Ronda Palazzari Designs

Watercolor + Embossing = Bullseye

I had some questions on how i created the card for the Cocoa Daisy blog hop so i thought i would do a little tutorial for you.  The artsy bullseye stamp is one of the ones i created for CD so i admit i am partial to it.  I also wanted to use it in an artsy way to show the beauty of the grunginess.  So let's get started.

Supplies

• Book Paper
• Watercolor Paper
• Clear Embossing Ink
• Clear Embossing Powder
• Bullseye stamp & Acrylic Base
• Tidy Tray (optional)
• Matte Gel
• Watercolors or Watercolor Crayons
• Paintbrush
• Water & Water Bottle Spray (not pictured)
• Heat Gun (not pictured)
• Brayer (not pictured - optional)

I cut down a piece of watercolor paper to the size of a card, approximately 8.5" x 5.5" scored and folded in half.  Rip a piece of old text paper to fit the card.  Adhere it to the front of the card. I use matte gel and a brayer to get the paper pretty flat. I also like to seal the text paper with the matte gel.

Using clear embossing ink and an acrylic stamp, stamp you images.  Threes are always good and i like to stamp off the page as well. 

Sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set.  Here you can barely see the bullseye detail. 

I admit i am totally in love with Caran D'Arche Neocolor ii.  They are water soluable wax pastels.  Love them.  You could also use watercolors.  I color some lines and then using a paint brush add some water to the strokes.

Next i spray the card to get those wonderful drips.  Tip the card up & let it run.  This is another reason why i seal the paper with matte gel, so the water does penetrate the text paper. 

I admit i am impatient so i use a heat gun to set the paints.  I can also use it to push the drips in any direction i want. 

I love that the artsy bullseye is just peeking in the background of my card.  Here i am using some of my favorite colors, aqua, grey, and yellow.  Here are a few more examples using the bullseye stamp.

My friend Denise used the same stamp to create these flowers for her card.  I love how she embossed and then cut out the bullseye to make flowers.

Here's an art journal page i completed last night using white embossing powder.  I wiped some of the clear ink before stamping it to add to the grunginess.

Much Love

Simply Chevron Tutorial

Chevrons are so in right now and I admit i totally love them.  Today i am going to share a quick way to create this beautiful design element with an old tool/fad that you probably already have in your stash.

 

It's time to break out the old photo corner punch.  I have had this punch for more than 8 years now.  i have learned that most tools shouldn't be purged.  Paper may come & go out of style but you can always use your tools.  In fact i am sadly wishing i still had some Creative Memories Hexagon punches right now.  Punch a bunch of corners out of the same paper. I knew i wanted 4 chevron rows and you will need at least 5 to 7 corners.  What's cool about this technique is you can use small scraps to create this look.

 

Make a row of three corners by taking the second corner to the first corner matching up the edges.  Add the third corner to create mountain peeks.  

 

Now you are ready to add the bottom part of the chevron.  Turn the corner upside down and match up the "v" of the corner.  Add the next layer and suddenly you have a chevron.  You can keep adding the next layers until you create a length you want. Easy peasy chevrons!

Have fun creating!

Zipper butterfly Tutorial

A while ago i create a zipper butterfly using Maya Road's zipper trim.  I finally sat down to do a video tutorial showing you how to create your own butterfly zipper.  This little guy could adorn a tag, a mini album, or put a pin on it and attach it to a purse, tote, or headband. 

Supplies you will need:

• Hot Glue Gun
• Maya Road Chipboard Foundation
• Two Trinket Pins
• One 9" Zipper Sea Blue Trim
• Two 7" Pink Zipper trim pieces
• Two 5" Yellow Zipper trim pieces
• Two 4 Green Zipper trim pieces
• Two 3.5" Pink Zipper trim pieces
• Two 4" Yellow Zipper trim pieces

Here's a look at the other butterfly i created a while ago.  This one is sea blue, yellow, grey, and black butterfly on a tag base.  So many colors, so many possibilities.  I cannot wait to see your creations! 

