Trena's Creative Space

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

Retreat 2012!

I had a fabulous time last week at the Stampscapes 2012 retreat in Savanna, IL!!! Karen was a lovely hostess to all of us, including Kevin! We had 20 women and Kevin. Poor Kevin.... :o) We stamped and giggled and stamped and ate and watched Kevin create and stamped and colored and giggled and stamped and colored. I learned some great new techniques for making clouds.  Most of all, I enjoyed being with my stampin' sisters!  We had sisters from three countries - USA, Canada, and The Netherlands. Mirjam came all the way to be with us.  Wonder a wonderful time we had.

Here are some scenes I finished (all scenes include Stampscapes):

        

(I did not get the stamp credit for the desert scenes. If anyone knows, please leave a comment. thank you!)

     
(Mo Manning, Beeswax)

     
(Robert Jackson)

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Jungle Scene - Colored with Spectrum Noir Markers

I made this card for the StampscapesII April Swap.  The theme is a jungle scene.  My swap partner is Terry in NV. He likes bears, but since there's no bears in the jungle, he's getting a tiger. :o)

I'm so happy with the result I got with my new method of masking! It a new way to mask for stamping -  at least for me! :o)  My stampin' sister Barb G. told me about it. She actaully told me about it last year at our Stampscape's Retreat and I ran right out and bought the product and prompty orgainzed it away. :o) I recently saw a beautiful scene she created and asked her about it and she reminded me about how she does masking, so I got out my stuff for this scene.

Next week we are having our 2012 Stampscapes!! I am sooooo excited! We have people coming from different places in the USA, from Canada, and one of our Stampin' Sisters is coming all the way from The Netherlands!! How cool is that?!  I'll share photos and art from the retreat.  

The finished size of the card is 4.5" x 6".

1. I stamped the tiger first. To mask him, I painted over him with liquid frisket. My new favo rite!   I got a little happy and stamped a smaller tiger for another scene and masked him too.  After allowing the fluid to totally dry, I finished stamping my scenes and allowed the ink to dry. TIP: Be sure to wash your paintbrush right away with soap and water. It's a good idea to designate an old brush just for your friskette. 
2. I used an adhesive eraser to remove the dried mask. TIPs from Barb: use a tissue to dab any ink off of mask before removing. Use eraser to get it started, then pull mask off.
3. I used old fashioned paper masking (that's what I'm calling it now. :o)) for the rocks and airbrushed the sky with TB3.
4. Using a photo of a tiger I found on line and my Spectrum Noir Marker color combo chart I picked my colors for the scene, and then I COLORED!
5. For the foliage and grass, I brayered ink onto Cryogen pieces and then used die cuts to make a few plants.  I ran them through my Xyron sticker maker.  Adhered them onto the little scene and then trimmed the edges with scissors. I've found that to be easier than cutting them first and then tryting to adhere flush at the edge.
6. I added one of the leafs to the inside of the card, added highlights in his eyes with acrylic paint and a toothpick, and he's ready to send!

Stamps: Stampscapes 084E, 185G, 279F, 302A, I Love Rubber Stamps
Paper:  Curious Metallic CRYOGEN WHITE 89lb card stock , Stampin' Up! basic black, white glossy paper
Inks: Memento tuxedo black ink pad, Spectrum Noir Markers, Marvy blending blox shades of olive ink pad
Accessories: Pebeo liquid frisquet, paintbrush, Dees Distinctively large green leaf & Poppystamps, inc. grassland border dies cuts, 2" brayer

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Fishing in the Country

This little scene is for this month's StampscapesII Yahoo Group Challenge. The theme is country.  This fishing dude from Art Impressions is catching more Z's than fish. ;o)  I met my swap partner, Sandy K, at the 2010 Stampscapes retreat in Chicago. She is such a sweetheart!

For this scene I decided to cut out my focal image, fishing dude, and place him in the scene. Another way to put him in the scene is to stamp him first, mask him, and then stamp around him. I wanted him to really pop out.

