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Bobbie Lambert
Create the things you love

Archive for Mixed Medias

Posted by Bobbie Lambert 
· March 28, 2018 
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Creative Art Journal-Gelato pigments

Art Journal and Gelato's

Art Journal with Gelato background

Art Journaling is an exceptional way to try out new techniques.  New supplies, bold colors, things you may not want to try on an actual project.  It gives you a freedom to not have an expectation or an outcome.  For us “A” personalities that are overwhelmed with OCD tendencies it presents one of my most favorite and most hated form’s of expression.

I like dimensional work, when messing in my art journal. I can get messy and have unfinished work.  It allows me to journal my thoughts or feelings in words, colors, or images. Typically, I shy away from simple flat images. Layers and background work is where it is at.  Complex images are my favorite, that is something that I am personally drawn to when making a project or starting to piece together ideas.

Have I mentioned throughout my blog that I stockpile images and backgrounds?  Aside from making tags and cards, this is another way that I use those already completed images or stamps.  I add them to my art journal for a quick filler and then embellish on and around them with different inks or mediums.

Art Journaling with Faber Castel Gelato’s

Gelato’s make art journaling a breeze. If you know what these are and have worked with them before, you are probably amazed by the versatility of the pigment.  If you have not ever used them before, you have to try them!!  You will not be sorry.  They are in mini pen-like containers, like crayons but fatter.  The texture is very pigmented and super creamy.  You can use them as is or add water to them and they can make some pretty amazing backgrounds that are vivid and fluid with little to know artistic ability.

Baby wipes work amazingly to smooth out backgrounds.  I used that method on the art journal pages that I am showcasing in this post.  You can also use spray water, droplets of water, or stencils.  This pigment will also lift off of paper with water.  So you can do a background then put a stencil down and lift the color up so it makes a reverse image.

Technique

Art Journal with Gelato's

Art Journal with Gelato’s

Pictured above in the top photos, are what the Gelato’s look like.  You can just color the paper where you want specific pigment to go or blend by overlapping colors.  When you are happy with the coverage you add water and it smooths the color out and blends the colors together.  I used a baby wipe wrapped around my fingers and just blended it together.  Super fabulous. Once it dries you can stamp on top of it.   Layer more ink, or pretty much anything you can imagine.

I have even used these on canvas for background and they worked beautifully.

Finished Pages

Art Journal with Gelato's

Art Journal with Gelato’s step 2

I might be done with this page, I might not be.  Sometimes I will go months then will go back and add things to previous pages. A coffee Gelato was used to rub around the images that I glued onto my pages and then I rubbed the pigment with my finger until I got my desired result.  Smudging the pigment is one super cool thing to do with them.  I rub the edges of a lot of my projects with Gelato’s because it gives a smokey finish to paper.

Art journaling is a vast media and there are five thousand ways to art-journal.  I would love to hear some of your favorite techniques.

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Categories : Mixed Medias
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Posted by Bobbie Lambert 
· March 11, 2018 
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I LOVE Coffee Cards

Coffe Cards

Coffee Cards using 2 techniques

Coffee cards are awesome! Who doesn’t want a coffee card? Almost everyone I know is obsessed with COFFEE!  There are so many coffee stamps and cut-outs available online. Michaels and Hobby Lobby have an excellent variety available.  If you use a coupon you can purchase one of these stamp sets for less than 2 tanks of gas, so worth it in my opinion.

My eyes are always drawn to these stamps because I like the images and they are fun to color. Before I started this blog, I would just sit in my craft room and stamp tons of images and color them in with different media and product. I could stockpile the images that I created.  Then when I had a tag or card that I wanted to put together they were already created and I would just assemble them as I go.

Donut’s and Coffee- Coffee Card

Jillibean Soup and Hampton Art put out the most adorable stamp set ever!  My kids love donut’s so I originally bought this stamp to create tags for things that I would like to give them. I make handmade cards for the people closest to me. Putting time into things that I enjoy and then sharing that time is meaningful to me.  This cute card and stamp set goes well with my theme for this post. I busted it out and got to work.