Butterfly Love

My Jumpstart Creativity Video

Find your release.  I did this art journal page for the Creative Jumpstart video i created.  I am going to share with you my video as well.  In the video i chat with you about inspiration, where to find it, how i organize, what my desk looks like, and how i create.  Some of you who already viewed the video asked me to share the list of supplies i used on this page.  Here's a list of those supplies:

• Stencil: The Crafter's Workshop Fragmented Flower
• Stamps: Cocoa Daisy Honeycomb, Cocoa Daisy Grungy Snowflake, Antiquated Collection Misses Apron,
• Stamp Ink: Jenni Bowlin Lemon Drop, Staz-on Black
• Paints: Golden Turquois, Golden Primary Yellow, Academy titanium White, Liqutex Birght aqua Green, Academy Payne's Gray
• Watercolor Crayons: Caran d'Ache Neocolor II
• Pastels: Caran d'Ache Neopastels
• Spray Ink: Maya Mist Pomegranate Pink, Lime Metallic, Green Apple (on smaller white cardstock)
• Pens: Signo Uniball Vision Fine, Signo Uniball White pen, Sharpie White Poster Paint Pen (on smaller white cardstock),
• Medium: Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium, Golden Soft Gel Matte
• Other: punchinella, bubble wrap, old book paper, Martha Stewart Doily, Fortune Cookie

Be Mine Banner

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, i knew i wanted to make a banner for  Lexi's dorm room.  I started this banner with the large square coaster from Maya Road.  On half of the banner i attached misted canvas fabric.  On the other half of the coasters, i used old book paper.  Repetition in design is always good so on the canvas fabric coasters i used large design elements. 

On the book paper coasters, i used the butterflies i created in January for this blog post with a few alterations to those butterflies.  

For the sheer titles, i added Popsicle mist like in this blog post.  Once i finished each coaster, i used the new Maya Road linen burlap ribbon to create those cute pieces that are in between each coaster.  I found that idea on pinterest.  Here are the details photos of each piece.

Hope & Love

Misting with Masks Tutorial

I have a little video for you today using Maya Road Sheers & Chipboard to create masks.  In the video, i will walk you through a couple different projects and techniques.  As you will see, i did the video in December so you might see a holiday card or two.  Keep in mind these techniques work great with any projects you create.  If you haven't checked out the Diluted Maya Mist Tutorial, you might what to check it out first and then catch up with this one!

Above is the layout i recreated in the video along with one of the cards i created.  the layout is a special one i did shortly after my Nina passed away.  She looks so young & cute in that photo.  However do not be fooled by that innocent face.  We have come to realize how much she was in charge of this house hold.  I hope you enjoy the video!

Misted Love

Soar Canvas

This mixed media canvas was created for the Maya Road Design Team area at CHA.  Caroline sends us all blank canvases with the deceptively simple requirements of using a photo of us, have the piece reflect our style, and use Maya Road products on it.

I started this piece with some gesso and an older Maya Road 12 x 12 butterfly sheer.  Can you see all the wonderful textures & butterflies in the background?  Next i layered on some old text paper.  If you watched my Creative Jumpstart video yesterday you might notice some punched text paper that made it onto my layout.  Once those dried, i started adding lots of colors using all Maya Road Mists.  After finishing the background i let the piece sit for a while contemplating my next step.  The tag i did the other day while just playing around with leftover mists.  It struck me after a day or two of sitting on my table that it would look good on this canvas, after that is, i dipped it in some wax.  I wish you all could feel the texture on both the canvas & tag.  I finished off the piece with my photo, a tiny scrap of zipper trim, the bird, & my quote.  Sidenote: If you want some wooden bird inspiration, go check out Lisa's fabulous creations!

In other news, there will be an announcement sometime today.  I promise to follow up with some of my words & thoughts once the news is broken.  I'll be traveling today so the post won't be until later today.

Creative Play

Here's a little step by step i did for the Maya Road blog using chipboard butterflies.  Sometimes i like to just play around with these pieces to see what i can create.  Think of it as creative play to add to your technique repertoire.  Today i am going to walk you through some of my creative play using these chipboard butterflies & mists. 

Start with some chipboard pieces.  Today i am playing with these beautiful butterflies.  Each piece comes with a top & bottom or two chances to play. 

You can always spray mists directly onto the chipboard pieces.  It looks really cool.  Sometimes i like to paint them white first to boldly show the mist color and to get a variance in the mist.  Try it out.

Grab your paint brush & dip into the mists.  Be careful with an open bottle of mist.  More than once i have spilled some on my desk. 

Try adding in a second or third mist onto the piece, layering on top on the first mist.

If you don't like the color, play around some more until you find a color combination you like.  I covered over the Sunflower & Plum Metallic mist with a touch of Fig Magenta.  Love the color combination.  The top of the butterfly is painted with buttermilk cream.

