Arts and Cats

Techniques: Using Stewart Gill Paints, Crackle Paste, and Crackle Paint. Painting Crackle Paint with Stewart Gill paints. Embossing with glue.

Supply List:

• Pencil
• Ruler
• Paintbrushes
• Scissors
• Rotary cutter
• Palette knife
• Glue-stick
• White glue
• Plain white cardstock
• Light to medium brown cardstock
• Printed napkin
• SB paper in two different prints (one b/w, the other in colour of choice).
• Stewart Gill Byzantia Paints (Pink Purple Blue Green Red Gold)
• Tim Holtz Distressed Ink Pads (Vintage Photo and Tea Dye)
• Golden Crackle Paste
• Tim Holtz Crackle Paint (Brown)
• Small stencil
• Heat gun
• Embossing Powder (Tim Holtz Distressed (Gold)
• Plastic wrap

Using a pencil and ruler, trace out the 2-1/2″ X 3-1/2″ ATC form onto the plain white cardstock.

Using the metal ruler as a guide, cut the ATC form from the cardstock with a rotary cutter.

Cover one side of the ATC with brown cardstock. I actually used hand-dyed cardstock… just paper would be OK, too. The carstock just adds extra stability.

Tear and arrange napkin into the position you like on the ATC. Glue the napkin in place and remove the parts that come off the edges. I picked these napkins up at Target.

Next, we will be using the Stewart Gill Byzantia paints on the black and white paper. The paper I selected for this came from Hobby Lobby.

I like Stewart Gill paints because they are very easy to manipulate and blend. Start with the darker colours and finish with the lighter ones. I used Cardinale, Acanthus, Aegean, Cerisanctum, and Constantine for this piece. A very fine-tipped paint-brush is best for this.

Next, tear out the portion you painted, and arrange it as you like on the ATC, layered with the napkin.

Tack it in place with a dab of the gluestick, then trim the edges.

I use plastic wrap for pouncing. Firstly because it’s cheap and disposable, I don’t have to get up and wash it in the middle of a project like with a paintbrush or dauber. Secondly, I like the texture it leaves. : ) For this part, I used the Tea Dye Distressed Ink pad. Dab a small piece of crumpled plastic in the ink…

And apply to the paper.

Before, and after.

Tear the edges of the paper from the back.

Arrange it on the ATC, and when you have it as you like, glue everything down.

Apply crackle paste to edges of ATC. I used a palette knife for this. A brush works just fine, but again with the having to get up in the middle of the project to wash something… I find a palette knife works better for me. : P

When the crackle paint is dried, start painting it up with the Stewart Gills! : ) I used Aegean, Acanthus, and Constantine for this part.

You can use a heat gun to speed along the drying process.

Maybe you remember my glue embossing tutorial from way back? We’re using that technique here, too. Place stencil in the center of the ATC, and begin applying glue-stick liberally, filling in every nook and cranny. Gently lift the stencil when you are finished, so as not to disturb the glue. If you need to “re-define” the details, you can use a palette knife for that, or a needle.

Garnish with embossing powder, removing excess.

And… hit that puppy with the glue gun.

I like that Tim Holt’s Crackle Paints come with an applicator attached to the inside of the lid… very convenient. Carefully apply crackle paint around the edges of the embossed piece.

While you’re waiting for the crackle paint to dry, you can paint up the glue-embossed image. I used Cerisanctum and Acanthus on mine. I find that letting the crackle paint dry on it’s own produces more desirable results, but if you really don’t want to wait, you can always whip out the heat gun. : )

When it FINALLY finishes drying, guess what? More Stewart Gill paints! : ) I used the Illuminata this time. Gently dab it onto the crackle paint, don’t rub.

When the SG is done drying, use a little bit of the Vintage Photo Distressed Ink to tone down the shine a bit.

And we’re done! : )

Any questions or comments? I’m sure I left something out… : P Feel free to e-mail me at:

paperbouquet_7 [at] yahoo.com

Thanks for checking out my technique article! : )