Make a Rainbow Background Card

 Hello everyone! 

Today I have my first GSL DT post for June and this time I have this rainbow-coloured card to share with you.

Introduction

For this card I wanted a bright rainbow background and also to use some of the metallic embellishments I made a few weeks ago in this post. I cut a piece of watercolour paper 6 x 8.5 inches - the width is necessary to accommodate the width of the chevron words.

I used these Mijello Mission Gold watercolour samples to make this rainbow background.

I started with the magenta, then yellow and then used the magenta and yellow together to make orange.  Next I added the green, then the blue samples, and for the violet part of the rainbow, used the same blue and the magenta together. 

Make the card base

To make the card base, a piece of card measuring 12 x 8.5 inches is needed.  I do have 12 x 12 inch white card but since this card was so colourful, I wanted to use yellow card which is in the standard 8.5 x 11 inch size.  So the card base had to be made from two pieces, but if you have 12 x 12 inch card, just make a card base as normal.  If you need to make it in from two pieces, here's how:  cut one piece the same size as the card front - 6 x 8.5 inches - and one piece that is 0.25 inch wider - 6.25 x 8.5 inches.

Score the card at the quarter inch mark and then run some white glue down the score mark and glue the front to the back.

Make sure to glue the overlap on the outside as this will hide it when the card front is in place and you won't see it in the inside.

Gold Splatters Card Front

Add some gold metallic ink splatters to the card front and some gold ink around the card edges.

Once everything is dry on the front, add some PVA to the back of the watercolour paper and adhere to the card base.

Adding the Sentiment

Using a pencil, mark the centre of the card to make it easier to line up the chipboard words.

Mark where you want the chipboard words to go, spaced evenly down the card front.

Mark out some pencil lines to help keep the handwriting straight, then in waterproof pen, write the words to go in between the chipboard words to make the overall sentiment.  When the ink is dry, remove all the pencil lines.

Glue the chipboard words in place using PVA glue and the card is finished!

I hope this project inspires you to make your own rainbow card. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Elle
Empire of the Cat

Project Recipe:

Chevron Words
watercolour paper, watercolour paint in rainbow colours, gold acrylic ink, black waterproof pen, card base, gold embossing powder, embossing ink,

Watercolour Painting with Mandala Frame

 Hello everyone!  Today I have my second GSL DT post for March and this time, it's a seed of life painting with metallic elements using these lovely chipboards.  

 

Introduction

The pattern is generally based on what is called the seed of life in what is often referenced in sacred geometry. It consists of seven overlapping circles with the same diameter.  This pattern can be extended indefinitely which is how I have covered the whole page in this example, or if you create one out of nineteen circles it is known as the flower of life.  To make this shape or pattern you will need a compass and a pencil, or something to make circles.  Start by drawing one circle, and then take the point of your compass and place it anywhere on the outside of the circle and draw a second circle.  Now you have two intersecting circles.  Place your compass on the point of intersection and draw another circle.  Keep moving around the original circle in this way until you have six intersecting circles around the original circle.

You could stop here and draw a final circle around the shape to enclose it as shown in the figure below, or continue on until you have covered the page.

If you want to watercolour over the shapes, make sure to keep your pencil lines light so they will not show under the paint.  I plan to draw over my lines with a gold pen so I don't need to worry about that.

Watercolour

It's best to choose your colours in advance so you know what palette you will be working with and can stick to a set number of colours.   Start by painting the petals in the centre.

How you decide to paint this is up to you, but I found it easier to paint all the little petals first, mixing and changing colours as I went, before starting on the hexagonal sections in between.

Take your time and enjoy the experience.

When everything was dry, I outlined all the petals and circles with a gold pen.

Gold Metallic Elements

I wanted to use some metallic elements on my painting and so I pulled out these chipboard pieces - Henna Border D117C x 2 and Mandala Frame 2 C58P.  Note the Mandala Frame has two pieces but I am only using the front piece.

For the heat embossing, I used my favourite gold called Gold Rush, from Wow Embossing Powder.

The henna borders are especially fine and a little fiddly, so if there are any bits not covered in the initial embossing, just repeat the process again.

Final Touches

Glue the mandala frame in the centre of the painting, and then adhere a henna border at the top and bottom of the painting.

 And that's the finished painting ready for framing.  I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, let me know in the comments.

Elle
Empire of the Cat

Project Recipe:

Henna Border D117C x 2 and Mandala Frame 2 C58P
watercolour paper, watercolour paint, gold pen, gold embossing powder, embossing ink, pencil, compass, hairdryer/heatgun

Gold Metallic Embellishments Three Ways

Hi Everyone!

For my next trick I thought I would make some metallic embellishments out of these chipboard pieces:

Introduction

This post is called "Metallic Embellishments Three Ways" for a reason!  To make my metallic embellishments I thought I would show you three options on how to make them:
1.  Gold embossing powder
2.  Gold Leaf
3.  Gold metallic paint
I will go through each method one by one and then at the end compare them side by side for shininess. 

Gold Embossing Method

For this method, you will need a gold metallic embossing powder and embossing ink.

Tap each of the pieces directly onto the embossing ink pad.

Shake the embossing powder onto each of the pieces

Once they are all covered in powder, carefully pick them up using tweezers or similar tool, and use a heat gun to melt the embossing powder.

Gold Metallic Paint Method

For this method you will need a gold acrylic paint and some white gesso.

Give each of the pieces a coat of white gesso and set them aside to dry for a few minutes.  Work on one of the other methods meantime.

Give each piece two coats of gold acrylic paint drying in between layers.

Gold Leaf Method

For this method you will need some gold leaf (real or imitation), gold size fluid or you can also use any kind of glue that dries tacky.  Drying tacky is key as the gold leaf needs something to stick to.

Cover each piece with gold size (or tacky glue) and leave to dry tacky.

Carefully take a sheet of gold leaf and lay it on top of each piece and press down with fingers or with a dry brush.

Brush off the excess gold leaf and collect it for later use.

Work slowly and carefully and it will soon be free of the excess leaf, leaving your piece shiny and ready to use.

Conclusion

So we have three sets of embellishments with a gold metallic finish, but which one is shinier?

Three gold metallic words top to bottom - embossing, gold leaf, gold paint

Three gold metallic birdcages left to right - embossing, gold leaf, gold paint

Three gold metallic stars (x 2 designs) left to right - embossing, gold leaf, gold paint

All metallic embellishments for comparison

So there we are, three sets of gold metallic embellishments using three different methods.  These photos were taken at night but I think it is still clear which one is the most shiny - the gold leaf - but all three options have their benefits and uses, and they all have different costs to consider.  If you want super shiny, try gold leaf; if you want texture try heat embossing; and if you want simple and probably cheapest try gold acrylic paint.  If you don't like gold, try silver, copper or other metallic colours. There are endless options to add some metallic to your embellishments and into your projects!

I managed to take more photos in the daylight, what little there is right now, so here's another look at what was produced - embossed, gold leaf, metallic paint.

Which one is your favourite and why?

Hope you enjoyed this post.  Till next time, 

Elle
Empire of the Cat

Ingredients

Ornamental Birdcages Shape Set D69C
Chevron Words 
Deco Stars D88S

Method 1
Gold Rush embossing powder
Embossing ink

Method 2
Gold Leaf (real is pricey, imitation is cheaper)
Gold size (or glue that dries tacky)

Method 3
Sunset Gold metallic paint
White gesso