Showing posts with label Andy Skinner Decoart Media Products. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andy Skinner Decoart Media Products. Show all posts

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

FACE YOUR FEARS ART MINI BOOK

Hello all!  This month I have created a really fun and easy mini book for your creative pleasure!  This mini book features several of Andy's fabulous products as well as his DecoArt Media Line mediums and paints.  You can create this inexpensive mini book or a similar one with things you have sitting around at home!  Let's get started!


Here is the cover of the completed mini book.  Each cover is cut from plain heavy cardstock and measures 3 1/2" x 5" with a 1 3/4" x 5" chipboard spine. 


I began by brushing DecoArt Media White Gesso over the front and back of the covers.  The spine does not need covering because it will be covered with fabric. Once that was dry, I added a generous brushing of DecoArt Media Matte Medium  and covered the outside chipboard covers with text tissue paper.  I overlapped the tissue onto the inside of the covers.  Then brush the Matte Medium over the tissue to seal it.  When that was dry, I added random splotches of DecoArt Media Crackle Paint using a palette knife. Let the Crackle Paint air dry to achieve the crackling!  Once crackled, I added a light coat of Gesso with a little water added to dilute it.  This can be heat set to move onto the next step.

Using DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Diarylide Yellow with a little water, I brushed the color across the top of the cover and let it run down the cover then heat set it in place. I repeated this with the Naphthol Red over the yellow.  Then I turned the cover upside down and repeated the process.  Next one side, then the other using the same process.  Add more color if you desire more of one color. Finally, using my fingers, I rubbed DecoArt Art Media Raw Umber Antiquing Cream over the surface of the covers and down into the cracks then gently rubbed of the excess with a paper towel.  I then added an edge of DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Paynes Grey around the covers using my finger.


To embellish the coves, I used Andy's Strike A Pose and Baroque stencils, a palette knife and DecoArt Media Black Modeling Paste.  I scraped the Modeling Paste through the stencils and immediately washed the stencils to clean them. Heat set to dry.



Next,  I added some stamping using Black Permanent Ink and images from Andy's Shabby Chic and Unexplained Stamp Sets.  Then add detail and interest to the covers.


Add cardstock of your choice cut to cover the interior covers.  Now to add the chipboard the spine between the covers ...


Cut a piece of fabric a little over twice the length of the spine and a width that will allow you to see the images on the cover as you want to view them when glued in place.  In this case, my fabric was a little over 2 1/4" wide.  I left about an inch of fabric at the bottom of the inside of the spine.  I centered the chipboard spine on the fabric and glued one side of it onto the fabric using Fabri Tac Glue.  Press in place to remove any bubbles and to smooth out any wrinkles.  Then lay the book covers on the fabric with a little space between them and the spine to allow for bending the covers. Fold the inch piece of fabric up onto the spine and glue in place. Apply glue over the surface of the chipboard spine and pull the fabric over the spine; smoothing out the fabric as it covers the spine.  Press into place. 


Use a bone folder and press into the valley between the covers and the chipboard spine to make sure the fabric is completely making contact to the other side of the fabric and the chipboard edges of the covers.  Cut off the excess fabric that just was glued into place.


Here is the finished interior of the book before the signatures are added.


Cut papers the side you want your pages to be.  In this case, I cut several papers approximately 6 1/4" x 4 3/4".  Fold them each in the middle and stack the papers into what will become "signatures".  Since I am just using thin papers, I stacked several papers for the two signatures I will be creating.  Then find the middle of the pages and poke a hole through them.  Measure down 3/4" from the top and 3/4" from the bottom of the pages and poke a hole in the papers.  Do this for both signatures. Clip the paper together so that they will not shift and the holes will remain open on all pages.  Then measure on the spine of the book for two areas you will be using to sew the signatures in place.  Find the middle of the spine on the right of center and the left of center and poke a hole in each.  Then measure up two inches and down to inches from the center and poke a hole.  This will match the holes on your papers.

Begin with the center INSIDE hole of the spine.  Pull a bookmaking needle with waxed thread (twice the length of the spine) through the center hole of one of your signatures and pull the needle to the outside of the spine.  Leave about a 4" tail to tie off the signature at the end.  Then add buttons or whatever embellishments you want to add to the waxed thread exterior up to where you will pull the needle back through the spine.  You can go in the top or bottom hole next; it doesn't matter.  Pull the needle through the hole and then through the hole in all of the stacked papers.  Next, pull the waxed thread to the remaining hole and pull the needle from the inside to the outside of the spine.  Again, add buttons or whatever embellishments you want to string onto the waxed thread.  Pull the needle back through the center hole.  Make sure that the waxed thread ends are on either side of the waxed thread running up the center of the signature.  Pull the ends of the thread tightly to be sure that the buttons or whatever embellishments are neatly and tightly in place and that the thread is securely holding the signature in place.  Tie off the ends of the thread in a double knot and clip the excess edges.  Repeat this procedure for the other signature.


