TECHNIQUE TUESDAY - or something ....

I FINALLY got some play time in the studio on Sunday. Before moving forward on the Altered Playing Card challenge, I wanted to have my alcohol misters done. I am making one for every SU color I own.  I have the 30 main colors (or will have once my order comes in next week to replace the 7 retired colors) plus my favorite neutrals - Creamy Caramel (retired but my 'go to' vintage tone) and two other browns.

So here's my supplies: 91% Alcohol, SU reinkers, Ranger Ink mister bottles, funnel, needle nose pliers and these: 

Although the alcohol inks are all liquid, I wanted to give a little agitation in the bottle so I used 3 BBs in each mister. I checked. I put 3 in a container with just the alcohol and left sit overnight. These do NOT affect the color.

With the exception of the misters from RangerInk and the 91% alcohol, my goal is to utilize what I have on hand. I printed labels out on my computer (okay, this one is hand written but I managed to miss typing a label for Real Red somehow) then punched them out using the mini curly label punch. I tried to place the labels at the same point on all of the bottles. By doing this, I could use the bottom edge of the label as my "Fill to Here" mark with the alcohol.

So I labeled the bottles then one at a time, filled them to the mark. After some trial and error I found that approx. 30 drops of the Reinker gave me the truest-to-stamped color.
Some of the reinker bottles were clogged. I used the needle nose pliers to remove the tip then dropped the tip in a little container of plain rubbing alcohol to swirl and soak for a couple minutes. Tip back in place and things worked fine again.

I stamped a heart with each color. This served two purposes. 1 - to give me a visual when matching the ink to alcohol ratio and 2 - for creating little labels on the top of the mister bottle. I used this mini heart punch by Marvy to punch out a color sample and adhered to the top of the matching bottle with a mini glue dot. 

In the coming weeks, you'll get a better idea of how this comes together.

In the mean time, check out this VIDEO from Tim Holtz from CHA 2014 on multiple ways to use Alcohol Inks! 

Creative Blessings!

Kelly

WOYWW #277

My desk is a bit bare at the moment. 

The gallon can in the back hidden under my notepad template is for an upcoming HUGE project. The smaller baked bean can is a part of the same. The stretch of Xyron tape is Recollections labels to go inside those 17 rolls of Halloween Washi tape spools. Yep... we won't discuss how those are a drop the drawer to what I actually own :-) But I have a purpose - I promise. :-D

Happy WOYWW! Haven't a clue what that stands for? Hop on over to Stamping Ground where Miss Julia will give you all the Details. Anyone can join this weekly journey around the world.

The notepads are done and passed around. You can see that post HERE.

Friday is my birthday. Bob asked what I wanted. Aside from wishing he could be home or the HUGE surprise we have coming soon, there really isn't anything I want - well except maybe to see some of my favorite Texas boys in concert but that isn't going to happen.

THE SCOTT TAYLOR BAND

Aside from these talented guys, I'd also be happy to go to Branson to see a recording of Larry's Country Diner. I love traditional country music - which is what Scott and his crew perform. I'd also be happy to have a number of my Texas Americana artists in my backyard around a campfire... W.C. Jameson, Mike Blakely, Chuck Hawthorne, ... yeah any of the above would make for a very happy birthday girl :-) All are true artists in their genre.

 So I am taking a 3-day weekend to spend in my studio. I'll be finishing up some partial projects and working on Christmas cards. Hopefully, I will have enough project to get the blog back on track. 

So... what's on YOUR desk this week? Leave your # so I can find you on Julia's list and pop over.

Creative Blessings!

MIXED MEDIA MONDAY - Notepads

I got a lot of compliments on the notepads at the conference Saturday. Although time consuming, they were easy to make. People were asking where I got them done. My reply - in my studio. Hehe

The picture on the front is my book cover resized to 2.75 x 4.25 I printed the image on Normal quality on the printer onto #110 Georgia Pacific cardstock.

I used the same size mat on the back to print the 'back cover' blurb from the book as well as the QR code.

The pads, which you saw HERE were also 2.75 x 4.25. I was able to get 8 from a single sheet of copy paper without any waste. That was pretty much my guideline for the size of the pads. Each notepad was 80 page.

The outside 'cover' was cut from Stampin Up cardstock - Marina Mist. The color just seemed perfect with the color tones in the photo as well as the book being set on the shores of Galveston Bay. I cut 2 covers from 1 (8.5 x 11) sheet of cardstock with a strip off the length. Not really a waste. I can use that in cards.
The full cover measured 6.5 x 4.5. Then was scored at the 3" and the 3.25" mark to create the spine.

I used my ATG gun to adhere the pads to the inside as well as the mats to the outside.

I am really pleased how these turned out. I used 3 of them in prize envelopes from a FB launch party I participated in for another author. Would I do them again? Probably everything except gluing all those pads (125!)

WOYWW #275

Happy WOYWW! Haven't a clue what that stands for? Hop on over to Stamping Ground where Miss Julia will give you all the Details. Anyone can join this weekly journey around the world.

Bob has gone back out on the boat for his 21-day shift. I miss him like crazy but I also get so much more accomplished. Currently, I have 3 projects going plus the day job.
1) Purge - which you saw in progress a couple of weeks ago HERE
2) Notepads.

These are 80 page count notepads I am making to use as giveaways at our local Ozarks Romance Authors conference this month. Each pad requires 4 passes with the rubber cement and has to dry completely between each stage. I have enough binder clips for 30 and each set takes about 4 days with drying time. I still have to make the covers and will show pics when they are completed.

3) Altered Playing Cards Challenge

I'm excited about this challenge because I came into the group at the beginning. I found this challenge by way of our own Bluebird & Elizabeth's at Altered Book Lover  The details about the challenge can be found at Claudine's Art Corner. So far we've applied gesso and altered our first card. As I looked at yesterday's challenge, I got an idea for a theme so today I need to flip the cards over and paint the back with a deep purple tinted gesso. I figure doing the back before I begin altering will be easier. I already have the idea for my first card so I'll be able to complete this one by the end of the weekend and be on track for Week 3.

What's on YOUR desk this week?
Creative Blessings!