RESIST TECHNIQUE - PART 2

Following on from last week, and those of you who know me, know I love playing and getting messy....what better way than using spray dye inks !!  It is the same technique where you stamp an image using VersaMark and heat emboss using clear/white embossing powder to form your 'resist' area.  Instead of using dye based ink pads, try sprays.  *I cover my work area with a plastic table cloth kept for 'messy' creative fun. For the tag, I mopped up any residual spray from my tablecloth, onto a spare piece of card.  I then stamped a large flower stamp several times and cut a couple out, cutting into the petals, towards the centre to allow me to pull it in, shaping and giving dimension to the flower.  I then added a few embellishments and some jute to give it further texture and dimension.

For the card, I used a blue and a yellow spray, predominantly mixing to a green, but still with hints of the initial two colours.  As spray inks are much wetter, and as you are unable to dry them off with a heat tool otherwise you will melt the 'resist', you have a couple of options at this stage, before you lift the 'resist' off with an iron. Either roll kitchen tissue over to remove the excess (this can leave a pitted texture which you will either love or hate), or using another clean piece of card, place it over the top and rub lightly....another way of mopping up the excess,and another surface prepared for a future creation.  Alternatively you could be patient and leave it to air dry....PATIENCE is not one of my virtues unfortunately !!!!  I kept this card very simple and just used one of the fabulous Kaisercraft clear texture stamps (Postmarks) to over stamp. The greeting is stamped onto some of the waste that I trimmed off when mounting the main image.  A little ribbon and double matted...Voila !

RESIST TECHNIQUE

This is one of my favourite techniques !!!

Firstly, you need to create an image to resist the colour of the next layer.  In the tag opposite, I used a word quote stamp.  To create the 'resist' use a clear embossing ink e.g. Versamark, stamp your image and cover with either clear or white embossing powder.  Remove the excess, then heat set the powder. After a moment or two, when cool, add your choice of colours.  For this particular tag I used Tim Holtz distress ink pads- Peacock Feathers, Scattered Straw, and lightly edged with Vintage Photo.

You now need to lift off your 'resist' element, so that you can build further layers.  To do this use a hot, dry iron (make sure the steam is switched off), and place a clean piece of white printer paper over the top.  Press firmly onto the image for a minute or two.  You will see your image melting and being soaked up by the paper.  Lift and check to see if you have removed all the embossing powder by carefully (because it will be hot) running your finger over it, to see if any of the image is still raised.  If you can still feel some of the 'resist', place some more clean paper over the image and repeat the iron process, until all of the initial image has been removed and it is your base card colour that appears where your coloured inks have resisted them.  Tip: take care that only clean paper touches the image when ironing, or residue will transfer back and spoil your creation.

For the next layer I inked a flower stamp in black, to create a bolder contrast.  I also embossed with black powder, but this is optional.  It does however make it much more tactile....and we all tend to look with our hands rather than our eyes as we were so often reminded not to do when we were children !!!  I also added touches of an ultra fine crystal glitter by DecoArt to give it sparkle and dimension, accented with Card Candi, a metal decorative corner and a piece of black satin edged ribbon and was pleased with my 'minimal' effort.  What took very little time, gives the impression that a great deal of work has gone into it...

Both of these cards were created in exactly the same way .... what a difference choice of colours can make !!  For both the resist and the main image, the same stamp was used, but  slightly offset to the left.  Also, I didn't emboss this image in black.  Instead, I opted to stamp and emboss a verse on the front, which would only work over a flat image.

So...what are you waiting for....have some fun. If you have any questions, email me at contact@divinecrafting.co.uk, and don't forget to email photos of your creations too.

Christine x

Inky Layers

I have so many ideas I want to share with you all, but where do I begin ?

Any techniques I  do share may cross over to different surfaces or art styles, so don't be limited, even if I have only used a tag as an example.  Think about using these techniques in your card making, art journaling and scrapbooking.  Perhaps produce a canvas or a piece of altered art work.  If some of this seems new and you're not sure what planet I am on, then keep stopping by and hopefully I can share my knowledge so that you may further your creative repertoire.