I used Zig Watercolor brush pens and a water brush to bring these stamped images to life.  At the end of this post there is a video demonstrating how easy the Zig water color brush pens are to use.  Be sure to check that out!  It makes you look good with no talent! I used Ranger archival ink for the stamped images and as you can see it does not smear when using the water color and water.  I finished this card off with 2 sentiments that were included in the stamp set.  Absolutely presh!

Coffee Stamp

Jilibean Soup and Hampton Art donut and coffee stamp

 Coffee Card. Steaming Cup.

If you have a Cricut machine, like I do, the Cricut design space is the best resource when looking up customizable images. Don’t have a Cricut machine? Then that needs to go on the wish list doesn’t it? Oohh myyy goodness… I cannot even begin to tell you how awesome the Cricut is (but that is another post entirely.)

I searched “Coffee Cup” in design space and then chose the preferred image that I wanted to work with.  A simple image was wanted.  Something that I could embelish.  Then the image was cut out using the Cricut machine.  I ran the brown back ground through my Sizzix Big Shot utilizing a flower embossing folder. Then distressed the embossed paper with “Vintage Photo” Ranger distress ink.  It gave the background dimension and highlighted the flowers .

The background was mounted on a coordinating color cardstock and then adhered the coffee cup to the front of the card.  I sewed around the edges and then added detail and a sentiment to finish the project shown below.

Cricut Coffee Image Card

Cricut Coffee Image Card

Cricut image Coffee Cup

Cricut Image Coffee Cup

Coffee Card with Sizzix and Tim Holz Stamp and Die cutout——- COFFEE!!

This is absolutely perfect for someone who does not have a Cricut.  You will need a embossing machine of some kind, but these are fairly inexpensive.  This stamp set comes with metal cutouts that lay over the stamped images and when you run it through your embossing machine and it cuts the images out perfectly.  I used Zig watercolor brush pens and a basic water pen to color the coffee cups and the sentiment that is included in the stamp set.  Perfection!  The video posted below is specific to this stamp set and technique.

Coffee Card

Tim Holtz and Sizzix CoffeeCard die and stamp set

Coffe die cut and stamp

Tim Holtz Sizzix die cut and stamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Categories : Cards, Cricut Projects, Mixed Medias, Uncategorized
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Perfect Pearls

Perfect Pearls

Perfect Pearl technique card

Supplies:

  1. Perfect Pearl powder kit
  2. Metal brads
  3. Black Cardstock
  4. Gold embossing powder
  5. Versamark clear ink
  6. Dry paintbrush
  7. Heat Gun
  8. Adhesive/tape/foam squares
  9. Sentiment stamp
  10. Water mister
Perfect Pearl Medium

Perfect Pearl

HEY everyone!  This is unique craft and texture technique.  These pigment powders can be used in several ways.  In the video posted at the end of my blog it showcases the “dusting” method which is similar to embossing powder.  These pigment powders can also be mixed with water for a shimmering paint or spray.

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper

Thank-you card on Yupo cardstock with alcohol ink

Thank-you card on Yupo with alcohol ink

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Paper

Alcohol Ink and Yupo Cardstock

4-individual yupo paper cards with Alcohol Ink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alcohol Inks

Alcohol Ink on Yupo paper is an effortless mixed media technique that makes a beautiful background.  Some people shy away from alcohol inks because they work best on glassy or slick surfaces and you have little control over where the ink runs.  However, when using Yupo paper for a background, you can easily create precise control over where the ink pools.  When using this background the ink dries instantly.  You can use a paint brush for vivid colors or drop it straight from the bottle like I did on the above example.

