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Next craft class project

Fairyland Tags

Here's some more inspiration for those Magical Tags.
Tutorial on the blog here and over on
Lavinia Stamps website
Enjoy!

Fairy Tags Step by Step

Main tems used -

Gelli plate 8 x 10

distress oxides - re-inkers but can also use ink pads

water spritzer

medium size paint brush

Lavinia stamps

post it notes

300gsm white stamping card suitable for water techniques

cut n dry foam

Smoothie blending sponges

Scraps of lace

Links to the items from Lavinia site will be at the end of this tutorial.

Such lovely effects can be achieved with the distress oxides, giving an opaque, chalky finish and wonderful distress effects.

They are quite quick drying too.

This tutorial uses the re-inkers but ink pads can also be used.

Working on the 8 x 10 Gelli plate.

Firstly die cut a tag, alternatively you can simply cut your own basic tag or even a bookmark. 

The one used here is approx 19cm x 9.5cm.

Die cut a circle, 6.5cm, from a post it note, if making several tags cut a few of these at the same time.

Position the post it note circle on the tag and set aside.

The Gelli plate give a great surface to work on and having previously used for many other projects, it achieves really great effects.

You can also work directly from your craft mat if you wish.

Drip a few drops of each colour onto the Gelli plate, the plate is placed horizontally for this step, take a small piece of cut and dry foam for each colour, spritz the cut and dry lightly with water. 

Also spritz the colours on the Gelli plate , lightly, with water.

Blend and squidge the colours with the foam, the colours here have been kept separate and not blended together.

You will notice colour from a previous project is still on the Gelli plate but as using the same colours that’s fine.

It’s a good idea to have a practise stamp first to test the colour strength and effect, more colour can be added if desired.

Take the Lavinia Ivy border stamp and press onto the inked Gelli plate to pick up the colour, use this to stamp the bottom of the tag.

Then turn the Gelli plate vertically and use the cut and dry sponges to revive the ink on the plate, as the sponges are still damp no extra water should be necessary, but do add further ink and water to the Gelli plate if required.

Using the large Background Script stamp in the same way as the border stamp, press onto the Gelli plate to ink the stamp and then position above the border onto the tag to stamp.

***Alternatively the stamps can also be inked directly using the cut and dry foam and a craft mat, the craft mat would simply replace the Gelli plate and the sponges used in the same way, spritz with water and smooch and pick up the ink from the mat to apply to the stamp***

Either way the ink on the Gelli plate or craft mat can be reinvigorated by spritzing with water and re-inked as desired to enable economical use for more than one project and to finish by using the last of the ink to create a background and will be shown in a further tutorial

You will notice the script stamp doesn’t cover the whole area so re-ink and stamp above to fill in the remaining white area.

Use a piece of copy paper to die cut a circle the same size as used with the post it note, place this over the white sun/moon area.

Using the desired colour ink picked up from the Gelii plate using the cut and dry foam, daub colour over the white area, this dries quickly or you can use a heat tool.

Using a medium paintbrush and water, flick water over the entire tag, you will soon see the reaction, bleaching effect of the distress oxides. 

The longer left before drying the more intense the effect will be.

Use a roll of paper towel to blot the tag and dry.

Position a sentiment or word stamp over the inked moon/sun.

The image shows how to mask off an area when only a section of the wording is required.

Stamp with black Versafine or Archival ink.

Stamp your desired fairy in the same black ink.

Use a mini Smoothie sponge, blend a complimentary colour of regular distress ink around the edges of the tag, working from a craft mat these smoothies give a lovely smooth blended finish.

Take a piece of white lace and colour using the distress oxide left on the Gelli plate/craft mat. 

This can be done using the damp, coloured cut and dry foam pieces. 

Scrunch up in a piece of paper towel then dry using a heat tool.

The lace can be cut and used to decorate and finish the tag.

Gelli plate 8 x 10 

Distress xides - re-inkers but can also use ink pads

Lavinia stamps -

Ivy border
Background Script
Fairies

cut n dry foam

Smoothie blending sponges

Techniques on a postcard please...

Today I've been having a play with some of the fabulous

 Imagination Crafts products.

I like the idea of using plain postcards to share some techniques and chose the lovely Art Deco Lady stencil as I wanted to create a vintage style postcard design.

The blank postcard is 9cm x 14cm and as the card is quite thin and not suitable for mixed media work I cut a piece of suitable craft card to work on.

Using as portrait orientation I positioned the stencil and applied Structure Paste.

This product is amazing and I love the ease of use and how quickly it dries, you can speed up with a heat tool if you want to be extra speedy!

Next I used a old plastic box to place my card into while I spritzed firstly with some water and then Mixed Media Sprays in Light Green and Light Blue, the addition of water dilutes the sprays for a more subtle effect.

Aren't the colours gorgeous...

I then used a piece of sponge, I use cheap washing up sponges cut up, to apply some Verdigris Rusty Patina, I used very little on my sponge as I just wanted to give an aged distress look around the edges of my card.

This product is fantastic and can be used in so many different ways, the colour and texture is brilliant.

Next I added Rustique Rusty Patina in the same way, because I used so little, it dries so quickly.

I then spritzed some more colour using the Mix Media sprays and used a baby wipe to wipe back and dilute.

After I had finished applying the Rusty Patina I applied some of the Alchemy Waxes in Bronze and Silver, I used my finger and applied a very little amount and then blended with a baby wipe which gave a lovely shimmery sheen over the Deco Lady.

After this I reapplied the stencil to add a bit more Rusty Patina, this time over the Structure Paste, I used a piece of sponge again and just added a little here and there.

Accents were added using Just Pearls, oh my I love these too! 

The Champagne colour was perfect for this project.

A tough of Detail Sparkle in Jade added further detail.

As I mentioned the actual Postcard is thin card so I knew it wouldn't tolerate anything too wet.

So I used the baby wipe as it was still damp, that I had added the Alchemy Wax with.

I swiped this over the card and by blending in a bit more wax it gave me a shimmery distressed look.

I positioned parts of the Art Deco stencil on to the card and sponged through the Rustique Rusty Patina then I applied structure paste through stencil for the stamp area.

A touch more Rusty Patina in Verdigris and some swipes around the edges to distress.

Finished off with a few more dots of Just Pearls.

This was then adhered onto the card I had cut to size and completed for the front design, giving me my completed postcard.