Ranger Alcohol Ink Story Board - Beyond Layers Homework

As the saying goes, there's more than one way to skin a cat...

This past week I learned a different way to make photo collages in the Beyond Layers Year of Art Full Inspiration being taught by Kim Klassen.  She provided Photoshop and PS Elements templates that are SO easily personalized.  I'm anxious to learn exactly how to make this type of template... Kim, I'm being patient...

I thought it would be fun to take some of my archived "project in progress" images and insert them into the template.  Easy Peasy.

Just before starting this post, I decided to add the Beyond Layers button to the sidebar.  I saw that Blogger has added a few new gadgets to the blog design page, and I chose one that shows my most popular posts.  (Scroll down to the bottom of this page when you're done reading.)

NOW THIS IS WHAT IS TOTALLY COOL AND I HAD NO IDEA...
A previous post when I stepped out this exact card is on my top ten posts list.
As Michelle Ward would say, "How Cool Is That?"

So go to the previous post if you want to know more about my alcohol ink project.
Stay tuned for more story boards.

Birds and Music ATC & Postcard Swap

I participated in a swap with Femmy. She makes amazing ATC's, postcards and other art. Be sure to check out her blog. We decided to use the themes of birds and music to create 2 ATC's and a postcard.

My postcard started by adhering some music to heavy watercolor paper. Next I used Liquitex paint to establish the sunrise background. (You can see how I used the extra paint to start an ATC that is shown in my last post.) After drawing the bird & branches, I painted them with acrylic paint. This was my latest interpretation of a photo I took a few years ago. I wrote about it here.

Fly Away Dove ATC began with acrylic paint on watercolor paper. Stamped images were added. The dove was stamped on different paper, cut out & glued to ATC.

The words were cut from an old music book. Krylon gold leaf paint marker was used to accent the edge.

Get Inspired ATC's base is glossy card stock that was colored with Ranger's Tim Holtz alcohol inks. Stamped & glued images were added. Next I stacked the card on green cardstock. The finishing touch came when I added the words I found in a magazine. They just happened to fit my color scheme. Love it when that happens!

Following are what came today from Femmy.

I LOVE the cards that Femmy sent me. They are all wonderful, but I am just thrilled with the Tales of the Jazz Age postcard. The ATC's are so fun. She sure found some great images.

I hope to do more swaps in the future, but I really have to pace myself. I've got some exciting events in my future that I will share more about in a future post.

Thanks for stopping by.

More Alcohol Ink Art - Landscape Card

This is the outside of a greeting card I created on Saturday using alcohol inks. I used the same process that was described in my last post. The rubber stamps I used are from an older Stampin' Up set.

Ranger Alcohol Inks Tutorial - Jungle Theme

I recently mentioned making a lot of name tags for a church retreat and promised to share how I made them. My goal was to color the tags with product that wouldn't bleed on clothing if the tag got wet, so I decided to try using alcohol based inks. I used Ranger Brand Adirondak Ink and Jacquard Brand Fiesta Color. The Ranger inks are readily available, but I think the Fiesta name is obsolete (I've had it a number of years). I did find Jacquard PInata colors on line. (Maybe there was just a name change - let me know if you have any info & I'll update this post.)

For this tut, I went through the sames steps I took for the name tags, but I applied the ink to glossy card stock. Glossy paper takes the ink on with a depth that doesn't come across in photos. You really need to see it in person to appreciate the beauty.

Ranger has an applicator & felt pads to apply the ink which are convenient and economical. Even after ink dries on the felt, it can be reactivated with the Adirondak Alcohol Blending Solution or 91% alcohol. Alcohol lightens the ink. I've seen tuts using cotton balls or foam sponge, but these are messier & you will want to wear protective gloves when using these.

I placed a few drops of color on the pad, then a few drops of blending solution to disperse the ink on the pad. The pad is tapped on the paper to build color. You must work quickly, because the ink is fast drying. For this project, I used one color per pad, but you can put more than one color on a pad. Instead of tapping, you can wipe the applicator across the paper, swirl it - use your imagination.

91% rubbing alcohol can be put in a fine mister to spray lightly on the paper. It will lighten spots and add more depth to the design.

Add as many layers of color as you want to achieve the look you are going for.

Next I stamped images using solvent based ink. I cut the paper to desired size and made greeting cards featuring the images.