Hello fellow scrappers! I actually blog at blog.whiteracoon.ru (in English) and in LJ in Russian, but I'd like to share something with scrapbooker here too =)
I think I'll use this blog for posting tutorials and tips. Today I'm introducing "tissue stippling". I have no fine idea whether this technique has any official title, it's not very widely used in scrapbooking; if any of you know the name - let me know, please!
I always try to do something new and experience something I have never done before. Besides I'm interested in trying different technique and joining the incongruous =)
For one Russian scrapbooking portal I wrote an article about different hobbies (in Russian) joint in scrapbooking. Briefly they are: embroidery, knitting and crocheting, makrame and lacemaking, beading, needle & wet felting plus wool painting, quilling, pergamano (vellum embossing & pricking), tea-bag folding & origami, iris-folding, decoupage, tissue stippling. The last technique is rarely used by adults, it may be introduced to kids in kindergarten, but I wanted to explain how to make it and where to use it.
Here's a little tutorial I made.
You'll need:
- embossing tool (or a toothpick or a knitting needle or something like)
- glue (thick liquid glue)
- tissue paper, paper napkins or some other thin and soft paper
- scissors
- patience and creativity
How to:
1. Choose the pattern. I chose an ivy garland spreading out of the picture frame.
2. Sketch the pattern: outline it with a pencil.
3. Take the napkin, separate the layers: you'll have to work with a single-layer paper. If you use napkins with printed pattern choose the layer with the pattern. Don't be afraid to use multicolor napkins, they will make the work look more interesting. Cut the napkin (or tissue) in squares approx. 1/4". Don't try to make them all the same size with right angles, even messy triangles will do. =)
4. Take the glue and make a "line" of glue upon your pencil line. Don't make it too long, 1,5-2" will be okay, but much depends on the glue's speed of drying.
5. Take one piece of the cut paper, place it on the pad of your index finger of the left hand. Take an embossing tool (1-2 mm ball) with your right hand and place the ball of the tool in the center of the paper piece. With your left thumb fold the paper square in half, so that the end on the embossing tool will be caught inside of it. Don't remove the thumb, keep the index finger and thumb together and slightly roll the paper piece around the tool. I described that for right-handed people! for the lefties right-left should be changed =)
6. "Rolled" piece is ready to be placed on your layout. With your tool place it on the glue track and press it securely
7. Keep placing folded&rolled pieces making the borderline of your pattern:
8. Then continue tissue stippling within the borderline. Spread some glue within the borderline, place the tissue pieces there. Let it dry completely. If some tissue pieces stick out untidily, cut them off with tiny scissors.
9. Enjoy the softness and the fluffiness of your pattern:
Result:
Tips:
- The smaller you cut the squares the better, the tidier and the more elegant the complete pattern looks. And the less crumpled it will apear to be when it's stored.
- During your work brush the dried and completed parts with your fingers slightly in different directions: you need that to check how well the peices are attached and to reveal some places you've missed, so correct it.
- Tissue stippling is ideal for 3d effect on trees, lawns, bushes and other flora articles. It's also good for imitating animal fur, toy plush, winter coats, fluffy clouds, foamy waves. What else can you use this technique for? ;)
Thanks for looking!
