How To Tuesday: Ink Blot Notecards

If you enjoy abstract looking flowers, faces, or shapes that are outlined in a black ink, then this craft is right up your alley.  Ink blot pieces are very easy to make and require little artistic ability.  Be prepared to mess up the first few attempts, but once you master the flow and "drawing" with the ink, this craft is fast and fun!

Materials:

• Artists Ink
• Eyedropper (or dropper from the artist ink bottle)
• Paper (watercolor, acrylic or cardstock paper works best)
• Toilet Paper (divided into strips 2-4 squares long)
• Newspaper for work space
• Gloves

Step 1: Spread newspaper to protect the surface you are working on.  Lay your paper on top of the newspaper.

Step 2:  Fill the dropper with ink from the bottle and "draw" a picture.  Lightly squeeze the dropper to release ink as you "draw."

Step 3:  Quickly lay the toilet paper on top of the wet ink and quickly pull it off again.  The toilet paper will absorb some of the ink and scatter some of the ink for an abstract effect.

  

                               

Step 4:  Let your new little masterpiece dry completely before you add colors.

Voila!

If you like this, you may like some of the flat notecards in my Etsy shop!

How-To Tuesday: Folded Accordion Flowers

If you have visited my Etsy shop (DeLorenzo Art) then you have surely noticed that I love folded, paper flowers!  I love to make them out of any patterned paper, maps, book print, or any kind of paper you can fold.  Mixing and matching papers for an unique bouquet is rewarding and fun-try it!

This is how I make the little masterpieces:

Step 1: Select any kind of paper you can fold into a small accordion.  Cut each sheet of paper into strips 1/2" to 1" wide.

Step 2:  Begin at one end of the strip and fold the paper, accordion style, with 1/4" to 1/2" pleats. 

Step 3:  Secure one end of your folded strip with the other end to create a continuous loop.  The pattern should match up; in other words, make sure your folded strip is not twisted when you secure the ends. 

Step 4:  Now comes the tricky part which takes a little bit of practice and patience.  Fold one side of your loop inward, and push the loop inward, on a flat surface to create a round, folded flower.

Step 5:  Secure the folded flower in the middle of the piece (glue or a hot glue gun works best) and hold until the glue sets.  This part can be a little frustrating because the folds want to force the flower to pop back into a loop; you can do it!

Step 6: Hold the flower's shape until the glue is set and Voila!