Altered Charm Swap - Due 8-6-11 - Sign Ups NOW OPEN!!!

Ink Stains

Altered Charm Swap

Due 8-6-11
(This is an in my hands due date)

The Altered Charm Swap Poll has closed and it looks like there is plenty of interest in another swap ~ YEAH!!!  It looks like it's split between now and in a month or so.  To enable everyone to play I set the deadline for August 6th, 2011.  That gives you a little over 7 weeks to make/send your charms.  You of course don't have to wait that long, if you finish them early please feel free to send them along.  I have a special home just waiting for them to arrive.

Altered Charm Swap Details...

Each person will make 5 charms (either the same or different) and get 5 different charms back. You would not get your own back so be sure to make an extra to keep for yourself.   In addition to the charms you will also receive a 5 loop silver charm pin (pictured below) for you to hang your new charms from.  Of course you don't have to use the pin but it's just a nice extra something from me to you for joining in on the fun. 

NOTE: I have the silver version ~ 3" long with 5 loops.

The charms can be created from anything you can dream up... there are tons of ideas on the web (search images under things like altered charms, altered charm bracelets, altered charm necklaces, Tim Holtz style necklace, charm swap; etc.)

There are also lots of ideas here on Ink Stains which can be found under: Acrylic Charms; Charms; Jewelry.   You can also check out the results from the first - Ink Stains Altered Charm Swap Results.  I will also be sharing more charm ideas from now to the due date to inspire and encourage you so be sure to stay tuned! 

If you have a copy of my book ~ Teach Yourself Visually Collage & Altered Arts there is an entire chapter dedicated to creating your own charms.

*You could create your charm from acrylic pieces, glass, metal, clay, found objects, etc. You could embellish bought metal charms (please don't send a plain metal charm) with beads, chain, gears, watch bits or other items. There are many pendant blanks, bezels, etc. that can be altered (insert photo/words, etc & fill with Glossy Accents or the like); you could fill little bottles with sand/beads and other goodies ~ sealed & findings added. And so much more...let your imagination run wild!

*Each charm should have a jump ring or lobster clasp so all you have to do is attach it to the charm pin when you get them back.

*You can make up to 4 different sets** of charms (1 set = 5 of the same charm).  I will give you a pin for each set you send. :)  

**Please note that each set should be a different design.  It makes it difficult to swap out if there are 15 of the exact same design.

Packaging:

*I would like it if each person would identify their charms either by placing it in a baggie with their name and e-mail addy or mounting it on a small card or tag with the same info. It's always nice to be able to thank people personally when you receive a piece of their art work. 

Mailing:

DUE DATE - 8-6-11(This is when the charms must be in my hands.)

NOTE: I am in the United States but welcome anyone to play along.  Please keep in mind that it make take up to 2 weeks mailing time to arrive here in the states depending on what country you live in so please plan appropriately when you send your charms.

*Please package your charms securely so they arrive in good condition.

*Include a self addressed envelope for the return trip.

*Send $3.00 (US) or $6.00 (International) for each set you send for the return postage (or $5.00 for Priority Mail here in the US) - I will return any unused postage to you. PLEASE do NOT include pre-metered postage labels. My local post office will not accept these. They will refuse them! If you would like to pay-pal me the money that would work as well.  Whatever works easiest for you works for me.

Sign Ups:

If you would like to sign up for this swap, please post a comment with your name (screen name or real name) and a working e-mail addy*.  I don't need to know how many sets you will be making ~ whatever you send will be fine with me. 

When you sign up, please include your e-mail addy (spaces added) so I can contact you.  I will be sending the swap details, my mailing address and swap updates/reminders to this e-mail address. Please be sure it is a working address that you check often so you can stay up to date on all the swap info.  Let me know if you don't receive an e-mail from me within 24 hours of signing up and I will re-send.   Thanks!

Blue = Recd

1. Roni
2. Dixie (Mom)
3. Brenda S.
4. Lori W.
5. Scrapyard Butterfly
6. Sandy
7. Hecate
8. Carolyn
9. Jo J
10. Neil
11. Sherry E - Recd
12. Andrea
13. Theresa P - sent
14. Connie B
15. Helen C
16. Von
17. Darqueangel9
18. Diane
19. Ink Pattie
20. Sherry (Creatology)
21. Jennie (Whimsical Wren)
22. Gail - sent
23. Jan
24. Khess136
25. Laura -sent
26. Celina
27. Cheryl L
28. Shirley H - sent
29. Cassie - sent
30. Carol W
31. JoZarty
32. Sue A
33. Pam J
34. Debbie
35. Margaret R.
36. Julie O'B
37. Becky W
38. Candy C
39. Vic
40. Caroline D.
41. Olga B

Father's Day is Almost Here!

