ACTION WOBBLE ATC'S

This technique is one that really needs to be seen in the flesh to appreciate how they move.  You can buy action wobbles but they are expensive and difficult to get in Australia, so I made my own.  Simply use craft wire (I used 26 gauge silver craft wire), cut about 30cm (or 12") and wrap it around a pencil.  Then cut this into little sections so they look like mini springs, about 4 coils in total.  Punch out two small circles using a hole punch, use double-sided tape (or sticky tape) to attach one of these circles to each end of the spring, then attach that to your image.  Remember to attach the spring central on your stamped image so it balances ok and make sure your stamped image is wide enough to hide the wobble.  Simple!  I like how they look on a white background with some stamping as the cut edges of the stamped image blends really well against the white background, as per "Memory" below.... though the backgrounds work well too.  😃

"Memory"...

"Lazy"...

"Esc"...

"Caged"...

"Bacteria"...

(I used some of the new Pearl Alcohol Inks on the 

background on this one and it's just on plain 

Neenah cardstock, not gloss or Yupo.  Love

the shimmer you can get with these!)

FAUX SHAKER #2

This is another version of Faux Shaker technique.  Last fortnight we framed an image, then stuck down the little embellishments that would be normally floating loose in a normal shaker style technique.  The biggest problem with the normal shaker technique is that you need to make sure that the little box that you create out of the foam sides is completely sealed all around so you don't lose your little embellishments.  The other issue I've found with that particular technique is the little bits can get stuck to the excess sticky on all 4 sides inside the little box.  

This technique still looks and acts like a shaker style, but without the hassle.  I used cellophane bags to encase an image.  You don't need to have the little bags exactly the same size as your image, as all you need to do is to place the image down on a piece of cellophane, wrap and tape 3 sides, then pour in your embellishments at the top, then fold and wrap the top piece.  Attach it to your background with some foam tape and you're good to go.  A tip, don't wrap the cellophane too tight as you want the bits to be able to move around freely (microbeads are absolutely the best for this technique!) and if you use other things like sequins, make sure they are flat shapes.

"Snap"...

"Stay weird"...

"Darkness"...

"Whimsy"...

"Cranky"...

"Curious"...

This is a final one from last fortnight, Faux Shaker #1, where we glued down the little embellishments so it looks like a shaker, but it's not.

"Ecstasy"...

FAUX SHAKER TECHNIQUE

Shaker cards are notoriously fiddly, so this is a cheats version that very simple to do.  You're still using a frame (but it has no acetate), and you're still using little embellishments like sequins (but they're not loose).  As long as your frame is raised by using foam tape, your little sequins or the like are mainly glued down the bottom (with just a few scattered up higher) you have a very simple shaker technique that can be applied to atc's or just as easily to cards.  As you can see from the 2nd example, "Shimmering", the frame doesn't even need to go right to the edges and you can have your main focal piece peeking out from under it as this one is.

"Under water"...

(The background seaweed is a die-cut from JAC double-sided

paper and then foil pressed on.  The fishing line is Liquid Pearls in silver.)

"Shimmering"...

(The frame for this one has several coats of silver, black and 

a little pink embossing powder to give it a weathered look.)

"Somber"...

(Very simple style, and yes, somber can be

spelt either as somber or sombre... trust

me, it didn't look right to me either!)

"Before"...

 "Gene Pool"...

(The background is Soot Technique over a Distress Oxide

coloured gloss card.  The frame is a chipboard frame, coloured

with a black permanent marker, then dabbed into Tumbled

Glass Distress Oxide Ink that has been mixed 

with a little water, on a craft sheet.)

Finally, another one from last week's Messy Watercolour class.

"Dinner is Poured"...