Everyday Expressions

Hi Everyone! Thanks for stopping by! Today I’m sharing a card I created as homework for Altenew Academy’s Irresistible Inking Techniques with Sara Naumann. I used Altenew’s Winter Rose layered stamp set, and I adore the ageless look of this set. It was designed after vintage printed fabrics.

Technique

So for one lesson, we learned how to create our own background papers using ink pads and a brayer roller. I “smooshed” Altenew Crisp Dye Inks from the Warm Gray set onto a craft mat and spritzed a couple of times with water. I rolled the brayer through the ink to fully cover it. Then I rolled it about five inches in a dry place on the mat to remove a little ink. Then I rolled it once onto a Neenah 80 lb. cardstock panel, and repeated the process going the opposite way on the panel.

Tips

By removing some ink before rolling onto the cardstock, you get a more interesting pattern. Rolling in opposite directions gives interest, but is still balanced to the eye.

I practiced many times to decide how much ink looked the best. Ultimately, I created blue and gray backgrounds. I couldn’t decide which I liked best with the gray stamped flowers. So I layered the stamped image with both backgrounds and took pictures of each. Sometimes it helps to step away from a project or to look at it from a different perspective!

Tricks

Monochromatic color schemes can be interesting! My husband loved the more masculine colors of this card.

Add Wink of Stella to specific parts of the flower and the background ink for interest. It helps “jazz up” a monochromatic color scheme!

What do you think? Have you tried this inking technique? I would love to see your creations! Love and artsy hugs!

Erin