archival ink brayered backgrounds...

it started like this...

a few days ago Rick spotted a brayer in my studio & asked what the "roller thing" was used for...

I gave him several uses & that was that...

or so I thought...

a few days later I woke at 4 AM with a brayer idea...

grab your large brayer...

and your craft sheet...

and Ranger's AWESOME specialty stamping paper...

this is a key ingredient...

and fill a mini mister with rubbing alcohol...(for UK friends, it's surgical spirit)...

the one minute background goes like this...

I swiped the dandelion archival pad & the cornflower blue archival pad onto the craft sheet, then lightly misted the inks with the rubbing alcohol...

and picked up the inks with the brayer...

then brayered up & down over specialty stamping paper...

oh yes...IN LOVE...

very worn looking effect...

nice mixing of colors...

I turned around to plug in my heat tool, but in those few short seconds, the paper was already dry...

the one minute background...seriously simple & F A S T!

then I wondered what would happen if I brayered over an oval clearly for art die cut...

I used the same colors as above...

this is cool...

the inky fluid seeped under the oval & created a subtle frame...

I WILL be doing this again...

the next color combo I wanted to try is orange blossom & hydrangea...

 you'll notice a little difference in the photo below...

instead of brayering across the full length of the ss paper, I just did short rolls with abrupt stops...
that deposited excess ink & makes the spots you see...

it's a very dimensional effect, but with only one layer of ink...I can't wait to stamp & stencil over this one...

hmmmm...what about only using one color archival ink with a drop of the gold metallic mixative?

same alcohol misted tree branch archival ink on the right...

on the left you'll see the one drop of the mixative with a bit of alcohol...

this creates a beautiful monochromatic background with  amazing shimmer...

this is already cut for card fronts...

I just NEED more studio time...

my next thought was that stripes would be fun...

this is dandelion, forget-me-not & leaf green archivals...

I used the smaller brayer for this one...

this is a half sheet of specialty stamping paper...

I'm liking this too...

here's some ideas for these backgrounds...

trust me...make one & you'll NEED to make 12 more!

it's a very fun, very simple technique...

I like to make larger sheets, which I'll use for art journal pages later...

and then I can cut them up for card fronts too...

I know I'll be die cutting some to create my own custom embellishments, like cool flowers...

I like to make backgrounds on brain dead days...

those kind of days where no ideas are popping out...

sometimes the background speaks to you & guides the whole art process...

ok...here's how I used one of them...

I cut the striped one in half...

I had some custom colored white embossing paste all ready to go...

it was mixed right in the new mix & store jar & it was colored with a drop of the fern green archival reinker...

I spread the green embossing paste thru the wreathe stencil...

it dries with cool texture & it adds no weight to the card...

it won't pop off or crack...

and the embossing paste goes thru the mail with no problem at all...

below you'll see some stenciling on the left...

I used the checkmate stencil with tree branch archival...

I used watering can archival to stencil the stripes...

and cornflower blue to add the random text stamping on the far right...

I used jet black archival to stamp my sentiment & the flourish...

I had planned to add pen stitching to the edges, but instead I used the tarnished brass distress paint to edge the card front...

I stamped a portion of the thistle stamp on a scrap of specialty stamping paper...

embossed it with frosted crystal embossing powder...

then inked right over the whole shebang with leaf green archival & cut them out...

here's the leaves... 

the art parts flower was created by pressing it onto the reverse dots background stamp...

the stamp was inked with forget-me-not archival...

this stamp stamps the background NOT the dots...

the dots are the kraft color of the art part showing thru...

this is a good stamp for adding lots of color...

at the last minute I changed my mind and trimmed the card to make it even smaller...

and edged it with the tarnished brass distress paint...

I inked this FAVORITE lace border stamp with tarnished brass distress paint & stamped the lace border onto the black card stock twice...

I also used the paint to edge the card...

if you look at the stamp set, the lace border is to the far left & is vertical...easy to miss seeing...I get lots of questions about where to find this stamp...

a few black glaze pen dots added to the wreathe is a great tiny detail...but it does matter...

things to note...

when using specialty stamping paper, ALWAYS dry every layer of ink you add...
the magic coating really slows down the drying time of all inks...

the specialty stamping paper does not allow the inky fluid to seep thru the paper...this is great when you're making art journal pages...
when you start the back of the page, you have a nice white surface...no ugly blobs to worry about covering up...

I tried this technique on manila card stock...not too impressed...
don't bother...

when mixing color into embossing paste, start with ONE DROP, since reinkers are very concentrated...

same situation with the metallic mixatives...ONE drop is all you need...

reinkers & mixatives will last a LONG time...
there must be a million drops in those tiny bottles...

excess custom colored paste stays nice & fresh in the mix & store jars...
they're very convenient...
no clean up...and best of all...NO waste!

and now for the laugh of the day...
Rick was outside mowing the lawn & someone asked if we are selling green acres...


NO...WE ARE NOT MOVING...
NO...the place is NOT for sale...
N E V E R    E V E R...

why?

here's what gave him the idea...

these are the supplies for my classes next weekend in NC at Betty's...

just waiting for Fed-Ex pickup...

the tubs & boxes are going...

