Ink blending techniques with Stamping With Friends blog hop

Hi there crafters,

I’m joining the team from Stamping with Friends for a blog hop today that focuses on the technique of blending ink. To create this card, I have used blending brushes in a variety of ways which really give depth to the card.

Blending brushes are probably one of my favourite things to teach when I have a workshop. The depth that you get from using them on card stock alone is stunning. For this card I have added both granny Apple green and as you are afternoon to the top and bottoms of panels that were run through an embossing folder. Adding the ink really makes the ridges of the embossing pop out.

I love that stamping up release masks that colour in images. I’ve used a butterfly which was a part of our foiling system release. By using just blending brushes with some ink and layering them up using the masks, the pattern of colouring that gives you a finish that you just can’t replicate any other way. It’s also a simple way to colour in an image. I have several of these mask collections in my stash and love to get them out to show beginners as these are a real wow factor when adding to your purchases.

Whilst ink blending isn’t a part of the technique that we are focusing on, I did want to highlight that I use twine in my projects to Colour match. The easy way to use this is with blending brushes and an ink pad. I lay the twine over the ink pad surface and tap and brush the blending brushes until all of the fibres died with the ink. No messy fingers!

 

I had so much fun creating today’s project, this is one of my favourite Techniques, it’s one of my go to things to add to a card. I’m excited that the rest of the team will be highlighting even more hints and tips, please follow the links below. Don’t forget to leave a little love and say hi in the comments.

New at SU! From Simple to Stepped Up

Hey there crafters, welcome to the August blog hop with the team from New at SU!.  

Our theme this month is all about starting simple and then stepping it up.  

I decided to use the Greenery Lane stamps for my first card.  It was a combination of Shaded Spruce, Pretty Peacock and Night of Navy.  Such a pretty combination.  The Greenery Lane stamps are created to use 2 step stamping to fill in the outlined images.  There is also a small flower stamp, great for beginners to create a background without the use of Designer Series Paper.  

Using a few layers of cardstock really creates a focal point, the main idea for todays blog hop is to make sure you add a little bit more, use a few tricks and techniques to step up the second card.  Below is what I added to change the card to make it a little more complex, a little 'prettier' with the additional of multi-tones and additional embellishements.  

If you have never used a Blender pen, it is a great way to add subtle colouring.  Use the pen to pick up some ink from the outline.  It can really be even lighter than generational stamping!

I love texture on a card and although the first card had some with the additional of some simple stamping on the card base, this made it even more dimensional using an embossing folder and some edge blending for tone on tone inking.  

The Greenery Lane stamps also have a matching set of die.  Usually a bundle will not only help die cut and add dimension to stamped images (use dimensional dots to the die cut images) but it often has smaller images that can be beautifully die cut to use as colour matched embellishments.  These tiny flowers make it easy to heat emboss on the Night of Navy cardstock and add it to add more feminine touches!

Finally, instead of searching through your stash of self adhesive embellishments, be sure you always have a selection of pale of white embellishments that your can customise to your project.  Just add a few layers of alcohol based colour in our Stampin Blends!  If you haven't done this before, give it a try because it really matches well.  

I hope you have enjoyed todays projects, I think both are fabulous cards!  If you want to add a little more to your projects, I hope you can try some of these ideas.  Be sure to hop along to the rest of the team members.... their ideas for elevating will also be handy.  

Happy Stamping, 

Rach x

September Global Monthly Video Hop

A great collection of product lists that match the below Youtube Global Monthly Video Hop... here is my card.  Lots of layers and some fun techniques using some newer products including a great  stamp that matches some of the HOT FOIL release.  Jump over to grab your PDF by clicking the image above....

Happy Stamping,

Rach x