Here is what the first sewn signature will look like on the outside of the spine.


Here is what it will look like on the inside of the book.


Here is what the spine will look like once you have both signatures in place.  Isn't this awesome to be able to sew in the signatures and also decorate the spine at the same time?


Here is what the signature will look like once it is sewn into the book.  Really neat and snuggly in place.  You can use any papers for your mini books.  I just used plain papers so that this could be a little mini journal or whatever.


Mini Book Front


 Mini Book Back

As I said at the beginning, this little mini book in inexpensive to do.  Just use things you already have to create whatever your heart desires.  Here is a list of supplies I used to create this little mini book:


Miscellaneous Supplies

  • Palette Knife
  • Cardstock Scraps
  • Heavy Chipboard
  • Ruler
  • Paper Cutter
  • Heat Tool
  • Bone Folder
  • Scrap Fabric
  • Fabri Tac or some other quality Glue
  • Craft Punch
  • Waxed Thread
  • Bookmaking Needle
  • Buttons, Charms or Embellishments for the outside spine
  • Paper for interior signatures
  • Printed Tissue 
  • Scissors


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Monday, 17 September 2018

"FACE YOUR FEARS" 3D SKULL TAG

Greetings Mixed Media Lovers! 

With Halloween fast approaching, I thought I'd experiment with one of Andy's really cool stamps; the skull from his Skuldoggery set and see if I couldn't make it a bit 3D. I actually LOVE the way it finished out and am excited to share the process with you!


Here is the finished tag.  I'll share the steps used in creating both for you as it was so much fun and I don't want you to miss out on any of the techniques.

First let's do the tag and then we'll concentrate on the rather wicked boney fellow!


The tag is a Long Greyboard Tag from Tando Creative.  It is 7 1/2" long rather than the standard 6 1/4" tag.  So lots of extra space for you to work with and the greyboard is strong and sturdy and takes lots of abuse from mixed media elements.

Here I started with a fairly thin but thick enough to stamp in layer of DecoArt Media Modeling Paste applied with a palette knife.  Then I gently began to heat set it; not completely but enough so that you can press the stamp into the almost dried Modeling Paste and get a wonderful imprint.  I chose the stamps from Andy's wonderful Fossils stamp set to keep with the theme of "bones".  I also just love those stamps!  

 Lightly spritz the stamp with water before stamping into the Modeling Paste.  Then wash the stamp immediately.  Then continue to heat set the tag until dry.  I also used the stamps to actually stamp Modeling Paste onto the tag.  I spread some Modeling Paste onto my craft mat with my finger, pressed the stamps into it as you would an ink pad and then stamped it onto the tag. Heat set.


To add even more texture, I randomly added some DecoArt Media Crackle Paste onto the tag.  Let this air dry as the crackling needs air drying to really work properly.


To really colorize and bring out the texture patterns of the tag, I started with DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black and painted over the entire tag.  Then I DRY BRUSHED a layer of Titanium White.  Repeat this process until you achieve the stone look and all of the highpoints to be highlighted as much as desired.  Next I added random DRY BRUSHING of Quinacridone Gold and Metallic Gold to further bring out the high areas of the tag and mimic iron or or mineral deposits in the "stone".  Finally I added bits of Seth Apter's Baked Texture Embossing Powders randomly on the iron fence and tag.  The colors were Patina Oxide (green shade) and Chunky Rust (orange shade).  These embossing powders are exactly what Seth named them ... "baked texture". Very cool.  You use these just as you would any embossing powder.

Now ... onto the experimentation and the wicked skull!!!


I began by stamping the skull from Andy's Skuldoggery stamp set 5 times onto chipboard.  I cut out three complete skulls and glued them on top of each other.  Next I cut off the lower jaw bone and cut out the eye sockets on the 4th stamped image and glued it on top of the others.  Finally, I cut out the 5th stamped image right above the teeth and cut out the eye sockets and glued it into place.  I found the eyes at a craft store (Michaels) in their Halloween section and glued them into place.  They are wicked cool!


The next layer was a coat of DecoArt Media Gesso over the entire skull.  Heat set dry and then begin to build a face onto the skull with DecoArt Media Modeling Paste.  I used primarily a brush to do this but sometimes used my moist finger to smooth out the Modeling Paste.  Let this completely dry!  I heat set some of it but allowed it to dry overnight to be sure.


