USAQ Blog

Creating with MicaColor Watercolor Palettes are fun and easy to use. I am into the black palettes after finally finishing up with my white palettes I bought a many years ago. YES – MicaColor Watercolor Palettes last a Long time!

Creating a bookmark is fast and easy, yet stylish. Adding texture gives the bookmark dimension and texture.

USAQ Supplies:

MicaColor Watercolor Palettes

Make a stash of bookmarks to have on hand to give! A birthday is always around the corner, a special RAK for someone under the weather, or “just because.”

Cut a strip of Folia Cardstock in white, and then cut a strip a 1/2″ larger on all sides to frame the white cardstock. Choose a length that is pleasing for you, 4 to 6 inches is fine. A corner rounder punch was used round corners of cardstock.

As mentioned in previous posts, drip a little water from your Perfect Brushes onto the colors you want to use. I count to five and swirl the color to a creamy consistency. This will be a wet to dry technique, using the watercolor (wet) onto the Folia Cardstock (dry).

1. Using the largest Perfect Brush, paint large swipes of color filling half the cardstock with the lightest color of MicaColor Watercolor. Then repeat this using the darker color letting it overlap just a little over the edge of the lighter color. When you get to the edges, make sure your brush isn’t saturated with watercolor so the blending of the two colors is light and almost seamless. Let dry.

2. To add texture to the surface, there are a few ways to achieve this.

2a. One way is to use an empty spritz bottle, fill with some water, and drip the MicaColor Watercolor to create the color. I only filled the bottom of the bottle with water, so when I add the watercolor, the color is still strong. (Use either 2 spritz bottles or use up one color first and clean before adding the other color.). Like above, the lightest color is sprayed first. (The blue area is slightly covered so the yellow spray doesn’t hit those areas). Repeat the same thing with the darkercolor. Be creative, I used a vintage brown shade (Vintage Palette) to spray on top of the yellow that I first sprayed. A total of 3 sprays were spritzed on the surface.

2b. Another way to add texture is to “stipple” with the Texture Sponge. A little color, not soaking wet, goes a long way. You have control on where the color goes.

2c. The last way is with a “splatter” brush. This is a brush with a wood over case that splatters color all over. This doesn’t have much control.

My favorite ways to add texture is to use the Texture Sponge or adding MicaColor Watercolor to a spritz bottle.

3. After letting the cardstock dry, stamp an image on top. A permanent brown color was stamped instead of black, to give a soft, ethereal look. Use the Great Tape and mount painted work onto the other color of Folia Cardstock. Although black was used, a deep blue or brown would work perfect as well.

It was fabulous to watch Sue on HSN and she’ll be back on March 20th!!! March is National Craft Month and we get the joy of seeing Sue twice! Be sure to got to HSN to order or at USAQ.

Cre8tivelea Yours – Lea

Posted in Design Team, Watercolor Palettes | Tagged Micacolor Watercolor Palette | 1 Comment »

Studio Cloth – Watercolors – Fresh New Art

March 10, 2012 by BeckyThackston

Today I want to share with you a fun and quick weekend project to spruce up any room. My goal – freshen up some artwork I had in the kids bathroom. I just recently bought a new shower curtain that really did not go with the sea shell themed prints I had in there already.

Supplies -
Studio Cloth
Mica Color Water color pallettes in Vintage
Perfect Brushes

To start off with I will show you what the shower curtain looks like so that you know where I am getting the colors for the pictures. I know…it is kinda loud but I loved it. The walls are an orange color.

Next I took some standard white frames from my local craft store. They have a picture opening of 5×7 – roughly – so I cut my studio cloth to an 8×10 size. Then I just sketched a few pictures on there. Nothing fancy and it does not need to be perfect. This will be my guide once I start painting.

Using watercolors on the studio cloth is WONDERFUL. They blend so easy! So mix those colors. If you are not sure take a wet paper towel and blot over the area and paint again. Once I had these dry – I took a black pen and out lined my tree and circles. Take this time to add anything extra you might want for details.

