Turning a "Good Fortune" into a Stylish Altered Bangle

Happy Wednesday! What do you do with a leftover cardboard tape spool and a fortune from a fortune cookie??? Susan back again to share another project I've created using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer with Terri Sproul Mixers - this time I'm GREENCRAFTING!!!

I've made a CHIC artistic bangle out of a recycled cardboard tape spool that I have painted with Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers and collaged with stamped paper misted with my Mixers Mist. The feature of my bangle is a fortune that I saved from a fortune cookie.

I cut a section away from the tube and cut the edges rounded. I sanded the edges with an emory board.

On a strip of scrap patterned paper, I stamped I used Viva Las Vegastamps! patent stamp #1687 with waterproof royal blue ink.

I misted paper with my sheer Mixers Mist to dampen paper. CLICK HERE to see post on how to make your own Mixers Mists.

Gently crumple the paper to break up fibers to that it is not so stiff - AND - it will give a nice suede texture.

I also misted with some bronze/copper penny Mixers Mist to add extra shimmer and this brings out detail of distressed paper. I set aside to dry.

I mixed up some Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Garnet Pearl and Garnet Shimmer Terri Sproul Mixers to apply a base layer to the bangle.

I apply Garnet Mixers to base of tube with 2-3 coats to seal paper and also to build up a nice layer of color.

Completed painted cardboard bangle - which looks lovely just like this! But this is just a starting off point...I want to make it more "ME". So I'm going to make it all painted and inky, too! 

Now I adhere the stamped and painted paper I prepared in the beginning. I cut lines into the paper around the rounded sides to get a smooth wrap-around. I mounted my fortune to a rectangle of chipboard and adhered to bangle with Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer. I finished off by painting entire bangle in a nice coat of Crystal Lacquer.

Presenting "Art-cycled" CHIC Bangle

My bangle is all artsy and recycled! It looks lovely...and is the perfect home for my GOOD FORTUNE "You feed your body every day. You must also feed your mind".

I hope you enjoyed today's post - and all of the projects I have created during my time with the Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team! I have had a wonderful time creating with Sakura Hobby Crafts products and I look forward to what the new Design Team dreams up. If you would like to continue to keep up with me and my creative adventures - please visit my blog sbartist : painting in the dark by clicking here.

Keep Creating! Sb : )

A Rainbow of Delight in a Spray Form...MIXERS MIST!

Happy Wednesday! Susan back again to share another project I've created using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer with Terri Sproul Mixers...and today I'm going to focus on my little "happy accidental" invention...MIXERS MIST! First a reminder about an upcoming event...

Save the Date for our blog hop right here on July 28th!

Also there will be BLOG CANDY to be won...

three (3) Terri Sproul Mixers and a bottle of Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer.

I have been making a lot of textural backgrounds lately for various projects so I thought I would share a little more in-depth instruction as to how to make your own mists using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer with Terri Sproul Mixers. I have been using the bronze mists I have made and am so excited to make more colors to play with.

This was my HAPPY ACCIDENT...Terri Sproul MIXERS MIST!!!!

    

I took the contents of my water cup containing the glittery goodness leftover from washing my brushes while painting with Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers and I poured this into an empty spray bottle. This is a lovely, sheer shimmery spray - very subtle on light paper. I now have a large spray bottle of this and I am using this mixture as a base to make a whole family of mixer mists! 

To do this I have rummaged my house and reclaimed every spray bottle I can get my hands on. I have here an assortment of recycled travel size hair/body sprays, some Ranger Mini Misters, and some small mini sprayers I purchased from Sky Blue Pink.

**PLEASE NOTE** The wash water is directly from the cup. Not sure how much Crystal Lacquer is actually in it. But the bronze mixer - I made from scratch. I filled about 1/2 bottle with water {one of those 1 oz. travel size sprayers}, a few scoops on a toothpick of bronze & copper penny mixers and a squirt of CL. Not so much that it's sticky - just enough so the shimmer will stick to the paper you spray it on. The mini mister tubes don't hold very much liquid {maybe a dozen  sprays or so}, this is why I started with the wash water mix as a base. There is nothing else in my wash water except for Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers.

