Quick Jess Desk Test

So we have a new way of printing paper here at Creative Arts Lifestyle, and we’re all super excited about the possibilities this brings. We were testing out new versions of our background papers left and right for probably longer than we should have been yesterday, but we just couldn’t help it. It was so much fun to see how the colors came out!

We even tested distressing the paper by doing things like pour coffee on to see how it held up. I got to hold a piece of dried-up coffee covered music paper in my hand, and, as it turns out, this seems to be my weakness. I was in mid-conversation with Patty and I held up the paper and held up my scissors with a questioning look on my face, and she said “go for it!”

So, between saving files and loading files, and clicking the trackpad on my laptop, I was turning away from my computer every half hour or so to do things to this little wooden tag I had sitting around (another exciting possibility that might come later), and this is what happened.

I wish the pictures did it justice. I mixed some of the copper powder stuff with Honey Brown DecoArt paint, and it’s so shiny when I turn it in my hand! (I’m a sucker for shiny, what can I say. . .) This was so easy, and the paper felt smooth, like it was just part of the wood, after decoupaging it on. That’s one of our Christmas Stencils sponged on in lavender there, traced with a micron pen, which again, the picture doesn’t quite show how that made it seem to pop off the background paper. I worked on this off and on throughout the day, but I’d say the whole process didn’t take more than a half hour. That’s including drying time! That’s a ribbon I found at home, by the way.

This was a great opportunity to practice using the paints, tools, stencils, pens, all while testing out a new product. It was something small I could practice techniques on, while ending up with something lovely I could feel proud of. When I got home it was the first thing I showed to my husband, like a kindergartner with a craft project! He just laughed. He’s used to me by now =)

I’m probably going to do a few more of these with the rest of the paper and a few other stencils & colors for the season. It looked so pretty on our music themed tree (my husband is a musician) with all the pink, purple and turquoise spirally doodads (I have a 7 year old daughter) that it just seems to need a few more! These would make great gifts for my husband’s musical family too. Hmm. . .

Besides, paint/ink/glitter-covered hands are the sign of a good day at work!

I’ll post again when I have a few more to share =)

Happy painting! What super cool ornaments are you making for your Christmas trees?

About the Author

Written by Jess

Jess is a small-town artist with a BFA degree in Visual Art with a concentration in Graphic Design. She digs computer geekery, playing with words, Zentangle® doodling, and mixed media collage.