Stamping, Painting, & Coloring make me Giggle

Watercolored Spruce Tree and Make it Sparkle

Sharing a couple designs I did over at my Stampin' Headquarters. Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made them.

    

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Sheena New Release

Sharing a couple designs I did over at my Stampin' Headquarters. Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made them. The first one is from Sheena's new release and the second one is from her Oriental release which came out couple months ago.

   

 Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

A Sunset in the Country...Finishing a Scene

Do you have those - designs you start, but have not finished yet? :o)  "Finishing a scene" is  our Stampscapes yahoo group swap this month and I had lots of pieces to start with.  I started this scene sometime last year.  When I first added wax to the cardstock, I was thinking tropical, but after staring at the wax for a few minutes and exploring different ideas, I saw a sunset in the country. 

 To get the sharpest images, it's best to stamp before adding wax, however I have done lots pieces where I laid down wax first and then stamped. A few things to keep in mind is that, the stamp may slide on top of the wax and you will not get as crisp of an image. I have used a black permanent pen many a day to fill in. :o)

I first stamped some bushes on the dark ground, and then just stamped upside down for the reflection in the water. I also stamped a farm off in the distance.

 

Next I stamped the geese in the sky. For their reflection, I stamped them onto a piece of clear plastic, turned it over and pressed into the water. It gave a nice slightly blurry image - just like water.  To give the water a subtle movement, I stamped ripples using orange ink - stamping off each time.

Lastly, I stamped the ducks. I filled in areas I wanted to sharpen with a black artist pen,  drew thin lines for field, added some color with water-based markers and used a white paint pen to add white to areas. The very last thing I did was mail it to my stampin' sister Pia way in Sweden! 

Stampscapes images: 023A, 176C, 191A, 231C, 261C

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

InLinkz.com

Stampscapes - One scene, Two Techniques

           

Scene 1                                                                      Scene 2

I'm so excited to share that Kevin Nakagawa of Stampscapes made these two scenes I created into a Stampscapes Idea card!!

 

When I was at the Stampscapes Retreat, I was reminded by my stampin' sister Barb G of how much I enjoy Encausic painting. I have to admit, I go from one coloring tool/medium to the next and I truly enjoy each and every one!! :o) My favorite is the one I'm using at the time - it really is!!  I'm sharing one scene I created with two different coloring techniques.

Scene 1: Encaustic Wax Painting

1. Inked up Palm Cluster 100D with black ink pad and stamped onto glossy card stock.
2. Spread wax with iron, using palms as a guide to separate the sky and water. Using the wax, I created a little land mass way off in distance.
3. Inked up Seaside Cove sm. 308G with orange ink pad and stamped, lining it up with the bottom of the palms.  Inked up and stamped a second time. NOTE: when stamping over wax, the wax is slippery and acts similar to a resist, so you image will not be dark.
4. Inked up Solo Canoeist 159A with black ink pad and stamped. Used black marker to darken.
5. Inked up Gulls 302A with black ink pad and stamped. Used black marker to darken.
6. Inked up Frond #2 137C with black ink pad and stamped, Repeated several times around top of scene. Used a sponge to pick up black acrylic paint and apply onto 137C and stamped. Repeated several times around top of scene.

Scene 2: Tombow Dual Brush Pen Technique

1. Inked up Palm Cluster 100D with black ink pad and stamped onto card stock.
2. Scribbled yellow 025 marker on non-stick surface. Spritzed with water and swirled card stock through color. Note: leave some white areas. Wiped off non-stick surface before each new color.
3. Repeat for orange 925. Repeat for red 856.
4. Allow to dry. Can use heat tool to speed up drying process. 
5. Used water brush to pick up some red off non-stick surface and painted in a land mass.
6. Inked up Seaside Cove sm. 308G with orange ink pad and stamped, lining it up with the bottom of the palms.
7. Inked up Solo Canoeist 159A with black ink pad and stamped.
8. Inked up Gulls 302A with black ink pad and stamped.
9. Inked up Frond #2 137C with black ink pad and stamped, Repeated several times around top of scene.

