Conquering the Printer

So when I was doing the Lily the Fairy contest I had never used a (I think it was a PDF file) but anyway it was an image off the computer to use on a card.  So I mentioned before that my sister said to just print it out on the Gina K paper and color with the copics, and I did and it worked. But in the back of my head I was thinking gee I wish I could do it on watercolor paper…cause that is what I feel more comfortable using.  So I never thought of it anymore. Then I got a few more images on the computer and I was like man, I really want to use my watercolor paper.  So I thought what the heck.  So I cut a piece of watercolor paper to 8 1/2 x 11 cause that is the copy paper size.  I set it in the back of the printer, crossed my fingers and hit print…..grind! grind! ERROR! crap!  So I took the paper out and kinda rolled it to soften it a bit, and then tried it…same thing..nope!  So then I thought well what happens if I help it along..you know…give the paper a little push…yeah, it took it….right on through without printing a thing…it is like it knew that the paper was not going to work…crap! 

So then I thought well perhaps if I trick the printer, so I printed out my pics on copy paper and then I trimmed down my watercolor paper and snail adhesived it so that it was not along the edge, but so that the images would be printed. Then I crossed my fingers, eyes, knees, even my teeth, and hit print and….it took it…and…it printed on it….the heavens opened and the angels sang…ok not really but I did almost cry….how sad am I?  Then the next thing was to actually use my aqua painter on it…so I let it sit for about 5 minutes just in case…then I tried to color and it worked…OMG!  now I think I did tear up…I was gonna use the Lily the Fairy to show you but remember I hinted at you yesterday about another little surprise? Well Hanna Stamps! came out with a fun little hockey dude today, like an extra Riley for January…so I am using him…now he is not available this way, he is actually a stamp, Kristi just sent it to the Design Team so we could make some samples.

Here we go:

 

Print your image on regular copy paper. This way you know the placement of where you will need to place your watercolor paper.

 

Now you want to add snail adhesive to one side of the watercolor paper, put it on the side that will go through the printer, this way it sticks to the paper and won't lift and let the printer realize you are tricking it.

Here you can see the line of snail.

Now cover your image with the watercolor paper.  I used a bigger piece then I needed but it is easier to see for the tutorial and also I was not sure what I was going to do with him when I was done.

Now put your paper in the feed tray with the snail adhesive side down.  My printer is a straight through kinda printer and that might be why this works…ya know it does not have to turn around inside the machine.

It is an Epson Workforce 500 and the ink is a Durabrite Ultra Ink – and it does not smear, I know my old HP would have not worked, it smeared bad.

Here it comes…

Now I let it sit a few minutes just to make sure it is dry.

 

See? Riley is now on the watercolor paper. Sorry the picture is not that good a color. 

So I just used my aqua painter and ink pads and started to color… and look Ma no hands bleeding!

Here Riley is all done being colored, or since I am thinking Toronto Maple Leafs would that be called coloured with a "u"?

I promise to make him into a card and post it. I was gone most of the day today… over at MAMMa's this morning, a hair appt (getting the old dyed away), an impromptu dentist appt, and errands (which included the purchasing of ink for this here tutorial!), then home to get this started, make dinner, and my Mum and Dad in-law got here tonight so I was visiting and never got a card done…so I will tomorrow ok?

Oh and guess what showed up on my door step today?  The new Spring/Summer Stampin' Up! catalog. I looked at MAMMa's while I was over there and oohed and aahed, and am so excited for all the great new sets, and awesome new accessories.  We can start ordering out of it on the 19th.  Make sure to get what you want out of the current one before January 18.

Well I better hit the hay it is almost midnight (I post my posts the night before…) morning comes early!

Have a super Tuesday, I hope you enjoyed this little lesson, I know I was surprised it worked, and thanks so very much for stopping in!

Hugs, Di