Tutorial Time

I have been playing with this new technique I saw online. Honestly I looked at a picture and found my own way of doing it. I am good at that. I like to experiment.

The supplies you need for this project are brushes, ink and paper. Optional painters tape and shapes for masking areas off.  It is a super simple technique and a lot of fun to experiment with.

  So I found a picture online of a pretty card made with brushes and ink. The brushes where ink dusters and I looked them up and tried to find them at the local craft stores and no luck. Online they were more than I was willing to pay so I thought I would just get some regular brushes (on the left). I used them on a few cards and they worked pretty good but I wanted a fluffier brushes still. So I happened upon the make up brushes (on the right) at Target for $1 each. I was happy to find them so cheap and love the way they work even more than the regular brushes.

I used some scrap paper and ripped the edges in different patterns. I used them as masks for the different colors and to produce different shades. Tip~ start the brush on the scrap paper so the strokes are more even.

You can do this technique using the masking scraps above and do different colors, like the top three in the above examples. Or you can use shapes to mask areas off, like the balloon one above. Or you can use them to color that shape. This is what I did with this one. I used Christmas tree cut outs this this tutorial.

 I brushed a small amount of red first just for fun.

I used Tim Holtz Distress ink on this example however I used Stampin up and some other generic ink for the others. So any ink will do.

  This is the first time I used the template to add ink to the shape only. I just add some ink to the brush and stroke the ink on a few times, then more ink, over and few time. I re-ink the brush several times.

Then I used the actual cut outs and some painters tape to cover them up to add the red.

 I however taped the tree on the left on the wrong side so my tree has a white glow around it a bit more than I would have like but its okay.

 I used the paper mask that I made and inked red in different shades all over the card.

 I just brushed over the tree masks.

 I moved the paper around so the pattern would vary.

Here is the red all done.

 Here is the front all inked. This is a very mess technique so make sure you put something under the paper. I used a piece of foam. You can see where my card was on the green foam below. 

Here is the finished card. I added brads to the tree for the ornaments and the star on top. The rest is Inspired Stamps Christmas stamps. I used the holly in the corners from the Poinsettia set. The sentiments stamps are from Vintage Christmas.
Another idea for this technique is just to make your own background paper.

This one I just randomly dabbed and brushed red and green ink on. Then I cut my paper to card front size. I stamped on top of it and colored my image.

 The background came out nice on this card. I added another sentiment from the Poinsettia Set

I added a few red brads and some ribbon to decorate a bit more.

IS Candy Bags

This year I have a new job with lots of co-workers that I love. I want to make them all a little something but there are over 30 of them and I have not been feeling well with this first trimester sickness stuff. So I came up with these and I am hoping to have them all done by next week.

I kept them very simple and used an easy to cut out stamp set by Inspired Stamps. I used a circle punch and scallop punch to easily cut the Christmas Circle stamp set out.

To cut the toppers out I used two different dies. The top is my favorite bag topper die from Jaded Blossom Stamps. However, it is not cheap and I am so I waited for a sale. The bottom is a good alternative with are Spellbinder dies that I folded in half. I cut the decorative piece of paper to fit the front.

I hope your year is coming to a close on a good note. This has been a year of many great things and many trials for my husband and I. After four years of trying to have a baby I am finally successfully pregnant. I wish I could say this was our first pregnancy but unfortunately we had a miscarriage this year. So to be able to go to the doctor and see a healthy fetus growing was the most amazing thing. This year has been the hardest probably of my life. God has his reasons for everything and works at his own time. I thank him everyday, even though I make be puking at the time, for this chance. Don't give up on your dreams.

Head on over to Inspired Stamps and check out all the other beautiful creations. 

You can find these stamps and many at the Inspired Stamps Store. 

I am entering into these challenges...  
Cuttin and Stamping Challenge  - Christmas 
Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Christmas  
Loves Rubber Stamps-Winter or Christmas 
Cheerful Stamp Pad - Signs of Christmas 
Crafty Boots - Merry Christmas  
Crafty Cardmakers - Christmas

TSB Gingerbread Man

This image is from  The Stamping Boutique.

This cute image is Gingerbreadman. I colored him with Copics and inked the edge with green.

I used some fun paper and made the ribbon like it was wrapping a present.

Head on over to The Stamping Boutique and join in the fun with the weekly challenges.

I am entering into these challenges...

TSB Audrey New Year

This week on The Stamping Boutique the challenge is New Years.

 2014 is almost over and food riddance. This has been a crazy year for me. At least it is ending on a good note.

 This image is Audrey with a heart. I colored her with Copics. I distressed the edges.

I added a dove charm with some gold thread.

Head on over to The Stamping Boutique and join in the fun.

If you haven't joined The Stamping Boutique Facebook page yet come on over. I am running a monthly challenge in the group!

I am entering into these challenges... 
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards- Use a Charm  
Sister Act Card Challenge - Anything Goes  
Southern Girls -Celebrations
 

IS Drummer Boy

 O used HLO Drummer Boy for this cutie and colored him with Copics. The scripture is Romans 5:1. I cut it out with my Spellbinders. The paper is Bo Bunny.

Head on over to Inspired Stamps and check out all the other beautiful creations. 

You can find these stamps and many at the Inspired Stamps Store. 

 

I am entering into these challenges...

WordArt Wednesdays - Anything goes    
Inspiration Destination- Always Anything goes   
Loves Rubber Stamps- Anything Goes  
Papertake Weekly -  Anything Goes  
Through The Craft Room Door- Always Anything Goes