1. Inked up fisherman image with VersaFine ink pad, stamp onto watercolor paper, sprinkled with
   embossing powder and heat set. TIP: rub an anti-static bag over your paper or card stock before you stamp your image. This will help the powder stick only where you want it - to the ink!
2. I used a combination of the blender pen and waterbrush to spread color. For the larger areas, I laid down two shades of color and then used a waterbrush to spread and blend. For smaller areas, I used one shade and the Tombow blender. TIP: If you have any water spots after an area dried, dab a little color and use the blender to blend.
3. After the image dried, I cut it out. I cut out the base pieces of the image, not the small lines, i.e. fishing line.  TIP: If you cannot get close enough with your scissors and have any tiny white areas left, run a black marker along the edge.
4. I stamped my background scene, using StazOn, on scrap paper first to decide which images I wanted and for placement. TIPs: Use your cut out image to help with placement.  If you have any white space in between your images on your background, use a waterproof pen to fill in dots. When you are using alcohol inks for your coloring, be sure to use an alcohol ink friendly pen for dots.
5. I used a stamp positioner tool to stamp the image onto the background. 
6. After the background scene dried completely, it was time to color!  I used my Tombows and a watercolor brush to add color.   I colored the whole barn red, then then thought I should have googled barns before I colored! :o) Sure enough the barn photos I really liked had a white roof - no worries, there's always acrylic paint! And, that's what I used the for the barn roof.
7. With the waterproof marker, I added some grass strands in front of the toolbox and then used a green Tombow to fill in color.
8. After the background dried, I adhered my fisherman, his fishing bobber and worm to the card and adhered all the layers.  Yes, his hat going beyond the border was on purpose. :o) I like that affect!
9. Last step was to send to Sandy!!

Stamps: Art Impressions, Stampscapes 147F, 149F, 176C, 188F, 251C, 276G
Paper:  Stampin' Up!  basic black, Neenah Classic Solar White,  Fabriano Artistico Extra White Watercolor Paper Block 140lb hot press (image), 90lb hot press watercolor paper (scene),
Ink: VersaFine onyx black, Tombow Dual Brush Pens, StazOn jet black & stoned gray
Accessories: heat tool, Stampin' Up! black detail embossing powder & embossing buddy, waterbrush, craft knife and mat, Sakura  Micron .01 archival ink pen, white acrylic paint, paint bush, stamp-a-ma-jig

Take care and STAY POSITIVE! 

Trena

Easy Background with Tombows!

 

Sharing an easy background technique with two of my favorites - Stampscapes images and Tombow Dual Brush pens!

1. Scribbled a few marker colors onto a nonstick surface. Spritzed with water. Swirled Cryogen card stock around in mixture to pick up color.  NOTE: Check paper and make sure you're getting the results you want.  If not enough color, repeat process.  You can spread the color with your fingers. You can also allow the background to dry and then pick up more color.  Be careful not to saturate your card stock.
2. Allowed background to dry completely.
3. Stamped trees in black, mountains in grey.  No masking necessary. I wanted to see the mountains through the trees.
4. Stamped the clouds in grey.
5. Stamped birds and sentiment in black.  I used StazOn on the transparency (lavender base card).
6. Adhered all layers. Used brads for transparency.

Stamps: Stampscapes 150E, 182G, 296C, 302A, Stampin' Up!
Paper:  Curious Metallic CRYOGEN WHITE 89lb card stock , Stampin' Up! basic black, old olive, lavender lace
Inks: Tombow Dual Brush Pens (used a variety of colors) VersaFine onyx black, StazOn jet black, Memento London Fog
Accessories: black brads, transparency

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

 

Candy for the Neighborhood Kids

 I really don't "celebrate" Halloween, but I do enjoy passing out candy to our neighborhood children. They are so cute!! Made this card for a swap this month at Club Posh.   The finished card is 4.5" x 6".

1. Used a circle mask for the moon, then brayered the background with blues. Stamped the house and fence, then sponged the ground.
2. Stamped the images on a scrap piece of paper. Colored with markers and then cut out. Embossed the skeleton. I really dig the little skeleton. You can cut him apart and pose him how you like.
3. Adhere images onto base card. Stamp a few bats in the sky.  Stamp some images on the inside.  I also like to decorate the back too.

Stamps: Posh Impressions, Stampin' Up!, Stampscapes
Paper:  Stampin' Up!  basic black, Cryogen, glossy white
Inks:  Stampin' Up!  bashful blue, night of navy, white craft, Marvy black ink pad, variety of Marvy and Tombow markers
Accessories:  sponge, Judi-kins white emboss powder

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

A Splash of Fall

All the pretty autumn colors are starting to show on the trees in my area.  For last month's swap at our StampscapesII Group, I made this card that shows a splash of color.  Click here for general tips on scenic stamping.

