Target + DIY = Retail Therapy + Creative Therapy: my happy place equation that makes my trips to get a gallon of milk and new socks for my kids much more exciting!

I found this plain little geometric vase at Target and saw so much potential. I decided to hit YouTube to see if I could find a cool way to paint/die/embellish ceramic. I found several tutorials on using Alcohol Ink on ceramic to “paint” things like mugs, coasters, flowers pots, etc. Find one to suit your comfort level.

Let’s get started…first you coat a section of your vase with Isopropyl Alcohol. BEFORE it dries you need to apply the alcohol inks. I used Tim Holtz’s Adirondak Alcohol Inks by Ranger Ink in Denim/Aqua/Gold. Let gravity help by simply dripping it along the edge of the vase. OR you can apply it in drops/swirls, move your vase around to let the ink do its thing or blow on it to create interesting shapes/blends. Keep applying alcohol and inks until you have covered the surface.

THE BEST PART: you can erase it all and start over again if you hate it! Simply wet a rag/paper towel with alcohol and wipe it all down! I will remind you however that sloppy and messy looks really cool sometimes, so don’t over think it!

Once it is dry then go over it VERY LIGHTLY with your Mod Podge (it might smear a little, so go over it very gently!). Once that first coat dries I suggest another coat just to be sure you have covered the whole space.

Then I applied my cute swallows from Swallow Stamp and Die Set from my Spring Love Collection. I used a waterproof ink pad and embellished them just a tad with a permanent pen.

SIMPLE! Yet SO Unique and So personal! You could do this over and over again but never have the same outcome!

I hope you like this simple little DIY project as much as I do! I can’t wait to do more of them and gets a little bit whacky with color choices and stamp combos! Be sure to share your projects with me!

xoxo, Stephanie
#CreateEveryday

 

Aloha my creative friends!

I wanted to give a run down of my Galactic Owl creation for those that are interested in my supplies and techniques.

I have been doing a whole series of paintings/creations from the first line of stamps I have designed (available for purchase next month) and the owl painting was the first one I created.

---

---

---

I started with a 6″x9″ Mixed Media paper by Strathmore (my new favorite watercolor paper because it is a velum/smooth texture and heavier weight- 140lb.) and I knew I wanted to do a galaxy background, because, DUH! They are amazing! SO I went over to youtube and did a quick search for some “watercolor galaxy painting” tutorials.  I watched this one (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOe5DAnFkI4)

I chose to use the pink from the video because I secretly love pink, and even though I am a feminist and a bit of a tom boy – I am secure in my color choices!

I used india ink for the blackest part, diluted a bit with water to make it more blendable.  And a combo of pink tones from the following brands: M.Graham & Co., Daniel Smith, Grumbacher watercolors. I threw some bits of purple ad even a bit of teal colors in there for some variety.

---

Once the background was adequate and dry I went back to it and spattered some M.Graham & Co titanium white gouache paint for the white stars. I went back through with my Sakura Gelly Roll pens and accentuated some of the stars and then connected them randomly to make some constellation designs.

---

I then took my favorite Spellbinders die set, the standard circles in large (which I also used to make the outermost circle before I painted the galaxy) and made some quick and simple little circle designs around the galaxy with my silver Gelly Roll pen.

---

At this point my background is laid and I am ready to work on my owl.  I used the same basic palate for my owl as I used for my galaxy, which was and can be risky artistically.  Using the same palate can look one dimensional and even lazy, but I think the lack of contrast in this palate works well for the piece.  Since there are obviously no pink/purple owls that can fly near a pink nebulous galaxy, I think it works!

I stamped the owl on the same mixed media Strathmore paper I mentioned above with Ranger, Archival Ink, jet black.  I use this ink and a few other similar brands because it is waterproof.  When looking at stamp pads, be sure to look if the ink is waterproof or not if you choose to use a wet media with the image.

I then began to randomly lay in color and add pops of color here and there with the use of my trusty Gelly Roll pens! After color application I was ready to get my little owl all cut out.

I used the matching die set and the Platinum die cutting machine from Spellbinders by simply placing the metal die over my owl stamped and painted image and rolling it trough the machine.  The sharp edge on the metal die gets pushed through the paper and cuts perfectly around the image!  Simple and beautiful!  I also chose to cut out a simple black outline for the shadowed effect you see in the final product. I think this helps with the color palate similarities.

---

Now that I have my owl finished I find a good place for her on the galactic background and tack her down with some glue dots (or double sided tape, or any type of adhesive that wont warp your paper).

After I have her placed I throw up some gold circles with my Gellies and the standard circle dies.

---

And Voila!!! She is ready for display!