Faux Tearing

Hi Everyone.  Prior to starting our Group of Seven Cardmakers blog, our group kept in touch during Covid and started trying out new and (revised) older techniques.  We are including them as a reference for those that are interesting in trying them out.

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June 2022

Supplies:

• Regular card stock
• Scrap paper
• Different colours of ink that work well together (Distress, DOX, Dye) - 3 colours work best
• Sponges

Technique Instructions:

• Tear several strips of scrap paper
• On card stock, starting near bottom, place torn strip just above bottom to use as a mask.
• Sponge first colour of ink at bottom.
• Place a torn strip of paper higher up and sponge with second colour
• Keeping moving up the card stock, adding torn strips as masks and sponging colour below them until you are at the top.
• Use as background, add stamped images or die-cuts on top to finish card.

Faux Tearing

Bonnie

Darnell

Julia (posted on SplitcoastStampers)

Susan

White on Kraft Sponging

Hi Everyone.  Prior to starting our Group of Seven Cardmakers blog, our group kept in touch during Covid and started trying out new and (revised) older techniques.  We are including them as a reference for those that are interesting in trying them out.

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March 2022

Supplies:

• kraft card stock
• white pigment ink
• sponge
• scrap paper to create masking 
• Stamps to complete scene
• Dark brown ink
• White acrylic pen (optional)

Technique Instructions:

• Tear paper to create torn edges for masking
• Place mask just up from bottom of card front (masking above areas), and sponge with white pigment ink.  Sponge solid white at torn edge, fading out as you go down.  Leave some open space at the bottom (kraft card colour).
• Move mask up page and repeat the masking and sponging with fading.
• Before removing the last mask, stamp an image in dark brown ink.
• Move mask up page and repeat the masking and sponging with fading. 
• Add in additional images as needed.
• Once you are approx. 2/3 way up the card front, stop masking and just lightly sponge white ink above to create a snow sky look, leave space around any images that are above the last snowhill, creating a halo effect around them.
• Add white highlights to your images using a white acrylic paint pen or diluted white ink or paint.
• Splatter with diluted white ink or white paint to create falling snow.

White on Kraft Sponging

Bonnie

    

Julia

    

Loll

Susan

Floating Alcohol Inks

Hi Everyone.  Prior to starting our Group of Seven Cardmakers blog, our group kept in touch during Covid and started trying out new and (revised) older techniques.  We are including them as a reference for those that are interesting in trying them out.

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January 2022

Video:  Alcohol Ink Floating Background by Andy Skinner

Supplies:

• Disposable container filled with water
• Alcohol Inks
• Regular card stock, glossy card stock, etc. (experiment with other substrates)
• Latex gloves (optional but recommended)

Technique Instructions:

Following the video above ...

• Alcohol inks will stain anything they come in contact with.  Make sure to protect your work surface.  Wearing gloves will prevent stains on your hands and fingers.
• Squeeze a few drops of alcohol ink into the water.
• Use 2-3 colours that are in the same family of colour.  Do not use complementary (opposites on the colour wheel) as you will end up with gray or brown ink.
• Dip in pieces of card stock or glossy card.  The ink will stick to the paper.  
• Place wet card on paper towel to dry.
• This is a messy technique so it is best to make several at one time.
• Once the alcohol inks have been soaked up on the card stock, you can add more colours or different combinations of colour to the water and repeat.

A simple technique that makes beautiful backgrounds.

Floating Alcohol Inks

Bonnie

Christine

Darnell

 

Susan

Brayering

Hi Everyone.  Prior to starting our Group of Seven Cardmakers blog, our group kept in touch during Covid and started trying out new and (revised) older techniques.  We are including them as a reference for those that are interesting in trying them out.

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October 2021

Supplies:

• Brayer
• Inks (dye inks work best but you can use distress inks and dox inks)
• Smooth card stock (glossy, coated, Bristol)
• Copy paper
• Rubber mat (cushioning for brayer)
• Stamp

Technique Instructions:

• Use rubber mat under your card stock to add depth and cushioning.
• Add some copy paper over mat that extends beyong the mat for rolling ink off.  Have more copy paper off to one side for more rolling off (cleans brayer).
• Wipe off your card stock before starting.  Ink will not stick to fingerprints.
• To ink brayer, roll over stamp pad in one direction to load brayer (not back and forth).  Ink only the width of your stamp pad ... do not go side to side to fill the brayer, the ink will be uneven and not look good.
• Add any masks before starting (optional) --- example, moon, sun, hills.
• Always start with the lightest colour first.  Take the first swipe of the brayer on copy paper to make sure ink is even before adding to card stock.
• Start at the top of your card stock, gently rolling side-to-side with light pressure.
• Roll brayer from side to side, moving slowly down the page.  Make sure to follow through off the page; don't stop or start in the middle of your card stock.
• Re-ink brayer once ink fades.
• Once you are happy with the first colour, roll the brayer over copy paper to remove any ink before starting next colour.
• Your second colour will be darker.  Start at the top of the page but don't roll down as far as the first colour.
• Repeat with third colour (optional).
• Once you have finished inking your card stock, remove any masks and lightly go over the masked area with a light colour of ink on your brayer (this prevents the masked are from being too stark white).

Brayering

Bonnie

 

Brenda

Darnell

 

Loll

 

Susan