Art Inspired Flowers Tutorial

Wanna know more about how I created that card yesterday for the Artful INKables hop? I always hesitate in adding a tutorial to a blog hop post because there is so much going on there already. So, here ya go:

I start with a piece of "slippery" cardstock (helps the ink move around). In this case I used SU Very Vanilla. I used the emboss resist technique to stamp the two dark flowers. (Emboss resist=ink first in Versamark and then Chocolate Chip before stamping to paper. Dust with clear detail embossing powder. Heat with the heat gun). Now, these are dark images....why didn't I stamp them in the end? Because 1) I wanted their dark stems to be seen all the way through the picture. If I had stamped them later, they would have been broken up by the other embossed images and 2) This helps me place all the other images, masks, etc. for the rest of the piece.

Next I embossed this beautiful leaf image in just Versamark.....no ink and embossed. The leaf on the left was a little too high off the edge of the paper so I used a Versamark pen to extend its stem to the edge of the paper.
The ferny leaves were stamped using the emboss resist technique again and River Rock ink.
Placement of the sticky note mask here is critical. NEVER put this right smack in the middle. It will always be more interesting to place this more towards one side or the other. It is also important that it cuts the brown flower on the right in half. Again, this is more interesting and helps tie the two halves together.

I sponged Sahara Sand ink from the outsides inward all the way around. I always place a scrap paper underneath my piece and start sponging completely OFF the piece and work my way to the center swirling and rubbing all the way. See all the ink on my sticky note! I let the ink run out as a I get to the center which gives that nice fade. When its time for more ink, I start off the piece on my scrap again and work towards the center. I like to leave just the tiniest bit of the Very Vanilla showing here.

(Sorry forgot to take a picture between these two steps) Close to Cocoa ink is sponged in the very same way except that I only go in about 1/2" or 3/4"....not all the way to the center. You should still be able to see the Sahara Sand sponging so don't cover it up completely.

Here's some helpful tutorials on sponging:

Sponging a Glow (written for Artful INKables)

Using Sponges

Now I move the post it note around to cover up what I just did. You cannot sponge all the way up to the post it note so I always leave a sliver of the completed side showing so that I don't get a white line between the two sides (hmm.....although that would have been an interesting effect. Maybe I should try that!). I sponged Close to Cocoa on this side using my usual technique (start off piece and move to center, leave a little Vanilla showing in center). Then I used my Soft Suede ink pad and drug it from off the page towards the center lifting as I went to give me a faded, textured appearance.

All that's left is to remove the sticky note and add this to a card base!

Stamps: Artful Inkables Plant Prints
Paper: Very Vanilla, Soft Suede
Ink: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Sahara Sand, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede
Accessories: Versamark Pad, Versamark pen (to extend the stem on one of the leaves that I stamped too far in!), clear detail embossing powder, embossing buddy


Enjoy,
Michelle B.