Collage Tiles Panel

Hello Friends,

I'm happy to be here to share a tutorial for the 9 x 9" Vignette Display Panel I created using Christmas idea-ology. My favorite thing to do is to mix vintage and new...and this project does just that, because the folding ruler is vintage, mixed with new 2021 idea-ology Christmas.  Much of the detail work is done for you by using the Collage Tiles, which are preprinted collaged squares.  You get 72 Collage Tiles in a pack, so there are plenty to cover the Vignette Display Panel.

Use Collage Medium to adhere Collage Tiles to the panel. As I said, there are plenty of Collage Tiles in the package to cover the panel, but I decided to mix in squares of Backdrops Christmas paper, like ticking, peppermint stripe, and plaid to break up the collage.

Once you have the Collage Tiles adhered the wood panel, add a layer of Collage Medium over the top and dry with a heat tool.

Use Collage Medium to add a strip of Backdrops Christmas paper to the edges of the wood panel.  

Once the Collage Medium is dry, use a Distress Crayon and scribble along the seams.  Rub the crayon into the seams to cover any gaps.  Add more where you need it and use a wet wipe to remove if you get too much.

OPTIONAL: I wanted to add some Distress Mica Spray to the collage but that is challenging to do once Collage Medium has been added, since it is a sealer.  So even though I had added the crayon, I lightly added another layer of Collage Medium then splattered the Mica directly into the glue before it dried.   

*always remember to shake up the Mica Stain before spraying.  Testing the spray on a paper towel before hand is a good idea.  I like to push the nozzle down very slowly to create the splatter.  If that method does not work for you, unscrew the cap and use the plastic tube to shake the Mica Stain over the WET glue.  Dry with a heat tool.  You can always add more Crayon, if needed, once it is dry.

I decided to add some Crackle Texture Paste too! I just smeared it on the corner areas with a Palette Knife and let it dry completely (about 30-40 minutes, depending on where you live) before scribbling Distress Crayon over the top and rubbing it in. While that is drying you can work on the Baseboard Frame.

The Christmas Baseboard pack is tremendous this year!  The large frame, the slide frame, the word strip and the stars all come from the Baseboard pack.

You can use the large frame as is, but I decided to add a bit of glitter using the seasonal Grit Paste Snowfall that has a bit of sparkle.  I cannot get enough of this product!  I added it to the frame around the inner edge where it looked icy, then let it dry.

Add a piece from the Christmas Backdrops pack (I chose music) to fill in the background.

I also cut a long piece of red/white string, folded it in half, then wrapped it around the frame and tied a bow.

The last thing was to add 2 bingo chips to the backside to raise it up off the wood panel (this will help when the lights are added later).  You could also use stacked foam tape or squares.

You can add any embellishment to the center of the frame.  I chose this darling Photobooth photo that comes in the Paper Doll Christmas pack.  I did use some Distress Crayons to tint the photo just a bit.  Faded Jeans for the background and Aged Mahogany for her cheeks and coat.  I just scribbled the color on, then rubbed it away with my fingertip.  

The two very tiny stars I added to her coat are quite frankly the smallest stars I have ever seen! When we first saw them, Tim and I both thought, oh boy! we didn't know they would be that small! But I am now glad we left them in the pack because they are perfect here!

Once she was done, I added a couple foam squares of the back and placed her in the frame.

The next step is to add the folding ruler to the wood panel.  This photo is of the basic things added.  You can see I am still trying to decide where the word strip will go!

Using the frame and ruler together helped me decide where the ruler "shelf" needed to be,  I smeared a good amount to Collage Medium between each layer of the ruler (since it unfolds) to keep it stable, then more to the backside.  Place the ruler on the panel and do not move until secure.  I recommend leaving it overnight to cure.  You can finish the other pieces and be ready to assemble the next day.

LANTERN: Painted with Candied Apple Distress Paint (more information on that in just a bit)

TREE: I sprayed it with Frosted Juniper Mica Spray, then dipped the top half in water and let the ink run out to create an ombre effect.  Rub the tree with a paper towel then dry with your heat tool.  The tree has to sit flat against the panel so I also gave it a hair cut so it is flat on the backside.  If you would like a "greener" tree I recommend using Bundled Sage or a replacement for Frosted Juniper might be Weathered Wood.