1. I stamped the boats and dock first, and built everything else around them.
2. Next I stamped 212G across the lake and then filled in on the sides.
3. I used a torn paper towel to mask. I learned that trick (and many, many - many more from Sandy H!)
4. After my ink dried completely, I started to add color with my Copics. I colored the water first, then the boats and dock.  Added color to the trees and grass, using various colors of green to give depth.  Added a splash of fall yellows and oranges to a few of the trees.
5. After adhering the layers, I added glitter,  Stickles and pearls to add splashes of color and a little bling on the ground (learned that trick from Trish H).  

Stamps: Stampscapes 212G, 213G, 254B, B&J's Art Stamps
Paper:  Curious Metallic CRYOGEN WHITE 89lb card stock , Stampin' Up! basic black, Papertrey Ink Stamper’s Select White Card Set
Inks: Memento tuxedo black ink pad,  Copic Markers 0, C2, C3, C5, C7, BG0000, B0000, B01, B32, R08, R24, E09, E11, E13, E33, E35, E37, E50, E71, E99, G24, G40, G82, Y19, YR16, YR18, atYou Spica clear, lemon & orange glitter pens, multiliner black 0.3 {Copics missed the photo shoot so I listed them }
Accessories: Stickles Xmas red, Liquid Pearls lemon yellow, Inkssentials white opaque pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

 

Nighttime on the Farm

This scene was inspired by my Stampin' Brother, Ken.  Ken teaches scenic stamping in the AZ area and recently posted a wonderful, dramatic scene at our StampscapesII Yahoo Group using this Beeswax lake image and Stampscapes images. I was inspired by the way he created such lovely blues in his sky and lake. So I tried!

You can find Ken's art work, tutorials,  workshop information, and his DVD at Stampscapes.

Click on Gallery, Lessons or Workshops and look for Ken Pesho.

1. To see a previous post on general tips for scenic stamping, check here.
2. Here's the order I stamped in, using a paper towel to mask when needed: (1) the boats and dock image (2)  lake (3) grass  (4) barns (5) mountains (6) filled in with more grass (7) sky.
3. After the ink was COMPLETELY dry, I added color.  I used markers for detail coloring. In Ken's scene, he made his roof tops pop with color. I did too.
4. I used the stylus for the grass, mountains, sky and water.  I built the rich color with a few shades and added a splash of purple. Ken taught me about the splash of purple when I met him at my first Stampscapes retreat.
5. Lastly, added branches around the scene and signed my name. :o)

Stamps: B&J, Beeswax , Stampscapes 097E, 176C, 188F, 251C, 203G, 269G, 284F
Paper:  Peddler's Den Semi Glossy
Inks: Memories Black ink pad, Marvy Matchables ink pads 3, 8, 10, 12, 16, 60, 61, 92,  Marvy  Markers 0, 6, 12, 28, 37, 41, 65, 84
Accessories: ColorBox Stylus Tool

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Snow Leopard & Copics

This little scene was inspired by a card that Tonya did. She offers wonderful scenic stamping classes featuring Stampscapes images at Peddler's Den.  Scroll down on their page and check out the gallery! This card  features the snow leopard image from Coronado Island.  I find his gaze memorizing.  CI has some awesome images! I bought several after the May Stampscapes Retreat.  The cards measure 4 1/2" x 6".

1. Inked up snow leopard image and stamped.
2. Inked up large rock image and stamped. NOTE: watch your placement closely to allow enough space to show his full face.  I have unmounted images and can easily see my placement through the acrylic block. If you have a wood mounted version, a stamp positioning tool (i.e. Stamp-a-majig) would assist with exact placement.
3. I then placed mask over the rocks. Inked up rock image and stamped to fill in the white space to the right of the masked image. NOTE: If there is any white space left, use tip of tonal applicator image to fill in.  Use a multiliner if any lines are needed.
4. Now, let the coloring begin!!  :o)  I colored his eyes first. I used YG97 and YG93.  I came back in later with YG06 because I wanted them to be brighter.
5. I Googled "snow leopard" to guide me on coloring and used E31 and E35 to color his body. I used R81 for the tip of his nose.
6. I started with YG97 and filled in a thin line or  a short flick in between the rocks - working on a few rocks at a time.  I went over those dark areas with YG95 or YG93 depending on how large the rock was. I pulled further up into each rock.  I used the  Y93 to color the entire rock, leaving some white space at the top of a few of the rocks.
7. After coloring all the rocks, I went back into the darkest areas with BV29, then used the lightest green, YG93 to blend it. I use a combination of  small circles and flicking to blend.
8. I used YG0000 and YG93 for the water.
9. Inked up moon and stamp in corner. 
10. I used a blending tool to apply Distress Ink all around the border. Inked up branch and stamped - repeated around the top of the scene to frame.  Do this step last and you can cover up les boo boos. :o)
11. On a second card, I used purples and grays.

