TUTORIAL on Pointillism...by CAT!

This is a plate that I decorated using a digi image from S2G. I'm going to show you how I did it!

You will need: a clear glass plate, a smaller plate, plain white copy paper, tape, rubbing alcohol, paper towels, Vitrea 160 Frosted (transparent) glass paint markers by Pebeo, and a black Sharpie (not pictured). The markers are available at Michael's.

Wash and dry the plate. Clean it again with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. Place it on a cutting mat and mark the center of the plate using the black Sharpie pen.

 Next, choose a simple image that does not have too many fine details or lines that are too close together. Print the image on plain copy paper in a size appropriate for  your plate. This one is "Pansy", and it is available in the S2G Shop.

Place the plate, upside down over the digital image. I actually taped the plate to the paper to keep the image from moving. Once the plate is centered over the image, dip the end of a paper towel in alcohol, and remove the dot used to mark the center of the plate.

 I chose Mint Green, Gitone Blue, and Citron lemon markers for this project. Using the digital lines as a guide, make dots along the outline of the image. All painting is done on the back side of the plate.

On the center of the flower, I traced over the lines. Drawing dots looked too cluttered there. If you make a mistake all you have to do is dip the end of a paper towel in rubbing alcohol, and you can "erase" your mistake. 

 

Now for the border! I placed a smaller plate on a piece of copy paper, and taped it down. Then I removed the glass plate from the digi paper, placed it (upside down) on top of the smaller plate, and taped it to the paper.

Use the smaller plate as a guide to make clusters of decorative dots around the edge of the plate.

*****

Allow the plate to dry for 24 hours. Set the plate on a cookie sheet (painted side up) and place in a cold oven. Preheat to 170 degrees, and then bake for 35 minutes. Allow the oven to cool for at least an hour after baking before opening the door. I cracked the oven open a few inches and allowed the plate an additional 20 minutes to cool before removing it.

 

You now have a beautiful hand decorated plate that is dishwasher safe! 

Add a matching card, and you have the perfect gift: handmade and from the heart!

TUTORIAL...Seed Packets

TUTORIAL by GINA LINDSAY
Happy Sunday afternoon! I have had a lot of fun making these little seed packets, and have decided that they are going to be in some Easter baskets this year. After I posted the last one that I did, I got several emails and comments asking for the template or directions. It wasn't made from a template, I just measured my seed packets and then came up with my own template. I have put together something of a photo tutorial. My first attempt so please be kind!

Here is the photo of all the supplies I used: my image, Copic markers, scissors, DP, card stock, adhesive and Scor Pal. You will also need a corner rounder which I forgot to add here.
The first thing you will need is your main piece of card stock which should measure 9 1/2" x 4". With the long side against the top of the Scor-Pal, score at 4" and then again at 4 1/4 ".
Flip it the other way and score all the way down the long edge on both sides at 1/4 ".
Fold in, along the score lines you have just made. and then fold where you made the first score lines. You will then take your scissors and snip the corners that are formed when you close the box. Add adhesive to your outer seam, tuck in the little tabs and close your box, pressing to make sure the sides are closed.
Your box should now look like this.
See the top part that is above the box area? You will take your scissors and cut along the score line so that you don't have the fold up part. You will also use the corner rounder on the top corners.
At this point, you should have a box that looks like this.
All that is left to do is decorate the front of your box. I used the Shirley's 2 Girls image Good Garden and then colored it with Copic markers. The DP is from the Basic Grey Origins line and my card stock is some kraft paper from my stash. I am so loving that Origins paper right now! With the measurements that I used, you can add 3 or 4 packs of seeds per packet. If you used bulkier seeds, like sunflowers or something like that you would probably want to only do 2 packs. I am thinking about making some of these and then adding a couple of gardening tools and then packaging them in a flower pot as a "Welcome Spring" gift.
I hope you have found this helpful! If I confused you or if you have any questions, just let me know!

TutoTrial: Digital Image on a Plate

TutoTrial: Digital Image on a Plate

TUTORIAL BY CAT DARLING!!!

This is a plate that I decorated for S2G's April in Paris Blog Hop. I had so many comments on this plate! Today I'm going to show you how to make your very own.

Here's what you'll need: a clear glass plate, rubbing alcohol, clear nail polish, paper towels, a craft stick, pencil, plain white copy paper, a nickel, markers (I used Copics and Bic.), Vitrea Frosted markers ( I used Orange and Mint.), and one package Grafix Rub-Onz Paper.

Wash the glass plate with soap and water. Rinse and dry. Wipe the plate with rubbing alcohol and a paper towel. Dry and set aside. Cut a section of white copy paper and trace around a nickel. Draw a line through the center of the circle.

Place a dot to the left of the circle to use as a guide for placement of the scallops. Turn the plate face down. Position the circle near the edge of the plate and trace that portion of the plate's rim.

Now you have a paper guide that you can move around the plate and be able to make all of the scallops the same size at an equal distance apart. As you paint around the plate, and see that you are near the end, you can adjust the distance closer or farther apart. If you make a mistake, the paint can be removed with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.

After your scallops are complete, go back and draw a small dot at each end.

Now draw a dot in the center of each scallop and in between each one. Allow to dry for 24 hours. Place the plate on a cookie sheet and place in a cold oven. Preheat to 170 degrees, and then bake for 35 minutes. Allow the oven to cool for at least an hour after baking before opening the door. I cracked the oven open a few inches and allowed the plate an additional 20 minutes to cool before removing it.

When completely cool, wipe the bottom center of the plate with a paper towel slightly moistened with alcohol. Set aside.

Choose your digital image and drop into a Word Program. I used S2G's "Tres Francais". Use the ruler guide at the top to choose an approximate size that will fit on your plate. Place it in the corner of the screen to conserve paper when printing.

Print the image out on copy paper and measure it against the plate. Adjust the size if needed. When the digital image is the correct size, you are ready to print it on the Grafix paper. The package contains two types of paper: Transfer Film- one side matte or frosted, one side shiny, and Adhesive Film- one side glossy and one side white liner.

Print your image on the Transfer Film; matte side. Now you are ready to color your image. Color small sections with the Copic blender and while still wet apply color on top. Don't press too hard or go over the image too many times, or your paper will tear.
How do I know that? LOL

Cut a piece of the Grafix Adhesive Film that is slightly smaller than the Transfer Film that your image was printed on.

Slowly peel the Adhesive Film away from the white liner. Discard liner.

Carefully place film, sticky side down, on top of the image. Holding the film in one hand, I start at the bottom and carefully smooth the film, working my way to the top.

Rub the craft stick in a circular motion over the digital image, forcing out any air bubbles, and ensuring that the film sticks well to the image.

Turn the craft stick on its side,  and press firmly sliding to the outer edges. Work from the center outwards, and you should be able to remove any remaining air bubbles.

Cut the digital image out leaving a very small border around the outer edges.

When cut out, turn the craft stick on its side again, and carefully rub over the image again.

Turn the plate face down, and position the images where they look best.

Remove the clear film from the images. Discard film.

Carefully place images on back side of plate, sticky side down. The white backing is still attached. Rub again in a circular motion securing the image to the plate. As you rub, the white backing will begin to loosen.

When decal is firmly attached, the white backing will seperate and can then be discarded. Do not rush this process. If it won't lift off easily, it needs more rubbing. 

One last chance, if the digi needs touching up, now is the time!

Give the digi two coats of clear nail polish. Try not to paint too far out side the edges of the image.

Now you have a gorgeous plate that you made yourself! When it's finished, don't look for flaws. Chances are no one will notice any unless you point them out. 

Besides, it's handmade. That's part of its beauty