Mixology 101.5

Mixology 101

Mixology 101.5

This series of pop-up posts will focus on sharing ways in which I combine hand made art with commercial products. Since becoming a blogger for Spellbinders in 2013, I have had the opportunity to explore many supplies coming from the craft industry and to learn how to put my own twist on them as I add them into my artwork. The posts in this series may focus on completed art, process, product, and/or any other aspect of mixed media. So put the mix in the media and let's get creative...

DIY Letterpress Printing

Letterpress Printing, a process developed in the 15th century, is a form of relief printing where inked text or designs are deeply impressed into paper. The letterpress process traditionally uses a letterpress machine and wood or metal type - making it largely inaccessible as a DIY for most people. 

 But did you know that you can use embossing folders and a die cutting machine to create the look?

To demonstrate this technique, I am using the Spellbinders Basket Weave 3D M-Bossabilities Folder.

Using a piece of cardstock, I ran the folder through Spellbinders Grand Calibur Die Cutting & Embossing Machine and ended up with a deeply etched design, as you can see from the image of the embossed cardstock below. 

I wish you were able to run your fingers over the surface to really see how dimensional the paper has become.

In order to letterpress, you simply need to rub the surface of an inkpad across the raised side of the double-sided embossing folder before you insert your paper and run it through your machine. I have found that pigment ink works best, as it remains wet for quite some time on the slick surface of the folder. For this demo, I used the Teal Zeal Memento Luxe pigment ink from Imagine Crafts.

The ink sits in the grooves while the surface remains the original color of the paper.

Here is another example using Spellbinders Noble Rook 3D M-Bossabilities Folder.

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Spellbinders has generously provided my blog readers with a special code to use between now and 9/19 that will enable you to buy one embossing folder and to get another one free. Click here to and enter the code SETHEMBOSS. 

Mixology 101.4

Mixology 101

Mixology 101.4

This series of pop-up posts will focus on sharing ways in which I combine hand made art with commercial products. Since becoming a blogger for Spellbinders in 2013, I have had the opportunity to explore many supplies coming from the craft industry and to learn how to put my own twist on them as I add them into my artwork. The posts in this series may focus on completed art, process, product, and/or any other aspect of mixed media. So put the mix in the media and let's get creative...

Live and Let Die

 Today's post is about thinking outside of the die. Traditionally, a die is used to cut paper (or other material) to a specific shape or design by running it through a die cutting machine. As the machine applies pressure, the blade on the die cuts the paper to the desired shape. There are, however, many alternate ways to use a die that will allow you to bring an added level of unique creativity to your work and allow you to make it your own.

I am using Spellbinders Grate Effect die to demonstrate a few of the many things you can do with die cutting.

First, here is what the die cut looks like when used as originally intended. I cut hand painted paper and mounted it on another sheet of paper, painted in a contrasting color.

I love this but it is only the beginning of what can be done.

One simple way to make a die cut unique is to cut it up and only use certain sections, often in a way that was not intended by the original design.

I outlined the inside of each small section with a black pencil to make the designs pop even further.

One of my favorite techniques is to use the part of the die cut that falls out and is often discarded. 

Much like sequin waste (the stencil-like sheets that are leftover after sequins are cut), this die waste can be put to good use.

 I love that when you use the drop-off, ANY die all of the sudden becomes MANY dies.

There are many ways to use a die that don't even involve cutting - the action that dies are born to do. As part of a background that I have started on this piece,  I used the die as a template. I started by sketching around the inside of the shapes with a white gel pen, deliberately only outlining a few of the shapes.

 I then filled in the shapes using Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Big Brush pens, first with white and then with a green gold.

The die can also be used as a stencil. You can choose to use the actual metal die itself as the stencil or cut a separate stencil using the die and heavy cardstock or other material. If you use the actual die, remember to immediately wash your die to remove the paint or paste.

 For this background, I  premixed Golden Fiber Paste with paint and applied it through the holes in the die using a palette knife.

There are many more ways to use a die, limited only by your imagination. Feel free to share in the comments the ways in which you think outside the die.

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Spellbinders has generously provided my blog readers with a special code that can be used to save 20% off items in their online shop (doesn't include shipping, tax, or machines). Head to their store and use code 20OFFSA.

Mixology 101.3

Mixology 101

Mixology 101.3

This series of pop-up posts will focus on sharing ways in which I combine hand made art with commercial products. Since becoming a blogger for Spellbinders in 2013, I have had the opportunity to explore many supplies coming from the craft industry and to learn how to put my own twist on them as I add them into my artwork. The posts in this series may focus on completed art, process, product, and/or any other aspect of mixed media. So put the mix in the media and let's get creative...

Aging Metal

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I recently began using Spellbinders new Sapphire Mini Die Cutting Machine and their line of Sapphire dies - currently exclusive to Joann. One of the sets of dies is called Sapphire Simply Tags and among its 11 pieces is a die that resembles an old school file label holder.  Using Spellbinders Media Mixage Aluminum Sheets, I cut out a series of label holders.

