Tuesday, August 25, 2015

{Spotlight Project} Ink Bleeding Technique with Shery



Hi, guys! Today I'm sharing a project using a technique I learned/discovered by accident a few weeks ago while I was sketching stamp designs on my sketch book. I call it the ink bleeding technique. I was playing with my calligraphy pens and as I prepped one of my drawings for a colorwash and ran my waterbrush over my sketches, the ink started bleeding. Before I knew it, I was testing the technique on my stamps and card designs. You'll find some of my cards using this technique here, here, here, and here

This time around, I played with the technique using the ARTplorations Happy Flowers stencil. Here's the card:




Important note: In order for this technique to work, you need to use a pen with non-permanent ink. So pens with India ink won't work, since India ink is permanent. The cheap-o gel pens from the dollar store work, but I prefer using Speedball's Elegant Writer calligraphy pens for this technique. Try experimenting with different pens.

STEP 1
I traced the flowers onto my card base with calligraphy pens.



STEP 2
Next, I ran my waterbrush along the outside of the traced image and this made the ink bleed.



STEP 3
I decided to watercolor the flowers themselves with Sakura Koi watercolors.



STEP 4
I turned to my favorite stamp set for adding faux texture. I stamped some grunge stamps in French Ultramarine archival ink.



STEP 5
I also stamped a few small butterflies and finished with the sentiment.  Here's the card again.



This is one technique that yields varied results -- play with it! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will try the technique. I promise it's fun! :o)



Products Shery used in today's project:


   

  

Mixed Media Grunge (April/May 2015) is one of several premium 5x7 sets offered in the STAMPlorations stamp club! We've got lots of perks, including free worldwide shipping, a free 4" by 6" stamp set sent every 3rd shipment (or immediately after signing up for the semi-annual subscription), 2 personal discount coupon codes, and choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils ($10 value) in every stamp club package mailed out to subscribers! For more info and to sign up, click here.

Prize alert! Leave a comment in this post for an entry to our Spotlight Projects random drawing for August. We'll pick ONE (1) commenter to win a $10 gift certificate or her choice of 1 ARTplorations stencil. We'll announce the winner on the first week of September!

13 comments:

  1. Stunning effect, I might just have to give it a go!
    Elaine

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  2. Hope you got those legs up and resting, LOVE what you have done here Shery....thanks for my order. xx

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  3. This is so pretty!! I LOVE the colors you chose to use together. Thank you for the tutorial!!

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  4. Gorgeous, a must try, looks fantastic Shery!

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  5. The bleeding technique is soooo cool!! Thanks for the tutorial Shery! And take care. :)
    Suchi xx

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  6. What a cool technique...Thanks for the tutorial Shery!

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  7. Really pretty - love the water coloring technique. Great results:)

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  8. How pretty the way the watercoloring bleeds out. Love the look!

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  9. great bleeding ... think it will work with DistressMarkers and some like this way...
    I´ll going to test it !!!
    CU hellerlittle

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  10. Beautiful and looks like such a work of art!! Love it!! I think I might give this technique a try!! Thank you - hope you are well, Shery!!

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  11. WOW Shery, what fabulous technique 'to stumble across' - so effective and a fantastic card..love how the colours 'mingle'

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  12. I love every single step of your artsy Happy Flowers Shery. I will be trying your fun technique. TFS my friend.

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