Experimenting with Black Mixed Media Paper

Hi everyone.  I bought some black mixed media paper (along with a gray/blue version).  Had some fun experimenting the other day with different mediums.  Only opaque mediums will show up on the black.  Made a card for this month's CAS Watercolour - Red and Black challenge.

The above card is done with Pearl-Ex powders.  They are a mica powder and come in gorgeous colours.  There is no binder in these powders, so you need to mix them with another product to make them set.  I mixed them with gum arabic (1 part gum arabic to 4 parts pearl-ex powder) and then used a wet brush to apply.  When I was finished I took a metallic silver pen and went over the silver embossing that was shaded from the powders being on top.  The pen was a little thicker than I would have liked, especially for the stamens, but it turned out pretty well.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Delicate Beauty (Penny Black)
Paper:  Black Mixed Media Paper (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools: Silver embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool, Pearl-Ex Powders (interference red, red russet); gum arabic, water brush, silver metallic pen (Pilot)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour February Challenge - Red and Black

CAS Stencil June Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the CAS Stencil June Challenge.  This month is hosted by the talented Linda (Life in the Craft Lane), and she has us using ...

I made this card at my recent retreat.  We had some play time withe Pearl-Ex and I ended up with two lovely cards.  This one is stenciled through a sunflower stencil.  My other card is stamped with Pearl-Ex and I'll share at another time.

I love this stencil ... I've used it at least a dozen different ways.  This is a very elegant card with the black background and contrasting shimmer and shine from the yellow gold and copper powders.  Pearl-Ex is similar to Perfect Pearls, except it doesn't have a bonding agent, which means if you just brushed it onto card to, it will brush right off.  There's a few different ways to make it stick, but the best I found was using Versarmark (with this card, through a stencil) and pouring over Heat and Stick Powder ... there are lots of different brands of this powder to try.  Then it is heat set until the powder melts.  The Pearl-Ex powders are then brushed over and heat set again to adhere the powder to the image.  That is an important step to heat a second time.  Once cooled, you can use a cloth or paper towel to brush off any excess powder.

I stamped the sentiment onto a black card stock banner and heat embossed with Princess Gold (Ranger).  It's a yellow gold embossing powder that works so well with the yellow gold of the sunflower.

Here's a close-up ...

We are thrilled to have Chrissie (Simply One of a Kind) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge post to see Chrissie's Pearl-Ex CAS card, along with the amazing cards from our Designers.  Then come play along.

Stamps: special sentiments (Penny Black)
Paper:  Black card stock (Stampin' Up!)
Ink:  Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Mini Joyful Sunflower stencil (TCW), heat & stick powder (SU!); Pearl-Ex powders, brush, heat tool, Princess Gold embossing powder (Ranger)

Challenges:
CAS Stencil June Challenge - Perfect Pearls / Pearl-Ex