Monday, September 30, 2024

Autumn Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card was made at the same time as the Stencil Monoprint card I posted a couple of days ago ...
I used brushos on mixed media paper with the Joyful Sunflower stencil to create 1) a positive print --- my card for today; then 2) flipping the wet stencil over onto a second piece of mixed media paper to create the negative (background) print for the stencil monoprint recently posted for Group of Seven.

I'm really happy with both cards. :)  I haven't done many prints with stencils recently and Group of Seven inspired me to get inky. :)  

The top card uses the print, along with a small black sentiment banner with Happy Birthday heat embossed in copper.  Simple, quick, and easy card to make, celebrating fall's colours.  

Close-up ...

Sharing at the following challenges:
  

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Many Everyday Message - retired (Hero Arts)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:   Brushos: Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown; Versamark
Accessories:  Joyful Sunflower (The Crafter's Workshop); water mister, Copper embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool

Saturday, September 28, 2024

Stencil Monoprint - Group of Seven

Hi everyone.  This month we are looking back at an older technique, Stencil Monoprint.  It's an easy and fun technique that creates lovely backgrounds or main panels for cards.

Please check out the details for the technique and link to videos on the blog ...

* * * * *
My first card above uses powdered inks (Brushos - Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown).  Using powdered inks or sprays allows me to make a positive (print) and negative (monoprint) from just one application of colour (see pictorial below).  I used one of my favourite stencils (Joyful Sunflower - The Crafter's Workshop), which was a gift from a sweet friend several years ago.  I'll share my print card at another time. 

Sending the above card to Just Us Girls #746 - Stencil Week.

* * * * *
For my second card, I used powdered inks again (Brushos - Lime Green, Leaf Green), along with the Wander & Find stencil (Carta Bella - retired).
I stamped the Pop Sunflower image onto mixed media paper, watercoloured using Distress Inks, fussy-cut, and popped it up over my Stencil Monoprint background.  That little bird is so sweet! :)


* * * * *
Here is a pictorial of my process of making the Stencil monoprints with powdered inks.
 
   1) Stencil on mixed media paper        2) Brushos sprinkled over stencil

 
                            3) Right card - Water misted over      4) Left card - Inky stencil flipped onto
                                 Brushos (positive print)                       second card / blotted with
                                                                                                     paper towel  (stencil monoprint)                    
 
                                  5)  Stencil removed                               6) Left to Right - 
                                       / paper left to air dry                            Stencil monoprint/ Print
                                       (finished Stencil Monoprint)             

Here's what I learned when I experimented with this technique ...
  • This is an easy technique that works with lots of different mediums, substrates, and stencils. 
  • It can be a main panel or background - so lots of flexibility
  • Use a generous amount of water so the colour spreads, especially when using powdered inks.
  • Important to remove the stencil quickly after spraying with water.  This prevents the water from spreading under the stencil and loosing definition of the design.
  • You can create several panels with one application of ink.  Repeat adding inked (wet) stencil onto card and blotting with paper towel until there isn't any colour left.  First stencil monoprint will be the strongest colours, each monoprint will be lighter in colour than the previous.

Thanks for stopping by!

Card #1:
Stamps:  Pop Sunflowers (Stampendous); Simply Sentiments (Lawn Fawn)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Early Espresso (SU!)
Ink:   Brushos: Terra Cotta, Orange, Leaf Green, Light Brown; Versamark
Accessories:   Clear acrylic block to elevate panel when adding stencil and ink (optional - but worth it), Mini Joyful Sunflower stencil (The Crafter's Workshop); Water Mister, White embossing powder (Ranger); heat tool

Card #2:
Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts - retired)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black Pigment: Versafine Clair Nocturne; Brushos: Lime Green, Leaf Green; Distress Inks:  Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon, Gathered Twigs, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear acrylic block to elevate panel when adding stencil and ink (optional - but worth it),

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Penny Black - Messenger

For the above card I started with stamping the main image, Messenger (Penny Black) onto mixed media paper using black pigment ink.  The image was heat set before watercolouring with Distress Inks and Zig markers.  The small rectange stencil from Background Basics (Penny Black) was placed over top before sponging with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink around the inside edges.  The Double Frames (Penny Black) were cut from red card stock and patterned green card and layered over top of the image.  To finish, the sentiment (from the same stamp set) was stamped in more black ink.  The sponging and double frames give this a vintage look.

Made a second card using everything the same as above, except for reversing the order of the card used for the double frames ...  

... and one more using this beautiful image ...
I fussy-cut the bird and pinecone after watercolouring with Distress inks on mixed media paper.  The full image was stamped again onto a patterned paper leftover cut from the center of the frame in card one.  The fussy-cut cardinal and pinecone were adhered over top of the bottom image to add depth (paper piecing).  I used my zig markers to add colour to the pine branch.  The sentiment from the same stamp set was stamped in Candied Apple Distress ink to finish the card.

Sending the above card to:

 
Thanks for stopping by!

Penny Black Products





Stamps:  Messenger (Penny Black)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Real Red card stock (SU!); Always Artichoke patterned paper (SU!)
Ink:   Black pigment ink (Versafine Clair Nocturne); Distress Inks:  Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Black Soot, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs (Tim Holtz); Zig watercolour markers
Accessories:   Watercolour paint brushes, Background Basics (Stencils - Penny Black); Double Frames dies (Penny Black)

Monday, September 23, 2024

Dahlia Birthday

Hi everyone.  Today's card is a lovely bouquet of flowers (Dahlia Bunch - Pinkfresh Studio), with matching die.  I stamped in black ink onto mixed media paper and watercolour using my Zig markers.  It was fun to pull them out ... I haven't used them very much lately.

I die-cut the image and added it over a panel embossed with the Vine Canopy embossing folder (SSS).  To finish I added a simple sentiment banner using a retired stamp set from Stampin' Up!

Close-up ...
Sending this card to a few challenges:
1) Darnell's IDEAS Sept. Challenge - Anything Goes.  First time using my Zigs after a LONG break. :)
3) Just Us Girls #745 - Mood Board.  So happy to be playing along.  I don't get to play very often because of the short timeframe for the challenges, but this just worked out perfectly.  Thanks for the fabulous mood board challenge Ina!!
 

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Dahlias (PinkFresh Studios); Endless Birthday Wishes - retired (SU!)
Paper:   White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:   Black (Versafine); Zigs (Kuretake)
Accessories:   Dahlias Die-cut (PinkFresh Studios); Vine Canopy Embossing Folder (Simon Says Stamp), watercolour brushes