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Pastels and Tissue Paper

I can't say that I can't believe it, because it's happened at least once a week since late fall, but IT'S SNOWING AGAIN! When will it stop? I could almost see the driveway yesterday and now it's covered again. Enough complaining for now.

Today's project is made with soft pastels and sewing pattern tissue paper. Click on the picture to see the details. I just made one because it came out somewhat like I wanted it to. And there is no mess to clean up! Which is a good thing after I spent nearly all day cleaning and organizing my studio. I actually know where things are now. Yippee!!!

Directions to follow:

1. I used 140lb watercolor paper for my card, but you can use anything and even paint it.
2. Cut a piece of pattern tissue that's larger than your card.
3. Scrunch up the tissue and then flatten it out. But not too flat. You want to keep the hills and valleys.
4. Glue the tissue to your card. I used gel medium for my glue. Let it dry.
5. Take your pastels and rub them over the ridges on the tissue. Don't press too hard. You want to keep the colors on the top.
6. Carefully spray your card with hairspray to fix the pastels to the paper. Let it dry.
7. Trim any excess pattern tissue off the edges of the card.

I'm going to try another one with a painted background later. Now that my studio is clean, I hate to mess it up. But when I think about it, who can create in cleanliness and order anyway?

Ultra-thick Embossing Powder

This is my third try at making an ATC with Ultra-thick Embossing Powder. The first two were just too awful for your eyes and a far cry from anything called "Art".

When you click on the picture you can get the full effect of the embossing powder melted over paint. They were fun to make, but WHAT A MESS! And messes are not what I'm known for cleaning up...in my studio at least. (My husband says the rest of the house is perfect!)

Here's how it's done:

1. Paint a card with acrylic paint.
2. Dry your painted card with your heat gun.
3. Apply clear embossing ink over entire card.
4. Spread Ultra-thick embossing powder over card.
5. Melt with your heat gun.
6. Re-do steps 4 and 5 ultil you have a thick base of melted embossing powder (around three times).
7. Apply ink to your stamp.
8. Press stamp on card and leave until card cools.
9. Gently peal card from stamp.

I imagine you can use paper bits and fibers on your card, instead of paint. Maybe even some glitter would be a nice addition. (The wheels are turning once again!!!)

Welcome

As I look out onto the snow, thickly blanketing our 40 acres, I find my thoughts wondering to my art studio. I have a project in mind to start tonight but I'm not sure I'm up to it. I've become involved in a novel that a friend in the UK sent me last year called Man and Boy. This will be the third book I will read this year so far in my goal of fifty.

I want to make it to the studio to experiement with an Artist Trading Card, or ATC, made out of Ultra-thick embossing power. The directions sound pretty easy so I'm not scared away yet.

I won't give in to the same excuses for not creating something every day. It's getting late in the evening so I better get with it and fashion some form of art!