With Sympathy

Hello, welcome to my blog!!

Today's card features simple ink blending with embossing. I wanted to show that even the simple, basic techniques can produce beautiful results. I find that choosing the right colors can really step up a simple card. For my ink blending, I will be using regular Distress Inks.
I wasn't planning on making a sympathy card today, but we received some sad news this morning that our sweet grandbaby #3 that was due in September went home to be with the Lord. So this card is dear to my heart, I hope it brings comfort to mom and dad.

I will be doing all of my work today on my Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat.

To start, I take the largest of my Stitched Rectangle Dies and cut a panel out of Neenah White Cardstock, running them through my Big Shot Die Cut Machine. Taking my Blender Brushes, I start my ink blending using Faded Jeans Distress Ink and apply just above the center and come down the sides, fading out at the top and bottom a bit. Next, I use Dusty Concord Distress Ink and blend onto the top portion of the panel, fading into the previous color. For my third color, I add Seedless Preserves Distress Ink to the corners and down the edges, fading into the previous color just a bit being careful not to overpower it. I then decided to bring the Faded Jeans Distress Ink down around the bottom and up the sides. I fade out toward the center, creating a highlighted area for my greeting. I also add Dusty Concord Distress Ink to the bottom corners and edges to tie everything together.

I want to do some embossing and because of the heavy ink blending I did, the panel needs to dry. To speed things up, I completely dry the panel using my Ranger Craft Tool. **To test and see if the panel is dry and ready for embossing, I pour some embossing powder onto the panel. If all of the powder slides off the panel when it is tapped, the panel is ready for embossing. If any of the embossing powder sticks, then I know the panel needs to be dried more.
I now place the panel into my MISTI Stamp Positioner and prep with my Anti Static Powder Bag. I choose images from the Persian Motifs Stamp Set and arrange over the panel then pick up with the door of the MISTI. I ink up the images and stamp my panel using Versamark Embossing Ink. I then add Detail Silver Embossing Powder and heat set with my Heat Tool.

Next, I take a small paintbrush with clean water and spatter my panel. I then take a paper towel and lay over the panel to soak up the water, creating water marks. I now put the panel back into my MISTI and stamp a greeting from the Scripted Bold Sentiments 2 Stamp Set using Versafine Clair Nocurn Ink just over the top of the highlighted area.

I place a scrap piece of Black Cardstock into my MISTI and prep with my Anti Static Powder Bag. I choose a sentiment from the same Scripted Bold Sentiments 2 Stamp Set. This is a stacked sentiment, but I want it to be on a single line. To do this, I set the stamp onto my cardstock where the sentiment is to be stamped. Using Purple Tape, I tape off the bottom words and ink up the stamp with Versamark Embossing Ink. I then peel off the tape and stamp onto the cardstock. I clean off the stamp, line up the bottom portion of the stamp to create my single line sentiment. This time, I tape off the top words, ink up the stamp, remove the tape and stamp onto the cardstock. I then add Detail Silver Embossing Powder and heat set with my Heat Tool. I now have a single line sentiment.

Using my Sentiment Banner Dies, I cut out my sentiment, running them through my Big Shot Die Cut Machine. Next, I adhere my blended panel onto a Blue Denim Cardstock card base using Double Sided Tape. I then add Foam Tape to the back of my sentiment and mount over the bottom of my greeting. To finish off this card, I add Water Droplets using Liquid Glue and this completes my card.

I hope you enjoyed today's card. I love trying different colors of ink together, sometimes colors that I would never think of using together or wouldn't even make sense! For today, I knew I wanted to pull in blue and pink/purple. I figured today's colors would work well together and loved the results.

I pray you have a good weekend, and stay healthy. Don't forget to make a little time for yourself if you can and create something fun.


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Happy Stamping!!
Jeannie