I just wanted to remind you all that I have an extensive list of poems, sentiments and other sayings for Dad, Grandpas, and Fathers of all makes and models ;) 

Father's Day Quotes, Sayings, Sentiments, Proverbs

Father's Day Poems

Hopefully you'll find something you can use for all the dad's in your life!

And

Happy Father's Day out there to all of our dads :) 

Beaded Paint Brush Charms

Today I wanted to add one or two more steps to the Paint Brush Charms I shared with you yesterday.

You will create the charm using the same basic steps as you did in the previous tutorial.  The first extra step is that once you snip your wire, add several beads to the wire before you begin twisting  (Step #4).  

As you're winding the wire along the brush, leave 2-3 beads with each spiral you wrap.  Once you reach the top, create the loop as directed in Step #6. 

Once you're ready for Step #7, winding your way back down the brush you may choose to incorporate additional beads on the way down.  You can finish the charm off as we did yesterday or save a few beads and add a "paint drip" from the tip of your brush as shown in this photo...  I secured the end with another little swirl of wire.

And here are a few examples of Beaded Paint Brush Charms...

NOTE: I went with specific color themes based on the paint color I added to each brush tip.  Instead of paint today though I went with Liquid Pearls for a more vibrant look.  I think I actually like the LP's better than paint.  When you fan the wet Liquid Pearl bristles out they tend to stay where you put them better than the paint does.

So there you go...same technique but totally different finished look.

ENJOY!!

Paint Brush Charm

Charms...you all know how much I love charms.  If you're new here I'll be getting a list around of the various charm tutorials I have shared over the last few years but today I couldn't wait for all that cause I've been playing with another fun charm tutorial I just have to share with you.

O.k...I don't know about you but I have to admit I'm really bad about cleaning my brushes after I use them.  To say I put my brushes through he** is an understatement. Sometimes I have to soak them for days to get the paint, glue, etc. softened up enough to be able to clean/use them again.  There are times though that I finally just have to give it up and retire them.  Well, today I wanted to share what I do with these old brushes...  I turn them into charms of course! 

Here's how I do it....

Paint Brush Charm

Supplies:

Old, grungy, dried up paint brush
Wire
Wire Working Tools (wire cutter, round tip pliers)
Beads (optional)

Instructions:

1. Break the tips off  of your paint brush...doesn't matter if it's wood or plastic, they break pretty easily.

2. (optional) You can leave the tip as is but I like to fray out the bristles a bit to give it a bit of added character.  The more wild the tip is I think the cooler the finished charm looks.   This is also a great time to add a bit more color if desired.  I had a couple paint brushes I dug out of my sons trash (he makes models) that were all blue so I added a bit of metallic bronze & gold to the bristles.  You can even wipe a bit of paint onto the handle for a more authentic look ;)

3. Now cut off a piece of wire approx 12"-18" in length.  Start at one end and create a little loop.

4. Place this loop near the bristle end of your brush tip.  Hold it in place with one hand and begin wrapping the wire tightly around the tip with your other hand. 

5. When you reach the broken end of the paint brush, stop twisting the wire around on the back side of the brush.

6. Bend the wire at a right angle so it's in line with the brush.  Now wrap the wire around the round nose wire pliers to form the loop which the wire will later hang from.

7. Finish the charm off by wrapping the excess wire around and around the brush right below the loop.  You can be  as neat or as haphazard as desired.  I like the more haphazard look so the wire looks like it's all knotted up.

And now you've got yourself a very funky, fun charm!

Tomorrow I'll share a version of this charm with beads and dangles.

Till then, run don't walk to your trash can and dig out those brushes!!!

New Buttons...

Since I got my new computer I've been trying to rebuild my favorite links.  I was searching blogger to try and find a friends blog and I wandered into the blogger blog and it happened to talk about a fun new gadget they added.   

It's at the bottom of every post now, it will let you send a link about an individual post to friends via e-mail, facebook, twitter, you can repost it on your own blog, etc.  It's also got this +1 button which will basically put in a good vote for a particular post and will be added to various search engines.

I hope you enjoy it :)

Enabler Alert - Estate Sales...

I wanted to tell you a bit about a new link in the right hand side-bar....

It is a link that will take you to a web-site that hosts a list of one of my favorite activities....

Estate Sales !!!

How fun is that??  You know how much I love shopping for vintage finds and incorporating them into my art.  Well I know many of you out there enjoy it as much as I do.  At this web-site you can search by state to find dates and times for the various sales going on in any given area.  Most of the listings also have a description of  a few of the items for sale and some even offer photos.  So if you're ready for some fun shopping time be sure to check them out.  You might just find a gem you didn't know you couldn't live without - LOL!!

Get Inked Kit - June 2011 - Vintage Wedding

Happy Monday!!