While I loved the shape, I really wanted to create a worn look for these pieces. That's when I started to age some metal. I roughly covered the shiny aluminum pieces with black gesso. I used a foam brush to avoid the look of brush strokes. After this dried, I rubbed on Gilders Paste in African Bronze, which is green with gold metallic flakes. These two simple steps gave me the look of rough, worn, aged metal. 

Playing around with some hand painted paper, rubber stamps, and ink pads, I created a label for my holder. I added some metal brads for a finished look.

In the end, I added it to a old leather box that I store supplies in.

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For those of you what want to explore products sold directly from Spellbinders, they have generously provided my blog readers with a special code that can be used to save 20% off items in their online shop (doesn't include shipping, tax, or machines). Head to their store and use code 20OFFSA.

Mixology 101.2

Mixology 101

This series of pop-up posts will focus on sharing ways in which I combine hand made art with commercial products. Since becoming a blogger for Spellbinders in 2013, I have had the opportunity to explore many supplies coming from the craft industry and to learn how to put my own twist on them as I add them into my artwork. The posts in this series may focus on completed art, process, product, and/or any other aspect of mixed media. So put the mix in the media and let's get creative...

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This project started as a demo I made in May at a collaborative workshop I taught with Mary Beth Shaw at her studio in St. Louis, Missouri. 

The cover felt unfinished so I decided to create more dimension by adding some die cuts. People often use die cutting as a way to add focal images to a project but I often integrate them into the background. I used Spellbinders new Sapphire Mini Die Cutting Machine and their line of Sapphire dies - currently exclusive to Joann. To all those peeps out there who are curious about die cutting but haven't yet taken the plunge, this machine is affordable, portable and a good fit for a beginner. 

I used my own hand painted paper to die cut as a way to add my own style to a commercial product. I love text as much for the design element as I do for the message, so I started with the Sapphire Numbers and Letters Two die set. After the letters were added to the book cover, I outlined them with a white gel pen to make them pop.

I had already stenciled the word inside when I first made the book and decided to highlight it by using a die cut from one of the 6 dies in the Sapphire Simply Tags set. The industrial look of this blends well with the background design. To finish it off, I added a section of a postage stamp and two nail head brads to the ends.

Next I used dies from the Sapphire Basic Circles set. When you nest two different sized circle dies before you run them through the machine, you end up with a loop. I made two loops and added them, along with some additional letter die cuts, to the background. A white gel pen was used to add some shading and dimension.

I repeated this process using dies from the Sapphire Basic Rectangles and some hand cut paper as well.

In the end, I think the addition of the die cuts was the perfect touch to add layers, textures, design and dimension to the cover. 

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For those of you what want to explore products directly from Spellbinders, they have generously provided my blog readers with a special code that can be used to save 20% off items in their online shop (doesn't include shipping, tax, or machines). Head to their store and use code 20OFFSA.

Mixology 101.1

Today begins a new feature on my blog: Mixology 101. 

This series of pop-up posts will focus on sharing ways in which as a mixed media artist I create work using both hand made and commercial products together. As a blogger for Spellbinders for the last 2 ½ years, I have come to embrace more and more products from the craft industry and incorporate them into my artwork.

The posts in this series may focus on completed art, process, product, and/or any other aspect of mixed media. Very often, they will highlight how I alter commercial products as a way to make them completely my own. So put the mix in the media and let's get creative...

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The base for this mixed media project was cut from hand painted watercolor paper using a die from Spellbinders Matting Basics B set. It measures 3 ⅝ x 5 ⅝ inches. I created the grouping of linear frames by using Spellbinders Contemporary Squares die to make two die cuts from hand painted paper in a contrasting color. After snipping off part of the die cuts, I arranged the frames as I wanted them and adhered them to the base. I often cut apart shapes that I have made from commercial dies as a way to individualize and put my own artistic spin on them.

The images that I used to fill the frames were taken from 3 very cool pads of Spellbinders Ephemera Papers. I used the Contemporary Squares die to cut out my choice of images, keeping the negative pieces from the die cut to adhere inside the frames.

Love this shot of my workspace after all the cutting and pasting was complete.

This project that I created has given me some ideas to run with to make some larger pieces of art. Stay tuned...

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Supply List

Spellbinders Paper Art Supplies:

Grand Calibur Machine (GC-200); Contemporary Squares Die (S4-497); 5x7 Matting Basics B Die Set (S6-002); Ephemera Papers One (MP1-001); Ephemera Papers Two (MP1-002); Ephemera Papers Three (MP1-005)

Other: hand painted watercolor paper, adhesive, scissor

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20% Off

For those of you what want to explore these and other products from Spellbinders, they have generously provided my blog readers with a special code that can be used to save 20% off items in their online shop (doesn't include shipping, tax, or machines). Head to their store and use code 20OFFSA.