Stencil Reflection

by Dina Kowal

From Split Coast Stampers

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Use a stencil or reverse mask to create a watery reflected image.

Supplies

• Stamps (Penny Black Poppy Time used here)
• Waterproof ink for stamping (Versafine Toffee Ink used here)
• Water soluble coloring medium (Versamagic Chalk Inks and Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer watercolor pencils used here)
• Coordinating stencil or die cut, or paper and craft knife to cut a reverse mask (Penny Black Sun Catcher stencil used here)
• Paper or sticky notes for masking
• Watercolor paper
• Paint brushes, one broad flat brush and a smaller one for detail
• White acrylic paint (optional)
• Other supplies as needed to complete the card

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Cut watercolor paper to desired size. Determine the position of the rubber stamp image that will be reflected in your stamped scene.
   
2. Mask a horizontal line using sticky notes or paper where the reflection will begin, representing the surface of the water.
   

3. Step 2

   Stamp the image using waterproof ink. A lighter ink was used in the sample so the outline of the image was more faint. Experiment with different looks and shades of ink to find the look you like best.
   
   TIP:
   If you want the image to reflect in the water as if it were completely above water, stamp above the masked line. If you want it to appear to be sitting in or dipping into the water, allow the stamp image to overlap the masked line.
   

4. Step 3

   Cut a reverse mask from acetate or text weight paper, or use a coordinating stencil or die cut as a reverse mask.
   
   (For a complete tutorial on Reverse Masking, click HERE.)
   
   
   
5. Give the stamped image a base layer of color using a water soluble medium, such as chalk or dye ink, Distress inks, watercolor pencils, or Gelatos. If desired, use the reverse mask to cover up the areas around the image as you color. Apply color directly with an inkpad, or use a sponge, dauber or brush.
   
   Layer color as desired for shading. Clean or dry the mask or stencil before moving on to the next step.
   

6. Step 4

   Remove the horizontal mask but keep a mental note of where it was positioned. Flip the stencil over and position it so that it is at equal distance and opposite angles to the stamped image in relation to the horizontal line.
   
   TIP:
   If the stamped image crossed the horizontal line, find the point on the mask or stencil where the width of the opening is the same.
   

7. Step 5

   Add color through the stencil openings to create the reflected image.
   
8. Layer color as desired for shading.
   
   NOTE:
   When adding shading, remember that the reflection is a mirror image and angles and positions will be opposite. For example, if you shaded toward the bottom on the stamped image, the shading on the reflection will curve the opposite way toward the top.
   

9. Step 6

   Blend coloring using a wet paint brush. When blending the colors on the stamped image, take care to stay within the outlines.
   
10. When blending the colors on the reflected image, use a wide flat brush and brush with a side-to-side motion to simulate ripples and reflection on the surface of the water. Don’t worry about staying in the lines.
    
    To create an illusion of depth, pull a little color from the lower part of panel up around the stamped image above the horizontal line. This makes it look like there is water behind the object being reflected.
    

11. Step 7

    Add deeper shading to the colored images if desired.
    
12. On the reflection, shading can be added in horizontal strokes.
    
    Blend from side to side as before, using a smaller brush so more detail is left.
    

13. Step 8

    For an added water effect, dilute white acrylic paint with water and brush thin horizontal lines over the reflected image.
    
14. The white paint can also be used to add highlights to the stamped image.
    

15. Step 9

    Use the panel to complete a card or other project.
    

Video!

Something new to try colored dry embossing

Colored Dry Embossing

by Jeanne Jachna

From Spiltcoast stampers.com

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Learn tips for using inks to enhance dry embossed designs.

Supplies

• White cardstock or smooth watercolor paper
• Embossing folder (Anna Griffin Aviary by Cuttlebug used here)
• Die cutting/ embossing machine
• Coloring medium (Ranger Distress Inks used here)
• Paper stumps or a blender pen
• Other supplies as needed to complete the card

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Trim a piece of white card stock to 4.25" x 5.5" and emboss with an embossing folder according to your machine's instructions.
   

2. Step 2

   Apply the flat side of the tip of a paper blending stump to an ink pad to lift color. Begin with a lighter shade as a base coat of color, then use a darker color to add shading and depth if desired. For fine areas (like the stems here) use the very tip of the nib.
   
   TIP:
   Hold the blending stump further back to give the flat side of the tip a better angle for coloring the raised areas.
   

3. Step 3

   To switch colors use a different paper stump or the opposite end. If you want to use the same paper stump, sand the end down to a fresh point. (See video for tips on cleaning and sharpening stumps.)
   

4. Step 4

   Work across the entire image until coloring is complete.
   

5. Step 5

   Trim the panel to fit your card base and complete the card.
   

Video!

Variations

1. For a watercolored look, create a palette using dye inks or water-based markers. Chalks or PanPastels can also be used.
   
2. Use a blender pen to lift and apply color to the embossed images (Stampin' Up! Blender Pen used here).
   

New way to make a Folded Cards

Quarter Fold Card

by Jana O’Brien

From Split Coast Stampers.com

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Create a unique card with a box-top closure.

