Stencil Monoprint

Hi everyone.  This month we are revisiting a favourite older technique - Stencil Monoprint.  It's a great way to stretch the use of your stencils, as well as being very easy to do.

We are including a video on how to do this technique.  We hope you'll give it a try or let us know if you have a different way to Stencil Monoprint.

If you do make cards, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

You can create beautiful backgrounds or focal points for your cards, depending on the design of the stencil.  Basically you are using the background of the stencil to create your panel.  You can leave it as is on your card, or you can place the stencil back over top to add different ink colours or embossing paste to fill in the design.

**Bonus:  if you take your first monoprint and there's still lots of ink on your stencil, flip it over onto a clean card panel and blot with paper towel.  You will get a muted version of your first panel - makes beautiful, soft backgrounds.

* * * * *

One of the best ways to do this technique using powdered inks or sprays, is to create two card panels at the same time.  If you place your stencil over your card panel and add powdered inks & water / or watercolour sprays, you will have created a positive of the stencil.  Take the inky stencil, flip it over onto a second card panel, press down with paper towel (stencil monoprint).  You now have two card panels (positive and negative), along with an inky paper towel which could be adhered to a third card panel and used as a background. :)

Videos:

Stencil Monoprint by Lee-Ann Cross (6:50) - a great example of how to make Stencil Monoprints.  There are a few different ways, but this video is easy to follow.

Supplies:

• Ink or water-soluable mediums (ink, watercolour paints, powdered inks, sprays, acrylic paints, etc.) - 3-4 colours works best
• Water-friendly substrates (watercolour, mixed media, bristol, etc.)
• Water mister
• Paper Towel

Technique Instructions:

• Add ink to stencil; mist with water
• Flip stencil over and place onto water-friendly card
• Press down with paper towel to absorb any excess ink
• Remove stencil and blot with paper towel to create a soft look, or leave to air dry for more vibrant colours.  

Alternative:

• Stencil monoprint creates a negative print (background of stencil).  Once dry, place the cleaned stencil back over top, lining up the design.  Add different ink or embossing paste over the stencil.

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Stencil Monoprint Card Samples

Julia

Loll

Susan

Bonnie

 

Darnell

Christine

 

* * * * *

Sharing ...

Bonnie                                         Christine                                           Pat

Michele                                                   Loll                                                   Izzy

Vellum - Product Focus - Embossing (Dry, Heat, Wet)

Hi everyone.  This month we are adding a new category to Group of Seven ... Product Focus.  Vellum may be used in so many ways in place of card stock or over top to create a softened look.

This month we are focussing on Vellum and Embossing (Dry, Heat, Wet).

Thin or thick vellum can be used for all three ways of embossing.  Thick vellum does have advantage as you are less like to experience cracking, tearing or warping.

We recommend thick vellum for most of the techniques.

Amazon USA - Oplymio Thick Transparent Vellum

Amazon Canada - Oplymio Thick Transparent Vellum

Below are a few suggestions for videos to try.

Vellum + Dry Embossing Video:

Vellum Techniques by Laurel Beard (5:22-7:10) - Dry embossing with ink blended background

• Dry emboss a panel of vellum.
• Use a few colours of ink to blend on the back of your panel.  Make sure to smooth the colours together.  Let dry or use heat tool to speed up drying.
• Turn over to complete your card.

Vellum + Heat Embossing Video:

Fabulous Vellum Backgrounds by Christine Stokes (7:28) - how to heat emboss vellum (tips and tricks) and layering stamping for a 3-D look.  You can use a large background stamp or individual stamps.

• Stamp image on front of vellum and heat emboss with white; let cool.
• Flip vellum over and stamp image on back in coloured ink (may use same image or different images).
• Flip vellum over so white embossing is at the front and mount onto card base.  This produces a card from with a 3-D look.  White stamping is in front, and coloured stamping looks recessed.
• Finish card.

