Technique: Citra-Solv Papers

Citra-Solv Papers

Ever since I first saw this technique, I have been dying to try it! It was super easy to do although very messy and smelly. I took my stuff out to the garage for this project and I could still smell it inside the house.

You'll need just a few supplies to get started...

• Citra-Solv concentrate
• National Geographic magazine (you can try others but I've heard these work best)
• a shallow pan or tray to contain your mess
• paper towels
• rubber gloves

Basically, all you do is sprinkle the solvent on each page, close the book, and wait about 20 minutes. That being said, here are a few things I learned from this first experience...

1) You only need to sprinkle the pages. If you use too much solvent, the ink will just run off your pages. Here you see can how the pages that were just sprinkled turned out quite well:

While the ones that I soaked in solution were complete duds:

2) Don't smash your book too hard or you'll squish out all of the dissolved ink.
3) Don't be afraid to play with the wet pages.
4) Try masking off interesting areas where you want to preserve the imagery.

This is a great video to watch before you get started:
https://youtu.be/FskgfDxI__M

Citra-Solv also has several tutorials and galleries on their website here:
http://www.citrasolv.com/art/index.html

Here are some of my favorite pages from this experiment... Which one is your favorite?

UPDATE:

Cathy C. tried a different technique with her Citra-Solv. She put a light coating of

it across her magazine page and let it set for about a minute. Then she dipped a brush

into some clean Citra-solv and painted across her page creating different patterns

and shapes.

Be sure to wipe your brush off periodically to

get the ink off and then re-dip in clean Citra-solv.

She also tried two other citrus base cleaners

with limited success. It took a lot of manipulation

and a lot of cleaner to get these to look like this.

Not nearly the effect that Citra-solv can create.

Let us know if you have any better luck with

an alternative to Citra-solv.

New Swap: Flutter By Butterfly

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

Flutter by Butterfly

3-for-3 ATCs

Skills Level: 2 - Budding

Sign up by April 30th

Due by May 16th

Hosted by Nikki Smith

This swap is all about Butterflies! You will be making 3 ATC cards and all three cards need to have at least have one image of a butterfly - the more the better! Lots of fun things to do with this swap... butterfly gardens, people with wings, etc. The rest is up to you - whatever moves and inspires you!

Here is a link to Pinterest for ideas:
https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=butterfly%20atc

Please include an address label and $1 for return postage. Bulky cards with 3-D embellishments - please send $2. International participants may send ephemera in lieu of postage.

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

April Freebie: Cinderella

It's time for another freebie courtesy of your Paper Traders Moderators. A great big THANK YOU to Connie Holso for preparing this terrific offering for your personal use. Please use the link BELOW the photo to download the high resolution file. Enjoy!

Download HERE:

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=4cc7f78541694f93&id=4cc7f78541694f93%2110912&v=3&ithint=photo,jpg&authkey=!ADjLerh0qCBRL1A

By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge "THREE"

This project is for Paper Traders members only but we would love to have you join us. Please click on the purple Yahoo button in the sidebar for more information on how to join.

art by Betsy B.

"THREE" - our third By The Numbers Art Journaling Challenge

The third challenge for our monthly art journaling project is to use Paivi Eerola's "Masking Tape Magic" technique for your third page/spread. You can find instructions for this technique on her blog here: http://www.peonyandparakeet.com/masking-tape-magic/. She used a random placement for her pieces of tape but you can place yours any way you like - get creative!

After you've created your masked areas, you will use them as journaling space to write down your thoughts using an idiom for the number "three". You can find a list of idioms here:
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/three. Just pick one that inspires your thought process and journal about it.

I think the number theme of this project can add a fun element to your pages... you might want to use the respective number prominently in decorating your pages. Don't stop with a simple saying - that's just a prompt to get you started. Let the creativity continue to flow as you journal and decorate your pages.

You have the entire month to complete your pages for this challenge. We won’t be swapping or mailing pages – you will keep the journal you create for your own.

Here are some idioms for "THREE" to get you going...

• a three-alarm fire
• didn't exchange more than three words with
• phony as a three-dollar bill
• the three R's
• three bricks shy of a load
• three cheers for
• three dog night
• three sheets to the wind
• Three strikes and you are out
• three's a crowd
• three-ring circus

Skill Level: 2) BUDDING - Participants will be open to trying new ideas and materials, without necessarily being competent yet with their applications. Swap Hosts are encouraged to add the requirement of a technique or process such as creating texture, using crackle paint, doing photo transfers, painting with watercolor, etc.

Don't forget... As a little incentive for this project, the moderators are offering the opportunity to win a prize for participating.

For each challenge in which you participate (there will be a total of 10), you will earn one entry into the random drawing to be held when the project is complete. The more entries you earn, the bigger the potential prize:

1-3 entries = prize value of $5
4-6 entries = prize value of $10
7-9 entries = prize value of $15
10 entries = prize value of $20

One lucky person will win a gift card to their favorite local craft store up to the value for which they qualified.  More participation >> More chances to win >> Bigger potential prize!  Plus... it will be lots of fun, too.