Artsy Inkers
Stamping/Crafting Fests! => Older Fests => AIR 2016 Challenges & Discussions => Topic started by: Far North on June 11, 2016, 12:07:11 PM
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AIR16 Blend It!
In this challenge you will make a card with a blended background using at least 3 ink colors to create a halo of color behind your image. The card will be posted in the gallery and a link will be provided on this tread with a description of what worked best for you.
“The halo of color” is my term to describe the difference between your card having a fully inked background vs blending ink closer to the image leaving white space for a CAS look.
Tips- distress inks are easiest to blend; Kristina talks about using inks from SSS, Hero Arts and Wplus9 in the video below.
I find using the round blending tool is much easier than the rectangle one. Inking the tool well and then tapping off the top layer of ink on a scrap gives me the most even blending. You will achieve different results with different bands and weight of paper.
Dimension can be added to a blended background with water–ghosting with water on a stamp or stencil, dabbing water on with a textured paper towel, water droplets and more.
This challenge can be combined with 1 other.
A RAK will be randomly selected for 1 player who posts a card in the gallery for AIR 16 Blend It!
Please speak up if you encounter any issues with blending.
Resource videos with blended distress ink backgrounds:
Kelly for Wplus9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYKGlHX2OwA
Kelly makes a one layer card and demonstrates how to create masks to protect the stamped critter images. She blends wilted violet, picked raspberry and mustard seed distress inks and then stencils on top. The blended ink background demo ends at 4:55 (the rest of the video is copic coloring).
Laura Bassen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNuHqB0L_yE
Laura makes a beautiful blended background for a festive music die cut and Christmas sentiment stamp. Distress inks used: Festive Berries & mustard seed are blended together to create a 3rd orange color in the center.
Julie Ebersole https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVu3gIt4bd8
Julie uses a circle die to create a window to layer her blended background under her focal image.
She uses squeezed lemonade, mustard seed and ripe persimmons distress inks.
Dawn Woleslagle, Wplus9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0km8seyqNI
Dawn makes a CAS background for her stamped and copic colored die cut critters. The demo of the distress ink background begins at 9:00. Distress inks used: abandon coral, peacock feathers and scattered straw
Kristina Warner demonstrates the use of SSS ink beginning at 4:08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVmBHd_8Cns
If it is hot where you live today you may think of a cool colorful summer icy drinks to compliment this challenge…Hope you enjoy the challenge! ....Jan
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This is a great challenge, I know I will need to look at the resources you provided to get some tips on how to blend the three + colors.
Thanks so much for hosting!
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Well, Jan. Guess how I spent my morning. lol. Thank you so much for the videos. I enjoyed them. I love ink blending, but I don't think I have ever done it starting in the center of the card. I appreciate the tips offered in the videos.
Thank you for the challenge.
Daria
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I finished my card for this challenge. Once I switched from the usual Tim Holtz Applicators that I normally use to the Judikins Dusters, it worked much better for me. The dusters don't leave darker areas. If you are not familiar with the dusters, they look like the old-fashioned brushes our grandfathers (great-grandfathers for some of you) used to lather up their faces before shaving.
I did the background first thinking I could use water to remove some of the ink from the tiny flowers. That didn't work so I used a Signo Uniball white gel pen on them. If I do this again, I think I will stamp and emboss first, mask the flowers with masking fluid, and then add the background inks.
Here's my card (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=2693#top_display_media). Thank you for the challenge.
Daria
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The results on your card Daria make a real beauty! Thanks for sharing your tips and playing!
I agree the circle blending tool still offer some challenges. I appreciate the one video tip about starting the inking behind the image when possible (as in when the image is a separate layer). One thing I haven't heard discussed is holding the blending tool between the 2 and 3rd fingers and wrapping the other fingers around the base to achieve a level hold and application of the ink. For me this took considerable practice to get comfortable with but the it certainly has helped me.
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Worked on this for hours, gave up.
Rewatched videos and got it on the first try.
You need a very light hand.
It is in the gallery.
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Yankee, you have the magic touch. I absolutely love your card, and the background is just perfect.
Yankee's Card (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=2697#top_display_media)
Jan, thanks for that tip. I'll have to try it out. I like the coverage that you get with the ink blending tool better than what you get with the dusters--smoother coverage and deeper colors. I was thinking that if I stamped and masked the image, then I could use that spot for starting place for the inking. lol.
Daria
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I made two cards using what I think is this technique. I only used two colors of the same family, I hope that counts. The yellow card. (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=89&pid=2706#top_display_media) The blue card. (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=89&pid=2707#top_display_media) It is much easier to get a nice blend using watercolor paper instead of card stock. I also inked around the edges of the card bases so they would match the colors in the front panel.
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Thank you Daria, Sadie and Yankee for already working on this challenge. It is so fun to see your amazing results in the gallery! I read on your descriptions that watercolor paper works best for blending. Two of the videos specifically recommend the Ranger Watercolor Paper. If anyone tries both it would be nice to hear if you experience a difference.
Blending 3 ink colors to create your halo effect are required for this challenge. This requirement is so everyone will experience blending 3 colors next to one another. This may include a card as Kim made in the in the first video with 3 base colors and stenciling on top.
Once you make at least 1 card with 3 halo ink colors, additional cards will count as additional entries into my random drawing. This may include ones with stenciled ink on top of a single color or any other creative play you choose to do with a halo background.
Have fun creating!...Jan
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I tried this so many times and different papers, I don't remember what paper was the winner.