This week I thought I might start with some basic inking to create layers.  There are many types of ink on the market, all of which have different qualities, suitable for a variety of purposes.  I will at a later date blog about inks, for those that are a little unsure. 

A heat resistant craft mat is an ideal work surface as it's slick coating allows your blending foam to slide onto your card much more easily.  If you haven't got one, an oven liner (they tend to be a black version) or the back of your craft mat will be fine.  For the purpose of this technique I used dye based inks (Ranger Distress inks).  Use whatever you already have in your crafty stash, there's no need to rush out and start making hefty purchases....even though we crafters love nothing more !!!  Decide first whether they are techniques you wish to explore further.  

Firstly select 3 colours: one each of a light, medium and slightly darker ink, to give you some contrast. I chose a pale lemon, a light orange and a red. Using foam to pick up the colour from your ink pad (I prefer Ranger Cut 'n' Dry - a small square for each individual colour can be used over and over again), and starting with your palest colour, using a light circular motion from your mat and onto your card, start applying the colour.  If you do this lightly until you get a 'feel' of the motion, you can always add more colour, but you can't take it away if you go in too heavy handed.  I generally apply my first colour to the top right, bottom right, then the middle of the left side. Now the psychology bit......this rule of 3 is the most aesthetically appealing combination to the human mind....but that's the limit of my knowledge on that subject ! 
Then onto your medium colour, filling in some of the empty spaces, and finally your darker colour, which should be in smaller patches to accent .  You will notice from mine, these naturally fall in the opposite areas to the palest colour: middle of right side, bottom left and top left..

Now to start creating your layers.  I used a stencil of a clock, but it doesn't matter what it is, you are only adding some interest, and you can't tell that I used a clock, even if you look very closely.  I made a disposable one, die cutting an oddment of card, and placed it so it fell over the bulk of the lightest areas.  Either using the medium colour ink, or, as I did a pale brown (as this fitted with the warm tones of my colour palette....gosh another blog topic idea), very lightly start adding a little depth of colour.  This is subtle as you don't want to completely cover your initial colours, think of it as 'adding shading'.  If your stencil moves, you could use low tack tape to secure, but be careful not to 'shade' over the tape or that will leave a 'ghost image' too !! **tip for low tack tape - remove some of the sticky by touching to your skin or clothing a few times first, this prevents it over sticking to your card and tearing it when the tape is removed.  I then added further layers, using the same pale brown/medium ink colour and partial impressions of stamps.  Direct stamping ink colour will always be a deeper shade than that which has been blended...unless you really have been too heavy handed....whoops!!  I used a postmark stamp, but I could have equally used a flower, script etc., use whatever you have already.   If you notice, I have intentionally stamped off the edges.  This again helps with the depth, giving the illusion that it is fading away. The main image was then stamped in a darker ink that totally contrasted with the other colours - navy blue.  The stamp I used was a steampunk butterfly by Chocolate Baroque.  I fell in love with this stamp as soon as they released it....so you may see it popping up frequently.  You could add a sentiment or a phrase - if you haven't got anything suitable, why not simply write something on it. To finish, and add a few more layers, I added some accents - watch parts that I once bought in a bulk bag and have been sitting waiting to be used for such a long time, a metal cog, and I cut out a butterfly from a paper pad I had, covered the centre clock face with crackle accents (Ranger), and when dry, attached with a curly paper clip.  Instead of ribbon I used a paper/tissue roll - not entirely sure what it is called but something I have had for such a long time and was yelling out to be used.

Once you've 'had a go', don't limit yourself to a tag, although this, or a square, rectangle etc. matted and added to a card would be fabulous, why not have a go at art journaling, it's very therapeutic.  I will no doubt, visit this fabulous creative area many times and suggest links to help you further.

Thank you for stopping by, hopefully you will find this of interest.  In the meantime, don't be shy, send me photos of your work (contact@divinecrafting.co.uk) so I can add it to my inspiration page on www.divinecrafting.co.uk  

Christine x