LOL...I know I know ~ shut up right?  Well, at least the sun is shining and it's not broiling hot here. 

Today I wanted to share with you the June Get Inked Kit I designed for Queen Kat Designs.  The theme is Vintage Wedding and I'm very proud of this set.   The inks for this kit were shades of brown.  I also used Bisque Liquid Pearls which complimented the kit perfectly!

Here are the images included in the kit...

And here are the cards I created using this kit....

This is a flip card ~ the brown card foundation looks so dark in the first photo but it's actually closer to the second photo.

Forever After - Faux Mother of Pearl Background paper.

Best Wishes

Would you like to own a set of these vintage wedding stamps?

If so, simply post a comment telling me what month you were married.  If you aren't or have never been married, tell me what month your ideal wedding month would be and why.

You have until 6-25 to enter.

Have a wonderful day friends!!

Ink Stained Card Sketch & JFF Stamps!

Happy Friday!!

Woo Hoo...it's finally cooling off here after a scorching week ~ temps in the upper 90's with VERY high humidity.

O.k...here is this weeks card sketch....  The background looks a bit confusing with the ribbon tossed in there but it's actually only two different background papers instead of 4.  The ribbon just slices them all in two.  You'll see what I mean when you check out the cards below.

And here are the cards I created using Just For Fun Rubber Stamps. 

Note: this card uses the rainbow paper I made earlier this week using the brayer technique -

 Easy Rainbow Brayering.

Now it's your turn to give this fun sketch a try!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!

Glassine & Twinkling H2O's

A couple weeks ago I shared some techniques to help you play with your new *Ideaology Kraft Glassine Paper (Glassine & Alcohol Inks and Glassine & Distress Inks ~ Embossed Glassine).  Well today I've got another fun technique that I've been playing with...

Glassine & **Twinkling H2O's!

*Ideaology Kraft Glassine Paper is a new product in the Tim Holtz line of goodies.  I have gotten several e-mails from people who have bought it but after they had it in their hands they weren't sure what to do with it.  These techniques are designed to help you start to play! 

**Twinkling H2O's - If you're not familiar with this product it is a highly concentrated shimmery pigment that comes in a solid cake form.  You add a drop of water to the cake and let it soften.  You can then easily pick up the color with a waterbrush (which I prefer) or a regular paint brush.  Once the TH2O's have dried there is nothing more you need to do to them ~ no sealers are necessary.   I find for some applications I like them better than Perfect Pearls and they come in many many colors.

Supplies:

Glassine
Archival Ink
Rubber Stamp (Sunflower from April Get Inked Kit)
Twinkling H2O's
Waterbrush or paint brush & water
Heat Tool - Optional

Instructions:



1.  Stamp desired image onto the glassine using Archival Ink.  I like to heat set it to speed drying other wise you'll need to let it set for a while.

2. Wet your Twinkling H2O's with a dot of water.  After it has softened, load your waterbrush/paint brush with color. 

3. Begin massaging the color onto the image.  Yes, I said massaging.   Now here is the interesting thing ~ glassine paper is naturally resistant to water.  If you spritz it with water it will run into little droplets.  When you begin painting the stamped image the Twinkling H20's will initially pool into little drops of color but as you massage the color into the image it will begin staying put.  I don't know why it works but it does...

In this photo you can see I have painted the upper portion of the sunflower.  If you look closely at the petal my brush is near you can actually see the droplets of color.  

Also, the Archival Ink has a bit of resist to it so the ink won't stick to the image lines but stay inside the lines as you add the color. 

I must say it's a pretty fun technique to play with.  It's amazing how the paper, inks and pigments all work together.

Here is what the flower looked like once I had all of the petals painted (massaged).


3. Continue massaging/painting the image as desired.

4. After you have finished colorizing the image, speed drying with the heat tool or let it dry naturally (which may take a while depending on temp/humidity/etc.).

And here is what my finished glassine stamped image looks like....

Now it's your turn!

Go massage your glassine paper ;)  LOL!!

I'm going to continue to experiment with the glassine to see what it likes and what it doesn't. 

 I'll be sure to share my findings with you all :)

Time for Another Charm Swap???

I posted a poll to see if you're ready for another charm swap.

I have been itchin' to make some more charms and a couple others have been asking about it as well.   I think I might even get my Mom talked into joining in on the fun this time. 

So, I thought I'd toss it out there to see if there is enough interest at this time or if I should wait a bit.

I'm game for one now or later...it's all good for me.

If you weren't around for the last one it was a make 5 and receive 5 different charms plus a charm pin back.  (I will supply the pin)

Everyone is welcome....there are no border restrictions here :)

So, please take a second and vote if you're interested or not. 

Thanks everyone!