Another Inky Metals Piece

It is the last week of the theme "Getting Inky with Stencils". I couldn't let the month end without putting up just one more alcohol ink project.  This one was VERY easy, but uses just a slightly different technique.

MATERIALS:
Dreamweaver Stencil LX7014 Daisy Background
Dreamweaver Stencil LS1010  Happy Birthday
Manual Die Cut Machine  (I used Cuttlebug)
Stamping Details Embossing Mat
Mercart Metal Aluminum (any color--we will use the back)
Ranger Alcohol Ink in Watermelon and Denim
Craft Sheet
Sandpaper
Cardstock
Ribbon
Adhesive

DIRECTIONS:
1)  Use the manual die cut machine to emboss the metal.  This is the sandwich for the Cuttlebug:  A Plate, Stencil (face down), metal (silver side down), Details Embossing Mat, Two B Plates.  Emboss both stencils this way.
2)   Lay metal on craft sheet, silver (embossed) side up.  Drip the two colors of alcohol inks randomly onto metal.  Quickly swirl around the color a little by tipping the metal or by dipping a QTip into it and pushing it around.   Let dry.
3)  Sand the embossed pieces.
4)  Assemble.
This was as easy as can be.  You should give it a try.  If you do, photo it and either email it to Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com or upload it anywhere online and link it to the blog, www.dreamweaverstencils.blogspot.com.
This month we will have just a bit different twist on our monthly challenge ... we are letting you choose any stencil you would like as your prize if you win. Yep, any Dreamweaver stencil you "so desire". We will still have two winners, one for best interpretation of the challenge and one for best usage of Dreamweaver products.  Enter now, before it is too late!

A Crystal Fairy Princess Wand

Here is my latest post for Connie Crystal.  It is a crystal fairy wand, well in advance of Halloween.  for more pictures and directions, go check it out at the Connie Crystal Blog. 

I will show you how to dye your own crystals for a truly personalized project of any kind.  Check it out!

Inky Falling Leaves

 

So far, I have been "Getting Inky" this September with alcohol inks.  This week, just like the weather here in Michigan, I am in the mood for a change.  I am going with a simple embossing and inking strategy.  Here is how this simple card is made:

 

MATERIALS

Dreamweaver Stencil LL 3004 Falling Leaves

Dreamweaver Stencil LG 616 Leaf Texture

3 Dreamweaver Gold Handled Brushes

Stamping Details Rubber Embossing Mat

Manual Die Cut Machine with mats (I used the Cuttlebug)

Brown Core'dinations Color Core Paper

Ivory Cardstock

Ivory Parchment Cardstock

Fall Colored Yarn

Mini Mister filled with rubbing alcohol

Distress Ink in Mustard Seed

Distress Ink in Spiced Marmalade

Distress Ink in Barn Red

Distress Ink in Peeled Paint

Distress Ink in Pine Needles

Distress Ink in Tea Dye

Distress Ink in Walnut Stain

Blending Tool

Craft Sheet

Paper Towel

Sanding Block

 

DIRECTIONS:

1)  Spritz the back of the Core'dinations paper with rubbing alcohol and run through the embossing machine with Leaf Texture Stencil and Stamping Details Mat.  For the Cuttlebug, the sandwich is A Plate, stencil face down, Core'dinations paper face down, Details Mat, and two B Plates.  You will have to run this piece in two passes, because the stencil is smaller than the area needed.  Just move the stencil down and run it again.

2)  Follow step one again with parchment colored cardstock and the Falling Leaves Stencil.

3)  With the stencil still in place on the Falling Leaves part, you will be coloring with Distress Inks.  To start, use a Gold Handled Brush and pick up some of the Mustard Seed Color.  Brush a little off onto the paper towel and rub in circles over the areas you would like yellow.  Cover a little more area than you would like on all sides.  You will blend new colors into the yellow.

4)  Switch to a different Gold Handled Brush.  Follow the same procedure as step 3, but with Spiced Marmalade.  Brush out excess color when done.

5)  Use the same brush with Barn Door.

6)  Switch to a different Gold Handled Brush.  Following the same procedure, use Peeled Paint and then Pine Needles.

7)  Sand the top of the leaves on the brown cardstock and wipe with paper towel.

