Monday, November 21, 2011

Less is More 42

This week the ladies at Less is More have challenged us to make a clean and simple card featuring a silhouette.  I recently bought this stamp of the three wise men on coupon at Michaels, so I had something new to play with.  Otherwise it would have been a much loved tree stamp, my only other silhouette.  

I first made a one-layer card using masking and sponging. It took some fiddling to get it right.  I started by masking the top and bottom of the inked area, but found I didn't like the defined edge along the top.  I then masked only the bottom and liked that much better.  I masked a moon for the initial sponging, and then removed it and sponged just a bit of color across it.  When I stamped the image, I was concerned about the stars across the face of the moon.  I could have done some fancy masking to leave the palm leaves but remove the stars on the moon, but instead I am choosing to not let it bother me. :)




 For my second card, I simply cut out the sponged and inked panel, matted it on navy cardstock, and mounted it on a white card base. I added a Hero Arts sentiment in black.


Now for a question.  I've noticed that many people who ink backgrounds do so using distress inks.  I use an old Colorbox multi-color pad of pigment inks, as that is what I have that works best.  However, I've been so impressed with the cards I've seen using distress inks that I'm thinking of asking Santa for some.  Are people using the ink pads or the bottles of liquid ink, and are people using sponge daubers or brayers?  Are there any tricks I need to know for blending them?   If you have any opinions about distress inks, I'd love to hear them!  Thanks so much.

Supplies:
Paper: PTI white, navy from scrap box
Stamps:  Stampendous traveling far, Hero Arts sentiments
Ink: Color Box pigment inks, Memories black

22 comments:

Judy1223 said...

Hi Ann...what you are doing seems to be working very well for you! Your cards are gorgeous! I like both versions.

I had the same question last year and here is what I wound up getting:
1) a handful of Tim Holtz distress ink pads,
2) a blending tool and lots of sponges (see here:
http://www.simonsaysstamp.com/servlet/the-14083/IBT23616--23616-ranger/Detail )
You can find these ink pads at local craft stores with your coupons. I'm happy to let you know what colors I got to start...I surveyed the Hero Arts Flickr community and I got great suggestions!

Kathyk said...

FABbylicious cards!

I'm a big fan of the distress inks which I use with a Tim Holtz blending tool. Would suggest you check out some youtube tutorials or the Ranger website to see Tim in action!!!

Kathyk

Viv said...

Such beautiful cards, well done Ann. I love TH distress inks,I have the little squareish pads and the 'tool' to stick them to. I find the edges tend to leave lines so I sponge mine on from the pad with a bit of cheap sponge I cut up....works for me.:O) Viv xx

Cath Wilson said...

Both beautiful cards and I bet they would've embossed beautifully! Love the top being freer - great idea - and I thought the 'stars' were birds - just shows how much attention I pay!

Of all my inks (and I have LOTS) I love pigment inks the most - they're permanent, embossable and so blendable - always my first ink of choice on matte card.

But water based inks can be nice, too and there are some lovely colours in distress inks. I just use old bathroom sponges, cut up, but most people use the blending tools - okay but pricey to keep buying Cut and Dry or foam pad refills. It's all about preference and cost and some things I'd rather not spend my money on. I use both, btw - reinkers AND inkpads - both have their uses. Good luck x

MonikaC said...

Beautiful cards! The little bit of color in the background adds so much!

Jenny said...

I love the colour you chose for the inky bkgd Ann and that big moon looks fab with the stars across it :)

I can only echo the other commenter's as I have some of Mr Holtz's ink pads and the blending tool. You don't necessarily need one blending pad per ink colour as long as you keep the colours grouped!
The distress inks are a more intense colour...he has a great video on you tube from the CHA show. Not tried them at all but love the inkpads for colouring small areas and edges :)
HTH
Jenny x

Vicky Hayes said...

I love how these turned out Ann!

I just use my water-based inks and some chopped up bits of car-wash sponge for my inked backgrounds, or sponge daubers for smaller areas. They work brilliantly with the brayer too.

Carol said...

Two great cards Ann, love your back grounds and the image. Carol x

Michelle said...

what a beautiful card! Such lovely colouring

Deborah Frings said...

Ann - both these cards are just fabulous. I think they really give the spirit of Christmas.

In answer to your question about Distress inks - I use cut'n'dry foam to gently rub colour into my images. I have a piece of foam about 2" square for each colour and I store them each in a little ziplock bag (named with the colour) in an old icecream tub! I sometimes use my Stampin' Up! inks like Distress and use the same technique with them.

I hope Santa is kind to you!

G Peplow said...

Hello there Ann, WOW beautiful cards, I love the open inked edge, it works really well.
It seems we all rate the distress inks by Mr TH, I agree with all these wonderful comments but add I prefer not to use a blending tool, just use the cut 'n dry foam. Use one piece per colour. I would check out his video if you have a minute, he is so succinct! There are so many more techniques that he uses with the distress ink range.
Gay xxx

Julie said...

I like the background and the stamps as well! Lovely cards.

Jingle said...

These are really pretty!

Gibmiss said...

Hi Anne Three stunning cards ....Fabulous ....Love them all
Hugs Sylvie
xxxx

Stamps and Paper said...

Stunning cards love your backgrounds

Anne

Sandy said...

Two beautiful cards, love the background and the fab silhouette image,
Sandy

Anonymous said...

Two stunning cards Ann! I'm still plucking up courage to enter the world of distress inks so reading everyone's comments is very helpful!
xx

Chrissie said...

These are just gorgeous!

I too use DIs and apply them with sponge daubers. One per colour! I tap the inkpad onto my glass mat and pick the ink up from that! I also use ink duster brushes for some very delicate inking! Such fun!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Susan said...

Ann, this is absolutely gorgeous! I LOVE that image! Hero Arts? Your sponging looks awesome too. I have those color box inks too and often turn to them as they are just the right colors. I have quite a few TH distress inks (pads) too. I have a sponge I cut up into pie shaped wedges (it's one of those round open airy type sponges) that I got at Michaels and just a different sponge for each color family. I also found that if I pinch the top edge with a binder clip that it gives me something to hold on to without getting my fingers all inky.

I do LOVE your first card....Perfection!!

Karen said...

They are all stunning and should be greatly appreciated by whoever they get sent to karen x

Mandi said...

Stunning
Sincere apologies for being so late acknowledging your entry
thank you so much
mandi
Diva LIM

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Stunning cards