Hi everyone, Heidi here, today I would like to show you how you can create a fabulous tone of tone background for your cards, art journalling or mixed media projects!
Step 1:
Key is that the first color that you add to your background is very light and that you don’t add too much shimmer because the VersaMark (or other sticky ink) might have a hard time attaching to it. That is why I choose to use a Lindy’s spray for this first step. I picked Whale Watch Blue and C’est la Vie Cerise.
I started my project by die cutting two rectangle panels each two sizes smaller than my card base, for this I used watercolor paper. I then stamped my sentiments (Kaisercraft Background Birthday Sentiments stamp set) using Jet Black Archival Ink.
Next, I sprayed the part of the panel that I wanted to add the color to with water and then added some of the Whale Watch Blue (for one panel) and C’est la Vie Cerise (for the other panel), using a brush, keeping the panel in an angle so the color would drip off and then drying my panel with my heat tool.
Step 2:
When you use chunky embossing powders for this step you might have some bare patches, which I didn’t mind if you use a finer embossing powder your result will be smoother. I choose the new Lindy’s Stamp Gang Carefree Verdigris and Don’t Scream Aquamarine chunky embossing powders for my project.
To prevent the embossing powder from sticking to areas where I didn’t want it to go I first used an anti-static powder tool over the watercolor panel. Then I stamped my background using VersaMark ink in combination with a Spellbinders background stamp called Fretwork, adding the chunky embossing powder (one color for each panel) to the panel, tapping off the excess and melting the rest with my heat tool. Later on, I added some splatters in the same colors as my background color for some added interest.
And this is how you can create these stunning tone on tone backgrounds! I totally love how they turned out!
Step 3:
You can finish these cards any way you like, but I choose one flower image and one wedding image and colored them to use as my toppers. For the anniversary card, I used a Little Miss Muffet Stamp called Le Baiser Vole, stamped it on smooth card stock using Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossing afterward using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Clearly Clear Embossing Powder. You get the best results when you use an anti-static powder tool before stamping the image. This way the embossing powder will not stick to areas where your fingers have touched the paper for example.
Next, I started coloring the image: the image has lots of small areas so it’s not easy to create depth, but I tried anyway. I first started with my red, adding Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in Peony Scarlet Red to my project using a small brush in combination with water. Layering Lindy’s Stamp Gang Spray in Jazzy Jivin’ Purple on top for more depth and finishing with adding some highlights using a white gel pen.
I also fussy cut the image leaving a small border.
Step 4:
Then I worked on my mint/teal area’s using first Lindy’s Stamp Gang Spray in C’est la Vie Cerise and next Lindy’s Stamp Gang Squirt in Loonie Toonie Teal for my shadow color, again finishing with highlights in white.
Step 5:
Finishing the project with all the area’s that are black using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in Black Forest Black thinned with lots of water and layering up where I felt this was needed.
Step 6:
The same way I colored the flower image for the other card using a stamp by Gina K Designs called You Make Me Smile. I used the previously mentioned Lindy’s Stamp Gang colors in Peony Scarlet Red, Jazzy Jivin’ Purple, and Whale Watch Blue.
Step 7:
Time to put my cards together: I die cut two slightly larger rectangle panels from matching deep red card stock and adhered the rectangle panels together using liquid glue. Around the anniversary card, I wrapped some torn vellum and adhered to the back using regular tape. This combination of rectangle panels I adhered to my white card base using one-millimetre thick foam tape.
For the anniversary card I now only have to adhere the colored and fussy cut image on top using one-millimetre thick foam tape and for the other card, I first adhered the colored and fussy cut image on top and then added some sparkling clear sequins as my finishing touch.
Lindy’s products
- Spray: Whale Watch Blue, C’est la Vie Cerise, Jazzy Jivin’ Purple
- Squirt: Loonie Toonie Teal
- Magical: Peony Scarlet Red
- Magical Shaker: Black Forest Black
- Embossing Powder: Clearly Clear, Carefree Verdigris, Don’t Scream Aquamarine
Other products
- Watercolor card stock, smooth card stock, black ink, VersaMark, stamps, brush, white gell pen, vellum, sparkling sequins.
And that’s it for today’s fun card project! I wish you a creative day!
