Rise and Fall Blended Ink Background with Stamped Flowers

A project from our live show CATCH UP with Toni for TECHNIQUE TUESDAY in the HTCN studio broadcast 19th Oct 21 · 19/10/2021 · watch it from 6:15

Create a layered background using blended distress inks in blue and green tones, then stamp and emboss a floral design. Add a bleaching technique with water to lift colour from the flower heads, creating a subtle highlight effect that makes the blooms stand out against the inked background.

You will need

Izink Dye Based Ink Pad 5 X 5CM - Petrole 050821RSEE IT Izink Dye Based Ink Pad 5 X 5CM - Mer Du Sud 050821CSEE IT TV - Thirsty Brush & Co. - White Lace Double Up! - 091120LSEE IT

DOWNLOAD THIS GUIDE (PDF)

Step by step

1. Place a piece of white cardstock on a protective base card. ▶ watch 6:15
2. Using a blending brush, apply the first blue dye-based ink (Petrole) across the cardstock in random areas. ▶ watch 6:30
3. Apply a second blue distress ink tone to create variation and blend the colours together with your brush. ▶ watch 8:30
4. Add touches of evergreen and broken china distress inks to introduce additional colour depth. ▶ watch 9:30
5. Apply black soot distress ink around the edges to create a subtle frame effect. ▶ watch 10:45
6. Add random splats of ink across the background for texture. ▶ watch 11:45
7. Dry the background thoroughly with a heat gun until completely dry. ▶ watch 12:45
8. Dust the dried background with anti-static powder using an anti-static bag to prevent unwanted embossing. ▶ watch 14:00
9. Stamp the blossom flower from the Make Memories stamp set onto the background using a clear ink pad. ▶ watch 15:45
10. Stamp the same flower design a second time to ensure full detail capture. ▶ watch 16:45
11. Stamp the flower again, allowing it to partially overlap from the top edge of the cardstock. ▶ watch 17:00
12. Apply gold embossing powder to the stamped images and heat set with a heat gun until the powder changes colour and becomes shiny. ▶ watch 17:45
13. Using clean water and a brush, paint water into the flower petals to activate the reactive ink underneath. ▶ watch 20:30
14. Dab the wet flowers with a tissue to lift and bleach out the ink colour, creating lighter flower heads. ▶ watch 21:00
15. Repeat the water and tissue technique on additional flowers to enhance the bleaching effect. ▶ watch 21:30
16. Optional: Paint white gouache or confetti ink onto the flower petals to add highlights and elevate the design further. ▶ watch 30:30

Tips from the show

• Watch your fingerprints as you work; use the ink pad lid to hold your card in place if needed to avoid marking the artwork.
• The bleaching technique works particularly well on watercolour cardstock; results may be more subtle on standard white cardstock.
• If the bleaching technique doesn't produce the desired effect, add white gouache or gel pen highlights to enhance the flowers.

More from this show

• Rise and Fall Wood Panel Die-Cut Card with Layered Sentiment

Written up from the show itself. See every guide from our shows · free how-to guides · watch live on My Telly