Stampscapes & Blending

   

Since the retreat, I've really been into scenic stamping. :o)  I'm sharing two cards I did using Kevin's Stylus Tool/Color streaks technique with a stylus tool and dye ink pads. To see Kevin's step by step directions, click here. He gets some amazing results!  I'm still practicing. :o)

The idea here is that you are building color by blending with a light touch. Be patient as your color comes in. I first learned this technique on semi-glossy card stock- which I love the look! Last week Sandy H told me about using Cryogen card stock - a smooth card stock with a beautiful metallic base - with this technique. I love this results too!!  As you build your color, remember to leave some white space. It can be in the center, off center, to the left, to the right - it's your artistic choice depending on the results you are looking for. For example, if you are doing a water scene, you'll want to leave light in the sky and then in the water to show a reflection of what's in the sky. Kevin has some really good examples - click here and then select his pages.

Choose four shades of a color family for your background.  NOTE:  When using the stylus tool, you can reuse the foam tips in color families.  I have a lot of handles with the color families all lined up.  Other people have just a couple handles and change their foam tips as they use different colors. They are easy to pop on and off. I put them in a plastic baggie to store them.

1. Starting with the lightest color, load up ink on the foam tip.  From the outside edge and with a
     very light touch, pull stylist across card stock towards you.  Keep your foam tip well inked.  If you get ovals, circles or half circles, you are applying too much pressure. Save your card stock if this happens! You can cover it later  up when you stamp. :o)
2. Turn your card and continue to pull color towards you. Ink up tip often.  Variation:  You can also dip your foam tip directly into ink. This is actually how Kevin showed us at the retreat. Having so much ink on the tip really provides you with smooth stroking. I'll show examples with this variation in the future. I can only do so many techniques in a day. Darn! If I didn't have to work, sleep, and eat, I could get in more! :o)
3. Go to the next darker shade of color and repeat. Don't go as far in so you'll be able to see the gradation.
4. Go to the third color and repeat.
5. On the forth color stay near the edge, depending on how dark you want your scene. If it is not  getting as dark as you want, try black as your fourth color. 
6. Ink up cloud image with your lightest color and stamp starting from one corner. Ink up and stamp again slightly overlapping the first impression. This is where you can cover up any le boo boo impressions from the foam tip. :o) NOTE: One of the really nice features of Stampscapes Images is that they work together so nicely. I did not do any masking for these cards.  I inked the center of the image - I did not go to the edge.
7. Continue inking and stamping the cloud on the entire piece of card stock.
8. For the pine tree image (Gina K card stock), I inked up the image in the darkest blue and stamped off on scrap paper then onto the card stock. Repeat across the scene. Ink up in black and stamp full on. Repeat across the scene.
9. For the bare tree image (on Cryogen card stock), I inked up the image in a medium shade color and stamped. Repeated across the scene.  I repeated with the white. After it dried, I finished with black.
10. To finish your scene add "stars" with a white pen.
11. Adhere layers and sign your name on the front of your little art piece!

Stamps: Stampscapes  184E, 195G, 269G
Paper: Gina K Pure Luxury card stock white heavy base weight 120lb, Curious Metallic CRYOGEN WHITE 89lb card stock, Stampin Up!  black, Papertrey Ink Stamper’s Select White Card Set
Inks: Memento  summer sky, bahama blue, danube blue ink pads, Stampin Up!  night of navy & white craft ink pad, Marvy Matchable black ink pad
Accessories: Color Box Stylus Tool, uni-ball Signo white gel pen

Take care and STAY POSITIVE!

Trena

Comments

[Stampin' with La'Diva]

This is absolutely fantastic! I would have never thought to use the "DEW" ink (as I call it). Love it! YOU ROCK!

[Monica]

Wow! These are breathtaking Trena! This makes me want to go camping so I can stargaze. Thanks so much for sharing these! :)

[Dorly Weitzen]

Trena, these are adorable! TFS
Hugs,
Dorly Weitzen, Israel