Stamps: Stampscapes  100D, 137C, 159A, 308G, 302A  
Paper: Scene1: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Stampin' Up! black. Scene 2:  Cryogen White, Stampin' Up! black.
Inks: Both: StazOn jet black, pumpkin ink pads. Scene 2: Tombow Dual Brush Pens
Accessories: Scene 1: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, black sharpie marker, black acrylic paint, small sponge. Scene 2: waterbrush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Underwater Wax

I love how this underwater scene turned out!! It's all in the wax, more so than any artistic way in which I'm ironing. :o) 

1. Used iron and waxes to create under water background.  See here for post on tips and Encaustic video. 
2. Stamped images in black first, then in craft white - allowed to dry in between. 
3. Painted fish with lovely, rich Studio paints. 
4. Used outdoor paint bottles with fine tip to outline fish and also add green to sea foliage (not sure what the real name is :o)).
5. Allowed everything to dry over night. Layered.
6. Stamped a fish and sea foliage inside.

Stamps: Gina K Under the Sea
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Stampin' Up! black, Neenah Classic Solar White
Inks/Paints: Stampin' Up! craft white, Brilliance graphite black, Studio by Claudine Hellmuth dab of yellow, pastel yellow, gesso, dash of red
Accessories: paint brush,  Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Getting Reacquainted with Wax

When I went to the Stampscapes retreat this year, my stampin' sister Barb G rekindled my love for wax. :o)  I'm trying different styles and just having fun! I have once again taken over the kitchen counter.

I stamped the images first and then added the wax in sections.  One of the joys of using wax is the surprising outcome. If you are not happy with it, you can reheat it and create a different design. I can honestly say I have not discarded one piece of card stock I put wax on. Now I have reheat many, but discarded none. :o)

Stamps: Scales of justice is free clip art, Stampscapes, Alextamping, Michael Strong
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock  Papertrey Ink Stamper’s Select White Card Set,  Stampin' Up! basic black and metallic gold
Inks: StazOn jet black, gold metallic ink pad
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons,   Stampin' Up! gold emboss powder

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Sharing some Designs I finished at My Headquaters

Please click on the photo to see the details of how I made it. We also have a giveaway going on at Crafter's Companion!

   

  

    

  

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Deep Blue Sea

Sharing an underwater scene using Encaustic Painting.

1. Inked up image and stamped onto card stock.  I actually stamped this one at the May Stampscapes retreat. :o)  I only used a portion of the complete image.  I liked this Coronado Island image so much that I ordered it.   After I mounted it on EZMount, I cut it in pieces so I can easily use a portion or the complete image.
2. Use iron and waxes to create water background.  See here for post on tips and Encaustic video.
3. Holding card stock in mid air, lightly touch and pull away the iron to create the ocean bottom.
4. Using the tip of the iron pull the wax up for underwater foliage.
5. Adhere layers.

Stamps: Coronado Island  
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Stampin' Up! black, Neenah Classic Solar White
Inks: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Mountains

For our June StampscapesII Yahoo Group trade, the theme is mountains.  Rather than use one of the Stampscapes mountain images, I'm using wax to create the mountains.  The leafy branch and the loon images are two of my favorites from Stampscapes - oh, who am I kidding?.... Every Stampscapes image I have is my favorite. :o)  Click here to see another scene I created with this technique and links to helpful videos.

1. Choose three colors for your mountains. I chose a blue and two shades of brown. Melt 1st color wax on iron and then spread on two-ply tissue. Repeat for two more colors, overlapping the colors.
2. Lay the wax down on glossy card stock and use the tip/top part of your iron to create a peak. Pull partially away to check how it looks. Repeat for number of desire peaks.  Remove the tissue, and immediately use your finger to spread/blend  the color.
3. Use iron, waxes, and crayons to create remaining background. I colored various waxes directly on paper then melted and little clear wax on my iron and spread over the sky to give more of a subtle look.  
4. After it dries, buff it with a soft towel. 
5. Ink up  images and stamp. Allow it to dry.
6. Use white pen to whiten the area below the loon's necks.  Allow to dry.
7. Assemble layers. 