Below are the tester papers I made for the colors I've mixed so far. I added a swatch of black paper to each so I could see how these worked on dark papers. The bronze, gold, silver and interference colors worked best on the black paper. An unexpected result: the colored mists really didn't show up at all - they just leave a white splatter. On white - all of the colors worked beautifully - even the interference violet. The scanner and photographs can't capture all the shimmer reflections - but I promise, the glittery goodness is there!

I labeled each card with the color combinations. I am so excited to play with these!

With my MIXERS MISTS in hand - I got out my new stencils and punchinella to make a fun background in my art journal. 

I sprayed several colors on first layer then let dry and then

heat set to make sure it was entirely dry.

On second layer I added some squares and this gear detail - I love it!

This background is wonderful and goes perfectly with one of my favorite quotes from one of the Masters...Edgar Degas!

I hope you enjoyed today's post. I encourage you to take a look around through the projects from the other Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team members for some great tips and ideas! See you next time on August 1st for another fun and fabulous project how-to!

If you have any questions, please leave a comment, select receive e-mail follow ups on comments and I will respond. If you would like to see more of my creations, please visit my blog sbartist : painting in the dark by clicking here.

Have a wonderful Wednesday : )

Steampunk Airship Balloon takes you Up, Up and Away for a Fantastic Voyage!

Happy 4th of July!!! I hope you are enjoying your holiday! Susan here bringing you a project to get your creative muse ready to sparkle like fireworks!!!

Today I am sharing how to create a Steampunk Airship using Sakura Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers, complete with a wired basket made of bottle caps from the Bottle Cap Company.

I used the old-fashioned papier-mâché technique that we all used when we were kids...white glue and strips of newspaper over a balloon. Who remembers making masks like this??? I do and I have brought this technique up-to-date by using Sakura Crystal Lacquer and paper napkins.

Step one:  Coat balloon with vegetable oil to act as a resist.

Step two:  Adhere balloon to a base to hold it up for paper maché.

Step three:  Using Sakura Crystal Lacquer, adhere pieces of napkin

torn in small sections to balloon - overlapping to cover gaps.

Paint on Sakura Crystal Lacquer to completely saturate napkin pieces.

Completely covered balloon with 4 layers of napkins

adhered using Sakura Crystal Lacquer.

After drying for several hours. Pop balloon and gently peel away from interior of paper maché form. I also trimmed edge with scissors. I let this sit for several more hours to continue curing and harden.

I inflated a balloon inside paper maché form to hold up while painting. I mixed up Sakura Crystal Lacquer with Silver Terri Sproul Mixers and painted the entire base layer of the balloon. When dry I brushed on Gold Mixer and Copper Penny Mixer randomly and set aside to dry. 

Detail of painted balloon surface has a real steampunk feel, and is slightly translucent. This is perfect as I will be adding an LED tea light to the center. Now the fun part...embellishing. Gather up some wire, eyelets and other metal doo-dads and decorate away!

With silver wire, I made a cage around a bottle cap basket and affixed a whirlygig for propulsion. Additional wire is wrapped to secure basket to base of balloon through holes set with silver eyelets.

Presenting ... Steampunk Airship Balloon

I hope you have enjoyed today's post and that you are inspired to go and create something. Please take a look around through the projects from my other Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team members for some great projects, tips and ideas! Have a wonderful and safe 4th of July. I'll be back in two weeks on July 18th with another how-to.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment, select receive e-mail follow ups on comments and I will respond. If you would like to see more of my creations, please visit my blog sbartist : painting in the dark by clicking here.

Have a wonderful Wednesday : )

Altering a Want2Scrap Corset using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers

Happy Wednesday! Susan back again to share a project I've created using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers...along with Want2Scrap chipboard and embellishments. I've created a pretty wall decor using one of Want2Scrap's specialty chipboard blank books - the CORSET.

Want2Scrap has loads of interesting chipboard and acrylic blank books, words, shapes and tons of frilly and blingy items to embellish them with. I begin with two blank corset pages.

Chipboard Corset Album has 5 pages and measures approx. 11 1/2" long x 7 1/2" wide.

