Viva Las VegaStamps!: Dream Big

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Dream Big - ATB Tutorial

Hi my dear Viva Las VegaStamps! Friends.
I am totally a mixed media fan and I always incorporate my mood or something I want to say when I am creating. Dream Big is a mixed media Artist Trading Block (ATB) that should visualize my creative mojo. I am full of ideas (see the big head) and this does not stop! It would be great if the day would have 48hours or if I'd have six arms!
The ATB base is cut with the Silhouette Cameo. Of course you don't need a cutting machine to build a cube. You will find templates online to cut one by hand or you can use a die with your cutting machine.
I used the gorgeous Whimsical Moon Face and Whimsical Beetle Man stamps from Viva Las VegaStamps! as my main images.

Here are the step by step instructions:

1. Prepare your stuff. Cut the blank of the block. Emboss some black cardstock with an embossing folder of your choice. Stamp your main images and the acetate with StazOn Jet Black Ink.

2. Add Turquoise Iridescent Creative Medium with a palette knife and a stencil to the side of the cube that will be the top. You can use any other texture paste. I like the shimmer of the Creative Medium.
Tip: Use some washi tape to mask the border and to adhere the stencil to your working surface.

3. Use the Gold Metallic Creative Medium with a make up sponge and rub it onto your embossed cardstock. You can also use PanPastels metallic colors. Cut out four squares which have the same size as an area of your ATB and adhere them to it's sides.

4. Color your main images. I used my Memento Luxe inks. You can use any other ink. E.g. Distress Inks or watercolor pencils. Add some highlights with the Irresistible Pico Embellishers. I used them for the bugs feet, the white dots in the moon's face and the stars on it's top.

5. Cut the gears from kraft cardstock and give them some gold glamour with the Gold Metallic Creative Medium.

6. Build everything together and add the sentiment. I stamped it with StazOn Jet Black ink and cut it with a banner die. Use a cutter to make two slots to glue in the gears. Adhere the transparency sheet with some Miracle Tape to the back.