Vintage Travel Canvas

It is Cec here and I am bringing you a canvas I made using some of my favourite IndigoBlu stamps.  Like most people, I couldn't just pick one favourite so I chose some that I thought went together quite nicely.

I started by taking a 5" x 7" canvas and covering it with Gee-SSo Good White.  Then I used some texture paste and the Texture stencil to add some interest on the edges.  I also added some paste with my fingers and made some areas that were simple bumpy.

Next I painted around the edges and a portion of the canvas top with Hot Cocoa English Cottage paint and then dry brushed some Goldfinger Metallic paint on top.

I cut four strips of chipboard, covered them with some old book paper and then gave them a coat of watered down Lemon Meringue English Cottage paint followed by a light dry brushing of Hot Cocoa.

The next step was to add some Distress Spray Stain in Gathered Twigs and Tarnished Brass.  I also added some Red Oxide acrylic ink.  Once the inks were dry I dabbed on some Pheasant Bronze Metallic paint.

The next two steps and a couple later on are missing photos because just after I had completed them, our anti-virus software started to indicate that there were hundreds of thousands of files infected with viruses and quarantining the files on every computer in the house.  Talk about panic setting in but after a few hours we discovered that these were false positives and the company had installed a fix so we could restore all the files from quarantine.  Unfortunately a few files would not restore and some were the photos I wanted to show you.

So, the next step was to add some stenciling with the Texture stencil and the Believe stencil using Coffee Archival ink.

Following that I lined the panels up the way I wanted them to look on the finished canvas, carefully taped them together on the back and then turned them over and stamped the dirigible from the Grand Tour I set and the hot air balloon from the Grand Tour III set using Jet Black Archival Ink.

I decided to add some texture at this point so I mixed a drop of Orange Blossom reinker with Super Thick Slap It On and put it through the Texture stencil.

At this point I adhered the panels to the canvas but since I decided to leave a bit of space between each panel, I had to go back and paint the rest of the canvas.

I used Versamark embossing ink and stamped some clocks from the Good Times set onto some transparencies and then heat embossed them with some Copper Embossing Powder.  All the clocks were fussy cut.  This photo shows my first attempt using Gold Embossing Powder because the photo in Copper is one that I lost.  Transparencies are slippery so the stamping is not crisp but I loved the outcome because it added to the vintage feel and as long as I kept my heat gun high enough and moving, it did not warp or melt.

Now it was time to add some embellishments.  I pulled all sorts of metal and wooden pieces from my stash and my husband's workroom and set about to alter them so there was a consistent copper theme.  Metal pieces were altered with Rust Alcohol Ink blended with Copper Mixative Alcohol Ink and wooden pieces were painted with Miss Moneypenny Metallic paint.  I used Super Thick Slap It On to attach all the embellishments and usually find that using my finger to smear it on is the easiest way.

I know this was a long post but I hope there are something to inspire you to dig out your favourite IndigoBlu products and play.

DIY Stamped Desktop Christmas Calendar

For our December Count Your Blessings theme, I decided to create a Christmas calendar to display on my desk at work.  I picked up the wooden printed art at the Dollar Tree.  I used GeeSso Good! to paint the entire board.  I reversed it to create a shadow box.

Inside I stamped Snowflake Lace repeatedly and embossed in white.  I went over the edges of the panel with white chalk for a chalkboard effect.

I painted a sheet of corrugated board with Snow White Metallic Paint and raised it up using more cardboard beneath.  I wrapped a red ribbon around the panel and tied a loopy bow.  I used a purchased flower and die cut holly to further embellish.  I stamped the largest frame in the Vintage Frame stamp set in Fired Brick Distress Ink and layered over another die.

I computer generated the dates and printed onto sticky paper, then cut with a circle punch.  Each day I will simply adhere the date over the previous date.

I mounted the deer from the Winterland Wood stamp set above the panels for extra dimension.  I added a few snowflake dies to complete the project.  These were also rubbed with chalk.

There's still time to pick up the Winterland Wood stamp set before the holidays!  Visit indigoblu.com today for yours!

Winter Wonderland

Hello, Kay M here with a festive winter scene using the gorgeous Winterland Wood tree and delightful angel from Peace on Earth.

I spread fine paste over a 8" canvas board and gave it texture by using the scratchy part of a washing up sponge on it vertically before it dried. Emerald City, Miss Moneypenny and Pheasant Bronze Metallic paints were mixed together to give the green I wanted and then applied it to a piece of Phat foam and this used to 'ink ' up and stamp the tree repeatedly across the centre of the board and on to white card, these ones were cut out.

Unicorn Sparkles were mixed into Super Thick Slap-it-On and this was used through the Star stencil above the tree line and in patches to look like snow drifts below. When dry the board was spritzed with water and silver and blue Luscious sprinkled above the trees and moved round with a wet paintbrush. The same method was applied below the trees using silver and green Luscious.

The angel was stamped with FlitterGlu and Stainless Steel Mega Flakes applied and then over stamped with StazOn ink and fussy cut. The sentiments are from The Spirit of Christmas stencil, VersaFine black ink was sponged through and then the Unicorn Sparkles and Super Thick Slap-it-On mixture applied on top and cut out when dry. The angel and sentiments were adhered with silicon glue to the board as shown.   