8)  Rip edges of brown cardstock and then brush them with the Walnut Stain.

9)  Put colored leaves on craft sheet.  Use foam and the blending tool to edge the parchment cardstock with Tea Dye ink.

10)  Assemble card.

 

I love how the Distress Inks worked on this card.  They were very vivid and blended extremely well.

If you want to give the Inky Challenge a try, you have until the end of the month to take a picture of your creation and either email it to Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com or upload it and link it to Mr. Linky at the www.dreamweaverstencils.blogspot.com .  Give it a try and you have the chance to win the stencil of your choice!  That's right, any stencil at all.  What do you have to loose?  Get inky with us!

Ectoplasmic Residue

Today, I am presenting some Halloween decorations made with Art Glitter products and Helmar Adhesives.  This one is a jar for Ectoplasmic Residue.  This is a term that I am not even sure is real.  I remember it from "Ghostbusters".  I imagined this jar as something trying to contain something that can't be entirely contained.  There is a little leaking out of the jar, and some that remains inside is creating a complete spirit.  Here is how I made it:

MATERIALS:
One jar (I used an old salsa jar, because I liked the shape and  it had very few extra markings on it)
Craft Wire
Plastic lid from a jar
Cheesecloth
Vellum
An art program on your computer
Printer
Printer Paper
Scissors
Craft Knife
Foam Brush
Top lid from sour cream or other plastic container
Craft Sheet
Short Wooden Skewers for shish kabob
Scrap Paper
Fishing line
Hemp
Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive
Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Helmar Gemstone Glue
Helmar Quick Fix Permanent Adhesive Runner
Art Glitter Fantasy Fiber Briarwood
Art Glitter Ultrafine Pearlescent 143 Glow in the Dark
Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent 104 Spring Mint
Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent 145 Blue Boy

DIRECTIONS
1)  Create a ghost "frame" from wire, a skewer, and the plastic lid.  Make a small hole in the plastic lid with your craft knife, and push in the pointed end of the skewer to keep upright.  Create the head and arms of the ghost and make a small slit in the wood to hang it.  Make a loop in craft wire and hang over "head" portion.
2)  Put a little water in plastic lid and add a glob of Helmar Gemstone Glue.  Stir with foam brush.
3)  Apply glue water mixture onto parts of cheesecloth.  Overlap some sections to create more of a shaped appearance.  Cover with Spring Mint.
4)  Repeat step 3.  This time, use Blue Boy
5)  Repeat step 3.  This time, use Glow in the Dark.  Let dry.
6)  Create label on art program in computer.  I used my Silhouette Studio software and some premade frames.  Print twice, once on paper and once on vellum.
7)  Cut around the vellum label.
8)  Following package directions, spray the vellum label with Helmar V2 Vellum Adhesive.  Let dry 5 minutes.
9)  Attach label to jar
10)  When the ghost is dry, remove it from the plastic jar lid and skewer.  Cut out the loop of metal.  You can leave the basic shape metal, as the cheesecloth ghost never hardens.
11)  Carefully use craft knife to create a hole in the lid.
12)  String fishing line through ghost and up into hole on lid.  Tie several times to secure.
13)  Place some Fantasy Fiber in bottom of jar.
14)  Replace lid.

15)  Cover lid with Helmar Adhesive Runner.  Cover this with crinkled cheesecloth.
16)  Use glue mixture on top of lid.  Cover with excess glitter from ghost.

17)  Cut ghost from paper.  Use Gemstone Glue to glitter with Glow in the Dark.
18)  Make hole in ghost.

19)  Put hemp through hole and wrap around jar lid.  Tie.

You are done.  Here is a picture of both of the jars that I created.  For instructions on the other, see my blog at http://artglitterblog.blogspot.com/. Hope to see you there.  Sparkle On!

More Stencil Inkiness

This month's challenge is "Getting Inky With Stencils".  If you play along, you can win the stencil of your choice.  That's right--any stencil you want!  But, how do you play?  You use ink with stencils.  Any ink, any way.  Then, take a digital photo and email it to Lynell at Lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com. She will put it online for you so that everyone can see it.  If you have a blog, a gallery, or even a photo account, you can put it online yourself and link it to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Dreamweaver Stencils Blog.
Last week, I showed you alcohol inks on metals.  This week, lets see what they can do on Glossy White Paste. 

