It’s only a couple more days before we know which products are being retired from the Stampin’ Up! Catalogues. Inevitably, looking forward also has me looking back. I’m reminded of products that are already no longer available, like Stampin’ Sponges. I loved these and regularly used them to create backgrounds (although I know many people found them difficult to use). For some reason I’ve never tried to create a similar effect using Blending Brushes. But with the new Growth Takes Time Stamp Set I decided today would be the day.

INKY BACKGROUND

I began by cutting a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Thick Basic White Card. Then starting at one end I covered about half the card with Mango Melody ink using a Blending Brush. Then I changed brushes and from the other end I covered the rest of the card strip with Rich Razzleberry ink. It was time for the magic to start.

Changing brushes once again I chose a third colour, Starry Sky. Starting at the darker end of the card I added the Starry Sky ink but only for about the top 2″. As I progesssively added more of the Starry Sky ink over the Rich Razzleberry ink the card changed to a regal purple. Amazing! Not exacly what I had in mind, but that’s what happens when you layer different coloured inks on top of each other.

Now I just needed to blend the three areas of ink so there were no hard lines. Going back to the Rich Razzleberry ink and brush I added just little more to blend in the bottom edge of the Starry Sky ink. Then I picked up the first brush and Mango Melody ink pad to blend the overlap between the Rich Razzleberry and Mango Melody inks.

Once I was happy with how the inky piece looked I found one of my Water Painters filled with clean water. Next I squeezed the barrel gently so that the brush tip was wet but not drippng. Then I tapped the Water Painter firmly against the handle of a Blendling Brush so droplets of water were flicked onto the inked card. After doing this a few times I set the piece aside to dry thoroughly.

GROWTH SENTIMENT

In fact it was a full day before I went back to the card strip and the (now dry) water droplets had created light spots in the ink. Perfect.

At last it was time to add my sentiment and for that I wanted to use the new Growth Takes Time Stamp Set. I chose “be gentle with yourself” and stamped it at the bottom of the strip using VersaMark ink. Then I sprinkled the sticky ink with white powder from the Basics Embossing Powders pack. After tapping off the excess I removed a few specks, then melted the rest using my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).

To finish I punched a slot at the top of the strip using the Very Best Trio Punch. Then I cut two 6″ pieces of Very Vanilla twine from the Baker’s Twine Essentials Pack. After folding the twine in half I passed the loops through the hole in the card, then threaded the cut ends through the loops. Once I’d pulled the ends firmly to secure the twine in place, my bookmark was complete.

Oh my goodness. Why have I waited so long to try this technique with Blending Brushes? The effect is gorgeous and a lot more forgiving than it ever was with the sponges. Yes, it seems growth definitely does take time, especially when it comes to my crafting.

PRODUCT LIST

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES – these are products that cannot be found in any Stampin’ Up! Catalogue and are available while stocks last. See the Growth Takes Time Stamp Set and all the other online only products in the Online Exclusives section of my store.