT…. on fabric.

I’ve learnt this technique about 3 or maybe 4 years ago at an Altered book class with Jo BAthie. That’s while talking to Rob (another lady who was doing this class), that she helped me to make this technique ‘perfect’ on FABRIC. Loooove the result of it ….

What you need is:

*a brayer

*Gel Medium (found in Art shop supplies) (but i’m sure in lots of scrapbooking places, you can find those bits and pieces)

*a photocopy of a photo (they say IT MUST BE a photocopy …something to do with the ink in the photocopy machine…)however the transfer can be done with images from magazines as well…(make sure no writing…since the image will be transfered back-to-front though !!

*piece of fabric (since there’s a photo, it’s a good idea to use a plain fabric ie: calico)

Method:

Apply a coat of Gel Medium over your photocopied photo, then over your piece of fabric.

Put them together (face down) and use your brayer so that it removes all possible air bubbles. Leave to dry overnight.

When completely dry (overnight), drop this in water and start rubbing away the paper (gently otherwise the ink can also be rubbed off)…

Then… leave it to dry. Image should be nice and clear. If it appears cloudy when it dries, put it back in water and rub gently away the paper. leave to dry… your image is ready to be used…

Now being a paste and completely dry, the beauty of it is that…. it’s pretty much waterproof ! and also flexible to stitch over it. Trim the un-wanted part of calico and do what you want !!

i’ve done a personalised bag here… ’scrapbooking style’ and very cool item to wear !! …and voila !!!

HOPE TO SEE lots of cool stuffs with this technique girls !! another bag ?? or tote ?? or… even a t-shirt ?? wink wink

Have a great week !! Brigitte G.