Before you read on I want to draw your attention to the "STAY IN TOUCH" link just above. Click there to sign up for my newsletter. You'll be so glad you did! Many thanks ~ Chris
Today we are blog hopping with Around the World on Wednesday and we are all sharing the love of a favorite technique. Well, when you've been stamping as long as I have, the favorites come and go but when I read this theme I had no problem coming up with my favorite technique. It's not one I really have a name for but I've used a few times recently and it always seems to draw me back into the stamp studio.
This is kind of like 3 techniques mixed together.
First I blend monochromatic colors onto a piece of cardstock. I've found that this process goes more quickly and gives richer color if I start with colored cardstock to begin with. So far I've tried Coastal Cabana with Lost Lagoon and Night of Navy blended, Lemon Lolly with Wild Wheat (and a little Mossy Meadow) and finally, Fresh Freesia with whatever purple was on my blending brush (pale Gorgeous Grape?) followed by more Fresh Freesia. As you can see sometimes I work from a darker bottom to brighter top and other times I more or less add the ink around the edges, leaving a lighter interior. Any pattern works but the idea is to show some kind of gradient.
My next step is to add dry embossing. I used the Distressed Tile 3D Emossing Folder on a couple of the cards and the Zinnia 3D folder on the third.
Finally I add just a touch of heat embossing by barely touching my Versamark ink pad to some of the raised portions of my embossed backgrounds. You don't want lots of embossing powder here. It's just an accent. Try to use a very light touch in applying the Versamark and feel free to use a small paintbrush to brush away any excess. I've only used gold pwder thus far but there's no reason you couldn't try another color.
For these first two examples I used embossed images for my focal points
This uses the main bouquet from Stippled Roses. After embossing, I applied Real Red and Garden Green ink with sponge daubers.
This Easter Lily bundle is so fun to work with. There are 4 parts and you have flexibility to arrange the lilies in various stages of blooming. There is an additional option to just use die cuts without stamps to assemble your lilies.
Finally, I stamped the zinnias in Tuxedo Black Memento and colored them with Blends. Though the image itself is not heat embossed, I sprinkled a bit of gold embossing powder over the zinnias and heated it from below, adding just a bit of gold shimmer.
I hope you give this combination of techniques a try. it can be just a bit addicting...
Now it's time to continue on with the blog hop. There's much more loveliness to see. Next up is Tricia Butts.
I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.
If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]
I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.
If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the February host code, T3XTGYVZ, I will send you a gift with a make and take project. You will also get to choose at least one Sale-a-bration item. US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.
If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.
Shop with Me:
