Showing posts with label Branka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Branka. Show all posts

Thursday, 23 March 2017

Art Journaling with Inktense Blocks


Hello, everyone!

Branka here and today is my turn to bring you an Inspirational post.

I would like to show you how to create an art journal spread using only Derwent Inktense blocks, in less than 30 minutes. It's quick, easy and fun.

Let me say a few words about Inktense blocks.
These vibrant chunky water-soluble ink blocks can be used dry or mixed with water which will transform into truly inspiring ink-link paint.
The chunky shape makes them extremely versatile and making it easy to cover large areas really quickly. Once dry the color is permanent and can be worked over the top of. The blocks can be used on fabric, too (silk and cotton).
The full set contains 72 blocks.


All you need for this project is an art journal (I am using my Dylusions small one), clean water, a brush (I am using a watercolor flat 3/4 brush), something to protect your working surface, stamps and stencils (I am using Dina Wakley stamps and stencils here), Black Archival ink, some paper scraps, some washi tape and Inktense blocks.
So, let's start!
Pick the blocks in colors you like and apply them randomly onto your pages. I wanted to achieve a kind of a Dina's style look so I decided to leave some white spaces.  


Use your wet brush to activate the ink.


You can use these blocks like you would use your watercolor pans. Dip the brush into the clean water and pick the color directly from the block. That is what I did here to create some patterns using my stencil. I used my brush to apply the ink through the stencil because I wanted to achieve a watercolor look but you can use a cosmetic sponge if you want.


I added some paper scraps and applied some white gesso on top to blend them together with my background. 


You can play with your washi tapes to create more texture.


I stamped my birds using my Dina Wakley stamp set and my Archival ink in black. I used my dry Inktense blocks to add more color onto the birds. As you can see, I wasn't neat :)
I stamped the quote onto some white tissue paper, cut it in stripes and glued down onto my page.  

Here is the finished vibrant art journal spread.


I hope I have inpired you to create your mixed media piece using some stamps or stencils or both and to join in our Chirpy, Chirpy, Cheep, Cheep! challenge here at Stamps and Stencils.

Hugs! Branka xx


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Thursday, 8 December 2016

Dylusions Christmas Card

Hello, everyone!

Branka here and today is my turn to bring you an Inspirational post.

I would like to show you how to create the Dyan Reaveley's style Christmas card from start to finish.


I used a 4x6 inches manila cardstock, three Dylusions ink sprays in Lemon Zest, Postbox Red and Bubblegum Pink and a spray bottle with water. I sprayed my cardstock with water and then start to spray with my inks creating puddles. Then I sprayed more water on top and let my inks to bleed. 


This is the result of my first layer.


For the second layer, I used my Dylusions mini snowflakes stencil  (Let it Snow) on top of my background and I sprayed it with water. I waited for about 10 seconds to blot it with my kitchen roll.


Since the Dylusions inks are reactive with water, I achieved some nice ghosting effect here.


For the third layer I decided to use my White linen Dylusions ink and my mini snowflakes stencils. 


This is my finished background.


I used one of the border stamps from the Dylusions Around the border set and stamped it several times onto my white cardstock using my Black Archival ink. 
I used my Dylusions paints (in the same colors as my inks I used on the background) and  I also used some of my Amsterdam Specialties acrylic paints (fluo paints) to color my stamped images. I like to use my fingers to apply the paint but you can use a brush if you want.


This is the result of my coloring.


I wanted to add some border on the edges of my card, so I used another border stamp from the same Dylusions stamp set.


I stamped the image only on two sides of my card using the black Archival ink.


I cut out my colored stamped images using my scissors and distressed the edges using the same black Archival ink. I also distressed the edges of my card. Then I started to build my Christmas tree. I wanted to achieve some dimension so I used my double sided foam tape to glued down the images.


To create a star on top of my tree, I used my Dylusions stencils Starry Night to trace the star using my Fude ball pen in black.


I used my Distress Stickles in gold onto my star.


For the Christmas gifts, I used my Tim Holtz mini blue print stamp and colored it with my Dylusions inks and a brush.


I added some white highlights onto my border using my Sharpie white poster pen.


Thdn, I stamped the word JOY using the Dylusions Dy's Alphabet stamp and my black Archival ink.


I outlined the stamped letters with my white pens.


I wanted to create some more dimension so I added the Glossy accents on top of my stamped letters.


This is the finished card.


I decided to use my black cardstock for the card base but you can use any color you want.


