Over the past couple of days I’ve been playing in my craft studio with no particular project in mind. Instead I’ve been experimenting with different background techniques. Now I have a small collection of prepared backgrounds that I can use on future projects. Among other things I finally tried out the Stampin’ Blends alcohol technique on Vellum Cardstock. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed by the results and I decided to turn a blue version into a seascape. With the addition of the Sailing Home Stamp Set and coordinating Smooth Sailing Dies, I was able to create this cute gift box.
ALCOHOL SEA
But first came the sea on a 3″ x 8-1/2″ piece of Vellum Cardstock.
I began by scribbling lines of colour across the Vellum using the brush tip of some Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. Along the bottom I started with light Night Of Navy. Above that I then scribbled light Misty Moonlight followed by dark Misty Moonlight. Then at the top I scribbled with dark Night Of Navy.
Once I’d finished scribbling I went over the lines of colour using a Water Painter dipped in 99% isopropyl alcohol. Almost immediately the alcohol started to spread, moving the pigment over the Vellum. I waited for everything to look dry and then scribbled a little more into the areas where I felt too much pigment had moved. With that done I added some more isopropyl alcohol and watched the colour move again.
In no time at all I had an amazing background piece that reminded me of the sea and I knew exactly what to do with it…
I recently bought some of the 3-1/8″ x 3-1/8″ Acetate Card Boxes. These are designed to hold 3″ x 3″ cards and come ready assembled, all I had to do was tuck in the end flaps. Then I wrapped my Vellum around the box and secured it to itself at the back using Tear & Tape Adhesive.
SAILING FOCAL POINT
Now I needed to create my focal point and for that I started with the Sailing Home Stamp Set.
Using Night Of Navy ink I stamped the larger yacht and the “Thanks” sentiment onto Thick Basic White Card. Then using the light and dark Balmy Blue Stampin’ Blends I coloured in the hull and sails on the yacht image.
Once I’d finished colouring I cut out the yacht and sentiment using dies from the coordinating Smooth Sailing Dies set. While I was there I also cut the ship’s wheel from Pacific Point Card using another die from the set.
To decorate the box I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to attach the ship’s wheel to the Vellum. Then overlapping that I glued on the yacht. Finally I added the sentiment with Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals and my box was done and ready to be filled.
I must say that I’m having a lot of fun using Stampin’ Blends and isopropyl alcohol. Every time I make a project using this technique it sparks an idea for another, so that’s what I’ll be working on today.
Have you tried using Stampin’ Blends to create alcohol ink backgrounds? If not, do give it a try and let me know how you get on in the comments below.
If you missed my other alcohol ink experiments using Stampin’ Blends check out these previous blog posts:
That one is really nice for man’s card I like that and how you done the sea fantastic
Thank you Cecilia. Yes I think I’ll have to make some more alcohol backgrounds, they’re so versatile.