Sunday, November 25, 2012

Playing with Distress Inks

hey all you crafty types!

i've been away far too long...  i think it's high time i got back into the blogging groove! need to drum up some new followers, and provide some inspiration for my current peeps!  :)

so - speaking of inspiration, i have made a bunch of card-packs recently, based on a lovely (and luckily, EASY) technique i found on the Ranger website.  those folks (especially t!m holtz - my craft guru as you probably all know) sure do know how to inspire the masses!

let's get started - i was careful to take step-by-step photos as i went along, so i could share my efforts with you all.

DISTRESS INK BLENDING - CARD SETS
MY FINISHED SET















tools required for this project:
  • 4 Distress inks in coordinating colours, light to dark for a graduated look
  • black ink
  • foam blending tool
  • 3"x5" sticky notes
  • white cardstock, 4" x 5 1/4"
  • cardstock for the card base, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (kraft or black look great, but use whatever colour you like that coordinates with the Distress Ink colours you choose)
  • a large background stamp, at least 4" long so you don't have to try and line it up
  • a long, tall stamp in your choice of image
  • a sentiment stamp
  • corner punch of your choice (i used a small corner rounder)

begin by choosing 4 Distress Ink colours that go well together - a light colour first, then continuing darker colours.  you will finish with the darkest colour.  (my choices were Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Weathered Wood, and Broken China)

gently tear sticky notes down the long side, leaving the repositionable sticky back part intact to stick onto your cardstock as a mask towards the left side - you will end up with blank space on the right side to stamp a sentiment.  (just reverse sides if you want your sentiment on the left!)  next grab your blending tool with foam attached, and beginning with the lightest colour, add ink to the top 1/4 portion of the white cardstock.  continue with the next 3 colours, lightest to darkest, overlapping a little with each new colour.  as the distress ink dries, you'll be left with a smooth, blended look that is awesome!  (HINT:  i did 4 of these at a time so I would end up with a set of 4 cards...  you could just do 1 card, or 100 if you're so inclined!)



leaving your sticky note masks in place, stamp your chosen background image in one of your Distress Ink colours (I used Weathered Wood in this image, with a background stamp from the Mixed Media set by Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz collection.  sorry - no photo of that set!)

once again leaving your masks in place, choose your main image...  it can be one that fits completely within the open area, or a wider image - but keep in mind that only the portion that fits within the open area will be left when the masks are removed.  i have used both of these stamp sets and they look lovely!  on the left is Delicate Branches, and on the right is Meadow, both by Inkadinkado


ink up your stamp with black ink - i used Colorbox chalk ink in Blackbird, but have also used Momento Tuxedo Black for a nice, crisp image
please off your sticky note masks to reveal the great, uneven edging
now that the Distress inks are completely dry, you can see how the colours have softened up and blended really nicely!  add a sentiment to the right bottom corner, round the right top & bottom corners on the layering white cardstock, as well as the card base, stick your layers together with double-sided tape - and voila, you're done!!  i left these quite simple, but if you want to add ribbon, rhinestones, or other accents to make it your own, have fun & embellish away! 



take care,
karin the crafty girl


Sunday, April 1, 2012

R U still out there?

hey all you crafty types!

just wondering if anybody is still out there, hopefully waiting that i will someday post again... well today is your lucky day! i had the urge to send a shout out to the blogger world. hope to keep this up, as life might actually slow down for a while and allow me time to play!

cheers,
crafty girl