 

MATERIALS

Dreamweaver Stylized Dahlia Stencil LG743

Dreamweaver White Glossy Paste

Paste Spreader LM 2010

Dreamweaver Color Solutions in Pine Bough

Dreamweaver Color Solutions in Gourd Green

Dreamweaver Color Solutions Thinner

Alcohol Ink Applicator

Pink Vellum

Cardstock

Patterned Paper

Adhesive

 

DIRECTIONS

1)  Use removable tape to tape the stencil down to cardstock.  Be sure to tape all the way around the stencil.

2)  Put White Glossy Paste on spreader.  Pull it down across the stencil.  Think of it like a squeegee.

3)  Remove tape from 3 of the 4 sides of the cardstock and lift stencil as if it were on a hinge. 

4)  Remove stencil.  Let paste dry.

5)  Replace stencil.

6)  Use applicator to daub color on the stems and leaves.  You can also thin the color a little and daub onto the bottom of the petals.

7)  Remove stencil. 

8)  Assemble card.





Vampire Earrings

Here are the vampire earring to complement the necklace.

MATERIALS:
Dreamweaver Stencil LL 525 Bats
Mercart Black Coated Aluminum
Mercart Teflon Tool
Scrap Chipboard (I used scraps from Globecraft Memories Piccolos)
Scissors
Strong Glue (I used Beacon Adhesive Quick Grip)
Big Bite
Black chain and findings (I used Plaid Black and White)
Black 18 gauge wire
Two 1.5 inch Connie Crystal Teardrops
Dreamweaver Alcohol Inks in Winter Red

INSTRUCTIONS:
1)  Lay the stencil over the chipboard and trace around the inside of one of the bats.  Do this twice one one side, and then flip the stencil over and make two more.
2)  Cut out all of the chipboard bats.
3)  Put the metal black side down over the stencil.
4)  Use the teflon tool to press the metal into the stencil.  Make sure to make deep impressions all the way around.  Remove the metal.  Create four bats this way--two on one side, and then two more after flipping the stencil.
5)  Cut around bats, leaving just a little extra metal to fold over.
6)  Glue a matching bat into each of the metal shells.
7)  Fold over the metal and rub on the back of metal.
8)  Match a "front" bat to a "back" bat.  Glue them together.  You now have two bats.
9)  While bats dry, make a bail from the black wire.
10)  Attach the crystal to the chain and the chain to the ear wire.
11)  Use the Big Bite to punch a hole in one wing of each bat.
12)  Use a large jump ring to attach the bat to the chain.

13)  Use a couple of drops of alcohol ink to the tops of the crystals for a "bloody" effect.  Because of the nature of the crystals, unless you use just a little alcohol ink, it will fill the facet.  Also, the "blood" effect can either look very intense or practically nonexistent with a simple turn of the crystal.  If you decide later to remove the color, you can do so with either the remover or rubbing alcohol.
So, now you have another cute Halloween jewelry idea.  Thanks for coming back today!

Vampire Necklace

Today, I am sharing an idea for Halloween Costume Jewelry.  Why?  Well, those who know me understand that I am a Disney Maniac.  One of the things that makes Disney so special is their attention to detail.  Every light post, building detail and costume detail reflects the theming of the ride or area that it belongs.  It enhances the beauty and mood.  So, why should we be content to rummage through the bins of generic, plastic accessories at Halloween, when we can easily make something gorgeous and personal?
I answer this question with we shouldn't.  I used Connie Crystals to make this Vampire Necklace.

If you want to see how, and more pictures, head on over to the Connie Crystal Blog.  Meanwhile, come back tonight to see how I made the matching earrings!  Hope to see you then!

Getting Inky With Stencils

Welcome to September!  Can you believe it?  September already!  Well, it is time for a new month and time for a new theme--"Getting Inky With Stencils".  You will want to be sure and look at ALL the blogs this week for inspiration (they are all listed on my sidebar), because this is really a wide open category.  Is it pigment ink?  Spray ink?  Distress Ink?  Well, if you follow me, and know my style, you understand that for me, the favorite must be alcohol ink.  Yep, a metal project.  In fact, this week I am posting a FIVE MINUTE PROJECT.  No, really.  Let me show you.