Next I tinted the skull using DecoArt's Media Fluid Acrylics.  I began with Transparent Yellow Iron Oxide followed by traces of Quinacridone Gold and finally Burnt Umber for the more shadowy recessed areas of the skull.


I stamped the skull image again onto a piece of plain white tissue paper using Seth Apter's Chunky Rust Baked Texture Embossing Powder.  I tried Black Permanent Ink as well but I decided against that much contrast for the detail of my skull.  In this picture, you can begin to see how the flat stamp of the skull is starting to come to "life".


Next you lightly brush DecoArt Media Matte Medium over the skull.  Carefully line the tissue stamped image of the skull onto the chipboard and Modeling Paste skull and lay it in place.  Then brush Matte Medium over the entire skull, even on the sides and around the back to secure it in place.  See how the tissue just melts into the skull and really brings out all of the details??  Cool!


Once the tissue image was dry through heat setting, I added some more details using a small brush and DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Quinacridone Gold for the rusty highlights and Paynes Grey for the recessed shadowy areas.  I also embedded a rusty screw from Tando Creative's Screws Greyboard set.  This was simple.  I first used a coat of DecoArt Metallic Silver Fluid Acrylics paint on the screw followed by several random layers of Quinadridone Gold to add that really rusty, weathered look.  I slit the skull using an Exacto Knife and glued the screw in place.  I surrounded the base of the screw with Paynes Grey and Quinacridone Gold to really accentuate the literal "hole in his head".

For even more texture, I added random areas of the Baked Texture Embossing Powder.  This time adding the Faux Beeswax on areas of the skull.  I can't tell you how tactile and fun this skull looks in person!  

This is a nice comparison of how the skull started out and how it finished up. Really a fun thing to do!

And finally, I added the "Face Your Fears" sentiment from Andy's Unexplained stamp set.  This was heat embossed on cardstock using the Chunky Rust Embossing Powder.  The edges of the cardstock are lined with Carbon Black DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics using my finger.

 I hope this tutorial was as fun for you to follow as it was for me to do!  Here are the list of supplies you will need for this project:




  • Long Greyboard Tags
  • Greyboard Screws


Miscellaneous Supplies
  • Chipboard
  • Craft Sheet
  • Palette Knife
  • Brushes
  • Exacto Knife
  • Small metal fence piece (tag)
  • Embossing Ink Pad
  • Seth Apter Baked Texure Embossing Powders: Chunky Rust, Faux Beeswax, Patina
  • Cardstock Scrap (sentiment)
  • Plain White Tissue Paper
  • Eyes for skull

About the Artist: Candy Colwell



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Tuesday, 21 August 2018

CAPTURED MOMENTS WITH TANDO CREATIVE

Hello Everyone.  

It's Candy and I'm back again with a brand new vintage/industrial style wall decor piece for you made with Andy Skinner's amazing lines of products including DecoArt Media, Tando Creative Greyboard, Andy's Stencils and Stampendous Stamps.  Let's have a look:


I began with an 8" x 8" greyboard background from one of Andy's new wall art kits through Tando Creative called Compendium.  


First I brushed DecoArt Media Gesso over the entire background. Next I used DecoArt Modeling Paste and/or DecoArt Media Crackle Paste with various Andy Skinner Stencils: Bubbles, Time Warp, Distressed Digits and Old Film randomly placed and allowed to dry in between applications until the entire surface was covered. I also added some Crackle Paste to fill in black areas or combine the stencil images together.  The I let everything completely air dry. 


I then brushed a wash created with water and a combination of DecoArt Media Yellow Oxide and Titan Buff over the background. Once dry, I added a wash of water and DecoArt Media Cobalt Turquoise Hue.  I brushed the background at the top and allowed it to run and drip down the background. When I was happy with the look, I heat set it.


Using a finger sponge, I highlighted areas of the background with DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Worn Penny paint.  I stamped a script image from Andy's Textures Stamp Set randomly on the surface. Finally to pull everything together, I used my finger to apply DecoArt Media Fluid Acrylics Carbon Black paint around the edges of the greyboard essentially framing it.


Other elements in Andy's Compendium Industrial Wall Art Kit included some gears, bolts, etc.  I painted all of these with a black base and then using the new DecoArt Matte Metallics, I transformed these black greyboard pieces into rusty, worn appearing "metal" gears. I also altered an actual silver  sewing machine bobbin into a rusted wonder. These paints are fantastic!!