You may wonder where is the photo of my finished card. Well, I left my finished card on my working table waiting for some sunny day to take a photo. I have a cat. She liked my card a lot. I guess you know the rest of my 'Oops story'...
If you have a cat/cats, please keep in mind that they love the Dylusions :)

I hope I have inspired you to create your mixed media piece and to join in our 'Christmas Wishes' challenge here at Stamps and Stencils!

Hugs! Branka xx
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Thursday, 8 September 2016

Faux Rust Technique Tutorial

Hello, everyone!

Branka here and today is my turn to bring you an Inspirational post. 
I like to use faux rust elements in my projects and there are so many tutorials out there about how to achieve the rust effect but the one I would like to share with you today is probably my favourite.  It's cheap, easy to do and quick technique with awesome results.


For this technique you would need:

- black gesso (black acrylic paint is optional)
I am using my Decoart media black gesso but you can use any brand you have

- Americana Decor chalky finish paint in Rustic (you can use any acrylic paint in brown tone but I found that this one works best for this technique)

- Golden Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold Open acrylic paint (you can use any Quinacridone gold paint you have)

- Cinnamon (ground cinnamon from the spice rack)

- something to protect your working surface

- a brush or a cosmetic sponge

- heat tool


This technique will work on any surface you want to rust. For this particular tutorial I am using a wooden cog from my stash.
First step is to put a coat of black gesso all over the item/s you'd like to rust.


Next step is to dab a layer of Rustic Americana decor paint or any other brown acrylic paint using your brush or a cosmetic sponge. Since, you want to imitate rust make sure to vary the intensity of the paint coverage.


While the paint is still wet, sprinkle a random layer of cinnamon over the surface. Gently tap the surface to press the powder into the wet paint, creating a good bond.


Allow this to dry (you can use your heat tool to speed up the process if you want) and then dab a small amount of the Quinacridone Nickel Azo Gold (or any other Quinacridone Gold paint you have) over your sprinkled areas to mimic the rust effect.

Here is the final result:


It looks yummy, isn't it? And it smells yummy, too. 

Here are some of the projects where I used this technique recently.

Rusted vintage baking tin mold.


Rusted corrugated cardboard butterfly.


Rusted filigree metal butterfly.


Rusted cardboard frame.


I hope I have inspired you to try this wonderful faux rust technique and to join in our 'The Colors Of Autumn' challenge at Stamps and Stencils!

Hugs! Branka xx





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Thursday, 19 May 2016

Watercolor Background


Hi everyone!
Branka here and today is my turn to bring you an Inspirational post. I've decided to show you how to create a watercolor background without actually using watercolors.
If you want to achieve an artistic look of your background in an easy way than this technique is for you.
You can use it on your cards, art journal pages, ATCs, tags or anything you like.


Let's get started!

For this technique you would need:
- a piece of watercolor paper or a heavy cardstock (both will work)
- a spray bottle filled with water
- watersoluble markers (Tombow Dual Tip, Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens, Distress markers, Crayola Washable markers or any watersoluble type of markers you have).
- a blending palette or an acetate package (I am using a package)
- paper towel or a rag

First, you'll need to cut the paper but make sure your paper is not bigger than your blending palette or your acetate package.

Next, choose your colors.
Tip: Make sure to choose colors that blend well and won't turned muddy when mixed. If you want to use complementary colors, don't put them directly next to each other on your blending palette.


If you are using Tombow Dual Tip markers, you need to use the brush side of the marker. 


Scribble areas of color on your blending palette or your acetate package.
Tip: If you want to cover the whole paper with colors than apply your colors on area about the size of the paper that you are using. I wanted to have some blank areas on my papers so I applied my colors randomly on my palette.


Spray the palette or an acetate package with a spray bottle filled with water.
Tip: Each portion of color should have beads of water on it.


Take your paper and place it on top of the wet color. Keeping the paper in the same place, use your hand to smooth the paper to spread the water.
Next, lift the paper off the palette and place it on a surface to let it dry.
Here is the result:


You can use your Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens to achive a watercolor background.


Scribbled areas of colors on a palette.


Result:


Using Distress markers:


Repeat the steps as abowe:


Result:


Using Crayola Washable markers (any type of Crayola Washable markers you have):


Scribbled areas of colors:


Result:


You can use this technique in creating some scrapbooking accents, as well. 


I hope I have inspired you to play with your watersoluble markers in creating some artistic looking watercolor backgrounds and to join in our Think Pink challenge here at Stamps and Stencils!
Hugs! Branka xx

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