I am back with more Prized Peony cards. This bundle keeps calling out … ‘stamp me’, ‘create with me’, ‘I can be anything you want me to be’, ‘I’ll clean the house while you create cards for your friends’. Well, maybe not the last one. Here are 2 more Prized Peony cards with smooshed and flicked backgrounds for your CASEing and viewing pleasure.

These were fun. I played around and decided to stamp and emboss the peony on vellum. Then decided that the colors popped better with a white backing. And to my delight, I had some smooshed ink backgrounds to use.

Let me share a little about 2 of the techniques that I used to create these cards.

SMOOSHED INK

A few things to remember when smooshing ink.

• It will never be perfect
• It can’t be exactly duplicated
• It looks better when it is dry or has ‘aged’ for a day (lol!)
• It’s a bit messy
• It’s fun

Start by using a heavier cardstock or watercolor paper. I find that the best smooshing is done on watercolor paper, Shimmery White, Thick Basic White, and/or Pearlescent. Each of these papers will give you a different result. EXPERIMENT!

On a Window Sheet, add a couple drops of reinker. Spritz with water. Run your finger through the ‘color blobs’ to break them up and spread out the color. I use a ‘Z’ or ‘#’ pattern.

Now for the fun part, bend the paper and rock it through the ink. Remove. Dry with a heat tool. Repeat. Add more water spritz. Layering the ‘smooshing’ is what gives the depth of color. Each paper will react differently. You may want to wet the watercolor paper before rocking it through the ink.

There are several videos out in the internet world. But the best lesson is in just doing it.

FLICKING INK SPOTS

Do you see the ink splatters on cards and wonder how it is done? You will be amazed at how easy it is to flick a little ink.

USE REINKER

Add a couple drops of reinker to a clear block. Pick up some ink with a Water Painter. Tap the barrel of the Water Painter against your pointer finger on the opposite hand. Practice on some scrap paper and get a feel for the direction and pressure you need to tap. Add a little water to the reinker if it dries out.

Which reinker?

• Dye-based ink (all colors plus the Memento Tuxedo Black) – dilute with water if needed
• Stazon or solvent-based ink – dilute with a bit of 91% isopropyl alcohol

No reinker? Lay down some color from your marker on the clear block and lightly mist. Or, squish the ink pad case and use the ink that is in the lid. TIP: Make sure you wipe it out if you add water. This will keep your ink pads clean.

USE BRUSH TIP OF MARKER OR BLEND

Hold the cap in one hand and gently insert the brush end of the marker or blend into the cap. Draw it out like you are striking a match. The ink splatter will go in the direction that you pull (flick) the brush tip. NOTE: If you do this alot, you may ruin the brush ends of your markers or Blends. Be prudent!

BETTER VIEW OF CARDS

Use Stampin’ Blends on top of the vellum for vibrant color. I used 3 different pink/reds and 3 different greens. TIP: Wipe off Stampin’ Blend tips after blending to keep the color true.

Now you are loaded with some basic techniques. I would love to see your projects. Please post them on the Murray Stamps Facebook page.

If you do not currently have a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, please consider me. I will be happy to show you techniques, help you choose the best products for your project, help you get the most from your purchases, and be there to answer questions. Order using the link to SHOP 24/7 under my signature or on the sidebar. I sincerely thank you for taking your time to view and comment on this (and other) posts.

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