Stamps: Stampscapes  261C, 277F  
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Stampin' Up! black, Neenah Classic Solar White
Inks: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, two-ply tissue, Inkssentials opaque pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

In the Tropics

I am really enjoying the cool backgrounds I can create with the technique of Encaustic Painting. I watch my Micheal's Learning Skills DVD often. :o)  Here I used orange, red, and yellow waxes for a tropical sky.

1. Ink up palm tree image with black and stamp onto card stock. At this point, you could also stamp your other images if you know where you want them placed. I chose to paint the background first and then stamp the other images.
2. Use iron, waxes, and crayons to create sky and water.   Click here for tips,  and a link to a teaching video,  I learned when working with the iron.
3. After it dries, buff it with a soft towel. 
4. Ink up bird image and stamp. Ink up boat image and stamp. If you want any area darker, use a black permanent pen to darken. TIP: Lightly tap color onto the area. Coloring back and forth may remove the ink on top of the wax. 
5. Ink up water image with gray and stamp off onto scrap paper before stamping onto card stock. Repeat several times to give motion to the ocean. Repeat with the orange ink pad.  Be sure to leave areas for light. 
6. Assemble layers. 
7. Stamp a couple images on the inside to carry the theme in.
8. Remember to sign your art work!

Stamps: Stampscapes  100D, 164A, 302A, 231C 
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock, Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! basic black
Inks: StazOn jet black, pumpkin, stone gray
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, Fiber-Castell black artist pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

In Flight

In our Michael Strong Yahoo Group, we have a bird challenge this month. I used wax to create my scenery beneath my bird in flight.

1. Use iron and waxes to create background, hills, foliage and sky.  Click here for tips,  and a link to a teaching video,  I learned when working with the iron.
2. After it dries, buff it with a soft towel.
3. Ink up bird image and stamp. Allow it to dry.
4. Use paint brush and acrylic paint to add color to the bird.  If you get paint some place you don't want,  gently wipe it right away with a clean paper towel.  The wax surface is easy to wipe clean. Do this immediately when the paint is still fresh.
5. Assemble layers.

Stamps: Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Wings MS336EZ
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! basic black
Inks: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, folkArt acrylic paints wicker white, metallic periwinkle, light periwinkle, floating medium, #6 filbert paint brush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Arizona Sunset

More Encaustics! I can not help myself. Once I get started, I just get caught up in all the colors and the surprise of the design.  :o)  When I finished this piece, it reminded me of an Arizona sunset.

1. Ink up image with gray ink pad and stamp image for placement on glossy A2 size piece of  card stock. NOTES: (1) I stamped this image upside down   (2) Since stamping for placement I only inked up a part of the image as a guide for the painting.  I also planned not to use the handles.
2. On a scrap piece of card stock, ink up image with StazOn and stamp.
3. Use iron and waxes to create back ground.  Click here to see a post with tips and Encaustic tutorial video link.
4. Use your stamped guide to show where the leaves will come out of the vase.  Add a little wax just below the top of the vase and then use the tip of the iron to pull and shape the leaves.
5. Use the stylus with the drawing tip to add gold wax to accent the leaves and also the vase on scrap  card stock.  Follow the pattern of the vase.  TIP: use a little bit of clear wax with the gold to reduce the strength of the color.
6. Cut out vase.
7. Adhere layers & colored  image over guide.  Stamp portion of image on the inside of the card (Encore gold metallic ink) and use a metallic pen (Sakura) to draw in leaves.

Stamps:  Mini Cloisonné Containers MS334EZ
Inks: StazOn jet black, Memento london fog
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! basic black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, stylus, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Underwater Scene

This week I will be sharing a card featuring Michael Strong's images each day. For this underwater scene, I chose Michael Strong's mini fish - such a cute image!

