Thursday, September 28, 2023

Dry Embossing with Re-inker Watercolouring

Hi everyone.  Welcome to another technique at Group of Seven Cardmakers.  This month we are playing with a technique introduced to us by Christine during a Zoom call earlier this month.   This technique creates amazing results with a few different techniques combined into one card.  It all starts with watercolouring a background using re-inkers to create a very saturated, vibrant background.  Once that is dry, an embossing folder is used to add dimension to the colourful card at the same time as adding black ink to the background.  The results are incredible as you will see by the Group's cards below.

There is a warning with this technique.  Using black ink to cover the debossed inside of your embossing folder can be a bit messy.  Best to be prepared with a few paper towels handy. :)  And some embossing folders (depending on the brand), end up with staining from the black ink.  There are ways to remove the stains, but it means a bit of cleaning might be required with this technique.


Supplies:
  • Embossing Folder (regular or 3-D)
  • Re-inkers (3 colours work best)
  • Medium or Large paint brush
  • Watercolour paper or water-friendly card - several of us found watercolour paper worked best
  • Water Mister
  • Black Pigment ink (several of us found Versafine Clair Nocturne worked best) ... or Black Marker
  • Embossing Machine
Optional Supplies:
  • Anti-Static Powder
  • Versamark or Clear Ink pad
  • Embossing Powder

Alternative:  First, emboss your blank card panel (regular card stock works great!).  Then sponge inks over debossed side of design.  Continue with adding black ink direct from stamp as above onto background of debossed side card front.


Technique Instructions:

Following the video above ...
  • Mist both sides of your water-friendly card panel
  • Wet paint brush and pick up first colour of re-inker and brush onto card randomly, covering approx. 1/3 of surface (if using 3 colours)
  • Repeat with 2nd and 3rd colours of re-inkers to cover the card completely with colour
  • Spritz with more water to let the inks move and level out
  • Dry using heat tool
  • Swipe / press Black ink pad over the debossed (indented) side of the embossing folder, keeping your ink pad flat.  This inks the background of the design which is the flat surface.  Make sure the black is solid.
  • Carefully place your inked panel over the black ink background of the embossing folder and close.
  • Run your embossing folder through your machine.
  • If black ink doesn't cover completely, you can repeat the inking of the folder and run it through machine again.  Make sure to line up using the embossing as a guide.
  • Dry panel using heat tool.
  • Not recommended to heat emboss sentiment on panel.  Embossing powder sticks to this background, even if the card panel is dry.  Recommend using sentiment banner or die-cut sentiment.
Optional:  (most of the Group of Seven didn't do this part)
  • Pounce anti-static powder over panel to ensure that nothing will stick to it.
  • Lightly (very little pressure) run the Versmark pad over the panel ... it will just catch the very top of  the raised design.
  • Sprinkle with embossing powder and tap to remove excess powder; heat set.
Optional Alternative:
  • Lightly run white pigment ink over the raised design to highlight.

These instructions are listed on the sidebar by technique for easy access.
It's a great reference for all of us! :)


Dry Embossing with Re-inker Watercolouring Card Samples
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Sharing cards --- thank you!

Bobby                            Vicki                                Jules                                     Michele

Marcia                          Shaz                                Shaz                                     Shaz

Loll                          Hideko                                Hilary                                     Hilary

Hilary                          Hilary                               Hilary                                        


We'll be back on the 28th of October with another
technique and sample cards.
See you then!


Monday, August 28, 2023

Ink Blending (DOX) with Water Lifting

Hi everyone.  This month, the Group of Seven Cardmakers is sharing a second way to do Ink Blending.  This time we are working with DOX Inks.  Kristina Werner has several videos on colour combinations of DOX inks (links to videos are below).  Once the inks were blended, the group dried their card panels with a heat tool and then pounced with anti-static powder before heat embossing a line image.  Any colour of embossing powder will look great. This combination of techniques creates a beautiful card.  Thanks to our lovely friend Linda (Lin's Craft Corner) for introducing us to this wonderful combination which she shared with several of the group at our retreat in 2019!

We decided to try taking this one step further by adding another technique to our card panels.  Using a watercolour paint brush and just plain water, the line images were watercolour and then blotted with a paper towel to remove some of the colour.  This technique (water lifting or faux bleaching) creates a lighter version of the colour for the image .  A shout out to our friend Colleen (One Smile Lifts a Spirit) for introducing this technique to us in 2018!  Click on the link to see Colleen's beautiful cards using this technique!


Supplies:
  • Smooth White Card Stock that is water friendly
  • Distress Oxide Inks
  • Sponges
  • Line Image
  • Embossing Powder
  • Heat Tool
  • Watercolour Paint Brushes

Technique Instructions: (2 Parts)

1)  Ink Blending with DOX Inks and Heat Embossing

Video:   DOX Ink Blending Color Combinations 1 by Kristina Werner (5:18)   

  • Sponge three colours of DOX inks onto card stock - see alternative below
  • Go over the sponging several times to ensure a smooth transition from one colour to the next
  • Use heat tool to dry ink blended background
  • Add anti-static powder over background
  • Stamp line image and heat emboss
  • Alternative - heat emboss image first and then ink blend on top.  The heat embossing resists the DOX ink and you can wipe it off after finishing your ink blending.

... more colour combination videos from Kristina: (click on the photo to enlarge)



2)  Water Lifting (also called Faux Bleaching)

Video:  Easy Distress + Water Technique by Jennifer McQuire (28:03) - watch from 3:45 - 15:15 to see technique only
  • Use water and brush to paint the line image, blot with paper towel (this lifts the ink inside the image)
  • Optional:  Let image dry and repeat water lifting to create an even lighter colour
  • Image will become lighter as the paper dries, creating an ethereal design
  

Ink Blending 2 with Water Lifting Card Samples


* * * * *
Sharing cards ... thank you!

Lucy E.                     nancy littrell                         nancy littrell                          TK

Bonnie                          Bonnie                                Loll                                     Loll

Hideko                          Christine

We'll be back on the 28th of September with another
technique and sample cards.
See you then!