Painted Tote by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

Many years ago I made and sold dozens of appliquéd denim totes with straps made from off-white cotton webbing. I bought it wholesale by the roll.

You know where this is going...I ended up with a lot of extra webbing so I decided that one good way to use a LOT of it would be to sew it side by side to create sturdy, thick fabric. I made two totes this way and I’ve used them for at least 20 years. But after a while they started to look sad and discolored so, you know where this is going...I got out the acrylic paints (bottles for brushing on, dimensional with fine tip for final embellishment).

I tucked the straps inside and turned the tote upside down on a trashcan so I could rotate it and paint all sides and the bottom all at once.

The first round of paint is a mix of dark blue, medium blue, yellow, teal and black.

The yellow started to look garish, the surface seemed too bumpy to stencil, so I did another round with copper metallic paint, and after that dried I got busy adding graffiti-like marks on one side with dimensional paint in purple and dark blue.

Am I done? For now, yes. But I think at some point I’m going to need to add some black shapes or some pompoms or...SOMETHING, though I don’t yet know what.

YOUR TURN
Buy or make a heavy canvas tote. If you start from scratch and like the look of vertical lines, stitch a few pieces of cotton webbing or seam binding to the canvas or machine-stitch vertical lines using satin or zigzag stitch.

Using three or more acrylic paints and a wide brush cover the tote, but not the straps, with vertical strokes. Change the look with metallic paint or another layer of acrylics.

Option: Using dimensional paint (as shown) add texture with graffiti-like scribbles and doodles. Instead of random marks, write a quote, a date or your name, keeping the effect scribbly and complicated!

Allow the tote to get stiff (as shown) by using paint straight out of the jar. Alternatively, use fabric medium mixed with the paint for a softer bag.

Option: Glue or sew on charms, pompoms, or other embellishments.

Mixed Media Tag & Pocket by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

I’ve continued to play with pockets and tags. This time I began with a sheet of black background paper printed with text that I altered with brushed-on paint (purple and gold acrylic) some stenciling done in gold. A good alternative would be pages from a damaged book glued to lightweight cardstock for durability. 

The collage elements on the envelope and tag include polka dot Washi tape and dot-embossed cardstock altered with paint. The pocket lining, added for contrast, is black cardstock brushed with strokes of gold paint. 

All edges of the pocket and tag were dredged with copper paint. 

YOUR TURN

• Change the dimensions to fit into your art journal or Traveler’s Notebook. (Shown: 5” x 7” - alas, too wide for my TN!) 
• Start with a commercial tag and library pocket instead of making your own.
• Switch the color palette to suit your taste.
• Use several stencils instead of just one.
• In addition to the dot-embossed cardstock incorporate stamps and embossing powder for additional texture!

SUPPLIES

• Art Deco Summit 9x12 Stencil by Nathalie Kalbach (StencilGirl Products)
• Acrylic paint in  Purple, Gold, Copper
• Brush
• Cardstock 
• Printed papers
• Yarn and other fibers
• Washi tape
• Pocket die (shown: AccuCut)

What’s It All About? A Short & SWEET Tutorial by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

As we approach Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d offer a calorie-free tutorial, short and SWEET...

As I’ve asked in the title, “What’s it all about?” The answer: It’s about finding tools and supplies in unexpected places.

Can you tell what the textured paper was before I tore it to reveal the layers? Are you already envisioning things to do with it if it were in YOUR hands? Can you guess what the little plastic piece used to be and what I plan on doing with it?

I’ve already given one big hint - the word “sweet”!

The paper protected a layer of Godiva chocolates in its previous incarnation. I’m going to use it as the starting point for a Magic Stamp block and will incorporate it into some kind of collage. The plastic protected the top of a deodorant stick and I’m going to use it to print fine-line ovals!

Tune in for my next tutorial with projects featuring these items, and MORE...

Meanwhile, hunt around your home and see what mark-making tools you can find and look for interesting papers that you up-cycle!

Have a Heart: Valentine Cards by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

I’ve been saving the leftovers from some of the sheets of Forever stamps because the borders are so colorful and make such interesting frames. I put three of them to use for some Valentines, shown above.

The other ingredients: Patterned and textured papers and cardstock, die cut hearts.

Below, the stamp sheets without the hearts.

YOUR TURN
Use the photos as inspiration.
Create cards with the same look and layouts or head in your own direction!

SUPPLIES

• Leftovers from sheets of self-adhesive postage stamps
•  (Shown: Bill Blass, John Lennon, Lunar Landing)
• Solid and patterned paper and cardstock
• Adhesives of choice
• Heart-shape dies or punches

Oddball White Rabbit by Stamping Bella

GOOD MORNING Friends! I’m back today with a new video featuring one of the cards from my recent class at The Queen’s Ink. The Oddball Alice in Wonderland Collection from Stamping Bella is full of fun images and this one is my favorites.

So sit back, get comfortable and let’s roll the video!

In case you missed it in the video, I also included a color map. The color scheme is pretty simple. Since this was a class card, I try to keep the number of markers to a minimum.

For the background, I stenciled the clock in the corner with the Clockwork Layering Stencil by Tim Holtz using Distress Oxides in Fossilized Amber and Candied Apple. Then I inked a corner of one of Wendy Vecchi’s stamps (Screen) with Delicata Inks in Golden Glitz and Rose Gold and randomly stamped the background. I stamped the sentiment multiple times with Ranger Archival Ink and added a few gears as embellishments.

That’s it for today! See you soon!

Supplies

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110#; Hammermill Copier Digital Cover, 100#
Stamps: Oddball White Rabbit (Alice in Wonderland Collection) by Stamping Bella; Screen by Stampers Anonymous – Wendy Vecchi
Inks: Amalgam Ink in Obsidian by Gina K. Designs; Archival Ink in Jet Black by Ranger; Delicata in Golden Glitz and Rose Gold by Tsukineko; Distress Oxide Inks in Fossilized Amber and Candied Apple by Ranger – Tim Holtz
Dies: Zig Zag Rectangle Stackables by Lawn Fawn
Stencil: Clockwork Layering Stencil by Stampers Anonymous – Tim Holtz
Copics: C1, C3, C5 (fur); Y11, Y21, YR23, YR24 (collar); B91, B93, B95, B97 (jacket); Y11, Y21, YR23, YR24, BV10 (clock); R46 (hearts); E000, E01, E11 (inside ears)