Stamps: Stampscapes 038D, 084E, 185G, 277F,  Coronado Island
Paper:  Cryogen White, Glossy white
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, Tim Holtz Distress ink  forest moss, Copic Markers  
Accessories:  Eclipse tape,  blending tool, Multiliner 0.5

Second Card Supplies variation: 

Ink Pad: Tim Holtz Distress Ink chipped sapphire

Copic Markers: 0, C3, C5, C7,  BV0000, BV01

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

 

Sandy Beach

I made this scene featuring Mike's mini starfish and sand using ultra fine flower soft.

1. Use Copic airbrush and paper towel to create your background. On A2 size card stock do the sky first with a torn paper towel for the clouds.  Next use a straight edge paper towel under the sky for the horizon line, and a jagged edge paper towel at the bottom where the sand meets the water, and then airbrush the water. Cover up the water and airbrush the sand.  It's helps to have a base color in case ant spots are missed with the flower soft.  Trim 1/4" off top and one side.
2. Reuse mask paper towels to cover sky and sand. Ink up water image and stamp off onto scrap two times, then stamp into water. Oops: I forgot to stamp off a second time on the left edge - that's when I decided which side my starfish would go on. :o)
3. Spread glue over sand area. Sprinkle flower soft and press down gently. Press down in some areas a little more firmly - this will give a some dimension to your beach. Shake off access sand and put back into jar.
4. Ink up mini starfish image with VersaMark ink and stamp onto carmel card stock.  Repeat two times.  Ink up mini starfish image with VersaMark and then with carmel ink pad and stamp onto card stock. Repeat two more times. Sprinkle embossing power and heat set.
   
5. Cut out images with scissors or die cut.
6. Adhere background layer onto base card.
7. Adhere stars in corner.
8. On an A2 size piece of  white card stock, mask off large area. Use sponge to add color. Adhere remaining stars to inside. TIP: when masking for a straight line, line up your mask edge with the edge of your piece of card stock.

Stamps: Michael Strong Mini Cloisonné Creatures MS335EZ,   Stampscapes 231C
Inks:  VersaMark watermark ink pad, Marvy #104 ink pad, Stampin' Up!  creamy caramel,
Paper:   Stampin' Up! whisper white, creamy caramel
Accessories:   Copic Markers B23, BG11, E31, Stampin' Up! clear embossing powder,  Flower Soft ultra fine sand, art glitter adhesive, Michael Strong mini creatures Die Cuts, sponge

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

African Sunset

In May I took an advanced stenciling class at My Creative Classroom with Kim. Great class!  After I was introduced to the embossing paste technique a few years ago, I bought several stencils that I just had to have. Well.... now I can start using them since I've been refreshed with Kim. :o)

1. Ink up 279F  image and stamp. Repeat across the card stock to create the land area, making sure there is an opening for water.  Because of the design of Stampscapes images it was easy to make a seamless landscape.  I laid a torn paper towel at the edge of the image on the card stock and stamped right next to it.
2. Use shades of yellow and orange to create a blended sky. I airbrushed Y11 in the sky first, added a little Y15, then used a punched circle to mask the sun. I airbrushed Y15, Y38 and YR04 horizontally across the sky. Remove mask.
3. Use a light, light brown marker to add a base color for the grass area. Add some green without covering up all the light, light brown.
4. Use shades of blue for the water - leaving a white space for a highlight in you scene. Add a little yellow in the water for the  sun's reflection.
5. The next few steps give the high level description of what I did for embossing paste technique for this project. To see a basic video on embossing paste with stencils, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujt7sTqLm80&feature=related.  Note: The stencil I use in this project has several separate images so I taped around the image I was embossing. I embossed the trees first, allowed them to dry, then the giraffe.
6.  Secure stencil using low tack tape. 
7. Scoop out some embossing paste onto a non-stick surface s. Add a few drops of black ink and mix together.
8. Spread paste over stencil opening.  Slide spatula flush across the surface and pick up extra paste. Remove tape and allow to dry.  Since color was added  to your white paste, you do not want to put it back into the original jar. :o) You can place the remaining paste in a air tight container to use later or discard.
9. After the paste has dried, stamp birds.
10. Trim layers and adhere.

