Better Backgrounds: Paint Scraping

I've always thought of my mother as a "real" artist because she worked in oils, acrylics, and watercolors. Years later, I still remember watching her coach the last bit of color from those precious tubes. She would then use the same technique that I have used below to create rich, vibrate backgrounds.
In my first card, you can see the beauty of the Claudine Hellmuth Studio Paints with no additional adornment. This is a background that can definitely stand on its own.

Next, see what happens when you add embossing with Adirondack® Pigment Ink and Christmas Tree Embossing Antiquities™. Definitely an appropriate background for this sophisticated stamp, Abundance by B Line Designs.


For the details of this technique, see page 59 of the April 2010 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.

Better Backgrounds: Masking with Tape

You may have thought of masking tape as a standard artist supply, but have you considered using it to create your backgrounds? Look at these two cards from my Better Backgrounds column in the June 2009 issue of Crafts ‘n Things.


At first glance, I think you’d be hard pressed to say how these backgrounds were created. Tape and Adirondack® Dye Ink pads are the answer. The details are on pages 92-93.

The two great stamps, Sherrie and Sharon, by B Line Designs were stamped with a Big & Bossy™ Two-tone Embossing Pad and embossed with Super Fine Detail™ Powder. (You could achieve the same result with the newer Adirondack® Pigment Inks.) This is also a perfect background for rub-ons as demonstrated by the addition of “thanks” (Creative Imaginations) to the card stamped with Sharon’s veiled image.
Here’s an example with colors that do not overlap. (Stamps: Time Flies, Stampers Anonymous; Eternity Slab, Postmodern Design. Nick Bantock™ Dye Pads: Chartreuse, Deep Turquoise, Vermillion Lacquer, Damson Plum, Chrome Yellow.)

For a completely different look, tear your tape to create the shape of your choice. After creating the grid background with tape and Clover Adirondack® Dye Ink, I added the flower effect with tape and Wild Plum ink. (Stamp: Printer’s Mark, LaPluma; Big & Bossy™ Two-tone Embossing Pad; Bottle Adirondack® Embossing Powder.)


Want to try something different? Let your tape be your guide!

Better Backgrounds: Masking with Die Cuts

Die cuts are meant to be embellishments, right? That's probably how most people use them, but I enjoy finding possibilities for product beyond the intended purpose. To find out how die cuts do double duty as masks in stamping projects, see my Better Backgrounds column in the April 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things. Die cuts by Spellbinders are teamed with Ranger® Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads in this fun technique.

One of the things that I enjoyed was using stamps by fellow Tennessee artist Roann Mathias. ("Sing to the Lord" above; "Imagine" below) I've long been intrigued by calligraphy, and her work is beautiful. You can find more of Roann's images at the Stamping Studio. (Other stamps for these two projects: Rhonna Farrer for Autumn Leaves)


Above: Friends (Just for Fun)
Below: Irene (B Line Designs)

With die cuts that are elegant or simple - country or sophisticated, add a little ink and your background is ready for stamping or embellishment.

Memory Tin Vignettes

There's no way around it. I'm in love and the mere thought awakens the senses. It's a simple pleasure, and one that is completely legal. I'm referring, of course, to caffeine. Tea and coffee. Either will do as long as it's strong. These three tins, featured on pages 88 - 89 of the February 2009 issue of Crafts 'n Things, celebrate that affection. What's more, they were so much fun to create.
I painted the tins with Adirondack® Acrylic Paint Dabbers and used Adirondack® Dye Ink Pads and Tim Holtz™ Distress Ink Pads for stamping and coloring the images. The yummy patterned papers are all from my friend Judi Hodgkin's Scrapperdashery Poetry Range. It was a special treat to incorporate stamps by fellow Tennessean Suzanne Melvin in two of the tins. (Her Afternoon Tea plate (Oxford Impressions) contains additional images in this fun theme.) Bits of broken jewelry, beads, lace, and real coffee beans complete these mini scenes.

Afternoon Tea Stamps (Oxford Impressions)

Paris Cafe Stamps: Smoochie Poochie and Post Card (Stampabilities); Street Café (Paper Candy); Romantic Swirl (B Line Designs); Manuscript Background and Old Script (Hero Arts)

Coffee & Friends Stamps: Cup (Art Impressions); Java/Coffee and Friends (Dawn Houser for Inkadinkado); COFFEE (Afternoon Tea from Oxford Impressions); Coffee Defined (Stampington)

Faux Encaustic Magic

Encaustic painting has long held a fascination for me. When I discovered how to emulate this effect with Adirondack Color Wash, I was thrilled. You'll find detailed instructions for these cards in the June 2008 issue of Crafts 'n Things. You'll be amazed at how easy it is to get fabulous results.

Stamps: Car Cube 1942 Ford by B Line Designs; Societe du Louvre by Just for Fun

Cherish This ATC Holder

If you agreed with my "gaudy cute" assessment of the glitzy orange and purple ATC holder in the prior post, I'm sure that you'll find "Betty" one of the sweetest little girls you've ever seen. ("Betty" and the "Cherish" sentiment are both stamps by B Line Designs.) This tin was a featured ATC holder in the April 2008 issue of Crafts 'n Things.


Check out the details on page 65 of how I used Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers, Adirondack Dye Ink Pads, Stickles Glitter Glue, Inkssentials Crackle Accents, Perfect Pearls, and Suze Weinberg's Beadazzles to make one sweet container for your ATCs.

Sister "Secret"

The Rubber Stamper asked me to submit several layouts for the July 2007 issue, but when I found out that only one page would be published from each designer, I asked them to use the "Secret" layout. I'm not sure what her older sister was doing - probably telling jokes or subtlely tickling, but this was one of the few photos of our younger daughter with her mouth open when she had braces. You can follow the progression of the photo shoot from the top to bottom right to explosive laughter on the left.

I created the look of mulberry paper with the Inkadinkado stamp and Ranger Adirondack Purple Twilight and Eggplant Inks. By lightly misting the inked stamp with water, the effect is a watercolor look. You may continue to mist and stamp without reinking as long as ink remains on your stamp. Then heat set. A Filigree Heart (The Artful Stamper) is stamped under the letter "e" in secret in the same way.
I stamped the Large Romantic Swirl (B Line Designs) onto a transparency with a Purple Twilight Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Dabber, and "Secret" (Making Memories Fab Font Alphabet) was stamped with a Pitch Black Paint Dabber. The focal picture was edged with Cool Perl and Purple Twilight Paint Dabbers. Tip: Use Ranger's Inkssentials Matte Accents in attach transparencies. You only need a dot or two under the paint where it won't be noticed.