How I created an ATC with the theme Primary Colors using paper, stamps and more...

The theme or challenge for this ATC (Artist Trading Card) was Primary Colors for the OFB ATC swap group. I chose to use a collage technique that I love because it uses up scraps that I have on hand…

So grab some scraps of papers and you can make one too even if you don’t have all of the tools that I have!

The basic idea is to gather the colors you want to use as the foundation of your art. Since this was a Primary Colors theme I chose papers that were red, yellow and blue. Then I pulled out my rubber stamps and black ink and started over stamping on the paper. It didn’t matter if the paper had a design or not, I was adding another texture to the paper. Once I stamped all of the scraps I then cut the paper in to strips, and again the size or width of the strips didn’t matter, this is a random design.

Once all of the strips were lined up I used carpet tape to adhere these into a design. If you don’t have carpet tape a double sided tape would work, or you could just glue each piece down (which will take a little longer and you have to put glue on the entire strip of paper). Then after I got the tape filled with paper I filled in the spaces with glitter. I cut the piece down to the size I wanted the finished art to be and proceeded to embossing.

Embossing with regular powder is easy or even UTEE (to make the artwork shine). If you don’t have either you could use Glossy Accents or Diamond glaze or other finishes that will dry clear and shinny, another favorite of mine Golden Gel medium in low and high gloss.

Take this project and use it to make something out of your scraps or even your trash. It is a great projects for kids – use magazines or junk mail. Free items are great to use in art for kids! Could use a laminator or even packing tape to make the pieces shiny if making this project with kids..

Then let me know what you created. Leave a comment telling me about what you have done. How you changed up your project etc…

Just have fun! There is no right or wrong.

Blessings

Linda

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1 Comment

Maryann · February 14, 2011 at 3:57 pm

I wanted to apologize for my not crediting you in the description on my photo of my anti=static bag for embossing. It IS in the forum topic but I was wanting to get the topic out with the photo and got the link into the forum and failed to do so in the description of my picture! Please visit my blog over the next few days I think you may like what I did with it! You are awesome!

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How to...

Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial

Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial using book pages, stamps and more I’ll show how to create a faux seed packet and an altered paperclip. Use up those left over bits of paper to create a fun seed packet, this design can also be used as a coin envelope.

Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial Video

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QpYDwB74_o?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=750&h=422]

Supplies Used.

I’ve been planting seeds, getting ready for the spring planting season and was inspired to create a faux seed packet. Looking through my stash I found scraps that I felt would work for this project. Book pages and gel prints are great for this project. Even if the gel print wasn’t perfect, it can add a pop of color and pattern to the seed packet.

Don’t worry if the paper you have doesn’t have a crisp pattern, most of it will be covered with other bits. So use up those not so favorite pieces and make something beautiful.

Once you get started making these, soon you will be lost in creating and have several to use in journals.

To get started with this Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial, select a book page and then score it and cut it down. The front of the seed packet measures about 3.25 wide by 4.25 once it has the sides and tops folded to the inside.

Cut another book page or gel print or any other paper to measure about 3.25 inches wide by about 5.75 to 6 inches tall, this will become the back of the faux seed packet.

Score from the bottom at 4.5 inches leaving the top portion to be the fold over part of the envelope. In the tutorial I trimmed the top down to 1 inch and then covered the inside of the envelope flap with another piece of paper.

Since I used a book paged that I painted with yellow acrylic paint I decided to stamp over the paint with the Henna Rose Stamp using Archival Ink Jet Black. Stamping over the book page helps obscure the text and adds a unique pattern to the paper.

Going back to the front plain book page using Mustard Seed Distress Oxide ink add color to the paper. Then add different shades of yellow Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists to deepen the color. Using the Henna Rose Stamp again add on top of the color for more pattern.

Fold in the tabs on the front of the seed packet and then adhere using Aleene’s Tacky glue, or your adhesive of choice.

Apply Distress Ink Walnut Stain around the edges both inside and out of the seed packet.

Decorate the front of the seed packet with the Chamomile Stamp set, colored with watercolor pencil on a piece of ivory scrap of paper.

For the back of the seed packet select a piece of coffee dyed paper and stamp the Hand Drawn Notebook paper, then fussy cut around the image.

Adhere the notebook paper on the back and layer the Little Daisy water colored flower in the corner.

For the altered paperclip use a piece of cardstock scrap and cover it with scraps left over from creating the seed packet. Round the corners with the corner chomper. Add a snippet of lace, the Stamped Leaves and bloom to decorate the front of the paperclip.

For the inside create a simple journal card that has coffee dyed paper on the back and stamped in the corner with the Henna Rose Stamp.

Look through your stash and see what you can use and create a few to use in journals or to give as gifts.

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the projects Linda has created? Please feel free to contact her through her website. Here is her shop, a lot of items featured and more added weekly.

Keep updated on her posts by following the blog by creating an account. Follow Linda on her Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on the blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today to see the Faux Seed Packet and Altered Paperclip Tutorial.

How to...

Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages

In this Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages I’ll share how to use book pages and make pretty background papers. Grab a few book pages, some stamps and watercolor paints and play along with me.

Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages Video. Will be a Primer video on YouTube, Monday February 5th at 3:45 pm central standard time.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyapCYdbQW0?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=750&h=422]

Supplies Used

To begin, select a book page as your base. Using an old gift card (plastic card) swipe white or ivory acrylic craft paint over the entire page. I like to leave a little bit of the text visible, but if your page isn’t very pretty or you don’t like the text, just keep applying paint until it is covered the way you like. Dry the page, either by letting it air dry or use a heat tool.

Select a few stamps that you want to use and create masks. I like to use text weight paper and stamp with Rangers Archival Ink, Jet Black. Flip the paper over and apply Zig Two Way glue. Don’t get to precise applying the glue, you just want some swipes here and there so that it will stick, but not stay stuck on your project. Hint if you get too much glue and it is way too sticky, try pressing the paper to clothing, usually the fuzz on your clothes will attach to the glue and then it won’t be as sticky. Allow the Zig Two Way Glue to air dry, I usually just lay my paper with the glue up for a few minutes while I get ready to do the next step on my project. Fussy cut the images very close to the outside line, in fact if you go just inside that like it will be better. Don’t want the halo affect around your images, so cut close.

In my project I decided to have dragonflies, flowers and leaves. I stamped the dragonflies first as I wanted those to be “on top” of the page. Once all the dragonflies are stamped, cover with masks. Next stamp the sketched daisy. When needed go ahead and mask the daisies so that you can over lap them. Mask all of the daisies then stamp the leaves. I like to make sure that the stem of the leaves is hidden behind the flowers. Rotate your page or your stamp to get each image where you want them.

Remove all the masks. I store mine on a transparency film (think over head projector film). Sheet protectors or even laminated sheets could also work for storing the masks. I like to keep them as it usually takes a lot of work to create these and I know I’ll use them again later on in my crafting.

If you used my stamps you are allowed to scan the paper you just made and then print and color over and over. You may sell the printed colored paper, but not the digital image. I like to print several and play around with different colors. If you are using an inkjet printer, seal your paper with workable fixative. Then the ink won’t bleed. Or even better if you have a laser printer use that for your prints.

Now here comes the fun part. Grab the watercolor paints and add color to the dragonflies, flowers and leaves. I even added color to the background. I do recommend that you allow each layer of paint to dry, or use a heat tool and manually dry the layers.

Add highlights of the metallic watercolors to give the page a beautiful shimmer. And when you are done, again, if you used my stamps, you can scan the image and print it over and over for your projects. You may sell the newcreated project using the paper, but not the digital images.

Have fun using the Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds in your projects. Please tag me on social media if you use this technique, I would love to see how your page(s) turn out!

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the projects Linda has created? Please feel free to contact her through her website. Here is her shop, a lot of items featured and more added weekly.

Keep updated on her posts by following the blog by creating an account. Follow Linda on her Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on the blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today to see the Tutorial Creating Stamped Watercolor Backgrounds with Book Pages

How to...

Altered Paperclip Pen Holder Tutorial

Super easy Altered Paperclip Pen Holder Tutorial. If you have ever wanted a way to attach a pen to a journal, but be able to make it removable, then this tutorial will help you achieve this goal!

Altered Paperclip Pen Holder Tutorial Video

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_wb9YOHgrY?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent&w=750&h=422]

Supplies Used

This one is super easy. I started by cutting a couple pieces of cardstock into two by 1.5 inch pieces. Then I placed a length of elastic down on one side and glued it to the cardstock. Wrap the elastic once around a pen and make a sandwich with the other piece of cardstock. Cut the elastic, glue to cardstock and place a piece of paper over it to hold in place.

Sew across the elastic to help secure it in place. If you don’t have a sewing machine, then make sure to use a lot of glue to keep it in place.

Using scraps of paper adhere to a piece of book page to create a collage of strips. Sew on the join lines between the strips. Then cut the pieces down to be just slightly larger than the cardstock, which were 2 x 1.5 inches. Sew around the outside edge of these pieces to complete the sewing look.

Fold a 4.5 inch x 1 inch piece of book page in half. Slide a paper clip over the folded end. For best results fold up the ends of the paper over the paperclip. This will help secure it to the cardstock and will help this slide over the book pages.

Adhere the cardstock with the elastic on the paperclip. Keep the closed end of the paperclip at the same side as the elastic. Next adhere the decorative papers over the cardstock.

Add embellishments to each side as desired. I like using images from Calico Collage and stamped words.

See how easy this Altered Paperclip Pen Holder Tutorial was? Once you make one it is so easy to do a bunch! I picked up a few pens at Dollar Tree, but any pen will work.

Make sure to check out the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. Of course, you are welcome to join the Friendly Junk Journal People Facebook group. The group is growing daily and we are a friendly group willing to help each other and encourage each other.

Interested in any of the projects Linda has created? Please feel free to contact her through her website. Here is her shop, a lot of items featured and more added weekly.

Keep updated on her posts by following the blog by creating an account. Follow Linda on her Facebook Page or on Instagram for updates that may not be shared on the blog.

Thanks so much for stopping by the blog today to see the Altered Paperclip Pen Holder Tutorial.

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