Monday, January 08, 2018

Masculine Birthday x 2

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing two masculine cards that are made with the same colour medium.  I used Brushos ... but only one colour - Olive.  It's my new favourite!!  I love the different colour pigments in the powders.

I'm adding my two cards from today to the CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday.


I find that if I use a stencil, Brushos colours pool more and I get a lot of saturated colours.  I used a die tree image to cut a stencil from acetate.  I placed the stencil over a piece of hot press w/c paper, sprinkled with olive Brushos, spritzed with lots of water and quickly removed the stencil.  It's the same technique from THIS VIDEO.  The only difference is that I didn't use a paper towel to blot the excess colour.  I let it air dry and ended up with these very deep colours.  LOVE it! :)  I cut the same image from white card stock and glued it over top, lining up the image.  I trimmed the panel and added a stamped sentiment at the bottom.

Here's a close-up.
Of course, I had lots of left over ink on my stencil, so I turned it over and pressed it onto another piece of hot press w/c ( stencil monoprint).  I'll use that for another day.

I mopped up all the excess ink with a paper towel.  I decided to use that paper towel right away to create a fun and easy background and that's how my second card was started.

I find this technique works best with Brushos on watercolour paper.  I placed the inky paper towel over another piece of Hot Press w/c paper, sprayed with water, and pressed with my fingers.  Picked up the towel, moved it around ... more sprayed water and pressing down with my fingers.  I ended up with this great background that shows the quilted design of the paper towel ... it looks textured!  Simply added a stamped silhouette tree and sentiment, framing the image panel in black and popping it up on top of my card front.

I was so happy with this card that I gave it to my oldest son for his birthday. :)







Stamps:  Thank You (Lil' Inkers); Bare Tree (Darkroom Door)
Paper:  Hot Press Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Brushos - Olive; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Tree die (AliExpress), acetate, Big Shot, water mister, paper towel

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday

31 comments:

Anita in France said...

The dark silhouette tree against the texture-y looking background is dramatic and dreamy at the same time, Loll ... your son must've loved it! That's such an awesome brusho technique on the background to your white tree ... the way the rich colour has pooled round the branches has created such an awesome sense of depth ... it's fabulous! Hugs, Anita :)

Viv said...

What fab cards Loll. Another technique you have introduced me to! Will have a go soon as I can! x

nancy littrell said...

Wow..both your cards are so Creative and Stunning, Loll. I love how your Olive Brushos pooled using your stencil. Such rich olive tones. Beautiful with the die cut tree overlay.

Your paper towel texture technique is so clever and creative for the background on your 2nd card. A wonderful background for your stamped tree. I need to try this technique. I like how you used the paper towel right away. All turned out just great! TFS my friend and getting me Inspired..again! Hugs..

HJ said...

Love the paper towel technique. It really gives a lot of texture and looks like a stencil. Both cards are perfect masculine card, which we all need from time to time. Thanks for the inspiration. Enjoy your day!

Liz said...

Both cards are stunning, Loll, I love the different effects you've created with the Brushos. xx

Nstiz said...

I just love both of these! I nearly forgot about the paper towel stamping and love the effects of your olive Brusho! What great colors and love how it breaks down into various hues. There are both just gorgeous!

Linda said...

Lovely, masculine cards, Loll.

Cathy said...

2 fantastic techniques Loll. The concentrated colour in the 1st one looks amazing. Don't think I've tried brushos with a stencil but I need to now! Love the texture from the paper towel in the 2nd one, that's really using every last drop of colour!
Cathy x

Christine Alexander said...

two gorgeous cards, the depth of colour is amazing with the white tree and I just love the paper towel imprint with the stamped tree. BTW love that stamp :)

Susan said...

I keep forgetting about the paper towel backgrounds - must do some more of them. Both cards are fabulous and great inspiration for next time I need a masculine card!

Sheila H said...

Fabulous cards - I especially love the second.