Stamps: Stampscapes  279F, 302A
Paper: Stampin' Up! basic black, summer sun, Cryogen White
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad, Tim Holtz Distress re-inker  black soot
Accessories:  Dreamweaver white embossing paste, safari brass stencil,  spatula, low tack tape, Copic Markers & air brush system, Stampin' Up! 1" circle punch

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

 

At The Beach with Fam

I featured a card with this design last year. After returning from a wonderful family vacation and seeing this card (who I was actually sending to a friend of ours) my husband suggested I make a card for each family that went on the vacation - so, that's what I did!  We had such an awesome time eating, visiting, eating, at the beach, eating, at the park, eating, snacking, and enjoying each other.

The original post with supplies and instructions can be found here.  Some things I did different for this set of cards:

1. Rather than sponging the sand, I used a stipple brush and tea dye Distress Ink.  
2. Used Stampin' Up! marina mist to sponge the color of  the ocean.
3. Copic Airbrushed the sky with BG02.
4. Added some birds - Stampscapes 302A
5. All card stock is from Stampin' Up!.

Update 7/15/2011: Did you see my le boo boo on this first card?  The pail shadow is on the wrong side. LOL! I fixed it before I sent it. We live, we learn, we fix les boo boos. :o) 

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

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

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

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

Stipple Butterfly

This is one of my favorite cards I made at the retreat.  I used the stippling technique to create the blue blended background for this lovely butterfly image, which I embossed and colored with Copics and a gold pen. My stampin' sister Trish showed me the proper way to stipple. :o)  I have not picked up a brush for quite some time, and when I saw her beautiful scenes, I had to know how she did it. She showed me what she did - she stayed in one place long enough for the color to fill in. I was speed stippling. :o) Thank you Trish H!

Stamps: Stampscapes
Paper: Cryogen White, Stampin' Up! basic black, Papertrey Ink
Ink: VersaMark watermark ink
Accessories: heat tool, Stampin' Up! detail black embossing powder, Copic Markers, gold pen, stipple brush

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Sharing Homework

Hope all of you Mothers had a lovely Mother's Day. I did!

I just finished an on-line Class I took at My Creative Classroom.  I really like the model of their classes. You can watch the video any time that's convenient for you and print out the tutorials to use as reference material.  There's a forum to ask questions and converse with your teacher & classmates. The teachers provide constructive feedback.  This is the third class I've taken with Sandy. I think she is a wonderful teacher! Even though I also teach coloring and stamping, I believe in life long learning and seeking ways that I can become better and better.

Here's some more of my homework:

   

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Retreat 2011

B: Marge, Melanie, Tonya, Karen, Cheryl, Carol, Trish, Lynette

F: Pat A, Barb, Pat M, me, Kevin, a.k.a "Poopy" of Poopy's Bar & Restaurant, Bev

I've been at a retreat the last few days, and what a wonderful time I had!  I did not realize how much I needed it until I was in the midst of laughing, creating, conversing  and laughing.  It was so wonderful to meet and create with the lovely women in person that I've been communicating with in our Stampscapes Yahoo Groups.  

Marge and I arrived Wednesday mid morning and received a warm welcome from the artists who had already been in motion for a few hours. We quickly joined in, setting up our space and picked out images to start with.  We were all talking, sharing and developing at the same time - it was awesome!  One commitment we all made to each other was to just say "thank you" when someone compliments our art work.  Many times when someone compliments our art work, we point out all the "wrongs"  and cover ups we did.

The selection of images was great! In addition to what Karen (our planner) brought, several of the other retreaters brought images.   There was a lot of ooohing and ahhhhing going on. When ever there was an ooooh in the room, the rest of ran over to see.   The new technique I'm hooked on - encaustic painting.    Barb shared her talent with us and allowed us to give it a try.  My first two pieces are included below (the whales). 

It was a wonderful time of creativity, sharing, and encouragement. I'm already looking forward to our next one! Below are a few things I finished. I'll post more over the next few weeks.

          

PSX                                        AI,Stampscapes              Stampscapes, PSX

      
Stampscapes                                Coronado Island

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena