Hello there

I like to use my Adobe Photoshop ( 7.0) to add WordArt onto my photos ! It’s an easy way of adding an extra touch to both your photo and Lo !

You can do it by writing your own text or by downloading free ones that’s been saved as a .png file.

There are many websites offering free downloads and the one I like to visit regularly is

http://www.digiscrapdepot.com/freebies/wordart/1014.aspx

Now I’m going to show you how you can do this using a saved .png file.

This is another way of doing WordArt without using a saved .png.file

(This should work in any Photo Editing Program.)

Here are some examples what you can do

Have fun !!!!

This technique is about adding interest and dimension to your patterned paper for your layouts….
Items you will need:
1 Spray Bottle

1 craft mat and a hair drier.
I have found the best paper to use is something a bit thicker and double sided like Prima Patterned Paper (not the stitchables though)
or Fancy Pants, Creative Imaginations… ones like that.
There are lots of things you can do to your layout using water.
For the purpose of this tutorial though, i am just going to concentrate on what i have done for this layout…
(Also, recognition must be given to Jill Gerathy Groves who i learnt this technique from recently)
Now, for this layout, i have cut a circle from patterned paper, ink if you want to first then sprayed it all over both sides with water

scrunched it up nice and tight

opened it up and flattened it out slightly, but not too much and layed it on my mat

Then i have dried it with a hair dryer.

Notice how all the edges are now naturally frayed and there are little rips and tears in it everywhere…
Because its so lumpy and bumpy, its really hard to glue into place, so i stitched it.

Now i have added extra little pieces around the layout
So i have followed the same principal, cutting out the shape, spraying and scrunching up.

Then sewed these into place.
Another thing you can do though using the hair dryer, is gathering the paper like fabric.
As you blow dry the paper, gather it up with your fingers


Then because you have blow dried it into place, it will stay that way

Then sew into place

Here is the complete layout again:

Other things you can do is when making layered flower and leaves.
Ink first, then wet and scrunch your circles that your going to use as layers.
Blow dry, and then layer them with 3d foam tape.
Also your leaves, ink, wet, scrunch and blow dry and you will get life like leaves…
Here is a layout i did using this principal.

So there you are… Have fun with it…

What a nice thing to receive in the mail box, a personalised envelope, all with INKS !

What you need:

Inks of your choice (here i have used Adirondacks Butterscotch for light shade and Adirondacks Ginger for a darker shade)

C6 envelope

Stamps of your choice

Stipple brushes (one for each colour)

Sponge block (one for each colour as well, here, used only one for the butterscotch)

A ripped piece of paper to be the mask

Method:

Place your ripped piece of paper in center of envelope (where the address will be written), use a stipple brush and tap directly into the ink pad, then dab the first few strokes on a spare paper, ink all around the ripped paper in a circle motion so that it will not show the brush strokes and will blend nicely.

Remove the ripped piece of paper.

Use now your sponge block, dab directly into the ink pad and dab ink lightly from outer edge of envelope going into inside of envelope (I like to have the outer edges darker)

Now… you’re ready to decorate/personalise your envelope with a theme if you wish etc…  i used a dots stamp to fill the background,

Stamp as desired

and here is your lovely finished, personalized envelope

Give it a try.

Brigitte G.