MATERIALS:
Dreamweaver Tree Line Stencil LG 745
Mercart USA Copper Coated Aluminum
Stamping Details Rubber Embossing Mat
Die Cut Machine (I used the Cuttlebug)
Alcohol Inks (for this one I used Tim Holtz Butterscotch, Espresso, Terra Cotta and Pesto)
Alcohol Ink Applicator
Sanding Block
Cardstock
Twine

DIRECTIONS:
1)  Run the stencil and metal through the machine.  With the Cuttlebug, the "sandwich" looks like this: A Plate, Stencil face up, metal--copper side up, rubber mat, and 2 "B" Plates.  In this case, I am debossing, or pushing the metal into the holes in the stencil.
2)  With the stencil still attached, use the alcohol ink applicator to apply alcohol inks to the whole thing.  You are just applying a very light coat to mottle the copper color and add more interest.  You don't want to get too involved and erase the copper underneath. 
3)  With the stencil still attached, sand lightly to remove the color on the raised sections.  Even then, feel free to leave a little copper, like I did in the trees.
4)  Remove the stencil and assemble the card.
Done!  Really--this was five minutes.  Try it for yourself.  Then, link it or email it to Dreamweaver Stencils, and you can win the stencil of YOUR choice.  (I could definitely recommend this tree line, because it is one of my favorites--as is the holly or poinsettia, if you want a Christmas stencil--just saying.)
Here is the official word from Lynell:
"This month we will have just a bit different twist on our monthly challenge ... we are letting you choose any stencil you would like as your prize if you win. Yep, any Dreamweaver stencil you "so desire". We will still have two winners, one for best interpretation of the challenge and one for best usage of Dreamweaver products."
So, go ahead--get inky with your stencil.  You know you want to......

Just One (Glittering) Bite.......

Too early for Halloween?  I sure hope not!  Honestly, this apple was inspired by Snow White.  I have been thinking about making something to honor that story for a long time.  Since I decided to make an elegant apple for the first day of school, which you can see here, I thought I would make and post this at the same time. 
Here are the simple instructions:
MATERIALS:
One Plastic Apple
Spray Adhesive
Assorted Gemstones.  I used purples, green, black and orange gems and light greenish pearls.
Silhouette Machine, or some other way to cut letters
Cardstock
Xyron X Machine with Permanent Adhesive
Art Institute Designer Dries Clear Glue
Ultrafine Metal Tip for Glue
Art Glitter Microfine 519 Reed
Art Glitter Microfine 507 Black Wing
Art Glitter Ultrafine Opaque 256 Purple Passion
Art Glitter Ultrafine Pearlescent 309 Canary
Art Glitter Ultrafine Opaque Neon 223 Fishnet

DIRECTIONS:
1)  Spray apple with adhesive
2)  Cover with Reed glitter.  I did not get mine perfect, which was fine, because it was a Halloween project.

3)  Cut out phrase from Cardstock.  I used my Silhouette, the Bradley Gratis font and the phrase "Just One Bite"
4)  Place the letters into the X upside down.  The adhesive will be on the top of the letters.
5)  Put letters into the Black Wing Glitter and press down hard.  Use the Designer Dries Clear to touch up any areas that you might have missed.  Let dry.
6)  Put letters face up into the X to get adhesive on the back.
7)  Make a "label" area on the apple where you might want the words and glitter with Canary.  Let dry.
8)  Adhere the letters in place.
9)  Adhere gemstones around the apple in no particular pattern. 
10) Starting with the top of the apple, surround some of the gemstones with Designer Dries Clear and the fine tip.  Expand the sections of glue until they look like drips.  This is freehand and should look a little messy.  Cover with Canary.  Let dry.
11)  Repeat step 10 a little further down, but use Purple Passion.  Also, use Purple Passion around the "label" section.  Let dry.
12)  Repeat step 10 a little further down with Fishnet.  Let dry.

 



13) Brush off any excess glitter.  You are done!

Here are a couple more pictures:

 

 

So, whether you want a head start on Halloween, or just really like Snow White, I am glad you came by the blog today.  Don't forget to check out the Art Glitter Blog, too.  It has another of my apples.  Sparkle On!