Hello everyone, Effie here!  It has been a crazy couple of weeks due to our new release but I’m so happy to be popping in today to officially announce on our blog about our recent PR news!  If you follow us on any of our social media platforms, then you might have seen our post about this.  The Ton is currently featured in the Better Homes and Gardens DIY Special Summer 2016 Publication!!

Our Rose Terrace Background Stamp (which debuted during our December 2015 release) and Couture Color Ink Collection were featured in this publication (Page 64)!

I am beyond excited about this publication opportunity.  It’s been an amazing ride since we first started in January 2015.  I hope for many more publications in the future!

Now onto my cardmaking post!  I tested out five techniques that can be applied to our new large Brushed Sentiment sets to get super chic results!  I only made one finished card for today’s post because I wanted to dedicate it to the actual techniques.

1. Ombre Effect with White Pigment Ink
2. Stardust Effect with Gold Glitter Embossing Powder
3. (Half Tone) Hard Line Embossing
4. Tone on Tone Ombre Stamping
5. Watercolor Effect Stamping

TECHNIQUE #1: Ombre Effect with our White Pigment Ink

For our first technique, I stamped our Brushed Thanks in our Hot Tourmaline Dye ink twice.  Then I inked up the bottom half of the sentiment with our Hampton White Pigment ink and stamped over the original stamped sentiment (please see video at 1.17) – sorry I was not able to take a photo of this because I went straight into the next technique.  If I was to make a finished card using this technique, I flip the color scheme and have the darker color on the bottom and the white on top for a more grounded look.

TECHNIQUE #2:  Stardust Effect with Gold Glitter Embossing Powder

This might be my favorite technique!  I piggybacked off the first technique.  After I stamped the pigment ink (at an angle), I spooned some gold glitter embossing powder onto the bottom portion of the sentiment and heat set it.  I’m a little obsessed with this look!

TECHNIQUE #3: (Half Tone) Hard Line Embossing

This might be my second favorite technique (because I love any technique where I can add gold elements).  First, I stamped our Brushed Hello sentiment in our Grand Fuchsia ink.  For this technique, you don’t have to worry about the bottom half of the sentiment when inking it up in your colored ink since the embossed powder will cover that part.  After I cleaned my stamp of the Grand Fuchsia (don’t forget to clean your stamps prior to inking it up with your versamark or else you may end up getting ink on your versamark pad), I took the straight edge of a piece of scrap paper and masked the top portion of the sentiment.  Then I inked up the exposed part of the sentiment with versamark ink.  Then I spooned on some gold embossing powder and heat set the panel.

TECHNIQUE #4: Tone on Tone Ombre Stamping

This technique is on oldie but a total goodie and easy to execute.  First I inked the bottom portion of our Brushed Hello sentiment with Grand Fuchsia (loving this color today).  You have to ink it carefully at an angle so that you get that nice gradient.  Then I took inked up most of the sentiment with Orchid Crush and stamped the rest of the sentiment.  The colors blend into each other to create a gorgeous ombre look!

TECHNIQUE #5: Watercolor Effect Stamping

This was not my favorite technique because of all the bleed.  However, I will test this out again on better watercolor paper (I used Canson XL for this one).  I started off by coloring our Brushed Happy sentiment with No. 4 Turquoise Green zig marker.  Then I spritzed the stamp a couple of times and stamped the sentiment on watercolor paper.  There’s only certain areas where the bleed is more severe and parts where there is no bleed (the h).  So perhaps, it’s a combination of paper quality and the amount of water.  If I can perfect this technique, it will be a nice one to use.

I created one finished card using the tone on tone ombre panel (I did record the process at the end of the video).

After I finished the sentiment, I stamped our new Floral Border right above with Soft Orchid Dye Ink.  Then I trimmed the panel at the top and bottom 1/8 of an inch each.  Next I applied some (Medium) Gold Glitter Tape to the top and bottom edges of a top folding A2 cardbase.  After I adhered the panel onto the base, I added some Queens Pink Sequins in 8, 6 and 4mm.

Thank you all for stopping by today!