Insert your picture into the frames and now you have a wonderful addition to your decor made especially by you! And how easy it is to change out when you are ready for something different. I hope you have enjoyed today’s tutorial. Stop by USArtquest and pick up some studio cloth and watercolors to make your own perfect paintings.

Posted in Design Team, Studio Cloth, Watercolor Palettes | Tagged Studio Cloth, USAQ Design Team, watercolor palettes | 5 Comments »

Napkin Collage Cards Using Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA)

March 8, 2012 by Joe Rotella

About two weeks ago, the Create & Craft team and I taught a collage frame class at Red Letter Journals in Grove City, Ohio. The class was inspired by the Botanical Paper Napkin Collage Frame I posted by in January. While the class was well attended, some of my “regular” students didn’t sign up. Turns out, some were intimidated by the technique. They said they felt that collage is “too hard” or they are “card-makers, not artists.” Today’s post is for them. Collage is really easy – especially when you’re working with beautiful prints of butterflies and birds – and can be used for cards and scrapbook layouts!

These four cards were created for a class JoeM, Betty and I are teaching on Sunday, 3/11, at Red Letter Journals. Come join us! See how easily you can collage just about anything. In fact, after the frame class, one student told me if her cat sat still long enough, she would collage it! That’s how much fun she’s having collaging found objects, cards, pages – you name it!

Now on to the four cards…

	Collage isn’t limited to backgrounds, large areas or even overlapping patterns! Joe Morganfound a little cocktail napkin with these adorable chicks on it and decided they would be the perfect focal point for an Easter card. He used a single image from one napkin. Collage the image on stiff cardboard or chipboard using Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA). The cards in the Art Canvas pack work great! They are the perfect size to use standalone as an artist’s trading card (ATC) or on the front of a greeting card. For added sparkle, while the adhesive is still wet, sprinkle the top of the image with Crystal Effectz™. Once it’s dry, ink the edges, mat it and attach all the layers using Great Tape. §
	Having been a florist for 40 years, Betty can’t resist flowers and butterflies. She used images from 2 different napkins to create this collage. One napkin had flowers and butterflies and the other had postcards, postmarks and stamps. To make this card, Betty collaged the image on stiff cardboard using Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA). While the adhesive was still wet, she sprinkled Crystal Effectz™ on top. The background is sheet music that’s been distressed and inked. Add a strip of lace and a stamped sentiment embellished with Candi Dots and you’ve got a great vintage looking card. §
	Collage can be used as the first step in your creative process. It’s easy to stamp or paint on top of a collage to add layers and highlights.To make this card, I stamped a map on the card front in black ink and then stamped the fleur-de-lis with turquoise Perfect Pigments™ - Pure Liquid Acrylics™ using a foam stamp. I collaged the butterfly on a tag using Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA). Once the collage was dry, I highlighted parts of the wings with the same paint I used on the card base. The #4 Round Brush was perfect for adding fine details. Once that was dry, I used a brush to apply Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA) to some small areas of the card. While the adhesive was still wet, I applied Blue Topaz Mica D’Lights to really make the wings pop! Attach the tag to the card with a brad and add some distressed tickets and you’re done! §
	This card was so much fun to make! I found a napkin with the crown and sentiment and thought it would be the perfect background for a vintage photo. I think it worked perfectly with purple flowers and butterflies from two other napkin patterns.Collage the crown, flowers and butterflies on still chipboard using Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA). Once the collage was dry, I highlighted the stones in the crown withturquoise Perfect Pigments™ - Pure Liquid Acrylics™. Once again, the #4 Round Brush was perfect for adding fine details. Once that was dry, I used a brush to apply Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA) to some small areas of the card. While the adhesive was still wet, I applied Gold and Ruby Mica D’Lights to add sparkle to the crown. It turned out the sentiment on the napkin was just too faint. So, I printed the sentiment on top of an image of twill ribbon in font that looked like rubber stamps (Stampede from dafont.com). I cut out the image and attached it to the front of the collage with Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA). The girl is a stock photo that’s been printed out on glossy paper, fussy cut and attached to the background with pop-dots. Attach the collage to a purple card with Great Tape and you’ve got a message fit for a Queen! §

You can see more of my projects on my blog on Create & Craft.