TINY LIGHTS: There is more information about the tree and lantern below but I want to address the Tiny Lights while you are looking at this photo. I drilled a hole in the panel behind the lantern to add the Tiny Lights.  I wound 2 lights together and pushed them up into the lantern.  From there, the lights run behind the frame then wrap around the tree until you run out.  Once the lights are in place, you can glue the tree down (hot glue) and secure the lantern (Collage Medium or E6000 because metal and hot glue are not a good combination).

Remember, how I used bingo chips on the back of the frame to raise it up?  Well my tree needed a little stability so I used another bingo chip (slipped half behind the frame) as a riser for the tree.  Use hot glue to secure the tree at both the base and the bingo chip and no one will be the wiser since the bingo chip is covered by the tree.

The small slide frame was added next to the tree.  I used Clippings stickers found in the Christmas sticker book.  It says, "like bright stars may we all gleam".  You can see I also added more of the Grit-Paste to the slide frame and the top of the large frame.  The white under the tree is white Warm and Natural batting that has been pulled and stretched thin,  Using a paint brush with Collage Medium, lightly pounce over the top of the batting, then sprinkle Mica Flakes over the top for a snowy look.

Again, the lantern was painted with Candied Apple Distress Paint.  Once dry, I rubbed Distress Crayon over the top.  You could also pounce Mushroom Alcohol Ink over the top instead of crayon.  Both would work beautifully.

Lets talk about that bow again.  I am a little controlling when it comes to bows.  Probably because what I make goes to Tim for the Lives and I want it to look the same after traveling in a box for a couple days.  So if I use crinkle ribbon or seam binding, I spray it with hairspray to keep its shape.  And if it is string, I put Collage Medium on my fingers (after the bow has been tied) and run the strings in the glue.  It takes a little finesse but it's worth it.  Plus you can sprinkle a little Mica in the bow and it will stay!  That is how a bow done at my work table, looks the same when Tim is handling it on camera a week later.

The tree ornaments were created using Bubbles and Alloy Alcohol Ink.  Super easy to do...just drop the Bubbles you want to color into a disposable plastic cup.  Sprinkle Alloy Ink over the top and roll them around. To break up the Alloy, I squirted a tiny bit of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol over the top and rolled them around again.  Dump out on a paper plate to finish the drying process.

The key is to use the Isopropyl so that the Alloy does not cover the entire Bubble.  The Bubbles were added to the tree with hot glue.  I like to put the hot glue in the tree then push the Bubble into it.

For the snowballs, I scooped up some Grit-Paste Snowfall between two fingers and rolled the Bubble between my fingers till coated, then set them aside to dry. I love how icy it appears!!

A little white paint on two Tiny Clips makes them fit right in with this snowy scene. Just let them dry before adding them to the word strip.  Foam squares cut in half were added to the back to adhere it to the large frame.

The stars from the baseboard pack come in white and red.  I painted 3 of them silver, then added glitter from the Seasonal Sparkle Set.  Just perfect for the background!!

I hope you like this project as much as I do!  Collage Tiles make is look so much harder to create than it was!  I hope you will try them!

Now carry on,

paula

Every Adventure is Worthwhile

Hello friends,

I am sharing a fun fall make today that I created using a few pieces of paper and ink.  Very simple elements combined can create a something so much more!  Follow along and I'll show you how I did it (you might be surprised!)

The cover was actually done LAST - something I do often because I like the book to inform me of it's look and purpose before I figure out what the cover should look like. 

Here I used a Stencil Card sprayed with Villainous Potion Oxide Ink for a bold background.  I then used the Tonic Deckle Trimmer to cut a piece of gold metallic cardstock. The cardstock edges were sanded and inked to create a dark border.

Next, I added the sprayed Stencil Card to the metallic paper, then stitched around the card on three sides with light blue thread.  You will see that the book itself is sprayed with ink so this metallic cover is really a nod to the gold embossing on the inside of the book and completely covers the sprayed surface of the paper.

In this angle you can see that the metallic paper is glued to the front of the zig zag book. 

The leaf stamp was embossed with Villainous Potion Embossing Glaze.

The velvet band simply slips on and off the book to keep it secure.

Creating the Book

You will need two sheets of 8 1/2 x 11" Distress Mixed Media paper.

Cut each sheet in half so you get FOUR PIECES 4 1/4 x 11"

Fold and score each sheet at 4 1/4"

Three pieces stay as they are, but one piece needs the 2 1/2" cut off the end.  That is the last piece to be put in place when you assemble the book.

