Cutting corners

I really love art, and live for my crafting. Unfortunately, I usually can't afford to just go out and purchase any ol' tool or craft embellishment at my whim. Necessity being the mother of invention, I often find ways to 'cut corners'. Here's my first post describing a couple ways I've found to cut those corners. Literally. Substituting design elements or embellishments may not look nearly as fancy as a professionally designed product, and often takes more time to accomplish. But, I think the time and intention put into a project is every bit as special as something that looks uber fancy or nearly store bought. This might sound like I'm trying to justify being 'cheap', but fact is, poor thrifty people like to craft too.

First, a disclaimer: When at all possible, please invest in the proper and safe tools recommended by the pros for the tasks you want to do. I am sharing what I use to accomplish certain tasks or crafting effects, and should you decide to use my examples, you do so at your own risk and assume any and all responsibility for your own actions.

That said, let's get started! I recently made a 'bookmark card', and had to figure out a way to temporarily attach the book mark to the card, without adhesives, and despite the fact I don't have photo corners to use on them.

(in the card tutorial, I cut right into the card itself.) But in this example, I cut out a contrasting base paper slightly smaller than one half of the card I'll glue it to. I then position the bookmark on it at a pleasing angle. Then I used a fine tip black pen to mark points on that paper. Imagine drawing a diagonal line across a corner of the bookmark, at least the size and depth a photo corner would be. Draw a little dot to mark the very edge of the bookmark, along that imaginary diagonal line.
I don't need to be exact or measure it, but I try to keep the dots in approximately the same depth and length on each corner. For extra stability, I also marked 2 dots on the left and right sides of the bookmark, to make small rounded tabs.

Click the pic to see an example of the dots.
I remove the bookmark,
and using a craft knife on a cutting mat or other surface safe for cutting, I make straight incisions from dot to diagonal dot, at all four corners. I should then have 4 slits that the corners of my bookmark will slide into. Next, I carefully cut a half circle incision, that points to the center, on both the right and left sides, using the dots I marked for these tabs. Please see the first photo for reference.
When I have all my incisions made, I gently separate each incision, and slide my bookmark into the slots.
Here's a hint: Substitute the word 'bookmark' for photo, card, or design element.


















This is another corner I cut: I do not have a proper paper distressing tool, though I have every intention of buying one as soon as I can. Until then, I use the sharp edge of my craft knife to distress/age the edges of my card stock.

I grasp my card stock firmly, at an upper corner, and carefully drag the sharp edge of my craft knife down the edge/side of the paper. It may take several passes to get the effect I want. I like making small scrapes, sometimes back and forth to rough up the fibers. This method isn't without it's challenges. If I press too hard, I could accidentally cut or tear the paper. But I've found this issue to usually make the paper look even more interesting. Tip: if my card stock is bending up or down, I am pressing too hard. I like to take my time and be safe.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial, and as I come across more ways to cut corners, you'll be the first I share them with.
Inspiration to you!

Bookmark card

Every year, I try to make a Christmas card for my mother and closer acquaintances. I usually spend hours designing something, that often takes as long to make. But this year, I took my card a bit further. For the people who read books, or want to throw something interesting on their refrigerator, there is a removable bookmark inside the card. Otherwise, it just looks really interesting and unique when left as is.

Front: Paperbilities 'Naturals" paper and other cardstock, colored with
Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen, Vintage Photo,
Walnut Stain, Pine Needles, and Aged Mahogany.
Stampin' Up set 'Nature's Secret', snowflake stamped in
Stazon opaque Cotton White ink.
Handmade tag, wrapped with hemp,
natural weathered jute, and placed on dimensional foam.

Inside: Bookmark colored with
Distress Inks in Antique Linen, Vintage Photo,
Walnut Stain. Kitty and clock were stamped with Brown Timber Stazon ink,
the gears and clock numbers were heat embossed with
Tim Holtz/Ranger Distress Embossing Powder in Walnut Stain.
An 'Autumn Leaves' ribbon yarn by Lion Brand Yarn was
tied to the top of the bookmark, and strung with a
square yellow AB finish acrylic bead.
A length of copper wire was twisted into a coil and
attached to the ribbon where it's threaded through the bookmark.
It was further embellished with a tiny watch gear,
a rhinestone, and gold eyelet.

This is the bookmark when taken from it's tabs,
which were just cut right into the card with a craft knife.
The sentiment was affixed to the inside with a small craft zot.
Aside from a signature, date and personal sentiment
written in dark ink on back of the bookmark,
I left the overall bookmark design
ambiguous for year round use.

Thank you kindly to Rachel Greig, for inspiration.
I was really taken with your tag card posted on Ranger Ink Link,
and this is what evolved from it.

Experiments and Gratitude

Hello!
Lately, I've been playing with UTEE, and testing various papers with the alcohol ink painting and tinting as explained in my previous posts. To my joy, I was successful at recreating my very own Czech Dragonfly buttons, using Suze Weinberg's Mold-N-Pour, and Utee products! I will definitely be getting pictures of those up soon.

On other projects, I had absolutely no luck using printed transparencies in my Nauti process, (please refer to recent previous entries) but I of course have not given up on them as a potential crafting medium! Perhaps, I could cut out various shapes of transparency, use some stazon and my favorite stamp, then pour clear or lightly colored utee on it. I wonder what temperature these transparencies can withstand? If they are laser printer safe, then they should be fairly heat resistant. Worth a try anyway, and I could get more shapes than just the squares or rectangles of microscope slides and memory glass... (cogs are turning)...

