a new year's gift...

It's been a while! I've had a wonderful holiday with my family, and I'm excited to be back in my art studio and getting back to blogging!

So, who's ready for 2012? (wow, really??? YIKES!) 

As my gift to you, I wanted to share not just one technique today, but several!  How's that for fun?

ewww... I just realized there is something sticky on my computer screen... yuck! 

(Sorry, I'm getting sidetracked..)

Ok, back to the creativenesses...

First up, we have tissue ribbon... 

For those of you who haven't been around here long enough, I LOVE altering white things with CI paints. It's SO much easier than storing a billion colors of everything just to realize that you still don't have the right color!  Another thing about me is that I love using everyday things that are both inexpensive and easy to find. So let's start today with that tissue paper you may have laying around after wrapping those Christmas gifts. 

 Step 1: Cut tissue paper into strips (it is easies to just leave it folded like it comes in the package and cut through all the layers. They are thin, so you shouldn't have a problem.)  You can use scissors, decorative edged scissors, or a paper trimmer. The width is up to you and what you want to use it for. I think I cut mine at 1-1.5 inches.

 Step 2: Tape your strip down to a non-stick craft sheet. 

(I promise this makes it SO much easier!)

 Step 3: Paint your tissue strip with your choice of Creative Inspirations Paint.  The tissue does get soft when wet, so be careful so it doesn't rip. 

Step 4: If you want, you can stamp your tissue strip too. I like using small background textures for this, but be creative!

Once it is completely dry (including the ink) carefully remove it from the craft sheet. The tape won't come off of the tissue, so you will need to tear or cut it off, so if you are doing a specific length, keep that in mind.

Now that you have this fabulous tissue strip, what can you do with it? Well, you can use it as a border strip, you can pleat it, you can do all sorts of stuff with it... Here's a couple of my favorite ways...

First up, the ruffled rosette...

Step 1: Score a 1x12 inch strip of paper evert 1/4 inch.  Scoreboards really help with this, but you can do it without.  You can also buy dies that cut the strip and score it for you... 

 Step 2: Run a thin strip of dry adhesive along one edge of you paper, and attach your tissue strip, gathering slightly as you go.

 Step 3: Fan fold your strip.

 Step 4: glue ends together so you have a circle.

Step 5: put a circle of hot glue on your craft mat, and force your ring to gather and lay flat on the glue with the paper on the inside. Once cool, you can add brad or other decorative element to the center to cover the hole and glue. 

Another favorite way to use the tissue strips is by making flowers with them....

 Step 1: Gather the first little bit of the strip along one edge, and pinch. 

 Step 2: Continue gathering the edge into a circle. Keep the center pinched tight.  Continue gathering and turning until the flower is as full as you like... 

(I promise the hardest part is just getting it going. Once you've got it going, it's quick easy!)

 Step 3: Staple the center. I like using Tim Holtz tiny attacher because the staple is... well, tiny. 

 Step 4: Fluff the layers and add some ink around the edges for definition. 

Step 5: Add a center to cover the staple.

Well, if you're still with me, you are awesome! I know this is a long post, but I have one more technique to share... This one starring the new Deliquesce embossing powders we carry here at CI.

 Step 1: Cover paper with plastic canvas (or any other stencil type thing you wish) and use a palette knife to spread on some modeling paste (also known as texture paste depending on the brand). You can carefully make sure each square is filled perfectly, or you can just randomly smear some paste on and let it be imperfect. 

 Step 2: Carefully remove your plastic canvas. Don't let it slide, you want it to lift straight off. You may need to persuade it a bit though. 

 Step 3: Cover it completely with Deliquesce powder. I'm using the Gold Crystals (which may well be my favorite one!)

Be sure to do this over a scratch paper so you can pour the excess back in the jar for future use. 

 Step 4: Shake off the excess, and heat. The heat will not only melt the powder, it will cause the paste to bubble. This give you FABULOUS texture!!!  

Isn't that a fun background???

Someone even asked me if I had glued on a bunch of tiny gems... LOL! I may be crazy enough to do that, but this is SO much simpler! =)

Happy new year every one! May it be one full of happiness and wonder!

Enjoy!

~Kassi