Collect Moments Not Things

Hi Off the Rails Scrapbooking readers!

I'm Mabel Sim from Singapore and this is the first tutorial I created for Off the Rails Scrapbooking, bringing you a photo tutorial on how I created my Mixed Media Canvas display piece.

I first primed by 5.5 x 7 inches canvas board with white gesso. I pulled out my Tim Holtz blending tool as well as Peacock Feathers and Seedless Preserve ink pads. I randomly brushed on those inks using my blending tool onto stencils from Crafter's Workshop and Dylusions. Since the inks are water soluble, I actually sprayed water to allow the inks to flow slightly. 

See the white patches? I create the effect by 'stamping' gesso using my palette knife. I just thought that the colours are slightly too vivid and wanted to tone down my colours slightly. So by creating this white patches, I can not only tone down my colours, I can also create some additional interest and effects.

As my canvas was inspired by galactic theme, I wanted something sparkly and dimensional for my canvas. I applied heavy matte medium from Liquitex over my Dina Wakley stencil and poured a mixture of Black Sparkle and Silver Tinsel embossing powder from Ranger. As the matte medium was still wet, it managed to capture those embossing powder. The trick to this technique is to wait till the medium is completely dried before you heat-set the embossing powder to prevent the medium from bubbling.

So this is the final look after embellishments. The papers are from 7 Dots Studio Soulmates Collection and my sentiment is actually a sticker from Mambi. I used Thailand's Mulberry flowers for my canvas, but you can actually purchase these flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts. 

I used 13arts pastel mists in Lavender and Cobalt to highlight my centerpiece. I actually dipped my brush into the mist bottles and colour it around my centrepiece. 

See those texture over there? I actually mixed Glass Microspheres from 13arts with my Clear Gesso. I chose to use Clear Gesso instead of matte medium was that my matte medium will act as a resist to watercolours unlike clear gesso. So I randomly swipe this mixture onto my canvas and also sprinkle some Platinum Glass Glitter from Prima Finnabair line. I also gently brushed on white gesso as highlight after everything dried.

And who say stamens can only be used at the center of flowers? I layered stamens underneath my flower composition so that it looks like they are bursting around the flowers. 

That's all for my tutorial.

Thanks for reading! :)

You can see more of my projects over HERE!

Gelli Plate Printing

Joan here today sharing a tutorial using my new favorite tool … a Gelli Plate. 

What you will need:

Gelli Plate ( mine is 8 X 10 inches)

Craft mat

Cardstock

Canvas bag

Acrylic paints ( I used Ranger Distress Paint)

Rubber brayer

Stencils (variety)

1) When I’m working with the Gelli Plate I cover my work surface with a craft mat and place a piece of cardstock on top of the mat and under the plate.  (For extra protection.)

2) I added a little paint onto the Gelli Plate. (A little goes a long way.)

3) Using a rubber brayer I spread the paint over the plate blending the colors into a thin layer.

4) I placed a variety of stencils on top of the wet paint.

5) I removed the stencils from the plate to reveal the design.

6) I placed a canvas bag on top of the plate and pressed down gently with my hands.  I turned the bag over and repeated the process.

7) I lifted the canvas bag off the plate and VIOLA! … oh the possibilities! 

8) I attached some flowers to the front of the bag to complete it. What a unique little gift bag.

Here's another bag I made ... no two ever turn out exactly the same.

Sandi's Paperbag Gift Bag tutorial

I always forget my shopping bags when I go to the shops (here in South Australia we have to supply bags or get charged for plastic or paper bags), so I have accumulated quite a few paper bags over the last year. This Christmas I decided to make gift bags instead of using wrapping paper (they can be seen on my blog), here is my tutorial on my Paperbag Birthday Gift Bag version.

I started finding the products I needed:

 Stencils: Tim Holtz 'Arrows' and The Crafters Workshop 'Mini Kaleidoscope' .

Stamps: Prima rectangular stitching, Alphabet blocks brought from Lincraft and 'Season' from Kaszazz.

 Mont Marte Modelling paste

A selection of scrap and 6"x6" papers: Kaisercraft 'Kaleidoscope' and 'Random' Crate Paper Co

Ranger Glossy Accents

Staz On Jet Black Ink pad

Dylusions Ink Sprays: Lemon Zest, Bubblegum Pink and Crushed Grape. White Linen and Black Marble.

Distress Inks: Antique Photo, Black Soot and Peeled Paint.

and of course 

a paper bag.

Using the Dylusions spray inks I randomly sprayed ink over the 'mini kaleidoscope' stencil which I had placed on the top right hand part of the paper bag. I removed the stencil carefully and dried the ink with a heat gun. Replacing the stencil slightly off centre to the previous position I spread modeling paste over the stencil this time.

I chose a range of papers from my 6"x6" paper pads from Kaisercraft 'Kaleidoscope' and Crate Paper Co. 'Random Collection' and die cuts from one of the Kaisercraft collection and tearing pieces layered them using magic mount to raise the bird, 'love' die cut and words to give more depth and dimension.

I also used black and white cotton twine to frame the words. and curved the butterfly's wings to give it more dimension

 

Using the 'Peeled paint' distress ink to add colour to the modeling paste and with the 'mini kaleidoscope' stencil to add to the background behind the layered papers. I used the 'Antique Photo' to edge the layered papers section.

Using the wood block stamps I stamped 'Happy Birthday'  with Staz On onto torn pieces of the pink paper I had used on the layered section and edged it with 'antique photo'

I used the Tim Holtz 'Arrows' stencil and Distress ink 'Black Soot' to add chevron arrows to the background, also used the smallest 'rectangular stitching' stamp and Staz On and the 'season' Kaszazz stamp to add more depth. I place some black cotton on the bag under the layered paper and after gluing the paper down I splattered the 'Bubblegum Pink', 'Black Marble' and 'White Linen' to finish the bag.

Hope you enjoyed reading my Paperbag Gift Bag tutorial for Off The Rails Scrapbooking. Next time you get a brown paper bag have a try in making an unique gift bag for a friend or family member or maybe you can think of another way to re-use a paperbag.