Faded Flowers

What with the Build A Bloom contest, it seems a good time for a good old-fashioned tutorial. I'm sure other people have fancy names for this, but I call it fade inking. You can use it around the edge of any shape to create a shaded inked edge (rather than the basic outline you get from going straight from ink pad to the edge of the cardstock). But today, we're going to build some fade inked blooms. Banana Frog stamps at the ready, ladies!

Gather your supplies. You will need:
*Build A Bloom stamp set
*Acrylic block
*Variety of pigment inks
*White cardstock
*Alcohol ink applicator (not the inks themselves) with felt -- or a a makeshift version to get you started
*Non-stick surface or craft mat
*Scissors
*One large brad
*Baby wipes or stamp cleaner

It starts very simply (not that there is anything actually difficult!). Stamp the petal designs of your choice in the colours you like. I used 9 petals on my finished flower -- you can use more or less, depending on spacing. Stamp a few extra in case you need to get the colour mix right at the end.

Once they are all stamped and dry, cut them out with scissors, leaving a white border all the way around the petal. Don't worry about getting them exactly even. It won't show in the end.

Here comes the fading -- and it's why you need the slick, non-stick surface. Start with the lightest colour of ink. Stamp the ink pad directly onto the craft mat a few times.

Use the felt-covered applicator to collect the ink, then run it along the edges of the petal. Try to leave a white gap in the centre, which will give you dimension and the appearance of light. I get the best results with small, circular patterns. Try on some scrap card that you cut so you have an idea of how it will work.
Remember, if you start with the lightest shade in one colour and work to the darkest, you won't have to change the felt to get a true colour. As I just had pinks and greens, I used one side of the felt for each colour. Waste not, want not and such, right?!

Once you've done that for each petal, you're ready to stick them down in place. Don't worry about the centre being too messy -- cover it with a big brad or a separate piece of cardstock with one of the centre stamps from the Build a Bloom set.

Here it is on a finished layout -- with lots more fade inking in pink, around the patterned paper and the cardstock. The journaling stamp is also a Banana Frog favourite -- using the small ink pads lets me ink just the lines and leave off the brackets so I get extra versatility.

Now that summer has finally arrived, you have no excuse not to put your Build A Bloom set to use and come up with something that could win you free stamps and stash!

xlovesx

Comments

[Lu]

you have got to be kidding me. This is awesome!

[Lu]

you have got to be kidding me. This is awesome!