Using inking as a focal point

This is my last installment for the Altenew Education Certification level one courses. This is the tenth card I have made for Level One certification. I have been very inspired by the classes I took from Altenew Academy and was glad to have a push to restore some crafty mojo. I also got some great ideas of how to use the stamps, dies and inks in my stash to make some different designs. For today’s card, I used Distress Ink blending as a background and die cut a window to expose the colors. Read on for how I put together this simple card.

Irresistible Inking class

The irresistible inking class went through how to stretch your Inks and use them as focal points on cards. Besides watercoloring with dye inks, the class went through different inking combinations, inking the edge of the cardstock to make it stand out and layered stamping. There was a technique of using the stamp block as a stamp. Inking up the block and then stamping with it to build a focal point. So I tried this and hated the results. So instead, I used Distress Inks and blended them over a piece of Neenah Solar White 80 lb cardstock. I wanted a blue ombré look so I started with blueprint sketch and faded jeans for the darker blue then mermaid lagoon and salty ocean to light blue from broken china. I then took a second piece of cardstock which I embossed with Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder. There was some pink/red ink left over on the embossing folder from a previous technique which left some pink on the raised edges of the pattern. I left this because I liked the contrast it provided.

Using distress inks to build an ombre background.

The embossing folder had ink on it from a previous technique.

Putting the card together

The distress panel was cut down and then adhered to an A2 top folding white card base. I then adhered the embossed panel with the window to the distress background panel. The hello sentiment was stacked and then adhered to the panel. The flower was adhered with foam tape. The final touch came from Honey Bee stamps Rainbow rhinestone gems. Thank you for joining me today and I hope this card inspires you to try out some different techniques and when something isn't working, try it a different way. Have a wonderful and crafty day!

The sentiment is from My Monthly Hero Arts kit for March 2018 and was die cut three times and then once from gold foil paper.

This layered flower is from Altenew's Bold Blossom stamp set.