Yupo Paper

This is a glossy paper that resembles a glass or tile surface similar to a photo paper without the sheen.  I bought “do it on YUPO” off of amazon and it comes in 11″X14″ paper.  I cut it down to smaller sizes that are easier to work with and use a basic Fiskars paper cutter to tackle the trimming.

yupo paper

yupo paper

Technique

Once you get your Yupo paper trimmed to smaller working canvas’s you can start inking the card stock.  There are many techniques that you can use but I typically focus on the simple drop method.  I also have a stock of pre-prepared containers that contain dried alcohol ink.  Basically you just put 15-20 drops of alcohol ink in small containers, I use lip balm containers, and let them dry.  then you can go back with a paint brush dipped in alcohol blending solution and use them like regular paint or watercolor paints.  If you want to invest in a water brush, they are approximately 7-9 dollars, you can put the blending solution directly into the water brush and it works perfectly for your dried alcohol inks.  I did use this method to finish my card in the referenced video at the end of my blog.

You can get very creative with alcohol ink.  When using the drop method, the ink dries very fast on this back ground so you can see where your art work is moving very quickly.  You continue dropping color onto your background until the majority of the card stock is covered then you can go in and fill in your small blank spots with the brush and blending solution.

I like to blow on the color as it is drying and you can figure out timing as you go.  When you blow on the blending solution that you are adding with the paint brush it makes a very smooth visual image.

Finishing up

Once you complete the image and are happy with your result there are several ways that you can seal your image.  The easiest way that I have found is spray sealer.  I prefer KRYLON Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating 1303A.  It will leave a few very small droplet like marks to the background but I like the finish that it gives the background.

crystal clear spray coating

crystal clear spray coating

With this card, I finished with a stamped “Thank-you” on white cardstock with the edges rubbed with a black faber castle marker.  I adhered the tag with mounting squares to give the card dimension.

Low Cost Project

When pricing alcohol inks, please note this project only used 3 colors.  Alcohol inks are sold in 3 color packs and all of the color pack sold are in the same family so they always blend well together.  Yupo paper is pricey, however if your enjoy the calming effect of making alcohol ink backgrounds it is an awesome investment.  It has limitless possibilities.  Cheap tiles from your local hardware store or glass picture frames are cheaper alternatives.

 

Supplies

Alcohol Ink

Alcohol Blending Solution

Yupo Paper

Crystal Clear Acrylic Coating

Paint brush or water pen

 

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Cardstock

Alcohol Ink on Yupo Cardstock

alcohol in on Yupo cardstock

Alcohol ink on Yupo cardstock

 

 

Stamp Platform -Tim Holtz version

Stamp Platform Tim Holtz

2 cards made using the stamp platform pictured with distress oxide inks

Stamping Platform

 

Stamper?  Want to be stamper?  Part-time stamper?  Obsessive stamper?  If you have more than 6 clear cling stamps or rubber backed stamps (not wooden) you should have a Stamp Platform period.  This is a game changer.  There are a few different ones out on the market, however I only have experience with the Tim Holtz brand and it is AHHMAAZING. I am sure the other ones are awesome also, but I stick to what I know.  This platform is amazing for a few reasons and I will tell you why!  At the end of my post I will upload a video showing you the platform in action for your viewing pleasure.

 

Layering Inks and Images

Have you ever inked up your stamp and plopped it down with a poor image quality?  Usually it is because the ink was not distributed evenly on the stamp or the pressure was uneven when you put it to paper.  The #1 most amazing thing about the stamp platform is that you can ink up your stamp and stamp in the same exact place as many times as you need to.  The platform keeps the stamp and paper in the exact same place every time.  It makes it possible to layer ink on top of each other, make super rich images, and purposely rearrange  your stamps for multi-layering effects with precision.  In the demo that I made I used distress oxide inks.  I do not always use distress oxide for stamping, but they are still new to me and I am using them on every project that I can at the moment.  They are on my brain and I am always thinking of things that I want to try with them.  All inks and mediums that go well with stamps work with the platform.

 

Little bit of Information

The platform top is acrylic so all of your stamps stick to the top lid.  The lid takes the place of your acrylic blocks that are typically used with rubber and clear cling stamps.  There are 2 sides to the acrylic top.  One side says CLEAR and the other side says RUBBER.  The top pops out when in the 90 degree position and you just change it around.  The platform comes with 2 magnets that hold your paper in place, these are powerful magnets and they do an awesome job at keeping your paper secure.  You will actually place the stamp with the correct side on the paper where you want it to go.  Then when you close your lid it picks up the stamp and you apply the ink when it is attached to the lid.  Apply the ink, then shut the lid again, apply more ink shut the lid again.  You can also add all of the stamps that you want at one time.  I like doing a little at a time because I will layer and layer until I have a very busy full image.

