2016 #1 Acrylic Tag {by Debs Wainwright}

 2016 Topic 1: Transparent Art

Hi everyone Debs here.

Tonight I'd like to share with you a post about using stamps and Ink on Acrylic substrates.

I really like  working on acrylic, as it gives a different look to my projects, for example, you can create wonderful transparent pieces which look lovely when the sun catches them, or pieces that look like they are under glass, either way,  it can be challenging. However, you can always rub it off and start again if you make a mistake, which in my book is always a bonus. Usually  l like to work  backwards, which can be a bit hard to get your head round at first, but I just remember to reverse the order of applying product to the surface.

This project is a large Acrylic Plaque which is sat on a slightly bigger MDF Plaque.  It also has a smaller acrylic Tag to add some more interest. I chose to use Sara Naumann summer release stamps as I think they work really well on an acrylic, and I love them of course.

Step One: I used Stazon Ink as this actually dries on the acrylic (a tip I learnt from Mark Gould), and if you check the label, as an alcohol ink (fast drying) that is exactly what stazOn is designed for; shiny surfaces like Acetate, Glass, Metal, Acrylic etc.

I stamped the leaves from ESN17...

and the bird from ESN18.  I dried these with the heat gun. Don't worry the acrylic might bend slightly but it goes back to shape again once it cools.

Step Two: I added some stamping randomly with some of the ESN18 script. I didn't want this to show too much as it is stamped on the backside and cannot be read from the from the front - good that it is an illegible script.

Step Three: I painted the leaves with Fresco Acrylic in  Hey Pesto and the Bird with Blue Glass. I decided I wanted to do more stamping and so needed a background to stamp on. I chose a paper from the Chatsworth range which already had some script and was perfect for what I wanted.

Step Four: I chose what I wanted from the two stamp plates and using Black Archival Ink added stamped elements to the page. I liked the depth it gave to the piece. I also sprayed some colour using Lindy's Starburst Sprays in Lucky Shamrock Green and the Lindy's Flat Fabio (colour dye spray, no sparkle) in Danny Zuko’s Denim and let them run. Next I dried it off. Once completely dry I stuck it to the backside of the acrylic panel.

                                             

Step Five: I wanted to show more of the transparency that acrylic has so using a tiny tag I stamped a few leaves on the back which I painted to match the main project, and on the front I stamped my sentiment from ESN17. This would be attached later.

                                               

Step six: I put it all together. The tiny tag was given some blue cord which I hung over the top edge and secured on the back with masking tape. The whole thing was then stuck to the MDF panel which I had painted with Fresco Acrylic in Little Black Dress.

                                        

I've used quite a large plaque but you can use the same method on all sorts of plastic, acrylic glass etc. Maybe you could make a keyring, or a fridge magnet or what about a pendant, the choice is yours.  I hope I have inspired you to have a go, and would love to see what you have made.

Thank you for joining me this evening, you can see more of what I create on my blog and on my Pinterest page. Take care for now hugs Debs xx

I do love the layers of this project, and really appreciate how hard it is to photograph too! I love how the little tag pops just by having the smallest amount of paint on the leaves - its so great that the frescos stick to acrylic so easily! Thanks for your project Debs! ~Leandra

We would love to see how you interpret this Transparent Art topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #1: Transparent Art, on this page HERE.

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas, particularly if you were inspired directly by their post.

Links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The Transparent Art link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, January 17th. The winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.