Thursday, February 4, 2016

Happy Birthday to You

The Unity Stamp Company has begun a series of one-minute Quick Tips videos that are a delight to watch, take a minimum of precious time to see, and cover a wide range of  techniques from beginner on up.  This post and the next one will show my first two attempts at what Unity calls Reverse Ink Smooshing . . .



For a look at the video, go HERE.  Smooshing has become a very popular technique because really good watercolor-like results are quite easy to obtain, mess is minimal, and it all happens pretty fast.

The smooshing technique usually involves stamping your image on watercolor cardstock with waterproof ink, smooshing your choice of die ink colors on a piece of acetate, misting the acetate with water, and then pressing the acetate down over your image.

Where Unity's technique differs is that she mists the stamped image, instead of the smooshed acetate.  It's amazing how much more control you have over the color transfer this way.  You can easily cover your entire image layer as I did, or you can go for a more artsy, random watercolored look.

After pressing down the smooshed acetate, lift and keep it face up while you dry the image.  Then, press the acetate a second time and dry again.  This will give you those lovely watercolor droplets.  

Play with this method – I think you'll love it!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Classic Yellow, The Paper Cut White Matte Coate,
                           Watercolor paper
Stamps:        Stampin’ Up On Safari, Art Accents Woodcut Double Sunflower,
                           Laughing Moon Double Spiral, Too Much Fun Happy
                           Birthday to you, Mesh carpet tape used as a stencil
Inks:               Hero Black, Distress Mowed Lawn, Spiced Marmalade,
                           Mustard Seed
Dies:              Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Frantic Stamper Open
                           Borders, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies,
                           EK Success Scalloped Corner punch, Simon Says
                           Tilted Banners
Doo Dads:    Sequins, Sally Hanson Nail Art Studs: Gold

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