 

Regardless this is an absolute neccesity for someone that would be using stamps on a consistent basis.  I use this to place sentiments in an exact spot on a project or card.  You can monogram with it, I add my kids names to things with it.  I love it.  Please check out the video!  I used Hampton Art Flower Stamp Set in the video.

 

Video example:

Posted by Bobbie Lambert 
· January 28, 2018 
· No Comments

Cards/Distress Oxide Technique

Original creation Distress Oxide Cards

Personalized cards and one of a kind backgrounds are my JAAAM. I love to create special things from the heart to incorporate in gifts or special thank-you’s for the people in my life.

One of the things that I like to do,to de-stress or unwind, is to sit down and make a stock of usable backgrounds for various projects.  They are so versatile and you can incorporate them in almost any project.  Scrapbooking, card making, tags, the list is infinite.

Mixed media has always been one of my go-to projects.  It is very forgiving and for a novice crafter or someone who doesn’t feel very confident in creating, this is a perfect option because your skills do NOT have to be perfect.  You literally cannot mess a Distress Oxide mixed media project up.  That is a beautiful thing my friend!!!!

Tim Holtz and Ranger Distress Oxide Inks are a very versatile pigment and I am going to show you a very basic, simplistic method to get going with these water reactive inks.  There are many, many videos out on Distress Oxide Inks but I did a 55 second video to show you one of the most popular methods of creating mixed media back grounds.

The cards I featured in the top of this post where a bit more complex but the majority of them started out with this basic method and then I incorporated some more advanced techniques.  I will be posting more videos showcasing these techniques but for the beginner, that wants to start a project NOW to get some basic backgrounds, this technique will be perfectly fine!

Supplies used for the following video:

  1.  2 Distress Oxide colors.  Peacock Feather and Broken China. Approximately 6.00 each (I only did 2 layers in this video.  I would probably incorporate other colors for the 3rd and 4th layer)  If you only invested in two colors then you could absolutely use 2 colors throughout all of your layering processes and will still get a dimensional mixed media look.
  2. You will need a cardstock, I used watercolor because it can hold the water well.  You will also need a surface for the ink.  You can use taped down wax paper if you do not have a mat, you can also use a glass surface like a large picture frame or a glass table.
  3. You will need a water source.  Any spray bottle works.  I like the mini pulverizador from ranger ink.
  4. I used a heat gun in the video for time purposes but that is not necessary, you also can use a regular hair dryer or just wait on the ink to dry between layers.

 

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Categories : Cards, Mixed Medias
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Posted by Bobbie Lambert 
· January 22, 2018 
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Raw Wood Slices

rustic wood, monogram, wood slices,

I am OBSESSED with these!  During the summer I procured a old dead log.  My dad is fearless with a chainsaw so I hit him up and explained to him that I was wanting several wood slices out of this log.  We teamed up and I held the log…(not recommended) and he sliced the stump into thin cuts with the chain saw.  He did such a good job there was little sanding required to get a nice surface to work with.  I used some of the slices for some center pieces for my sister in laws wedding and the rest of them I have had lying around in the garage.  I finished this one today with a little paint and flowers made from paper and fabric tidbits that I had lying around.  Loved the finished result.

  1. Black and white paint.  I used paper washi tape to stripe off the colors.  I started with solid black then added white stripes.
  2. I made several coordinating flowers out of fabric and paper.  Basically I just use a glue gun and start twisting and folding the paper or fabric in spirals and gluing as I go in random spots.  It makes fabulous rustic looking flowers.
  3. I added some plastic molded flowers to give it some texture and dimension.
  4. Prior to adhering the flowers I freehanded an “L” for my last name and now its sitting on my bathroom vanity.
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Categories : Mixed Medias

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