Stamps and Paper said...

Two fabulous cards for a males...your backgrounds are amazing

Anne

Linda said...

I love it when you do twofer cards, such great ideas. The Brusho background looks fab but my favourite is the silhouette tree, the paper towel technique has created an amazing backdrop xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Gorgeous cards, love the green and white, so fresh.
Faith
x

Jeanne said...

Beautiful, or should I say handsome, masculine cards, Loll! What a lot of wonderful depth you achieved in the color on the first card. And the second, that texture effect is remarkable. Fabulous cards!

Bonnie said...

Olive Brusho is one of my favorites too and I love the rich background by using the stencil and the contrast with the white die cut is fantastic! I also love the background using the paper towel! And what a beautiful tree! Can't wait to see the stencil monoprint too.

Marcia Hill said...

Two GREAT cards Loll and since I didn't know there was such a thing as Olive Brusho's, I think I need to go shopping...LOVE it! Really like your textured background in the 2nd card too...SO cool looking!! :0)

Izzy Scrap said...

Absolutely gorgeous ! Both of them ! The white die cutting pops up so beautifully over this stunning dark green background ! I love Brushos but I didn't try yet this technique....I have to try it ! Love also the second card and the technique too ! Thanks so much for sharing, for the great video and for the inspiration ! xx

Kara Lynne said...

I looked at the first card and thought, "I'm definitely trying this!" How gorgeous is that olive Brusho and oh my, what depth of colors! Then I scrolled down to the next card and got even more excited - so that's what I can do with that beautiful color that seems to end up more on the paper towel than on my project! Thanks so much for the inspiration and your beautiful examples, Loll!

Bobby said...

My next purchase is going to be for some more Brusho colors. That olive is so deep and stunning, Loll. I love the paper towel background too. Maybe hot press w/c paper should be my second purchase.

Debbie said...

These are both lovely, Loll. I really like the textured look from the paper towel - what a creative genius you are for thinking of using what would otherwise just be trash to make something so pretty.

Mac Mable said...

Love the technique on your first card Loll. Great to use the stencil first to get the pooling of the colours and then to pop the white die cut on top. Unique and creative. What a fun second card with another unique effect. Love them both and that olive colour is fabulous x

Patti said...

Wow Loll I love that Olive color too and combined with the white is is truly striking! Your last card is amazing as well with the texture you created! I bet your son treasures your cards!

Patti

Papercraft Boutique said...

I love the gorgeous and rich olive Brusho background for the first card, Loll! And I love the background of the second card made with paper towel as much! I thought you used a dotted stencil. What a creative and fun way to create a background! Hideko xx

Sue said...

Two gorgeous card, the brusho on the first has a lovely rich tone and the texture on the second looks like a stencil, very creative x

Karen Dunbrook said...

just super cards....love the look you achieved. I haven't had much time to play but I want to get my Brushos out NOW!!
xx Karen

Susanne Vargas said...

You are definitely the background master! That deep green one looks phenomenal with the white die cut, and your paper towel one is spectacular and makes my don't-waste-anything heart very happy! Love the black silhouette tree with it!

BożenA said...

I love the deep green color you have obtained from colored pigments. When I look at the picture of the first card, the flower next to the card has a similar color scheme. Wonderfully highlights these wonderful cards. The second card has a much more delicate color, but it is equally amazing.
hugs,
BożenA

My Paper Epiphany said...

Two gorgeous cards! I especially love the background of the second!

Pat said...

Two more gorgeous backgrounds in that pretty olive green Brusho Loll, and a great idea for the first one to die cut a piece of acetate to make a stencil and love the dark background you have got wih just a few light areas, and then the paper towel soaked with water has made such a pretty effect on the w/c paper, and the black stamped silhouette tree looks perfect over the top. x

Trina P. said...

Just trying to catch up on my blog visits... I can’t believe I've missed out on all these amazing cards. Love the green. So different from your usual coral and yellow. xx