Background Inking

When I saw this video tutorial on Tami's blog, Dapple Designs, on making distress backgrounds lighter and brighter for spring, I knew I would try it. Eventually. Thankfully, 'eventually' finally became 'now' over the last two days. I was a little short on time, but it was really easy to break this up by making the backgrounds on Saturday and putting it to work on a card on Sunday.

Using all four SU classic ink yellows, I swished and swirled my paper into the ink I pressed on to my craft mat. Just a side note here: I've had my craft mat for about a year now and this is only the second time I've brought it out! Smack me on the head now please! What have I been thinking....or not thinking, to be more precise! This is one fabulous simple little necessity to have in your crafting tool bag! And flashing back to the card..... It took several passes. I also forgot about using any water. The excitement to ink up the cardstock took over, I think. In the end though, I really like how it turned out. And without the water, it gives the paper a texture that is almost like suede. I really recommend checking out Tami's blog and seeing what great inspiration she has there!

Breaking out SU's Best Blossoms again, I stamped the flower in three colors and the stamp with the leaves on the stem several times and then cut them out. I adhered the two flowers on the outside with 1/16" foam tape and the one in the middle with 1/8" foam tape. The bottom layer of the ribbon is satin ribbon, with the wrong or back side facing up and on top of that is the pink twill. I adhered them to each other and to the card with my trusty ATG.

So much inky fun was to be had that I inked up two more backgrounds, one with purples and one with blues, that I hope to use in the near future!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, New Leaf - PTI
Stamps: Best Blossoms - SU; Thank You - Rubber Soul
Ink: Summer Sun, YoYo Yellow, So Saffron, Barely Banana, Positively Pink (retired), Cameo Coral, Regal Rose, Garden Green - SU; Vintage Sepia - Versafine
Ribbon: Hibiscus Pink twill, New Leaf Satin - PTI

CPS 107 & Pink Elephant #6

Spring has definitely sprung around here! The trees are flowering, the daffodils have been smiling for awhile, and the vineyards are all being manicured and prepped for the growing season. So, I was in a springy kind of mood and thought it would be good to apply that to some challenges! I combined the current CPS sketch challenge and The Pink Elephant challenge to include buttons on this card. The sparkle on the card is from the pre-glittered DCWV cardstock and a little Stickles on the flower center. I inked the edges of the leaf stamped piece just a little, wanting to keep this extremely clean and intentionally quite white and bright. But, in hindsight, I would ink them heavier. There's always next time, right?!

With the sun still shinning and kidlets wanting to go outside some more, I'm gonna head out back and play (maybe even get ambitious and pull some weeds.....I'm so not a gardener! lol). For those of you who have sunshine, I hope you are able to enjoy it. And for those of you still with Winter weather, may your Spring spring soon!!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampers Select White - PTI; Glittered green - DCWV; medium green - from stash
Stamps: Best Blossoms - SU!
Ink: Gable Green, Glorious Green, Pink Passion (all classic inks) - SU!
Ribbon: Raspberry Fizz Twill - PTI
Other: Magenta Stickles; Buttons from stash; lime green embroidery thread