Techniques - Page 3

Take a sheet of labels and color the background (sponge, stipple, brayer, etc.)
Stamp image(s) - can use just one large image, or make a collage
Peel the backing off of HALF the top row of labels and fold down. (This is easiest to do if the labels are face down on the table)
Carefully stick the top half of the labels to complimentary card stock and pull backing off the rest of labels IN THAT ROW ONLY.
Repeat with the remainder of the rows, trying to line up each new row so that's it's evenly spaced from the row above.
Optional: rub the entire piece with clear embossing ink and clear emboss. Once will leave a "nubby" texture, or you can repeat until piece is smooth.
If you computer generate images, print the images first and then add the color. I found that the laser toner doesn't stick to the color

Masks

Stamp image onto card, and then stamp the same image onto scrap paper
Carefully cut out the scrap paper image (this is your mask)
Lay the scrap paper image over the image stamped onto your card
Stamp the next image onto the card, with a portion of the stamp covering the mask
The second image will appear to be behind the first image
NOTE: If you don't cut the mask close enough to the edge, you will have a "halo" around your first image
NOTE: In some cases, you may have to cover parts of your card with scrap paper to avoid stamping an image where you don't want it

Tear pieces of masking tape at various angles and attach to background cardstock
Sponge ink over entire surface
Spray with Acrylic sealer

Couldn't be easier! I used Tea Dye Distress Ink first, putting a heavy coat on. I then sponged with red, green, and yellow pigment ink. The colors are very subtle, and you can probably spray your first layer with Fixative, and then apply additional layers of color if you want deeper colors. Snow Davidson did a gorgeous piece on SSReflections ezine using brown shoe polish - click here to see her example - it's the fifth on the page.

Mix a nickle-size drop of white glue in 2 oz of water and mix well.
Lay a rubber stamp rubber side up on a bunch of newspaper
Tear 8 individual sheets of toilet tissue
Lay one piece of tissue on the rubber stamp and dip a stipple brush into the glue mixture. Dab all over the stamp, making sure the paper sticks into all the crevices of the stamp
Repeat for all 8 sheets, brushing the glue mixture around the paper that "drapes" over the stamp
Carefully remove the paper from the stamp and leave on newspaper, right side up, to dry
Image can be colored or left plain, and the edges are easy to tear.
Technique found on the Hero Arts web site

Choose a color scheme and pick patterned and plain colored paper to match. (A great source is photos from magazines mixed with card stock). I used pinks, purples and gold for mine.
Tear the various papers into different shapes and glue to 8 1/2 x 11" piece of any color card stock. Pieces should overlap and none of the stock should show through. Press under a heavy book overnight so piece dries straight.
Stamp any images onto the collage and emboss in gold. I used Italian Poetry stamps as well as All Night Media's Celestial set.
Cut paper into even sized strips, and then cut crosswise to make squares. I used 2" squares, but you can make them smaller. Use a paper cutter for even size blocks, or measure carefully on the reverse side of the collage and cut with scissors.
Lay the blocks out in the most pleasing pattern and glue to complimentary card stock.

Measure the opening you want to fill with your woven paper
Cut enough strips, any width you like, to extend about 1" past all sides of the opening. (If you have a 3" opening, and cut 1/2" strips, you need 8 strips - 8 x 1/2" = 4" - 1" larger than opening)
Cut the same number and width of strips from a contrasting color
Line up all of one color strips on a surface that you can tape to. Make sure they are touching, but not overlapping, and tape tops to the surface.
Take one strip of contrasting paper and weave it over and under the strips that are taped. Snug it up as close as you can to the top.
Take the second strip of contrasting paper and weave it under and over the strips. Repeat until finished.
Making sure all strips are even, run a strip of tape along the edges of the woven piece. Don't tape it to the surface.
Lift from the surface, fold the tape at the top over, and trim the piece to fit in the opening. (You may need to place another piece of tape along the edges, closer to the center, so when you trim you don't trim all the tape off)

Print Template onto any color card stock and cut out
Cut out small square in center
Decorate the front of the box
Cut a piece of cardstock a little larger than the square opening and print or stamp your verse or a design and set aside
Lay box face DOWN and outline square opening with double-sided tape
Cut a piece of acetate a little larger than the opening and press onto tape
Cut strips of foam tape and attach, framing the window. Make sure there are no gaps where the tape joins at each corner
Pour a small amount of beads on the acetate
Press the small square of cardstock previously put aside, FACE DOWN, to cover the foam tape and press
Fold the edges of the box along the dotted lines of the template and tape the back
Suzanne Glazier from Penny Wise Arts was kind enough to post her shaker template at the SSReflections ezine - here's a link to her page - the template is about halfway down the page:

Squirt some cheap shaving cream onto a cookie sheet in a rectangle as large as your card (I use half sheets of card stock)
Smooth the shaving cream (like frosting a cake)
Dot the shaving cream with acrylic paints or reinkers, using up to three colors
With the handle of a large paintbrush or wooden spoon, swirl the paint together (after a little practice, you learn how much to swirl - too little and there's not a lot of design on your paper; too much, and the colors get muddy)
Lay the paper on top of the shaving cream and press down a little to be sure the entire card surface makes contact with the shaving cream
Pick up the paper from one edge and slowly lift (a lot of the shaving cream will come with)
Lay paper on newspaper and take a straight edge (spatula or I use a metal edge ruler). Start on one corner of the paper and scrap the shaving cream off, sweeping the ruler to the opposite corner. Try to do this in one step - if you stop in the middle, you may get some extra lines you don't want.
Let paper dry and use to layer, or stamp on.
For one of the best step-by-step instructions with pictures of this technique, go to (info to come)

(this is Techniques page 3)

Techniques: 1    2    3    4

Clay Techniques: 1    2

Digital Techniques: 1    2    3    4    5    6    7