Twinchies eBrush Challenge

Hi everyone I don't know about you but I'm getting really ready for Spring. Yesterday it snowed but luckily it did not stick. Also I'm ready to challenge myself more although I think in the process my hair is turning gray. At least I'm not pulling it out. ;-) As I think I mentioned before one of my goals for this year is to try new things and to get outside of my comfort zone. Wow! I thought working in miniature on altered playing cards was a challenge. Try putting together a creation on a two by two inch base, When I saw on the eBrush facebook group this challenge I just knew I would have to see what I could do. If you have an eBrush and are on facebook you are more than welcome to join in the challenge here:.https://www.facebook.com/groups/1494321010779881/

Another facebook group I'm involved in is Everyday Moodling 50 Challenges in 2015. The challenge this week is to use vellum. You may want to check out the Everyday Moodling blog as it is a free class.  On the blog the inspiration projects are shown as well as if you sign up for the newsletter you will receive a link to the video showing how the projects were done. O.K. enough yapping and on to the unveiling of my first every Twinchie.

 First off I created the background for my Twinchie. I now have extra to use for other things.:-) This is what I call faux texture vellum. I've never seen this done before but that doesn't mean that someone has not already done it. I decided to experiment and to see if school gel glue could be colored with my eBrush.

I started out by painting gel glue on wax paper and then while still wet used my eBrush with Spectrum Noir markers to color it. (If you don't have an eBrush color mists will work or you can color the glue before painting it on.). While the glue was still wet I adhered a paper towel I had separated so it was single ply. You can also use facial tissue, napkins, etc. for this technique. On my second piece I used white glue, glitter and torn facial tissue. I'm sure that will show up in another project.

 Next was to create my flower. Since the other challenge is to use Vellum I took my pastel vellum and used a Sizzix flower die to cut four of the smaller flowers. I then used the ebrush to color it. Next step was to see if Porcelain-Itz-It. by Aleene's would work. I don't know if this product is still available because I bought it a couple of years ago at a thrift store and never used it. The vellum did curl and I had to manually uncurl it while still wet as it wanted to curl into itself. and hold it down on my parchment paper for a few seconds.  It caused the color to blend from the Sprectrum Noir marker but in this case that was all right. I only did one coat but could have done more. After it was dry I clipped the petals separating them and cupped each flower in my hand shaping them. Then I put glue in the center of each flower to assemble my flower. Once the flower was assembled I used a darker color of marker with the eBrush and held it from a distance to get a light mist and to edge the petals some. Then the finishing touch was to take the same dark marker and eBrush an adhesive pearl.  I love the variations of colors I got on the pearl.

 I was going to use  as a decorative border what I ended up using as a stem. A  QuickKutz die which a dear friend gave me was used for that. Although the paper was originally a strip I was playing with using dye ink and water I went ahead and eBrushed that also with a Spectrum Noir marker.

Next step in this creation was to create my butterfly. Using a Studio G clear stamp and Rangers Archival ink I stamped my butterfly on Japanese Calligraphy Paper. When I bought the paper the description said rice paper but this ended up not really being what I consider rice paper. Being a frugal person I usually use it for making prints with my Gelli Plate. However, I decided to see how it would stamp and if I could do a water technique with it. I stamped two different colors of Memento dye ink onto a vinyl placemat then I took a waterbrush to pick up the ink to use to color the butterfly. I think that I like using dye ink that way almost better than getting out the water colors.

The last part of my Twinchie is my word HOPE. I bought last year at a thrift store a used Brother Labeling machine and although I've used it I have not really played with the different functions. I now have several strips of HOPE labels.  Don't worry they won't go to waste. ;-) I decided that I liked the dot frame one the best. I think I'm going to have to see if I can buy the clear/black tape in bulk. 

There you have it my first ever Twinchie. If you have never made a Twinchie I challenge you to do so. Although at first it may seem intimidating to do so it is actually fun. I'm entering this in the floral category so I can make a Spring one. The challenge ends March 15th midnight ET time so if you have a eBrush come and join in on the fun. Also I challenge you to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Go ahead and get messy doing a faux vellum technique. ;-) Let that inner child out to play. It keeps you young. :-)

I finally got in the mail today some more Tim Holtz Distress inks so I'm off to play. Also some Iridescence paint additive was in with the ink shipment. Can't wait to play with that since if I can add it to regular paint it will save me money. As much as I love the metallic color paints they are more expensive.. My other project is designing a cantilevered cutting file. I'm at the point now to do a test cut.

What type of things have you done with wax paper, paper towels, etc. in your crafting? Do you like to buy commercial papers, embellishments, etc. or make your own?

Wishing you Happy Frugal Crafting till we meet again and "Think Spring"