Supplies

• Paper trimmer
  
• Scoring tool
  
• Cardstock (2 sheets in coordinating colors, and smaller pieces for layering)
  
• Glue
  
• Other supplies as needed to complete the card

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Trim a piece of cardstock to 4 1/4" x 11".
   
   This will be the back piece of the card.
   
2. Score along the long side at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4".
   
   (Alternative: score at 2 3/4" then turn cardstock and score at 2 3/4" from the other end.)
   
   TIP:
   Score again slightly outside the 2 score measurements on both pieces of cardstock for a better fit.
   

3. Step 2

   Trim the second piece of cardstock to 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".
   
   This will be the front piece of the card.
   
4. Score along the long side at 2 1/8" x 6 3/8".
   
   (Alternative: score at 2 1/8" then turn cardstock and score at 2 1/8" from the other end.)
   
   TIP:
   Make this piece a lighter color so it’s easier to stamp or write on the inside of the card.
   

5. Step 3

   Adhere the 2 pieces of cardstock together, lining up edges with score lines.
   
   TIP:
   Use a liquid glue to allow for adjustments in placement.
   
6. Fold both ways at each score line. Folding toward the opposite color first will give the panels enough room to close well without interfering with each other.
   

7. Step 4

   Fold the card closed as you would close the top of a packing box. Fold in the left side, fold up the bottom, fold in the right side, then tuck the left corner of the top flap underneath the left side panel.
   
8. 
   
   

9. Step 5

   The folded card should lay flat and look like this.
   
   Decorate the front of the card as desired. The card can be horizontal or vertical.
   
10. To make layers for the four quarters cut 2 pieces of cardstock to 2" X 2 1/2" and 2 pieces of cardstock to 1 7/8" X 2 5/8". Cut a 4" x 5 1/4" panel for the inside if desired.
    

11. Step 6

    Complete the card.
    
12. Decorate the inside if desired - maybe tuck in some cash or a handful of confetti!
    
    Finished card fits in a standard A2 envelope.
    

Video!

Something new to try with stamps

Stamp Etching

by Lydia Fiedler

From Splitcoast Stampers.com

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Use a fine-tipped black pen to give your stamped images the look of classical etchings.

Supplies

• Open line-art stamp image (Stampin' Up!'s Blended Bloom used here)
  
• Black marker or pen with a fine tip
  
• Cardstock (a smooth cardstock is best)
  
  

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Begin by stamping an open line art stamp in black ink on smooth white cardstock.
   

2. Step 2

   Using a fine-tipped marker, begin to make tapered lines within the stamp image with a light flicking motion - lifting the pen off the paper towards the end of your line. The line should be thinner at the end than it is where it started.
   
3. Practice by drawing a straight line on a scrap. Put your pen down on the line briefly and then as you draw a quick line, lift the tip of the pen up off the paper towards the end of the line.
   

4. Step 3

   To add a little shading, do a second, shorter group of lines at the base of the first.
   

5. Step 4

   Continue until your image is completely filled.
   

6. Step 5

   For variations on this technique, try cross-hatching...
7. or stippling.
   

8. Step 6

   Use your image on a finished project.
   
9. Try this technique on colored cardstock, too.
   

Video!

Pointillism

by Allison Cope

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Color and shade an image using tiny dots.

Supplies

• Sturdy, smooth cardstock
  
• Printed digital stamp, or rubber stamp image stamped with dye ink (Power Poppy digital stamp used here)
  
• Markers (Copic alcohol markers used here; water-based markers may also be used)

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Print a digital stamp image, or rubber stamp an image onto some smooth, sturdy cardstock.
   
   HINT:
   Use a dye ink for stamping any image you are going to color with alcohol markers. Memento brand is recommended.
   

2. Step 2

   Gather a minimum of three markers to color the image with. Five Copic colors were used in this example (lightest to darkest: Y19, Y17, YR12, Y38, YR18) . Try using a light, medium and a dark tone of the same color.
   
   Beginning with the lightest color, hold the marker straight up and down and apply small dots to the image. For more concentrated color, apply the dots closer together. For a lighter or highlighted area, use dots applied wider apart. Let each layer of dots completely dry between applications so you do not blend them together.
   

3. Step 3

   Grab the next darkest color of marker and begin to overlap your dot application. You can use different sizes of dots to get the desired coverage of your image, but try to keep them fairly small.
   

4. Step 4

   Apply the third color. Begin to deepen the color of the areas that appear shaded.
   

5. Step 5

   Apply the fourth tone of marker. Concentrate these darker shades of color in the areas of shade and shadow. The more dots you apply to one area, the richer and darker the tone will appear.
   

6. Step 6

   Apply the final and darkest color of marker. Try using a cluster of many tiny dots to allow your lighter shades of color to show through if desired.
   

7. Step 7

   Continue coloring using the concepts shown above.
   

8. Step 8

   Decorate the card as desired.
   

Video!

From Splitcoast stampers.com