Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Tuesday Tips and Techniques: Playing with Paper Two

Acrylic Paint Stamp Technique


This technique takes some prep, but once the prep is over you can design LOTS of paper!  The first order of business is to gather all of your supplies.  You will need stamps, stencils, card stock (or other paper - experiment! When Barb and I did this technique in her studio, we also used muslin fabric and it worked great.), craft acrylics, a paint brush, containers for mixing, water, paper towel (or white shop towels - these will act as your stamp pad), and a brayer (I actually used an old rolling pin).


The next step is to select your colors.  You want to choose three or four colors that are relatively analogous (next to each other) on the color wheel.  For example, you don't want to choose red and green or add yellow and purple together because they will become brown.  Of course, if you're looking for lovely browns, this is a good way to go.

You're going to mix your craft acrylics with water in an approximate 50/50 mix.  You want to make it similar to ink consistency.  I used an egg carton to mix my paints, filling each cup about half full.  Sparkly and metallic paints turn out great using this technique.


Next, you need to prep what will be your "stamp pad" by folding your paper towel or shop cloth.


I used a shop cloth.  First, I folded it into quarters...


Accordion-folded it all the way across, and then folded it onto itself into thirds.


Now the fun begins!  This is going to be messy, but it's going to yield lovely results.  Take a paint brush and begin applying your paint mixes to your folded towel.


Make sure the towel is totally saturated with your paint mixtures.  Open your towel in sections and be sure to get paint on every white surface.




You'll end up with a totally saturated, beautiful "stamp pad".  Now it's time to decorate some paper!  Choose your first page and lay your painted towel on top of it.


I've selected one of my Styrofoam stamps to being.  I pushed the stamp into the towel in different positions.  Part of the excitement of this method is that you don't know what you're getting until you lift the towel.



I wonder how these leaves will print?  I'll just lay them out on the paper and use the rolling pin across them.


Wow!  I like the way these turned out.  I like them a lot!


Just tossing your towel unto the paper in a haphazard fashion will put a few interesting lines and creases on the page.


I decided to use this piece of fencing that I brought back from Barb's - Thanks, Barb!




I used some more of my homemade, Styrofoam stamps...

....and then I experimented with a piece of needlepoint plastic I have.  It turned out to be one of my favorite results.



I decided to re-position my towel and add some additional stamping to the mesh background.  I like!



Combining several stamps yields surprising results.


The more you print, the softer the prints become.  I printed eleven pages with this towel, but I could have printed another half dozen.  Don't even think about throwing the towel into the trash! Let it dry and you can use it in another project.  If you've used two-ply paper, you'll be able to pull it apart when it dries.


These papers dry rapidly, so once you've finished with first printing, you can prepare a second towel and apply additional prints over your first.  You'll get some great results.   I used turquoise, light green, and gold mixes for my second printing, and I'm quite pleased with my finished papers.









I hope you'll give this technique a try.  You'll have a lot of fun and you'll be surprised at how many wonderful combinations you come up with as you're experimenting.  The only problem will be what to do with all these wonderful papers once you've finished!  Now what will I do to complete the back of these papers?

CELEBRATE * LOVE * CREATE

17 comments:

  1. i think this is a super way to quickly cover pages.

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    1. It really is, Monica! It's so much fun that it almost goes by TOO quickly!

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  2. Wow Angelia... I LOVE this technique... your pages are beautiful... and the printmaking is fab... really want to give this a go now... thank you for sharing...

    Jenny ♥

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    1. I think you'll have a great time, Jenny. You have to try your handmade roller on it for sure!

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  3. Jenny, above^ sent me here.....Wow From me too. Wonderful print idea!!! Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Hey, Clare! Great to meet you. Glad you found the technique helpful :o)

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  4. Great print ideas !!!! Thanks so much for sharing :0)

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  5. fantastic printing ideas. Very clear tutorial and I can't wait to try this!

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    1. Have fun with it, Jessica! I think you'll really enjoy it.

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  6. Thank you Angelia for visiting and commenting on my little blog!!!!

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  7. All of your backgrounds are beautiful, but I LOVE those leaves! A few years ago, I did leaf prints with my nephews and then cut them out for everyone to write something they were thankful for on Thanksgiving- then we read them at the table....you're making me want to do it again!
    Hugs,
    Stephanie

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    1. That sounds like great fun, Stephanie! What a good idea - I hope you do get to do it again. xoxox

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  8. Fantastic idea! Have to try this. Just one question: what is a shop cloth? Is it something to clean with? It looks like it's fabric, and I can imagine it works better than a paper towel.

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    1. Yes, Denthe! I've never actually bought any, but I'm told they're sold in large boxes at Home Depot and Lowe's. They're a lot like Bounty paper towel on steroids! They're only one ply, but they're thick, and when they dry, they almost feel like fabric. As luck would have it, one of our favorite diners uses these towels as the napkin to wrap the silverware, and then they keep cheapo, cafeteria napkins at the tables. I save my "good" napkin (and snatch Keith's too! LOL) for artwork. :)

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  9. I just discovered your blog and I'm hooked. I LOVE how you recycle things. I want to try this on muslin for quilting, using stamps from Styrofoam and other found objects. So many ideas...

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Faith!!! I'm always excited to welcome a new member on board :D

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! It's a pleasure sharing the creative world of art journaling with you. I love hearing from you, so comments and questions are always welcome.

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