3 ways to use paint on your backgrounds ...

Hello friends!  I'm so excited to share these today.  I have several different idea's for ways you can use acrylic paint on your projects.  I have used them on cards, but they could be used for scrapbooking, artist trading cards, and art journals / mixed media as well.  

All of the projects today feature Hero Arts stamp images as well.

On the card above I used Hero Arts "Design Block : Flourish" and "3 Artistic Butterflies".  I watered down some acrylic paint just a little (mine was very thick) and patted it on the background stamp with a foam brush.  I spritz the water color paper lightly with water and then stamped the background.  I think it would be fun to try multiple color paints as well.  Next I splattered on some watered down pink paint using a small round paint brush.  

For the second card I spritz the water color paper lightly with water and then "stamped circles" on the background with the cardboard centers from toilet paper and paper towels.  Again the paint was watered down a little.  Then I spritz again with water so that the paint would run and the background would become mottled.  I did some smaller pieces for ATC's using some small plastic lids from my chapstick and an hand sanitizer bottle.  The green paint was splattered on.  The stamp for this card is "Classic Bloom".

The background on this one was stamped like the first one using "Cling Dots".  I used "Dictionary Greetings" and "Cupcakes" as well.

I also created by own washi tape for all of these cards as well.  You may remember I did this last year on some of my Pink Persimmon Artist Trading Cards.  Adhere masking tape to wax paper (so you can pull it back up later and adhere it to your project).  Paint masking tape then stamp with patterned images.

A few general tips ...

Watercolor paper paper comes in different weights and textures.  Doesn't matter what kind you use, but keep in mind that the thinner the paper, the more it will warp.  Mine was thinner that I usually use.  After the panels were dry I ironed them to flatten them by placing the panels between 2 paper towels.

Acrylic paints vary in viscosity as well.  Just practice til you get the feel for how much to water yours down.

I hope you are inspired to use acrylic paint on your projects.

Have a fabulous day!

Melisa

Designing with Masking Tape

2.5" x 3.5" Artist Trading Card

Hello paper crafters.  Today I want to share a couple of ways to use masking tape on your projects.  It can be used to create a distressed background as seen in the ATC above or to create your own decorative tape as shown on the ATC below.

2.5" x 3.5" Artist Trading Card

I am really enjoying using the ATC Sized Background stamps by Pink Persimmon.  I used the script image from "Fairy Tale" on ATC #1 ... and 3 other background patterns on ATC #2.  Hop on over to the Pink Persimmon store HERE and check out all the options!

Now get that masking tape out and get creative!!
Have a great day,  Melisa

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Project Details

ATC #1 

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Fairy Tale" (script background image) and "Fine and Dandy"
Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

Spray Ink :  Glimmer Mist 

Ink : Brilliance "Pearlescent Brown"

Masking tape

Gesso

Cover ATC with masking tape.

Tear edges of masking tape strips and continue to layer.

Cover with gesso. (you can also use acrylic paint)  

Distress the surface by gently rubbing with a finger and peeling back some of the edges of some of the tape.

Spray with ink.

Rub cream colored acrylic paint on with a finger here and there and around edges.

Stamp with script background and brown ink.  I applied the ink to the image with a dauber over specific area's of the image (I didn't want to stamp the entire image). 

I didn't intend for the brown to be so prominent, so I wiped some off with a paper towel.  Just keep layering paint / ink until you get the look you want.  I ended up rubbing on a little more cream colored acrylic paint.

Stamp male image, color, trim and adhere to ATC front.  Stamp, trim, and doodle around words.  Adhere to ATC.

ATC #2

Stamps : Pink Persimmon "Springtime" (polka dots image), "Fairy Tale" (script  and floral image), "Spelling Bee" (words image), "Little Red Wagon" (girl image),  "Soda Pop Alpha"

Check out Pink Persimmon stamps HERE.

Masking Tape

Acrylic Paint (orange, purple, aqua)

Patterned Paper : Memory Box "Jubilee" 6 x 6 paper pad (green) and Pink Paislee "365 Degree's" 6 x 6 paper pad

Markers : E23, E25 (hair / shoes), Y38 (bow), E000, E00, R00 (skin)

Brilliance "Pearlescent Chocolate"

Stamp polka dot background image with yellow ink.  Paint strips of masking tape with acrylic paint.  I save the little plastic sheets that my clear stamps come on, so I applied the tape to these before painting.  You can put the strips on any surface that will be easy for you to remove after paint is dry.  After it's dry, stamp background patterns on them.  Tear and add to card.  Ink edges in brown.  Stamp girl on white cardstock, green patterned paper, and orange patterned paper. Color hair and skin, then trim girl from white cardstock.  Paper piece dress / socks-shoes.  Color over the green shoes with brown marker.  Stamp letters, trim, doodle around edges and adhere to ATC.