One of my favorite new Andy kits from Tando is the So Call Me Already set.  It features two sizes of old rotary phone dials.  You see the larger on in this picture.  It comes complete with the numbers, an acrylic plate and the center of the dial left open so you can add anything you choose.  I added a butterfly and a rusty ink pen nib to mine.  The dial is painted with Carbon Black and coated with a Gloss Varnish. 


I also added a couple of old pictures and stenciled numbers using another of Andy's stencils: Industrial Elements.  I also added a vintage photo of a telephone operator that I found on the internet.  All of these pieces were covered with pieces from a Mica sheet and glued in place using DecoArt Media Matte Medium.  It dries clear and makes for a a wonderful glue and sealer.  All of these pieces really add character to the wall art piece.


And my latest obesssion is Andy's new Rusty Wire!!!  This stuff is so amazing and adds so much to any industrial or mixed media piece!   It's so easy to work with!  I had so much fun wrapping and curling and bending this wire to fit onto my wall art piece.  And it added SO MUCH!


Here is a closeup of some of the wire and how it was wrapped and curled and became such an intricate part of the piece. 


At the bottom of the wall art piece, I added this sentiment.  It was stenciled using Titan Buff on black chipboard.  It came from Andy's Old Film Stencil and I thought it was perfect for this wall art! I painted around the edge using DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Worn Penny Paint.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope that this wall art piece has inspired you to really enjoy creating and experimenting! 

Here are the supplies used in creating this wall art:

Andy Skinner Stencils from DecoArt
Misellaneous Supplies
  • Palette knife
  • Paint brushes
  • Metal sewing machine spool and rusty paper clip
  • 1 1/2" mini metal frames also a 1" x 3" mini metal frame
  • Vintage pictures: 1 1/2 " for the mini frames and 3" x 3 3/4" operator picture
  • Pen nib
  • 2 Metal knobs (inside gears to wrap wire onto)
  • Metal loop pins to attach sentiment at the bottom

About the Artist: Candy Colwell
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Sunday, 22 July 2018

Acrylic Pour Leftover Background - My First post for Andy's Team.


Good morning all,

I am so happy to be here, on Andy's team!  Some of you probably know that I have known Andy a few years now, and am a DecoArt Helping Artist, and also demonstrate the DecoArt line on Hochanda in between Andy's shows.  I am super lucky and privileged to have the job I do, and to be able to share it with you.


For my first post I am sharing an MDF and Greyboard pieces canvas, made with an acrylic pour background.  I had mixed a lot of paint for the pours, and found I had too much of course, so continued to make backgrounds with the paint I had left.  The one I used was a muted one that I had 'swiped' a couple of times and it ended up not as vibrant as some others, but made a perfect start for a background.


On top of the background I stamped Andy's Fish Skeleton stamp, in white chalk paint.  Over this I added a texture stamp in black Archival in areas.

The layering is Tando Greyboard shapes, which I 'smooshed' face down into the leftover paint in my tray from the pours.  I made tons of these, and probably have enough for another 3 or 4 projects!  After that, if you have any paint left still, a tip is to run some card or paper through it, then you have more backgrounds or card to die cut with lovely paint patterns on, a ready made embellishment.


All of the boards were stamped with the texture stamp in Archival, and then words/numbers added to some with black Versafine, and embossed with clear embossing powder...  I prefer clear embossing powder on black ink to black embossing powder, as if you can't brush off all of the excess it doesn't show like a coloured powder would. The frog circle was then covered with Crackle Glaze to give dimension and shine.


The fossil was an old fridge magnet I had, but was the perfect size, so it had a layer of Tinting Base, and then Yellow Oxide, and some Paynes Grey, to give it a 'Quarry Fossil' look.


The main panel and all of the smaller panels were then edged in DecoArt Metallic Lustre, in Iced Espresso, using my finger to apply.  There is a lot of texture in the finished piece from the 'smooshed' panels, as they take on the effect of seaweed from prizing them up from the paint and being left to dry naturally.


I hope you like my first post, can't wait to bring you more.

Best Wishes,

Nikki K.
xxx

Products Used:


Andy skinner Crafts: Word Up

Andy Skinner's Stampendous Stamps:
Fossils
Industrial
Unexplained
Skulldoggery



DecoArt Media Line:
Prussian Blue Hue
Titanium White
Cobalt Teal Hue
Yellow Oxide
Paynes Grey
DecoArt Media Crackle Glaze
2 oz Chalk Paint - Everlasting
DecoArt Multi Surface Metallics - Chocolate
DecoArt Metallic Lustre - Iced Espresso

Other Products Used:

Tando Creative Greyboard pieces (rectangles/squares/circles).
Clear Embossing Powder.
Versafine Onyx Ink.
Archival Black Ink




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