Magnificent Mallards

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Gina K. Designs' new release is live right now starting at 7:00pm CST. You can catch the live on Gina's YouTube channel or Facebook page. Gina will be showcasing all of the new stamp sets and a brand new layering stencil bundle, also in the release are MINI BLENDING BRUSHES!! At the end of the live release Gina will be making a card with one of the new sets, which is always fun to watch. All of the products from the new release will be available for purchase on Gina's online shop starting at 7:00pm CST. You can find the products listed under the "What's New" category or you can click HERE. If you are shopping through my links (at no additional cost to you) thank you so much for your support, it helps me to purchase new product to bring to you on my blog!

Today, I've made a card with a brand new set illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger for Gina K. Designs called Magnificent Mallards. This is a beautiful stamp set with realistic looking Mallard ducks that are perfect for creating masculine cards or cards for any occasion! For today's card I went for a silhouette stamping over an early morning sunrise. There are some unique sentiments included in this stamp set that I really like. All of the stamps, inks, dies and cardstock used on today's card are from Gina K. Designs. Let's get started!!

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

To start I take the second largest die from the Master Layout 1 Die Set and cut out of Kraft Cardstock, running them through my Big Shot Die Cut Machine. I take the same die and cut out of Masking Magic then take my largest Double Stitched Oval Die and place it just above center then run them through my Big Shot.

Next, I remove the release paper and place the mask over my cardstock panel. To create a horizon with my ink blending I place another straight piece of Masking Magic over my oval mask where I want my horizon to be. Using my Blending Brushes I start out by blending my sun using Wild Dandelion Ink just over the top of the masked edge. I then blend Coral Reef Ink around the previous color fading back into it just a bit. For the final color of my sunrise I blend Sweet Mango Ink around the previous color blending back into it a bit to soften the blend.

To add some slight sun rays I place my Sunshine Stencil over the top of the sun and blend Wild Dandelion Ink over the rays of the stencil. You could add a heavy blend for more pronounced rays, however, I went with a light blend to create a few soft rays. I carefully remove my mask and I now have a blended sunrise coming up over the horizon.

Using the same piece of Masking Magic I flip the panel around and line up the clean edge of the mask over my previous ink blend edge. I now work on the water, I take my Blending Brush and blend Turquoise Sea Ink over my panel, concentrating the ink more towards the masked edge and keeping the ink light around the top. Next, I blend Blue Raspberry Ink over the edge of the mask, fading the ink out as I blend towards the top and being careful not to completely cover the previous color. To add a little depth I blend Blue Denim Ink over the edge of the mask, fading into the previous color only a little. My ink blending is now complete and I remove both masks. I love the reveal of removing masks from an ink blended panel!! I now have the look of a sunrise coming up over a body of water.

To add some stamped images, I place the panel into my MISTI Stamp Positioner and choose several of the smaller images from the Magnificent Mallards Stamp Set. I arrange the images over the panel so that they will be partially outside of the blended area. Once I am satisfied with the placement I stamp the images using Amalgam Obsidian Ink.

Next, I choose two sentiments from the Magnificent Mallards Stamp Set. I stamp the first sentiment just below the images then line up the second sentiment just below the first one and stamp it, using Amalgam Obsidian Ink for both.

Taking the largest layering rectangle from the Master Layout 1 Die Set I cut out of Warm Cocoa Cardstock, running them through my Big Shot. Using Terrific Tape I adhere my stamped panel onto the kraft panel.

For a card base I place a 8 1/2" x 11 piece of Turquoise Sea Cardstock into my Scor Buddy and score it at 5 1/2" creating a top folding card base. I then add a piece of Fun Foam onto the back of my panel using Liquid Glue and mount it onto the card base.

Looking at my assembled card I feel that there is too much empty space at the top. (Insert big eye roll!! Why couldn't I see this BEFORE mounting everything together!!?) I place my card back into the MISTI and first stamp the smaller cattail image onto the right side just below the first image then stamp an image onto the top right portion of the card using Amalgam Obsidian Ink... both images are from the Magnificent Mallards Stamp Set. I had my fingers crossed the entire time stamping these two images as I did not want to start over if I had messed things up by not getting clear stamped images since I was stamping over the foam. Whew!!

Using my Jewel Picker I add a few Dew Drops with Liquid Glue and this completes my card.

I love how this card finally came together! I debated stamping on kraft or white cardstock. I love the look of bright colors against a crisp white background but decided to go with kraft seeing as this was more of a nature set. I am happy I chose the kraft cardstock as I love the more muted tone the inks give off over the kraft. I love the realistic look of these images, looks like Melanie has another hit with this set! I find I am always short on versatile masculine stamps in my collection, and this set will be great for all the men in my life. I hope to see more masculine stamps released in the future. OK, I'm off to check out Gina's new release myself!! I will be showcasing more cards from the new release in the coming weeks as soon as my order arrives.

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Should you have any questions or comments please leave them in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you and what you thought about today's card.

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Happy Stamping and God Bless!!

Jeannie