If you are going to Crafting at Ally Pally this weekend do pop over to the IndigoBlu stand and say hello to Kay, Alfie and Jenny, they will be so pleased to see you!

Take care,  Kay M

Mary Metallic Christmas Card

Autumn here to share some holiday inspiration with you.  I just could not wait to ink up the lovely new Mother and Child stamp.  I decided to do a non-traditional color scheme so I could play with my beautiful new IndigoBlu metallic paints.

I used a pine bough die with very thin chipboard.  I lightly mixed a small amount of Goldfinger and Snow White metallic paints together to form the most luxurious color and painted several of the die cuts.  Next I cut my snowflakes and star and painted them with pure Goldfinger for contrast.

On a watercolor panel I partially stamped the Christmas Word Block and Snowflake Lace repeatedly with Versamark ink.  I poured silver embossing powder over some sections, then shook off the excess.  Then I poured gold embossing powder over the entire panel to collect in any open areas of my inked background and heat embossed.  I distressed the edges of my panel.  Then I embossed Mary in silver and fussy cut the edges.

I layered my elements, adding in some vintage seam binding, sequins, and splashes of watery Goldfinger and Snow White paints for interest.  I mounted onto a pewter card base to create a pretty framed edge.

This card is both mixed media and CAS, if there is such a thing!  I hope it inspires you to start your Christmas cards, especially if you're not quite in the mood for red and green just yet.  

Thank you for your visit today and I look forward to reading your comments.

Fantasy Unicorn Tag

Autumn Clark here with my kickoff post.  I have been so excited to get my hands on the Jewel unicorn stamp!  I have made several projects, but can only share one today.  Check back often for more inspiration.  This stamp was so much fun to work with because your mind instantly gets carried into the realm of fantasy and wonder when you ink it up.  Today I thought I would share a mixed media tag with you using some fun background techniques with IndigoBlu’s exquisite line of paints & new Unicorn Sparkle glitter. 

I lightly mixed Park Lane and Snow White Metallic paints and scraped across a black tag with a plastic card.  I chose this technique because I really wanted my black background to show through.  While the paint was wet, I dropped a bundle of metallic string onto my tag.

Next, I mixed 1 part Unicorn Sparkle with 1 part Super Thick Slap It On together and scraped through the Stars stencil with a palette knife.  The reason I mixed it together rather than sprinkling it over the wet Slap It On was to avoid getting glitter everywhere.  If you love glitter, but hate the mess, do try this technique.

I allowed the Slap It On to air dry, while I worked on my other elements.  I stamped Jewel onto heavy card with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I added some shading with a colored pencil.  Then I added a small amount of the same paints with some water and painted her as shown, overlapping the edges to allow for cutting.

When my tag was dry, I doodled around some of the stars with a permanent black pen.  Then I bundled Jewel with some purchased flowers, a die cut, and some gathered tulle to create my focal point.  I used pure white embossing powder over a wooden cutout for the main sentiment, and computer generated the lower text.  I mixed some tiny black beads with my Slap It On and brushed that randomly over my tag and flowers.  A few sequins and a bow completed the look.

You can see the Unicorn Sparkle reflects so many colors.  But if you rub it when mixed with Slap It On in paste form, it does not come off.  I hope you’ve been inspired today and would love to hear your comments. 

A House of Small Treasures

Hi everyone and welcome! Jenny here and today I'm sharing my latest project with you. IndigoBlu have a fantastic large wooden house frame in stock that perfect for altering and filling with all your small treasures and curios.

I started by giving the raw wood a coat of gesso and added some modelling paste through the Texture stencil onto the roof. The 'back walls' were covered in a mix of 6x6 European Grand Tour Mixed Media Papers and some paper painted with Raven Black Metallic Paint and stamped in the gesso with one of the Teeny Backgrounds. I also added one of the Word Blocks #1 to another piece of the Raven Black painted paper.

To add some age to the house I then dripped dilute Pheasant Bronze and Kingfisher Blue Metallic Paints over it, allowing the paint to run onto all the surfaces. Then it was time to add the 'treasures'. I stuck to bits and bobs that fitted with the main colour scheme so it wouldn't look too messy.

Die cut and stencilled flowers and leaves were coloured with the same metallic paints as before and scattered throughout the house.

In the eaves of the house I added a paper clay moulded piece that had a mix of the Pheasant Bronze and Gold Metallic Paint run through it to highlight the details.

Further moulded pieces, chipboard shapes and die cuts were added, again altered using the four metallic paints. There are some fantastic Mod Podge moulds in stock at IndigoBlu which can be used with moulding clays and the new Diamond Resin too.

I had great fun altering this little house frame and finding the bits and bobs that could go inside it, and hope it's given you some ideas for altering one of your own.

Take care of yourselves,

Jenny xxx

Products used;

Large Wooden House Frame

White Gee-Sso Good! Gesso

Texture Stencil

Fine Modelling Paste

6x6 European Grand Tour Mixed Media Papers

Raven Black Metallic Paint

A6 Teeny Background Stamp Set

A5 Word Blocks #1 Stamp Set

Pheasant Bronze Metallic Paint

Kingfisher Blue Metallic Paint

Gold Metallic Paint

Mod Podge Moulds