Any background stamp can be used for this portion.  I used the Stampers Anonymous Ornate stamp (CMS348) to do the stamping on mine.  

Distress Oxide ink in Villainous Potion + Bundled Sage

No block used

1. Pounce ink over stamp image
2. Spritz ink with water
3. Press onto paper using both first generation and second generation stamping.
4. Dry with heat tool, then repeat.

Once dry, use the Tonic Deckle Edge Trimmer to cut the 2 1/2 end of the paper.  Using the Deckle Trimmer or any other decorative edge will shave an 1/8" off the paper (and that is okay!).   The deckle cut edge is the edge of the pocket you will create in the next steps.

Note: Do not cut the piece that is only two squares of the paper, it is not necessary.

To combine the paper strips and create a pocket between the papers, you must overlap the 2 1/2" end of the first strip with the left end (4 1/4") of another strip.

You will repeat this 3 times to create 3 pockets.

The last piece added is the one that is just two 4 1/4" squares since no other pocket is needed.

You can keep the book as is or go one step further, which I did.

I decided I wanted a deeper color for the background so I spritzed it with Peeled Paint Spray Stain.  Once I did that I went back and stamped a few times with the Ornate stamp in just Villainous Potion for a bolder look.  I think I needed to do this to hold up to the visual weight of the dark cards I created next.

Set book aside to create the cards.

This is a process of steps.  Read through all the steps before starting.  

I created 5 cards so I could pick the best 4 of the group to use in the book.

I cut as many 3 1/2 x 3 3/4" cards as you wish to create from Distress Mixed Media cardstock.

I created each card, start to finish, before moving on to the next card.

Spray card with Fossilized Amber Distress Spray Stain.  Dry with heat tool.

Lay an idea-ology Stencil Card over the top of the sprayed card and spray with Villainous Potion Oxide Spray.  Dry with a heat tool.

Use a damp wet wipe (with a VERY light touch) to wipe over the card to re-activate the Oxide ink.  I went across the card and then down the card to purposefully create directional lines.  Again, I dried it with a heat tool.

Next, I spritzed Distress Ink in Salvaged Patina and a bit of Fossilized Amber.  I tested the spray on another piece of paper to see how the ink came out of the bottle before spritzing the card.  I wanted it to dribble out!

I dried it, spritzed it with a bit of water and patted it dry again.  This is not an exact science so having more cards than I needed gave a little peace of mind.

I reused the same stencil card over and over to create my cards.  I liked all but the the top right as it got too dark, so that one went into the trash, keeping the 4 cards I was happy with.

The card I have shown in the step-outs is on the bottom left.

Don't forget to round the corners of the cards.  This can be done before or after embossing.

The next step is to emboss the cards.

Nature's Wonder stamp (CMS343) + gold embossing powder = magic over the dark cards!

I do like to use the little Embossing Powder Magic Bag over the paper before embossing to control the powder bits getting away from me.

Once embossed, I stamped the sentiments and sewed them to the cards with light blue thread leaving the threads long.

I also added four THIN foam squares to the back of each card t adhere to the book when I am ready.

I created a second set of cards (same exact size as the first) - these were made to go into the pockets.

This time I used the same leaf stamps but in a different way.

1. Stamp each card with a text stamp using Hickory Smoke Archival Ink.
2. Pounce Distress Oxide Ink on craft mat, spritz with water.  Press edges of the cards into the ink and dry with heat tool, patting off the excess Oxide ink with a paper towel. Dry with a heat tool.
3. Press multiple Oxide Ink pads directly onto the stamp.  Spritz with water and stamp card.  If you have never tried this before, test stamping on a scrap paper before stamping the cards - I also do this to test color combinations since some colors will overwhelm others.  Dry with heat tool.
4. Press Salvaged Patina Oxide Ink onto craft mat. Add a drop of water to the ink.  Pick up with a small paint brush and flick over the surface of the cards.  Dry with heat tool.
5. Add words from the Clipping Sticker Book.
6. Use the same paint brush and the leftover Salvage Patina Oxide ink to watercolor under or around the Clippings Stickers.

Here are photos of the book pages, starting with what would be the second square of the first strip (right before the pocket comes into play.

The photobooth photos were lightly sanded and colored with Oxide Inks using a small paint brush.

Seriously one of my favorites - I could have made the cards over and over!  I love the addition of Salvaged Patina to the mix.  That bit of turquoise just makes the Villainous Potion pop!  
now carry on,
paula