Blue Rose Ribbon is fantastic for borders or as a stand alone item.

Using a stylus I marked some lines on the chipboard shapes, then cut two of the five corset pages accordingly. I want to make my corset more dimensional by adding layers.

I punched holes for lacing the corset on both sides. **A TIP** to get the holes the same on both sides, I laid the two sections on top of each other and punched them at the same time with my Crop-A-Dile.

Using a detail tipped applicator, I applied stripes and scallop details with a mixture of 3D Crystal Lacquer and Green Pearl Mixers.

I mix up some Shimmer Tanzanite Terri Sproul Mixers with 3D Crystal Lacquer to paint in my background. For the peek-a-boo layer, I applied a mixture of Violet Pearl Mixers and 3D Crystal Lacquer.

After paint is completely dry, I apply and set eyelets for lacing.

 

I cut a section of roses from the blue rose ribbon and adhered down to be the frill at the top of the corset. I just love the texture and detail these add to the corset. I use the chipboard scraps I cut away as spacers to assemble sections together. Nothing goes to waste here. The eyelets and ribbon will need extra space between layers so these will be perfect to balance the layers out. I laced up with a plaid ribbon tied off with a purple satin at the top. I finished off the bottom edge with a piece of lace and also at the top of the peek-a-boo.

Presenting "Of Corset's an Altered" Want2Scrap corset.

"You are all laced up and ready for the party Miss Scarlett..."

I hope you enjoyed today's project. Please take some time to stroll around through projects from the other Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team members for more great tips and ideas! See you next time on July 4, 2012.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment, select receive e-mail follow ups on comments and I will respond. If you would like to see more of my creations, please visit my blog sbartist : painting in the dark by clicking here. Have a wonderfully crafty Wednesday : )

"Yes I Can" Art Journal Page using Sakura Crystal Lacquer, Terri Sproul Mixers and Want2Scrap

Happy Wednesday! Susan back again to share another project I've created using Sakura 3D Crystal Lacquer with Terri Sproul Mixers...and to mix things up a bit - I'm also using some Want2Scrap chipboard and embellishments.

I'm finding that the more I create...the more I need to create. I have accumulated quite a collection of inspirational quotes. So I have decided to have some play time and start an Art Journal. Today will be my first entry and the quote I am using is "YES I CAN."

I begin with a brand new unused blank journal and these...and start to collage.

As my base, I glue down a vintage sheet music book page from AlteredPages.com. Then I primed the background with a gesso/acrylic mixture. 

I mixed up some Red Pearl Mixers for painting the paper doll and I used the leftover to paint a border around my book page. 

I painted the sky with a mixture of 3D Crystal Lacquer and Smokey Quartz Pearl, Violet Pearl and Shimmer Tanzanite Terri Sproul Mixers to create a sky and  I used Green Pearl for the water. I keep the mixture translucent so the book page is still visable. I assembled the chipboard paper doll with embroidery floss. I arranged the figure as if she's flying and adhere to the page. 

I cut out the shape of a dress for my flying muse using pre-painted book paper that has been painted with Crystal Lacquer and Red Pearl Terri Sproul Mixers. I used some variegated yarn for my muses' hair. I cut a section of roses from the blue rose ribbon and adhered down to be a wave like pattern in the water. This creates some fabulous texture. I cut out a Citrine Pearl painted book paper moon shape and adhere to my sky. I added some pastel color for depth and dimension. I apply light green rhinestones randomly for stars in the sky to complete the scene.

The finishing touch is to add my quote "Yes I Can" with clear Gold sticker letters. This free-form project is colorful with subtle texture within the imagery.

Presenting my Completed Art Journal Page

This page will be the first of my new creative inspiration art journal. I hope to fill the entire book with my favorite quotes and colorful inspiring art.

I hope you enjoyed today's project. Please take some time to stroll around through projects from the other Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team members for more great tips and ideas! See you next time on June 20, 2012.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment, select receive e-mail follow ups on comments and I will respond. If you would like to see more of my creations, please visit my blog sbartist : painting in the dark by clicking here.

Have a wonderfully crafty Wednesday : )