Autumn Artist Trading Block Tutorial

Hello and welcome! I have a tutorial to share today for the September Art With Heart challenge over at Eileen Hull. I hope you are following Eileen on her two month Papertrail road trip.

 

I made an Autumn Artist Trading Block, using blueprint stamps by Tim Holtz. You could work directly on the mat board, but for this block, I wanted distressed edges, so I used watercolour paper on top of the mat board.

 

Start by die cutting the largest block on the 3-D Blocks/Cubes die (the die contains three block sizes) from cream mat board. The die both cuts and scores the material. Die cut it also from watercolour paper and cut the squares apart from each other with a craft knife.

Stamp four blueprint leaves using Archival Jet Black ink. It is important to use a waterproof ink.

Smear Distress Inks on your craft sheet and mist with Biscotti Perfect Pearls. Pick up with a paint brush and colour the squares. I also added a fifth square, for the top of the block.

When dry, splatter with some Walnut Stain ink. Smear on your craft sheet, mist with water, pick up with a paint brush and tap the paint brush. This is a favourite technique of mine for adding quick texture, perfect for autumn.

Stamp the squares with a script stamp and Frayed Burlap ink.

Distress all the edges with a Tim Holtz distresser tool. Love this look on watercolour paper. Stitch around the squares with a sewing machine.

Adhere the squares to the block, taking care with the placement of the bottom two (it is easy to place them the wrong way around). Use a strong adhesive, such as Ranger's Wonder Tape to assemble the block.

Here you can see the distressed edges of the block.

The effect of the Perfect Pearls is hard to photograph, it gives a great glimmer to the leaves. You can maybe see it a bit better here.

I love these leaf stamps. Leaves work real well as blueprints.

 

The distressed edges and the stitching gives the block a nice feeling, you want to reach out and touch it.

 

My car is parked under an Oak tree and we get a lot of acorns. I wanted to pick some and place on top of the block, but it isn't season for them here now.

Love this quote, so much that I am actually using it for a second project right now.

 

Thank you so much for looking! I hope you will join in the challenge! There is a great prize to be won.

 

Happy crafting!

 

Anna-Karin

 

Supplies:

Surfaces: Sizzix Little Sizzles Cream Mat Board; Canson watercolour paper

Dies: Sizzix: 3-D Blocks/Cubes

Stamps: Stamper's Anonymous Tim Holtz: Mini Blueprints, Classics #9, Classics #16
Ink: Archival Ink: Jet Black; Distress Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen, Barn Door, Peeled Paint
Perfect Pearls: Ranger Perfect Pearls: Biscotti
Embellishments: Tim Holtz idea-ology: Seasonal Chit Chat Stickers, Chit Chat Stickers; pearls