The steps in this badge program focus on adding items to a sheet of paper, but making sure it remains flat. It’s all about changing the color or look of a sheet of paper without adding a lot of depth.
Steps
1. Brayer.
You can use a brayer in a variety of ways. The idea is to put the ink or paint onto the brayer and then roll it to create a repeating pattern. After the first impression, the color will get lighter, so this is a method to make a graduated screen if you are using solid color inks by rolling on a stamp pad. You can also ink a stamp and roll the brayer over the stamp before doing it on the paper. Adding water or “spritzing” can break the ink apart to give it another look. Experiment with a brayer.
2. Burn.
Burning the edges of a paper or even holes through a sheet of paper adds the feeling of something that was lost and recovered. When using this technique, be sure to pay attention to the edges because they might crumble off. Spray adhesive is the best for adhering burnt pieces to other pieces of paper. Experiment with this technique.
3. Direct-to-paper.
This is probably the easiest paper technique. You merely need to use your ink pad as a stamp. You can blot, wipe or apply ink to the paper any way you wish. You might do an entire sheet, a partial sheet or even the edge. This is a great technique for cards. Try the direct-to-paper technique.
NOTE: Ink blending can also be a great technique. You can use sponges as well as other items to blend colors together.
4. Marble.
Marbelizing paper gives you colorful swirls for a great background. You can marbelize with any paint or ink that can remain suspended. Suspension materials include water, oil and shaving cream. Try marbelizing a piece of paper.
5. Mosaics.
You may think this will be difficult, but it’s not. You merely take an image and cut it into squares and then put it on another sheet in a grid pattern with spaces between. You can add layers behind each “tile” if you wish. Also, as you get practice, you may choose to try shapes other than squares. Look into the different types of “mosaics” you might create.
6. Photos.
Photos can be used in a variety of ways on a card. You can add a paper frame and make it a temporary attachment that can be removed and displayed. You can use it as an abstract background. You can also take specific photos that you can stamp on to create scenes . . . such as the beach or a snow-covered hill. Explore ways you can use photos in your paper crafts and try it.
7. Printmaking.
Printmaking covers a variety of ways you can make multiple prints of the same image on paper. Some of these include:
- Lithography
- Relief
- Screen
- Wood block
Look into each of these. Which are you most likely to try?
8. Resist.
A resist is a way to stop items from altering your paper. For example, if you put a post-it note on a piece of paper and spray ink across the page, when you lift the post-it note, you’ll see an area beneath that does not have the ink. The post-it note has acted as a resist. You can also do this with wax crayons, rubber cement and other items that you can put onto a piece of paper temporarily. Experiment with resists.
9. Rubbing.
Putting a piece of paper over the bark of a tree or a gravestone and then rubbing a crayon or similar item over it allows you to get a copy of the item the paper is sitting on. I remember as a teenager doing a rubbing on the Vietnam Traveling Wall of my uncle’s name. You can start small with coins or other items with texture. How might you incorporate a rubbing into your paper crafts?
10. Scratch art.
An easy technique that I learned as a kid, you put the colors you want down on the paper first. Then cover the entire area with black crayon. Scratch off the black to reveal the color beneath. Try it with crayons. If you enjoy the technique, explore this with other mediums.
11. Sponge.
You can use a sponge from around your home and chop it up (including makeup sponges) or you can buy sea sponges at the craft store. Using ink, paint or other medium, distribute it across your paper in an irregular pattern. This easy technique allows you to change the look of paper easily. If your medium is really wet, you may choose to put something on it to flatten it after it’s dry.
12. Stains.
Often stains are used to make a sheet of paper look aged. You can do an entire sheet by painting tea or coffee over it with a paint brush or applying with a sponge. You can also do this to any paper including tags and ephemera. You can do this technique with inks as well. Put coffee or tea on the bottom of your coffee cup and place it on your paper and allow it to dry for shape on the paper. Leave your teabag or some coffee grounds on the sheet of paper. In addition, you can get stains by wetting tissue paper and putting it on a sheet so the color blends into the other paper. Experiment with transferring color and staining from one item to another.
13. Stipple.
Get a speckled effect. Using a flat stencil brush, use ink or paint. Put a small amount on a plate. Load some and tap it to remove move of it before applying it to your paper. Do not drag it, just tap in vertically so you have tiny dots of color. You can do a small section or the entire sheet. Experiment with stippling.
14. Transfer.
There are numerous ways to transfer images from one media to another. You can also purchase sheets with images on them that you can transfer. Usually, they come with a popsicle stick. You place the image where you want it, face down, and rub the popsicle stick over the back of the paper where the image is. Always be sure to lift and edge to make sure the entire image is transferred . . . especially when you are starting. Find out more about transferring images.
15. Water-to-paper.
If you think water can’t change a piece of paper, think again. Dripping, splattering or brushing water over wet ink or paint can change the look. Just like you can splatter paint with an old toothbrush and paint, you can do the same on a sheet of paper with water. The water might help lighten the color in spots or just mix in for a more natural look. Experiment with putting water to paper.
Badge and Supplement Files
Member Level
- 0EP_B_BPG_Paper Tech III_2in_12up_MS1_larajla — generic badge printable
- 0EP_BLIST_Paper Tech III_MS1_larajla — badge items per membership level
- 0EP_BSET0_Paper Tech III_MS1_larajla —badge set and related badges
- 0EP_SUPP0_Paper Tech III_Journal_MS1_larajla — badge journal
- 0EP_SUPP0_Paper Tech III_Planner_MS1_larajla — badge planner
- 0EP_SUPPL_Paper Tech III_MS1_larajla — supplements currently available per membership level
Supplement Fun
- N/A
Sites to Explore
- www.craftcreations.com/pages/free-craft-projects
- feltmagnet.com/crafts/Watercolor-Techniques-Tips-and-Ideas
- itsmejd.com/ink-blending-tips-techniques-paper-crafts
- artrospectives.wordpress.com/2013/07/03/watercolour-backgrounds-with-tissue-paper
- www.mybluprint.com/project/craft-better-cards-with-these-3-distressed-ink-techniques
- www.favecrafts.com/Techniques/19-Paper-Craft-Techniques
Get the infographic here > larajla blog post
Get the PDFs of the badge program / supplements here