Permanently Perfect

I hardly ever do perfect... Part of the reason I love the vintage grunge style of crafting is that I don't have to worry about that extra smudge. :)  The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave is challenging the team to use Archival inks because they are a permanent ink!  I love archival inks and the variety of colors along with the ability to not smudge and dry quickly!  

The beauty of the archival ink is the ability to use other mediums which you can blend and spray without losing the sharpness of the inked image. I also love the various colors which can be paired with watercolors to change the way the image looks.  I decided to use the same image and ink it up with three different archival inks and color the image with the same watercolor to show  how the outline ink can change your art and how it appears. 

I started with three scraps of paper that I cut into a tag shape.  I then stamped the flower with three different archival inks.  

For my next step I used a pink watercolor pencil and a water brush to add shading to the flowers. 

I loved the effect of all three flowers and how they looked different just because of the ink used on the outline stamp.  The watercolor pencil was the same for all three and yet each flower looks like they have a different shade of pink and green.  

I also used the archival ink to ink up the edges of the tag all around just create a nice crisp line.

Then I took each flower and created a different background  using a mix of distress inks, distress ink sprays, and archival inks to add texture and interest. 

On this first tag I stamped the flower on a scrap paper and cut the flower head out and laid it over my tag's flower.  I then stamped the field label using black archival ink in an alternating pattern.  I then used post it notes to mask off the rectangles to sponge in distress oxide ink in the alternating rectangles. 

I finished with a stamped sentiment which was cut and applied at different angles.  

For the next tag I used a new stencil with the same distress ink to add a little visual effect in the background of the tag. 

I could have used the mask but because I was randomly applying the distress ink, I just sponged around the flower.  

I also used a watercolor pencil (black) to add a hint of shading around my flower to make it pop from the paper.  I used a water brush to soften the shading of the black watercolor and was able to do this because the archival ink will not respond to the water brush. 

I added a hint of distress spray inks to the background and use the same effect on another piece of card-stock to stamp my sentiment and apply. 

For my final tag I wanted to use the archival ink to add the pattern to the background of the tag.

I stamped the pattern using the same archival ink.  The pattern started to take away the focus on the flowers so I smeared watered down white acrylic paint to soften the effect of the archival ink.  

I added shading again with the black watercolor pencil around the outlines of the flowers to make them really stand out.  I finished with a splatter of distress oxide stain spray spritzed onto my craft mat and picked up randomly onto my tag. 

I hope this inspired you to try out your various archival inks in a fun way.  I wanted to share with you the first thing I did when I received the new archival inks.

I always smear a solid section of the ink pad onto a scrap piece of card-stock.  (you also can use labels which already are ready to stick on your ink pad container)

Then I cut strips and tape them to the ends of my ink pads.  Because I have a wonderful ink rack my husband created for me that stores all my archival inks that looks like this: 

It makes it really easy to pick out my ink pads whether they are in the rack or stacked up on my craft desk. 

Suzz

Products:

• Ranger Archival Ink Aubergine
• Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black
• Ranger Archival Ink Wine Celler
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Abstract Floral
• Ranger Tim Holtz Watercolor Pencil - Black Soot 
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Stencil - Deco Floral
  
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Curiosity Shop
  
• Ranger Distress Oxide - Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Oxide Stain Spray - Peeled Paint
• Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Love Notes
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz - Mr. Rabbit
  

Finish It!

Hi!  I don't know about you but I have many leftovers as I like to call them cluttering up my craft desk, drawer and a few other places.  I start something and lack a finishing focal point, image, or inspiration!  The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave challenged us this time to finish something off that was an incomplete art project. 

I had created these beautiful shimmery backgrounds with mica stain sprays blending the colors to create a gorgeous mix of colors and then failed to use them.

Then Mr. Rabbit hopped into the house and I felt inspired to tag him!  I took one of the pieces created from this masterboard of shimmery sprays and cut it down to a tag size. 

I then stamped Mr. Rabbit using an archival ink and while it was still wet applied black embossing powder to make him really pop and hop on the background.  

Then I decided I wanted to outline and highlight him with a white gel pen.  This helped make him stand out on that strong orange background. 

I wanted to add a little whimsy to the image and decided he needed a fun bow tie and some jewelry on his floppy ear.  

I added some polka dots with some white embossing powder after stamping with Versamark randomly around the background.  

To finish it off a few black gems to his buttons and the background with a sweet sentiment.All in time for the Easter holiday coming up! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Suzz

Products: 

• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mr. Rabbit
• Versamark Ink 
• Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black
• Ranger Embossing Powder: White Detail
• Stampers Anonymous Tiny Text 
• Ranger Mica Stain Sprays Halloween Set #3
• Ranger Mica Stain Sprays Halloween Set #1
• Ranger Mica Stain Sprays Holiday Set #6 
• Jump Rings

Hearts & Flowers

 Hi!  Time to celebrate Valentine's with some hearts and flowers!  The Funkie Junkie Inspiration Ave team is showing off their hearts and flowers.  I was inspired by the lovebirds again!  

The lovebirds look so sweet nestled inside of the card peeking out from a larger heart framed with all the little hearts!  

The background of everything is covered with a soft pattern made from the bouquet stencil and some clear embossing powder. 

The images were created by laying the stencil over white cardstock and sponging over the stencil with versamark watermark ink.  Then covering the ink with clear embossing powder and shaking off the excess.  Then heat up the embossing powder until it melts completely.  

After that The hearts and birds were cut from the embossed paper and the card base was formed from the embossed paper.  The heart was handdrawn and cut out from the center of the card front. 

The hearts were layered around the edges of cut out heart and the birds were placed inside.  The single pink heart was sprayed with mica stain spray and placed over their hearts. 

My first heart card started with texture paste and mica stain sprayed over the surface and it was striking but didn't pop with the smaller hearts so this card base will have to wait until I get additional coordinating hearts ready for it!

Next I played with many hearts sprayed in beautiful shiny mica stain sprays and paired them with a pink heart placed on the front of the card.

This was just a smattering of purple and yellow hearts over the pink heart and some sweet lovebirds paired with the hearts.

Three different cards all using the lovebirds and hearts for inspiration!  

Suzz

Products: 

• Sizzix Tim Holtz the Vault Lovebirds
• Ranger Seasonal Mica Stain Sprays #4#
• Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Layering Stencil - Bouquet
• Versamark Watermark Ink
• Ranger Clear Embossing Powder 
• Ranger Distress Oxide - Picked Raspberry
• Ranger Texture Paste Crackle Opaque