NOT US!

oh wait..I AM...but I'm coming home!

well...I hope this tutorial gives you more reason to love archival inks...

they're great for stamping...

they're great stenciling...

they're great for inking & coloring NON porous surfaces...

like metal embellishments...

they're great for creating custom colored embossing pastes...

and they're great for background techniques...

get out your brayer...

give it a go & let me know how you like this technique...

I LOVE another way to...

make art!

wendy

EDIT!!!

FLASH SALE over at eclecticPaperie today...
enter the code

                             JULY2014 

and get 20% off your whole order!
sale ends at MIDNIGHT EST today...
JULY 4th!

stamps...

stencils...


SiSi's...

inks...

reinkers too...

gridblocks...

distress markers...

embossing pastes!

I think you get the idea...

20% off EVERYTHING!

another kind of art...

ok...you asked...

this is not something I normally do...

but I'm sharing some bits of our home...

I frequently get asked if our house looks like my art...

hmmm...I guess you can decide...

I mentioned a bit ago that I wanted to change things up in our home...it's something I love to do...

REALLY LOVE...

like almost as much as shopping for shoes & making art...

YES...that much...

it makes you focus on things you love...

when they get moved to a new spot...

it makes you love them even more...

dining table all ready to celebrate the 4th!

I love to create mini collages...

art of another kind...

if it has cool graphics I love it!

yes...red geraniums are my most fav flower & why I have red geranium archival ink!

another  mini collage on top of the drawer unit that started the idea for the re-do...

 I love the drawers...
perfect book/magazine storage...
convenient access... but hidden...and not messy...

more stuff in the family room...

the opposite family room wall...

yep...more stuff!

family room...

same room...other side...

even the bedroom got a little make over...

this stuff sits on a giant tool cabinet that Rick's grandfather built...

it had 27 coats of paint on it...

I'm not exaggerating...

we had it refinished & it's a prized possession...

and this is what started it all...

this is what I came home to...

an empty room...

full of potential for redecorating fun...

I hope you're inspired to move stuff around...

it's fun...

arrange mini collages and...

make (home) art!

wendy

ps...yes...I do realize that our cleaning chick hates me...

dust...the bad 4 letter word!

grid block stamping...

here's a fun technique I discovered recently...

it's called "gridblock stamping", 

because you use...

yes a gridblock...

these mini distress pads are perfectly sized if you're using a smaller gridblock ...

I use the regular size distress pads when using larger gridblocks, like for an art journal page...

today I'm showing a card, so I'll use the minis...

                           

I chose the 3 x 4 gridblock...it's a perfect size for card fronts...

you'll notice that one side of the gridblock is completely smooth & the other side has the laser etched grid lines...

work on the side where you can feel the etching...

you'll be able to read tim's name...

swipe 3 colors of the mini pads onto the etched side of a gridblock...

then mist lightly with water...

for a smaller blocks...2 times, from 6 inches away...

press the inked gridblock onto the smooth side of the watercolor card stock...

lift the gridblock & you get this really cool background...

the grid lines add great detail...

this is a super simple watercolor effect background...

dry the inks...

use jet black archival to stamp the daisy from the darling daisies Stamp it Stencil it set...

place the coordinating stencil over the stamped image...

and use the mini blending tool to add leaf green archival to the leaves...

and orange blossom archival to the flower...

you'll see that this is so quick & super easy...

the stencil also acts as a mask to protect the background...

this explains why I designed the Stamp it Stencil its...(SiSi)...

if you don't have markers, you can use your archival or distress pads instead!

 since archival inks are waterproof, rubbing alcohol is what will remove the archival inks from stencils...

I found these alcohol wipes at CVS... makes it fast...
or plan B...get a bottle of rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit) & use a paper towel (kitchen roll...lol...) to clean the stencil...

use the fude ball pen...

to doodle a simple frame...

use the wild honey marker to add shading to the flower center...

are you surprised that the distress markers work over archival ink?

compare the photo above with the photo below...

interesting!

oops...missing photo...I used jet black archival to stamp wish...

I love the license plate art stamp set, because the letters can be cut apart to create other words...

scribble the iced spruce marker onto the craft sheet & pick up the color with the detail water brush...

this is a simple way to add shading under the flower...

now grab an unmounted text stamp & swipe tree branch archival over a portion of it & press on random areas of the background to add another subtle layer...

stencil the star with dandelion archival, using the mini blending tool...

use the reverse dots background stamp with dandelion archival & stamp onto a scrap of manila card stock...

use a hole punch to create a perfectly coordinating flower center for the daisy...

another reason why I LOVE the reverse dots background...

I trimmed off some of the excess watercolor card stock from each side...

this was too stark looking for me, so I added scattered straw around the edges...

and then some brushed corduroy to add more shading...

another little bit of doodling on the frame made it look better...

next...2 staples from the tiny attacher to the base of the daisy...

to add random water spots...

tap the detail water brush sharply on your finger over the card...

 the detail water brush will dispense tiny water drops...

the distress ink reacts with water & will bleach out...

since the archival ink is permanent, it will not react with the water...

