I adore Toybox’s Monoprinting technique book. It has become my go to book for creating fantasy colored glossy cardstock. I’ve altered their instructions by using thin recycled plastic instead of acetate book report covers. I like to use shrink wrap and scrapbooking packaging, (as long as it can be slightly crinkled in your hand then it is good! ).

First, you need 2-3 different colors of DYE INK, a sheet of glossy cardstock, (I have also tried glossy photo paper but it doesn’t look as nice to me), and any old recycled thin plastic! Lightly ink on your plastic with the lightest color ink first. Fold the plastic in half and have fun crinkling it and using your fingers to tap a little pattern on to it. Open up the plastic and dip your glossy paper glossy side down. You can do this step over and over again by refolding and crinkling the plastic the way you like. Next, I use the darker colored inks and tap around random spots onto the plastic and dip my glossy paper onto it.

Adirondack sprays make a great finishing touch. Also, StazOn Black ink did work for this technique but dries quickly. The last thing I did for my purple colored cards was to rub purple ink onto the card over a dried background. It gives a dimension to the artwork, each one is so unique! I have also tried monoprinting on MATTE Glossy cardstock and I liked lighter colors best, and rubbing the inks into the cardstock as well made a watercolor look instead of a marbled effect. Have fun trying this technique out!

Newly listed on Etsy, my One of a Kind Memory album Kit! In Gorgeous Rainbow colors all to decorate Wizard of Oz style! I have collected anything related to Wizard of Oz and now I have combined some of my collection of collector cards, stickers and fabric, along with the rainbow hued accessoires that is included with this Kit!

Just wanted to post really quick the neat swap items I received from other artists who participated in the May online Swaps. The first swap was the Create Art Share Happiness Swap from Helga of Art Chix Studio. I sent 6 postcards, you can check out my earlier post HERE,and got 5 back from other Chixies! So pretty with all of the pink! Next, is the Collage Stuff-Marie Antoinette ATCs swap. This was a 4 for 4 swap and my ATcs can be seen in my earlier post HERE. I received the gorgeous red roses Marie card from Lisa. Thanks to all of the artists and hosts! I had fun and now I’m trying to come up with artistic displays. Any suggestions for how to display?

Along with the stresses of married life and being a mom to 3 kiddos this week has been filled with artwork. First, I just mailed in my ATCs for Collage Stuff’s Tim Holtz June Swap. I was inspired by artwork that Tim did of his sister, using retro papers and colors and also using Tim’s Adirondack spray ink in Butterscotch to age the artist trading cards. I’m also so excited to be taking Claudine Hellmuth’s online 12 week class from Big Picture Scrapbooking. Today was the first day and already I’m just loving all of her designs and techniques! This afternoon was also a big day at By Design Scrapbooking Store in South Houston, it is their Big 3 year anniversary. We got to stop in and enjoy 30% discount along with the gorgeous Make n’ Take tag for $1 featuring grunge and distressing Ranger style! check out their store every Thursday for something neat.

My ATCs for Collage Stuff

Goodies on sale and special kits from By Design