Stamping off...

gesso coated cardstock! Yes, it is another gesso technique - the last one of the recent techniques. This is one that I learned from The Technique Junkies Newsletter (http://www.techniquejunkies.com). If you like to learn new techniques or revisit oldies but goodies, then you should definitely check out the website!

Coat a relatively smooth piece of cardstock with a thin layer of gesso. Then, stamp your un-inked stamp into the gesso, wiggle slightly and lift up the stamp. Then, continue the process until you have the desired look. Once it dries, you can continue to creating your card. I used Club Scrap's Solstice kit for the card - embossing the white background in my Sizzix and highlighting the raised portions with ink. I used a light blue panel as my gesso-ed piece.

Tuesday's Tip

I have been showcasing various gesso techniques. Many of them utilize the dry brush technique. I use a bristle brush that is completely dry. I squirt a small dab of gesso (this also works with paint) and dab the tips of the bristles in the gesso. This allows for the gesso to adhere to the bristles with becoming saturated.

Have too much on the brush? Wipe the brush a few times on scratch paper to clean it off to an appropriate level.

Embossed Cards

In a previous post, I discussed making faux white core cardstocks. The above cards are another example of using gesso (or white paint) to achieve the same effect. The green panels were were embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Then, the white gesso was lightly painted over the image. For the left card, I wiped the gesso off the raised portion of the image. For the card on the right, I dry brushed the gesso on the raised portion of the images.



All cardstocks and stamps are from Club Scrap.

Tuesday's Tips

I am always looking for ways to improve a technique or make my crafting a bit easier. Helpful tips can also spark the imagination to do a technique or project a little differently.

In hopes of helping us all, Tuesday's will be "Tip" days. I will be posting new tips on the blog on Tuesday - and in the Tuesday's Tip box on the left side of the post. These tips will be up for a week.

Have a tip to share? Please e-mail me your tip. If I use it, I'll put together a little treat package just for you!

Today's tip: I have been using gesso in my card making recently. Did you know that you can stamp with paint/gesso - as well as using it in the techniques I have shown? Before applying paint to your stamp, ink it with Versa Mark ink first. It will make clean up much easier!

Dry Embossing and Sanding

One of the more popular cardstock products available today comes with a white core. That usually means the color was applied on top of the original paper. Many companies have used this paper making technique - it had been a sign of cheap paper. Now, with the popularity of embossing folders for dry embossing and sandpaper brought into the craft room, there are great reasons to choose this type of paper.

Or, you can make your own. I took white glossy cardstock and brayered rainbow dye ink over the top. Once the panel was dry, I ran it through my Big Shot using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. While the panel was still in the folder, I sanded the color off the raised portions. Quick and easy - although a bit dusty. I will show a couple of other options in the coming days.

I am still recovering from foot surgery, so my creative time has been limited. I am hoping to be back in good form by sometime next week.

Playing with Gesso

Last post, I used gesso in a resist technique. The above card was painted with gesso after I brayered rainbow dye ink over glossy white cardstock. I dry brushed the gesso on horizontally and vertically, lightly so as not to obscure the ink colors.

Once the gesso was dry, I embossed the panel in an embossing folder using my Big Shot. To bring out the pattern, I sanded some of the color off the raised portion of the pattern. Trim, matte and embellish!

Gesso Resists

These two cards have a slightly different resist technique from those previously posted. This technique still involves stamping on glossy, white cardstock, and brayering with a rainbow ink pad. However, we will add a little gesso and a little dye reinkers.

This technique is from "Technique Junkies" newsletter and is great fun. I have altered the steps a bit for these cards. Stamp your image with a permanent ink (I used StazOn) . I then added a little color from watered down dye reinkers (a little metallic gold). Once dry, scrunch up some wax paper ("scrunch" being my technical term!) and dip it into the gesso. Dab the gesso over the cardstock - leaving white areas. Once dry, brayer with the rainbow pad of choice. It does not take the gesso very long to dry as long as it is not applied too thick.

All cardstocks and background stamp images are from Club Scrap. The square stamp images are from Stampin' Up. If trying different techniques interest you, I highly recommend that you visit Technique Junkies and order a CD or two and/or subscribe to the newsletter.

Medicall Leave...

Hi folks! I have been on post op medical leave - I will be back with some new techniques on Monday, April 5th.