Inky backgrounds

I decided to get inky today and use some Tim Holtz Distress Inks to make some background papers.  I chose several coordinating colors of ink, pressed the ink pads onto my acrylic block, spritzed it with water, and pressed it onto my paper.   I have Inkadinkado blocks which have wavy edges for the grips, so you can see the outline where the ink stopped on the paper.  I used more water on the pink paper so the colors blended more.  The green paper was a little drier so there are more speckles visible.

After the papers were dry, I stamped a MS bird with black ink and added some lace trim.  The wide lace is dyed with Tim Holtz Distress Inks, too.  I blotted it with a tissue to give it the soft colored look that the paper has.

Finally, I added a sentiment on a piece of dimensional adhesive.  These were fun and I am sure I'll make a few more.  I might try adding in some of my SU reinkers because I only have 5 colors of Distress Ink so there aren't many decent combinations I can make. 

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Cards shipped to OWH in 2012: 928 blank and 215 AnyHero (as of 6/26)
Cards shipped to OWH in 2011: 1695

Check out OWH at www.operationwritehome.org to learn more about its mission and how to get involved.

Marble paper part 2

Well, that shaving cream tutorial I mentioned in my last post got me hooked. I made some more sheets of marbleized paper today, using greens and coordinating colors. It's nice to have more to do with my SU refills than just refill the ink pads when they get a bit dry.

Here are some more cards featuring the fancy papers I made. I really love how the pink and purple paper from yesterday turned out. The stamp is from SU (Sweet Serendipity) and the ink is Lilac Lace, a retired SU color.


The green and red paper was intended for Christmas cards. I have Christmas paper, but I don't find what I have inspiring to work with. Christmas cards are a struggle for me. I really like this one and I think I will try to replicate the background paper enough times to make my own Christmas cards with this design.
In person, I couldn't tell whether the tree looked better colored or plain. It's wonderful how looking at a photograph often clears up this kind of question for me. I'm going to go color the other tree now. I think it looks much better colored.

Can I ask you a favor? Please go vote for my card at Spotted Canary. If I win, I'm going to donate the prize money to OWH. You need to be logged into FB and you may vote once a day until Sept. 7th. Tell your friends!!! Thanks so much!

Cards shipped to OWH (as of 8/2/11): 964