Artist Spackle Image Transfer Technique

I don't know if you have seen one of the newer products offered at Altered Pages - Artist Spackle - or not but I have to tell you I am in love with it.

It says on the jar that it's great "for structural, dimensional, and textural applications" and can also mixed with various color mediums and be thinned for other applications.

Personally I find it to be a really interesting texture medium that is almost like a sticky dry frosting.  I know, that doesn't make any sense at all but seriously, that's what it feels like when you start playing with it.  It's like sticky frosting when you first pick it up and try to spread it but it's not a wet sticky, it's a dry sticky.  So far I've only used my fingers to spread it out because I think they are the best tools for some jobs.  I initially used it for my Steampunk Shadow Box Kit.  The entire outside of the box was covered with it then painted using a bit of Maya Mist.  It was lots of fun because the texture it created was amazing.

Well, I thought it would be fun to try using it for Image Transfers and here's how they came out.....

(Note - you can find complete instructions for this image transfer technique on my blog...Artist Spackle Image Transfer Technique - Ink Stains.  I started out with the directions here but my post was becoming WAY too long so I figured I'd show you the results and if you were interested in more you could hop on over and check out the actual technique.) 

These first two were made using Altered Pages Collage Images that I printed off myself using my ink jet printer...  You'll notice that it did transfer the images but it was very fuzzy and without any real detail.  Hmmmm would be cool for some applications but not a really great transfer for general use.

So then I tried transfers using the laser printed images directly from Altered Pages and check out these results....  I finished each of these images off with a different application which is explained below.  I think they turned out really great!

NOTE: All of these images come from the Mini Images Travel AP573 collage sheet.

For this first example I spread the Artist Spackle onto an ATC blank, pressed the image into the spackle and let it dry.  I then removed the paper, added a bit more spackle around the edges then tinted it with Antique Copper Patina Maya Mist.  I love how it makes the spackle look like leather or suede.  Every nook and cranny created with the AS is highlighted by the mist.

For the next two examples I spread the AS onto a piece of white cardstock, pressed the images into the spackle and finished off the images as you normally would.  I finished off this image using a combination of the Copper 3D Mixers Mica and Crackle Accents which I painted over the spackle and let dry.  It was difficult to get a clear image of the cracks because of all the shimmer of the Mixers but you can still see some of them.

You will notice that there are two white areas near the center of this image...that is where there were air pockets when I pressed the image into the spackle.   I personally don't mind these missing areas because it's one of the quirks of Image Transfer techniques.  But if you want a more complete image be sure to burnish your image so the entire image is in contact with the spackle.

Finally the last image I just tore it from the cardstock and left it as is....again, there are a couple small spots that didn't transfer but I think this would make a super beachy embellishment for a scrapbook, card, ATC, Gothic Arch or whatever project you might have in mind.

So, there you go...

A fun new Image Transfer technique to try when you get a chance.

Have a super week....

Ink Stained Roni :)