Vellum + Wet Embossing Video:  (Embossing Pastes & Embossing Gels)

No video.  Here is a step-by-step:

• Use a vellum piece that is larger than the panel size you need.
• Adhere vellum to work surface (tape down, use magnets, etc. - any way that is strong enough to prevent vellum from curling, which will happen when applying wet paste or gel).
• Place stencil over secured vellum and add paste or gel using a palette knife or scraper.  Remove any excess paste by gently going over surface with a flat edge.
• Remove stencil.  Place stencil and palette knife in water right away or wash thoroughly.
• Leave vellum to air dry.  
• Remove tape or magnets and secure vellum to card.  
• Continue to finish card.

We hope you'll try using Vellum in whatever way inspires you.

If you do make cards using Vellum, please join us by adding to the linky at the bottom of this post.  We'd love to see what you make!!

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Vellum Card Samples

Loll

 

Julia

Bonnie

Brenda

 

Susan

 

Christine

 

 * * * * *

Sharing ...

                              Marcia Hill                                      Marcia Hill                                           Bonnie

                               Linda W.                                         Linda W.                                          Linda W.

                               Robyn O.                                     Jenny Martin                                      JoAnn B.

                                   Pat                                                Bonnie                                      Nance Salkeld

                                      Pat                                                    Loll                                               Julie B

Kaleidoscope

Hi everyone.  Today we are showing a technique that I first saw on a friend's blog.  Jenny stamped a large line image and heat embossed in gold (any embossing powder colour will work).  She then watercoloured the image LOOSELY, not staying within the lines, and making sure the background was watercoloured as well.  Once dry, the image was cut up into strips, lined back up in a random order and adhered together.  LOVE the artsy look of the finished card!

Jenny's inspirational card

In Jenny's post, she didn't mention if there was a name for this ... so I consulted our word affitionato, Darnell.  She came up with Kaleidoscope Technique ... isn't that perfect to describe this??!!

Kaleidoscope definition - Webster's Dictionary:

"a changing and enjoyable mixture or pattern"

Please share your cards using this technique in the linky below.

We'd love to see what you make!!

Supplies:

• Water-friendly card
• Large line image or collage of smaller line images
• Versamark or pigment ink
• Embossing Powder
• Heat tool
• Watercolour Paints or Inks
• Watercolour paint brushes
• Optional:  Stencil, inks, blending brushes or sponges
• Optional:  Permanent pen for outlining (metallic, black, white, etc.)

Technique Instructions:

• Stamp line image using Versamark or other ink onto water-friendly card
• Sprinkle with embossing powder; heat set
• Loosely watercolour image using watercolour paints, inks, or other colouring products
• Cut image into 1/2" strips
• Re-align strips in a random order and adhere to card front; trim off excess card (you can create two cards since you don't need to use all the strips you will have)

Alternate:

• Use a Stencil:
• Make sure to colour the background before stenciling - you don't want a lot of white space for this technique.
• Sponge through stencil instead of stamping.
• Sponge around outside of images to blur lines (Stencil Sponging Bleed technique)
• Optional:  Outline images from stenciling using permanent ink pen
• Cut image into 1/2" strips before randoming re-aligning and adhering to card front
• Use Patterned Paper (repeat steps above)
• Try it with dry embossed, coloured images
• Start with a piece of coloured card stock and add stamping, embossing, stenciling, or sponging
• Try this technique, cutting the strips into random widths for a different look

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy reference.

Kaleidoscope Technique Card Samples

Jenny (My Paper Epiphany)

(Guest Designer)

Loll

 
 

Susan

Christine

 

Julia

Darnell

Bonnie

 

Brenda

 

* * * * *

Sharing ...

                              Michele                                             Donna W.                                            Donna W.

 

                                 Robyn O.                                            Loll                                           Linda W.

                               Linda W.                                         Linda W.                                    Linda W.

                                                                                        Robyn O.