Look around. Think about what you’ve got at home, or things you’ve seen at thrift stores or garage sales. What could you transform or create using napkins, Perfect Paper Adhesive (PPA), Crystal Effectz, Mica D’Lights and paint? I would love to hear what you’re thinking!

Happy Crafting!

Joe

Posted in Design Team, Embellishments, Fluid Acrylic Paint, Great Tape, Mica D'lights, PPA (Perfect Paper Adhesive), Projects | Tagged Acrylic Paint, Adhesive, Cardmaking, design team, Joe Rotella, mica d'lights, paint, perfect paper adhesive, perfect pigment paints, Perfect Pigments, ppa, US Art Quest, USAQ, usartquest | 4 Comments »

Fountain of Youth Assemblage

March 7, 2012 by sallylynnmacdonald

Hi! My name is Sally Lynn MacDonald and this is my fifth post as part of the 2012 Design Team. I hope you enjoy the project.

Today’s project started with a little antique oil lamp that I found at my local antique and what-not shop. I thought the glass portion resembled a feminine shape of a bodice or dress form. It definitely looks like the beginnings of a bottle of something interesting.

Next, I found an old showerhead. Miraculously, its neck fit perfectly into the flexible pieces around the wick assembly. Now it was time to make it become a container for the mystical fountain of youth from my discoveries.

First, I attached the shower head with 101 Artist Cement, Heavy formula. While I was waiting for this to dry, I concentrated on the bodice of the bottle.

I took a rusted TINZ ivy vine…

and bent it around the ‘waist’ of the bottle. It was a little too small, so I used a piece of black waxed linen thread to tie it together.

Then I added a broken piece of jewelry, tying it to the prior piece of black waxed linen thread to secure it into place.

Now it’s time to start adding texture to our piece. I took some of the 101 Heavy Artist cement and sponged it onto the glass, the top of the showerhead and around the surface of the piece randomly. What I like about this material, besides having adhesive properties is that it is extremely durable, flexible and paintable. And it makes things look rusty and crusty if that is what you are going for.

It’s key when making an assemblage to have the pieces be unified. Texture and color can accomplish this very well.

I used the 101 Heavy not only to cross the barrier between elements, not only adhesive – to which I applied a random coating of the Taken For Granite Prills, but also as an undercoat for adding color to the metal and glass, since acrylic paint would otherwise not adhere very well to these surfaces.

I colored the piece using a combination of the Fluid Acrylic Perfect Pigment paints:

starting with Cobalt Turquoise Blue mixed with a touch of Wheat for a verdigris,
a wash of Yellow Ochre for aging
and Indian Red Hue for rust

This aged and brought the pieces together with color over the textured surface.

To further embellish the piece, I used the 101 Heavy Artist Cement to adhere a piece of Mica tile underneath the jewelry component.

I also used it to add a vintage glass button to the dial of the oil lamp, and pressed some Prills into the cement that seeped out of the buttonholes.

I haven’t decided if I’m going to put some colored liquid into my bottle or not. I think the little Alice in Wonderland inspired label, “Drink Me”, might be just too much of a temptation for somebody… But I attached the tag anyway, with a layer of mica underneath it.

We’ll just have to say the bottle’s contents had already been used by some mysterious ancestor or relative. I think it must be my younger sister, Katie – who never appears to age. Hmmmm?

What will you alter today? No surface is beyond your reach with these wonderful products.

US Art Quest Products used today:

101 Heavy Artist Cement
Prills, Taken for Granite mixture
3/4″ Stroke Brush

Thanks for looking!