I mounted this onto a black card with rounded corners...

I like this technique for cards, because it looks layered & dimensional, but it's really completely flat...

it's great for art journal pages too!

plus this card is simple to mail...no additional postage needed!

so that's another way to use gridblocks! I hope you'll try it!

moving on...

I donated a piece of art to

Rocky Mountain Memories. they  are hosting an auction to help victims of the September 2013 floods in Estes Park, CO. to bid on my signed art and other pieces from a variety of gifted artists...check out this link...

here's the art I sent...

and here's the direct link to my art...

BREAKING NEWS!!!

simon says is offering 

20% off ALL RANGER PRODUCTS...

just use the code RANGER when checking out...

are you missing any of my archival inks or reinkers?

remember reinkers are perfect to mix into white embossing paste to create custom colored embossing paste that we can now store them in the new the mix & store jars...

and to reink your pads...

and to use for the reinker/rubbing alcohol background technique...

NEED the new mini distress pads? yep...20% off!

perfect timing to get any Ranger products at 20% off...the sale is good thru 11:59EST June 22nd...

are you wondering who is getting a package containing the 3 new distress mini pad sets?

CONGRATS to...

 S@ndy Diller said...

Love the cabinet Wendy. If I have to choose only one, it 

will be Aged Mahogany. Have a great week and I look 

forward to your tutorial.

June 17, 2014 at 2:12 PM

 

Sandy...please send me your shipping info & we'll get these off to you...

have a wonderful weekend!

take time to gridblock stamp and...

make art!

wendy

ps...the drawers are scheduled to arrive TUESDAY...the family room has a spot ready...(I'm counting the minutes!)

I've been busy changing the whole house around...that's how it goes...one thing leads to another...

from

family room...

to

bedroom...

to

main bath...

then

even a dining redo...

ps...yes ...I DO LOVE blue graniteware!

NEW distress minis...GIVEAWAY!

today I'm celebrating coming home after a 9 day Texas teaching trip with a GIVEAWAY...

it's compliments of tim & Ranger...

I have a set of the 3 brand new mini distress inks to give to a random blog commenter...

the minis are oh so cute...

they're easy to store & easy to take with you when traveling...

I'll be back later this week with a fun tutorial showing you a great way to use the minis...

regular sized distress pads will work too...

here's a hint...you WILL want to have your GRIDBLOCKS nearby for the tutorial...

they are a KEY ingredient...

somedays I have blonde moments...

this probably wasn't my smartest move...

after being gone for 9 days...

I asked Rick to have the family room & our bedroom emptied out so I could do a refresh...

I LOVE to change things around in our home...

and to make room for this cutie in the family room...

ps...it's ON SALE at Pottery Barn...

ok...back to the GIVEAWAY...

if you'd like to win these 3 brand new minis...

just leave a comment & tell me your ONE MOST FAVORITE DISTRESS INK COLOR...simple...but it's NOT simple to choose just one color!

I'll be back later this week with the distress tutorial & I'll announce the lucky winner...

feel free to share this GIVEAWAY with your friends...

gotta get my house back in order before I can...

make art!

wendy

catching up...

yikes...long time no blog...

I spent last weekend at Craft Fancy in Arlington Heights, Illinois...

THANKS to Carol & Brian...your store is just AWESOME...

so comfy...so convenient...so organized...

there was wonderful food...wonderful shopping...

and even a surprise birthday cake...

THANKS to everyone who spent the weekend...making art!

you ALL did a great job!

we spent 2 FULL days making a fun mixed media art journal...

my crackled texture paste was a HUGE hit!

here's the art parts back cover...

and a closer peek at how cool the cracks look...

this photo doesn't show it...

but we added the translucent embossing paste thru the tree stencil to accent just the leaves...

love love love that raised effect...

the NEW "mix & store jars" are now back in stock...

yippee!

wow...you liked them as much as I do...

I LOVE the convenience & I love that there's no clean up or wasted paste & that the jars keep custom colored paste fresh...

hmmm...what else?

in my spare time, we've been making kits for classes...LOTS of kits...and shipping them & reordering supplies & reorganizing our basement class supply area...

and working on NEW things & testing out ideas...

more to come on that later...

I shared this art journal page earlier this week on

my Facebook page...

please stop by & hit the LIKE button & then share with your friends...

here it is again for friends who don't happen to visit Facebook...

and now it's time to pack some clothes & SANDALS...hmmm...which ones...decisions...decisions...

9 days...how many pairs can I squeeze in?

I'm off to The Crafty Scrapper in Waxahachie, Texas to teach the same 2 day mixed media art journal...

after that Ill be demoing for 3 FULL days at GASC (Great American Scrapbook Convention) in Arlington, Texas...

I LOVE this convention...the southern hospitality is awesome...

and it's nice & warm there!

come visit us! our booth will be LOADED with everything you need to...make art!

have a wonderful weekend...

I hope YOU have time to make art!

wendy