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Here is my entry. I used watercolor paper and blended 3 colors of Distress inks using my round sponge tool. I use my tool to blend a lot, so I have learned to go light handed when blending. I start light and then build more on top to make the color more intense if I want that look. After blending I used a Tim Holtz Splatter stencil over top. I used a baby wipe to wipe through the stencil to take off color on the background. This left a light impression. Thanks for the fun challenge! :smile:
April
http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=2722#top_display_media
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Thanks April for sharing your experience and your awesome card!
Yankee-I understand not remembering which product works best...I have to keep a notepad with such details ::)
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Thanks, Jan, for your fun challenge. I am not all that satisfied with my entry here, but here it is. I find the old Toybox brushes works best for me with the blending technique.
Nora S
http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=2727#top_display_media
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Thank you Daria, Sadie and Yankee for already working on this challenge. It is so fun to see your amazing results in the gallery! I read on your descriptions that watercolor paper works best for blending. Two of the videos specifically recommend the Ranger Watercolor Paper. If anyone tries both it would be nice to hear if you experience a difference.
Blending 3 ink colors to create your halo effect are required for this challenge. This requirement is so everyone will experience blending 3 colors next to one another. This may include a card as Kim made in the in the first video with 3 base colors and stenciling on top.
Once you make at least 1 card with 3 halo ink colors, additional cards will count as additional entries into my random drawing. This may include ones with stenciled ink on top of a single color or any other creative play you choose to do with a halo background.
Have fun creating!...Jan
Here you go! (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/thumbnails.php?album=89) Four colors blended in the middle of the panel........
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Sadie thanks for another terrific blended and 1 layer card too! That's makes 3 entries into the random drawing!
Also Nora and April thanks for sharing your blending skills in the gallery!
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My entry (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?pid=2736&message_id=1a768f0f9ed3ebaa44881a01d79168f1&message_icon=info#cpgMessageBlock)http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?pid=2736&message_id=1a768f0f9ed3ebaa44881a01d79168f1&message_icon=info#cpgMessageBlock
I had a lot of fun with this challenge but blend in is definately one thing I have to work on I love the look of blending and while I think I am fairly good at blending with markers making the background was hard for me and it did not turn out quite as well as I hoped for. I will work on my blending !!! Thanks so much for hosting Jan
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I have been working on this today and I still need more practice. I did try watercolor paper and one of the color combos in the video, but didn't get any results I will use yet. I will keep trying tomorrow.
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Thanks for the challenge Jan! I enjoyed it!
I'm attaching the blended spot background to this thread (before I trimmed it down).
Here (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=2762#top_display_media) is my sympathy card. I used distress inks on the smooth side of TH watercolor paper, because I heard/saw that mentioned here or in the videos somewhere. I used the little Tsukineko finger daubers.
Note : In my pillow top backgrounds I mentioned I would probably use the same Ink Blusher foam petal applicator for this challenge. Didn't happen! The ink blusher was hard to start in the middle of the paper and not get any lines, though it worked great blending off an acetate template.
Now if someone could just help me decide where to place sequins!
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I did come up with a background I liked after many tries. I tried both my Ranger Round blender and color dusters. I really had a lot of trouble with both. I sure wish it came as easy at the videos! I wonder if a big sponge dauber would be easier, but I do not have one.
Here (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pid=2765#top_display_media) is my completed card. Thanks very much for this great challenge!
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This week (after I made my card ) on Jennifer McGuire site , she showed how to blend in the center with huge brushes from Clarity stamps. She did it so easy, all I could think was why not a week earlier. But I am going to get them, everything is easier with the correct tools!
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I used daubers for my blending. It came out a bit darker than I planned and the blending wasn't completely smooth. I find I have trouble blending Distress Inks without using water.
Fairy (http://www.duhnproductions.com/Pics/displayimage.php?album=89&pid=2769#top_display_media)
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This week (after I made my card ) on Jennifer McGuire site , she showed how to blend in the center with huge brushes from Clarity stamps. She did it so easy, all I could think was why not a week earlier. But I am going to get them, everything is easier with the correct tools!
Wow, thanks for the info. I checked out Jennifer's blog (I hadn't been there in a while since she hasn't been posting much) and those brushes look amazing!
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Thanks all for putting in the time to learn this technique. I am ever so pleased to see the wide variety of completed cards designs! Thanks for playing in all the AIR16 challenges!
And I have selected a random winner...........
Today is Summer Solstice...
And we have nearly 22 hours of sunlight.
Shall we have a count down and announce the winner at 2am tomorrow?
Nah--no probably no one in the lower 48 would be awake.
How about setting off the fireworks?
Nah silly we couldn't see them with all this daylight!
Okay how about I just tell you...
And shout out--
Sadie is our winner of this challenge!
Congratulations Sadie!
AND thanks for sharing your beautiful work with all of us! :smitten:
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Congratulations, Sadie! I think we could do with some of those fireworks to celebrate!
Daria
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Congrats, Sadie.
Thanks for hosting a great challenge, Jan and enjoy all your sunlight.
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Congratulations Sadie!
Happy Summer Solstice Jan! How DO you celebrate? 'cuz you're right ... fireworks wouldn't show up very well.
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Congrats, Sadie!
Thanks for hosting, Far North!
Enjoy your daylight!
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Congrats, Sadie! Enjoy the light, Jan!
April :smile:
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Congrats Sadie! This is one I am going to try this week!