Sally Lynn MacDonald
www.sallylynnmacdonald.com
www.facebook.com/sallylynn.macdonald

Posted in 101 Heavy, Design Team, Fluid Acrylic Paint, Mica Tiles and Shapes, Studio Essentials | Tagged Prills, Tinz | 9 Comments »

Watch Sue On HSN Tomorrow!!!!

March 5, 2012 by Susan Pickering Rothamel

Hi Everyone! Happy Monday! We are so excited that Sue will be back on HSN (Home Shopping Network) tomorrow, Tuesday, March 6th. She will be on at the 8am and 5pm hour (EST). So make sure to watch or set those DVRs! Thanks for all your support.

Click here to get a sneak peak of the brand new Decorative Napkin Collage Kit and all the USAQ Products on HSN.com, some sets are only available throught HSN.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

12 X 12 Canvas

March 2, 2012 by parkergirl1962

I will be perfectly honest with you, this is not what I thought this project was going to look like when I started. After a bit it took on a life of it’s own!

It is hanging on my living room wall right now and looks pretty cool. I just can’t believe the MORPH! So here is the beginning of this brain child…

I had a canvas and all this fun supplies. I had an idea using rubber cement and the mica paints. I thought I would do some negative space. I had GREAT intentions! I used some vase stencils from Dreamweaver.

I got them all lined up and ready to apply the rubber cement. First, I did not think the rubber cement would slide under the stencils as bad as it did. I think I tried to put it on too thick. But I get ahead of myself.

You can see I have applied the rubber cement and am letting it set. I then will remove the stencils and just leave the rubber cement. In the end this will act as a resist.

I also added some swirls around the edges thinking it would make it interesting. Next I start putting on the wash of Mica Paints from USArtQuest! These are so pretty and have such shimmer and shine.

I am just brushing a mix of color over the entire canvas.

I just kept adding color and finally set it aside to dry. I was so happy that it dried rather quickly. I do not always have the most patients when it comes to this sort of thing.

I decided it was not yet enough color so added more and then I wanted to add in some white. I really gave a lovely shimmer.

Next I took the gum eraser and started to remove the now dry rubber cement. I was pleased with how easily it did come off the canvas. This is when I knew just how poorly I had done with the rubber cement!

So here you can see where the White lines are and I had added some color back over the vase area. Honestly, at this point I was a little discouraged as this was not looking as I wanted. So I tried to co some napkin collage with PPA. Then I decided to cover the napkin with clear embossing paste.

Little did I know it was not wanting to dry! I did add some of the Mini Prills to the wet paste and started to collage some other areas of the canvas.

I did like the flowers over the top of the vases. I still was not happy with the way the vases looked. So I went back over the side vases with Copper Paste.

By this point I decided I did not like the white swirls so I just stated layering the mica paint. I stopped taking step by step photos as I was getting more and more frustrated, then all of the sudden I started to kind of like this. I added some borders and butterflies from K&Co. Then I thought it needed some texture so I threw on some mica flakes in pearl and red. I used PPA to adhere them to the canvas. I was still not happy with the center vase so I did a no no and heated the vase with my heat tool. It made a bubble so I peeled back the bubble and added some interest and texture. I used a fun metal accent from Advantus and another butterfly embellishment.

Honestly, at this point I just added more paint, glitter, more stickers and just let the project run away as it wanted. I finally finished the last touch in the upper right corner with a pretty flower. Here is the finished project again.

And now some other shots from a different perspective.

This ended up being very collaged, layered, glued and more. Hope you all like the finished product although not what I set out to do, it is a nice piece. The more I look at it the more it grows on me.

Supplies used:

12 X 12 Canvas*

Mica Paints Star Gazers

Mica Flakes

Perfect Pigment Paints

Napkins

PPA

Dreamweaver Stencils*

Embossing Paste *

Rubber cement*

Mini Prills

Advantus Flower