1. Ink up image with StazOn and stamp. Repeat for two more images.
2. Use iron and waxes to create water background.  See here for post on tips and Encaustic video.
3. Holding card stock in mid air, lightly touch and pull away the iron to create the ocean bottom.
4. Using the tip of the iron pull the wax up for underwater foliage.
5. Use the stylish with the hot brush tip and clear wax to reheat the wax inside each fish. Wipe away color with a tissue or paper towel.
6. Use pencils to add color to each fish.
7. Adhere layers.

 Stamps:  Michael Strong Mini Creatures
Inks: StazOn jet black
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! basic black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, stylus, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, Prisma Pencils

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Mountain View

Here's another scene where I combined my joy of using Stampscapes images with my new favorite technique of Encaustic Painting. For mountains I used another cool technique I learned from Micheal's Learning Skills DVD. There are so many!  I also found another great teacher of this technique, John. Click here to see one his videos.

1. Choose three colors for your mountains. I chose a blue and two shades of brown. Melt 1st color wax on iron and then spread on two-ply tissue. Repeat for two more colors, overlapping the colors.
2. Lay the wax down on glossy card stock and use the tip/top part of your iron to create a peak. Pull partially away to check how it looks. Repeat for number of desire peaks.  Remove the tissue, and immediately use your finger to spread/blend  the color.
3. Use iron, waxes, and crayons to create remaining background, spring hills, foliage and sky. I colored various waxes directly on paper then melted and little clear wax on my iron and spread over the sky to give more of a subtle look.  Click here for tips,  and a link to a teaching video,  I learned when working with the iron.
4. After it dries, buff it with a soft towel.
5. Before inking up the buck image, I masked the lower portion. I wanted  to make it look like he was standing in grass. Ink up image, remove mask and stamp. Allow it to dry.
6. Assemble layers.  Remember to sign your art work!

Stamps: Stampscapes  008A  
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Stampin' Up! close to cocoa, taken with teal
Inks: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, two-ply tissue, low tack sticky paper

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Another Encaustic Scene

This time, no stamping. :o) It's all iron and wax.  I have taken over part of the counter space in my kitchen. I'm so fortunate to have a supportive husband - who is actually the chef at our house, and working around my wax set up.  Click here to see a video on Encaustic painting a landscape scene.

Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! basic black, tempting turquoise
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

ATCs for June

This month our theme is weaving - something I have never done. :o)  So..... as I thought about my project and looked at my supplies, I decided to use yarn. As I learned, not a good weaving material - too many fibers. ::o)  I had fun. I just hope they stay together long enough for me to trade.

1. Used my new favorite medium of wax to create bright backgrounds, ironing on 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of card stock.
2. Cut them into slightly smaller ATC sizes  and adhered them to black background layers. 
3.  After I viewed a couple Youtube videos, I was ready to weave. I laid out several pieces of yarn horizontally on my desk and then taped them at both ends.
4. I then cut several layers of yarn and started weaving it through. Oops, that cute strawberry paper is in the photo accidentally. It's from Papertrey Ink and will be used on a project I'll be posting in a few days featuring a new Hambo Stamps digi image.
5. I used my Xyron to create a double sided adhesive piece of card stock.  I peeled back one side and laid a sticky side onto my long weaved piece.  I trimmed the extra card stock away.  I cut up the weaved yarn into small pieces and set aside.
6. Inked up basket of yard image and stamped onto card stock. Repeated for several images.
7. Used 2 or 3 markers from the same color family to add color to the image. Cut out each image and ran through Xyron.
8. Assembled each ATC.  Used glitter pen to add a little bling.