Oh, if only I weren't too tired to go play with that idea!

I have a tin purse nearing completion, that I used Tim Holtz/Adirondack Alcohol Inks on, and all I can say so far is, "WOW". I'm trying not to hold my breath on this one, because I want to take my time to get it just right. But I'm excited at the pattern and intensity of the ink alone, as even without the beautiful copper heat embossing it is simply gorgeous.

Before I go, I'd like to give a HUGE Thank You to Suze Weinberg, for mentioning my blog in her current newsletter! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it, but you've definitely made my year, Suze! I called my mom, and everyone else I knew to tell them who noticed my blog!! I'm thankful for art, for crafting, and I appreciate the quality products Ranger produces to help us express ourselves. Furthermore, I appreciate your artistry and inspiration Suze. You have no idea how much art, and your influence has effected and helped me on a very personal level.

I'd also like to express gratitude for Jan, of Red Rubber Paper and Ink. Her kindness, enthusiasm and inspiration has been, and continues to be a wonderful gift. (Thank you!)

And finally, thank you to all the wonderful artists who frequent RangerInkLink. What a truly gifted and talented lot you are!

A very warm and Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

A daisy for me

This is a photo of a gerbera daisy I painted
with Adirondack/Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks
in Lettuce, Butterscotch, Cranberry
and Eggplant.

It looks good as is, but I'm not done
experimenting!

As soon as I get my printer up and running,
I will post a new variation of this project,
using a transparency instead of vellum.

ABC's of being Nauti, or, a tutorial on Alcohol Ink painting and tinting.

Materials Needed:
A computer
Printer with a black ink cartridge
A photo or graphic retouching program like Adobe Photoshop
A jpg or scan of a picture you want to use in this project.
1 piece high gloss photo paper
1 piece lightweight (flimsy) white vellum
Q-Tips
Adirondack/Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks, various colors of your liking.
A craft mat is useful (especially for larger photos or clutzy painters!)
A painter's palette with paint wells, or a small plastic measuring cup
for mixing alcohol inks (useful, but not necessary).


1) I decide on a picture I like. In a program such as Adobe Photoshop or any picture/photo processing program, I completely desaturate the photo, turning it into a black and white picture. I also lighten the contrast and increase the brightness slightly, as the lighter the printed picture, the more color you'll see after it's colored with alcohol inks. But if you go too light, you'll lose definition. (Please see the black and white picture of the nautilus in my photo album, to get an idea of the lightness.) Then I resize the photo to the desired size and resolution. (I use a resolution of 72 pixels per inch (web quality), and a pre-measured size suitable for the frame I'll be using).

For my projects I've been using Kodak Inkjet Photo Paper. But when using any brand, the higher the gloss, the better. On the printer settings, use the 'glossy paper' or 'transparency' setting located in your printer properties. Print one copy of the picture on the high gloss photo paper.

Next, I change the brightness setting in my printer properties to 'light'. This uses not only uses less ink and decreases smearing, but makes the next copy just a tad lighter, which is good for effect. Print your black and white picture on a piece of light translucent vellum.

(For the nautilus, I used a piece of white iridescent speckled 'Neutral Vellum' by Paperbilities. The flimsier and 'clearer', the better, as it will allow more color to come through. Colored vellum does not seem to work very well for this project, so I try to stick to the white vellum.)

Let both copies dry. Once they are dry, I apply Adirondack/Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks with a Q-tip to the photo paper copy only! I like using Q-tips for this because there is relatively little ink waste, they are effective, low-mess, no lint, cheap, and disposable once my project is finished. To make my own colors, hues and saturations, I use a 15ml (.5 Fluid Oz) measuring cup, add a little blending solution and drops of AI to suit my whim.

(the measuring cups I use are extremely handy with various crafts, and can be obtained from suppliers of DIY skin care products. Follow the link for an example:
http://www.fromnaturewithlove.com/equipment/thumbnails.asp?category=EQDisp
You will also see other nifty things to have in your craft room, like pipettes, funnels or larger mixing/measuring cups.)

I 'paint' all areas I wish to show up colorful, and I do not worry about being precise or staying exactly in the lines. The vellum you will put on top later, diffuses light and because of this, is somewhat forgiving. Also, the more you go over any area with AI, the colors will layer and darken; so you want to remain mindful of the colors you layer together, that they will change hue and darken considerably.

Once you have 'painted' your photo, and the AI has dried, take your black and white vellum copy, and lay it on top of the photo copy. The copies should exactly match each other in picture and placement, once you line up the edges. To trim, I tack the edges of the 2 layers together with a small bit of tape, and carefully cut with a paper cutter (or scissors) to the final size of my project. (To place in a frame, use on a card, etc.)

I hope this helps! But if I was unclear on anything, or if anyone reading this should have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Also, should you want to see pictures of the project I just described, refer to my previous post. Thank you!

Nautiness

This is a picture of a nautilus slice printed on
glossy photo paper, then painted with
Adirondack Alcohol Inks in
Stream, Butterscotch, and Wild Plum.

This photo shows the 2 layers being placed
together; the painted base with a vellum
transparency printed with the same picture,
in a very light black and white.

This photo is the finished picture,
and it looks very ethereal in person!!
Please see the following post for detailed instructions
on how to make this project.