Paint a second chipboard piece.  Time to play with the diluted mist.  This Maya Road video shows you how to dilute the mists.   Spray it directly on the chipboard piece and let the color pool in puddles.  You get this cool variance of mist colors.  Want a deeper color, add a few more sprays.

 

Just take some time to play around with your chipboard pieces & mists to see what you can create. 

2012 Mini Album Simple Frame Picture Tutorial

Yesterday's post was about using this mini album to capture your monthly activities.  Today i would like to explore the idea of using this mini album for other projects like a goal album, a one little word album, or a me album. 

The new year always seems to be a time of reflection and resolutions.  This mini is a great way to visualize those goals into action.  Let's say my goal is health/weight oriented.  Documenting those triumphs and struggles helps me to see where i am in my progress and where i need to adjust.  It also keeps me accountable. I could take pictures of my shoes, my gym bag, my locker, etc.  I could even go the really personal route and take pictures of me & my progress.  Maybe even a specific body part that i want to work on. 

One little word is a similar process to the goal album but can really take on a different plan of action & meaning in your life.  Again documenting your progress helps you visualize your journey throughout the year.  This year i have decided my word is UNLOCK.  it has that rich meaning behind it and i can just feel myself unlocking all kinds of potential, feelings, and expectations in my life.  Why not capture my word through cool lock photos?  I am a bit obsessed with doors anyway. 

Lastly this album could be used solely as a "Me" album.  A place to record whatever your thoughts & feelings might be that month along with self-portraits taken throughout the year.  By breaking it down into a month to month diary, a year long project seems more doable.  I could take self portraits along the way.  It could be all face shots, just a certain part of me each time (I do tend to take a lot of feet shots), or i could change it up a bit each time trying to grow taking self portraits.  

Download Ronda Palazzari_Simple Frame 2012

So here's a another gift for you.  These simple monthly frames for your photos.  They are just shy of 4 x 6 inches to fit on your photos.  They come in black but could easily be changed to any color.  I would love to see your creations with this mini so feel free to leave a link or send me an email. 

2012 Mini Album Collage Picture Tutorial

Yesterday I showed you a tutorial on this cute little mini album.  I wanted to give you some ideas about how to fill this mini with photos & stories. Like i said yesterday, there are many ways to tackle this album.  Today let's talk about the simple month to month idea. 

This mini album could be a quick snapshot of your life throughout this year or a reflection of the past year.  You can use the journaling card in many ways.  In fact you could have multiple journaling cards in one pocket.  Print out a bunch and keep them handy for when an idea or thoughts hit.  It is easier to write as you go rather than trying to remember everything at the end of the month. 

• jot down thoughts throughout the month
• use it for daily lists
• write down your schedule for the month
• reflect on the month at the end of each month
• give one to each family member at the beginning of each month & collect them at the end of the month

So now you have some idea for monthly journaling.  Let's talk about the photos.  You could do one 4 x 6 portrait (vertical) on the opposite page.  It could be just a photo of an event during the month or a family portrait each month (how cool would it be to have 12 family photos at the end of the year).  Another option is a collage of the photos of the month. 

Here i am going to show you how to collage photos using Photoshop.  There are also some other options i will give you at the end of the post.  Simple open a 4 x 6 inch canvas in Photoshop. I left the background translucent but it can be white or black in the background.  You will cover up most of the background with photos.

Next open up your photos for the month.  They can be both portrait & landscape photos (vertical & horizontal) since we are resizing them to 1 x 1 inch squares.  Crop each photo to this size. 

Now start dragging your photos onto your blank 4 x 6 canvas.  You will be able to get twenty-four 1 x 1 inch photos onto your background.  They can be in chronological order or random.  it's your choice!

You don't have to fill up every square.  Leave one blank for the title of the month.  I picked a simple typewriter font for the middle square.  I love the position of the title too. 

White or black backgrounds are cool options for the title.  I think i like the black.  You can do it any color.  My colors are a bit off because i print at home.  They are adjusted for my printer so don't let the reds throw you off. 

Another option is to change up some of the photo sizes.  Here i used a 2 x 2 inch photo as my focal point for the month.  Play around and have fun.  You don't have to have Photoshop to make this collage.  You can gather your photos from the month & trim them down to make your own collage on white or black cardstock.  Another great option is Big Huge Labs and their Mosaic Maker. 

Tomorrow is some other options for this album plus another free download!