Please Respect My Work...

All of the cards, layouts, handmade items and art work displayed on this website are copyright to me, Lynne Mizera. Of course I hope to inspire and encourage you and would be morethan happy for you to use any of my work to that end; however, please respect me and my work and do not directly copy any of my projects without crediting me or enter any of my work into any magazines or competitions without my express written permission. All my cards, layouts, projects and art work are not to be used by any commercial enterprise for any financial, marketing or commercial gain.

Monday, May 28, 2018

Playing With Stencils, Distress Inks and Micro Glaze - Who Knew?



 
Hello everyone!  Today I am here with my last tutorial post for the STAMPlorations mixed media design team this year.  Before I get started I just want to say that it has been a wonderful two years working with these products and being supported by my warm and caring and very talented teammates.  And, although I am leaving the design team to spend more time on my art career, I will continue to use my STAMPlorations products in new and creative ways which of course I will continue to share with all of you on my own blog.

So for this final tutorial post I am sharing how you can create fantastic backgrounds using ARTplorations Stencils, Ranger Distress Inks and Micro Glaze... three products that go together like peanut butter, honey and bananas.  And as usual for me, this is going to be a very photo-heavy post, so get nice and comfy so you can enjoy the scroll through all my process photos... Smile.

 
To be able to really explore this technique I decided to use tags cut from 140lbs watercolor paper using the largest die from the CUTplorations Manilla Tag Nesting Dies set.  I  knew watercolor paper would stand up much better to the many times I would be using my heat gun in this process which only has three steps, but with all my inks and stencils... gave me almost unlimited possibilities!  Here is my Process:
 

STEP 1: Apply Ink To The Tag Using A Blending Tool
This will be the main pattern in your background so choose stencil patterns and colors accordingly.  I like using the blending tool because I get better ink coverage and a very clean pattern.  I also use washi tape to hold the stencil in place so it doesn't move when I go in to layer on more colors of ink.  Once you have finished adding the first layer of colors use the heat gun to make sure it is completely dry.

 


STEP 2: Apply Micro Glaze Through The Stencil Over Top Of The Inked Pattern
Remove and clean the ink off the stencil and then tape the clean stencil over top of the tag and using a new sponge on the blending tool, apply a layer of micro glaze.  Micro Glaze is a water resistant sealer created especially for paper and dries with no residue, it just disappears like magic leaving only the colors behind.  Because of this the color possibilities are endless, because you can protect each layer of color before adding the next one.  The thicker the layer of Micro Glaze the better the barrier will be between each color of ink so don't be afraid to really layer it on, even letting the glaze create ridges along the edges of the stencil.
 


STEP 3:  Add the Background Inks
Now for the fun part... on your craftmat create pools of ink by smooshing the ink pad onto the craft mat and spaying the smooshed ink with water until it puddles.  
 
Dipping the tag into these puddles are how you add the background color. and the Micro Glaze creates a barrier between the different colors. Dip and re-dip into one or more colors until you have the coverage you want.
  
 
and then use a heat gun to dry the tag.  The heat also causes the glaze to melt into the paper and disappear, but if there is any left behind, just use a paper towel to burnish off the excess.
 
Sometimes the second color of ink dries over top of the glaze but you can use a baby wipe to wipe off the last color without affecting the first color.
 

The more stencils and ink colors you have the more possibilities there are so don't limit yourself... just play and play!  Here are just a few of the backgrounds I created.
 


 And here are some of the finished tags:

It always amazes me how much YUMMIER everything is after adding a layer of Stickles and Liquid Glass!




Well that's it for this tutorial, I hope it inspires you to go play with your stencils and if you do, don't forget to link up to this month's Mixed Media challenge where it is always anything goes, except a card and you use a stencil, ANY stencil... the design team always chooses a winner and there are prizes!

 

And this month with the  "Things With Wings" Challenge going on until the end of the month there are even MORE prizes for join in by sharing your mixed media project using at least one stencil and something with wings!  (And of course the BIG SALE going on right now)

Lynne Mizera
for the STAMPlorations Mixed Media Design Team
 


 

 STAMPLORATIONS Products Used:

ARTplorations Bubble Dance

ARTplorations Daisy Play
ARTplorations Fearless
ARTplorations Oh My Stars
ARTplorations Retro Circles
ARTplorations Sanna Lippert-Flowers1
STAMPlorations Trendy Birds
CUTplorations Flutter Zen2
CUTplorations Dragonfly Layering Dies
CUTplorations Manilla Tags Nesting Dies



Sunday, May 20, 2018

STAMPLORATIONS Stencil Sunday - Be Fearless, A Mixed Media Canvas

 
Hello Everyone, today I am sharing a mixed media canvas I created for the last Stencil Sunday I will be participating in as a Stamplorations' Mixed Media Design Team member... The inspiraiton for this piece is Graduation, and I do hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it...
And don't forget the Things With Wings Event going right now ... there are lots of new products (with discounts) and lots of prizes for the fun events going on all month long so make sure you pop on over to have a look.

Create a winged-themed mixed media (non-card) project 
and use a stencil

Happy Sunday!
Lynne Mizera
for the STAMPlorations Design Team
 

STAMPlorations products used on this project:

BE YOU Word Die


























Sunday, May 6, 2018

"BIRDS ON A WIRE" ... A New Mixed Media Canvas

Hello Everyone and Happy May! 
Today being the first of Sunday of the month means it is the beginning of a brand new Mixed Media Challenge over at Stamplorations.  But as May also happens to be the annual "Things With Wings" challenge it means you have even MORE chances to share you projects and win things!
The May challenge is particularly difficult for me because it is always so hard for me to choose just one product as STAMPlorations have so many awesome "things with wings" products, but this year I am showcasing an image from the "For The Birds" die set and the new Sanna Lippert stencil Senecia1.  

When I first saw this stencil design that Sanna created I knew immediately that I wanted to pair these two products and I just love the results.
The Senecia1 stencil comes with both the stencil and the masks pieces (the inside portion of the stencil) and I used these mask  pieces  to create this wonderful mixed media background.  (Go to my tutorial HERE to see how to create this type of mixed media background using a mask.)
 
And By using the same technique but different background colors and changing the orientation of the layout I created  two canvases that have very different looks and feelings.  
Here are a few close ups of the wonderful colors and textures of the background, which the photos never really do justice to just how beautiful these are.
 
 
 
 
So I hope this inspires you and check out the amazing array of prizes that STAMPlorations is giving away this month... you really will want to play along!


Lynne Mizera,
for the STAMPlorations Mixed Media Design Team
 
 
 Stamplorations Products Used:
ARTplorations- Senecia1 Stencil
CUTplorations - For The Birds die



Lynne Miz