Stamps: Lockhart  
Paper:  Cryogen White,  Sunday International ATC cards, Peddler's Den Glossy
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
Accessories: Copic Markers, Xyron machine, Sakura gold metallic & clear glitter pens, tape, Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares,  Crayola Metallic FX Crayons, yarn

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Springscape

For last month's StampscapesII Yahoo Group swap, we made spring scenes. For this scene, I combined my joy of using Stampscapes images with my new favorite technique of Encaustic Painting.

1. Use iron and waxes to create background, spring hills, foliage and sky.  Click here for tips,  and a link to a teaching video,  I learned when working with the iron.
2. After it dries, buff it with a soft towel.
3. Ink up images and stamp. Allow them to dry.
4. Assemble layers.

Stamps: Stampscapes  151E, 293C, 277F
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock,  Neenah Classic Solar White, Stampin' Up! basic black, tempting turquoise
Inks: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

I Should Have Brought a Jacket!

 

I'm using these cute little penguins again for Hambo Hoedown 17! This time they have taken a trip to the moon. The moon  is a digi image.  My textured background was made using waxes, my new favorite coloring technique!

1. I used the word.doc application on my PC to determine the size of the moon.  I wanted it to be the width of my top layer card. I used the ruler on the side of the application to size it.  TIP: The first time you print, print it on copy paper. Check to make sure it is the size you want.  When you are sure the size you want,  then print on your nice card stock.
2. I inked up the penguin images and stamped them onto white paper and cut them out.
3. I found  free clip art of an astronaut helmet on line. Printed it out onto card stock. I first sized it and printed on copy paper before printing on my nice card stock.  Cut images out. Use craft knife for tight spaces. I ran the smaller images through a sticker maker.
4. Now, time for coloring! I used two or three colors from a color family to add color to the images.
5. On black glossy card stock, I used an  iron and waxes to create space background.  The stars are created with white dots of wax.
6. Adhered all layers and images.  I used Crystal Lacquer to fill in the glass of their helmets.
7. Printed the sentiment on my PC, and cut it out.

Stamps: Hambo   
Paper:  Stampin' Up!  blue, Gina K Pure Luxury card stock white heavy base weight 120lb, black glossy paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
Accessories: Copic Markers  & Multiliner 0.5, Crystal Lacquer,  Xyron sticker maker, craft knife and mat, Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Encaustic Scene

 

At the May Stampscapes retreat my stampin' sister Barb gave a demo on the Encaustic technique of coloring and I got hooked! Today I had a ball learning to use the tools and wax squares!  With the kit I got a DVD.  I watched the section on landscaping three times before I plugged in the iron. :o)  You can see a piece of the video here.  I am happy with the results you can get after just a few attempts.   As I finish more pieces, I'll share!   A few things Barb taught me and I what learned:

1. Coat your card with beeswax first.  You can find it at Michael's in the candle wax section. Use your weekly coupon (thank you Barb!)
2. Move slowly over the card stock.
3. Push your color.
4. If you don't like your results, keep working it. This technique is very forgiving - I think that's one of the reasons I like it so much! You can easily fix your le boo boos!  :o)
5. The DVD is very helpful. I watched Barb and took notes. The DVD gives a bunch of additional techniques AND Michael is so encouraging. He made me feel like I could get the hang of it!
6. Use glitter crayons to give a little bling in your art work (another Barb tip!)
7. You can stamp before or after you use the waxes. If you stamp before, use a dye ink. If you stamp after, use a solvent ink. I found this out when I smudged my images.  The good thing is, I could remove the entire image with a little cleaner (I used Stampin' Up!) and a paper towel. I squirted the cleaner on a paper towel and gently rubbed it off.
8. Be patient. Allow things to dry. :o)

 

Stamps: Stampscapes  153B, 302A
Paper: Encaustic Creations glossy card stock  Papertrey Ink Stamper’s Select White Card Set,  Stampin' Up! basic black, taken with teal
Inks: StazOn jet black
Accessories: Encaustic Creations iron, wax squares, Sharpie white extra fine point paint pen, Sakura Micron .005 archival ink pen, Crayola Metallic FX Crayons

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena