A New Challenge along with my Favorite Resist Technique

 A big hello and welcome all! It is an honor to have been invited to be Guest Designer for the Simon Says Monday Stamp Challenge during the month of March. I have long admired the brilliant creativity of the Design Team each week and have also enjoyed participating in many of the challenges. Thank you for having me!



 The theme for the challenge this week is Make Your Own Backgrounds and we are showcasing Dylusions products.
                                 

 This week I am showing my favorite resist technique using gesso to create custom beautiful patterned cardstock like on this card:

and these ATCS:

 Now let's make some backgrounds! (Products available at the Simon Says Stamp Store are listed with links at the end).

A. Stamp white cardstock panels repeatedly with Dylusions stamps and white gesso. Immediately clean stamps using a soft toothbrush so gesso doesn't dry on the stamps. Also, for this technique it is best to use stamps that are solid or not so detailed. Allow panels to dry completely.

B.

Take the caps off your Dylusions sprays and blot onto cosmetic sponges. Apply the colors onto your gessoed card stock using the direct to paper method, covering the panels. Gently wipe over the gessoed images on the panels with a baby wipe or paper towel. This will remove color from the gesso prints and allow those images to pop!

 

C. Enhance the panels further by stamping another image repeatedly using a coordinating color of inkpad .

For the pink card panel I used clear stamps by Altenew along with Distress inks. The panel was further embellished with dots made using a white gel pen:

 

 To complete my card I used a scallop border die to die cut my panel along with a black cardstock panel and glued the two together with the black panel slightly extending beyond the printed panel. Sentiment by Altenew was stamped on the lower left of a white notecard  using Versafine Onyx Black ink. Panels were adhered to the card which was embellished with small black flowers and rhinestones. 

For the ATCS:

 Leaf image from Altenew was stamped repeatedly on panel using Distress Vintage Photo ink. Panel was cut to two 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" panels.

 To make my ATCS Versafine Black ink was sponged along the card edges. Tim Holtz Watercolor Butterflies were stamped on white card stock using the same ink, fussy cut, then thin black wire was taped to the backs to form antennae. Wrap and secure twine around bottom of cards. Adhere words (Tim Holtz Small Talk Stickers), butterflies (wings popped up with foam tape) and a few Moonshine Sequins.

 And here's a little extra: an experiment that became two quick and easy projects:

 I wanted to see if and how the ink sprays worked on glossy paper so I sprayed one (left) with Dylusions sprays in Bubblegum Pink, Lemon Zest and Dirty Martini. I mopped up the pooled excess using a 140lb. watercolor panel (right) and came out with two completely different backgrounds. Leaf images and borders stamped using Dyan Reaveley stamps and Versafine Onyx Black ink. The words (hand carved) were stamped with the same ink. Simple play became a card and bookmark:)



                                         

 Come on over and be wowed by the DT, and do play along for your chance to win a $50 GC to the Simon Says Store!

Products and Links:

 Dylusions Ink Sprays: Dirty Martini
                                     Bubblegum Pink
                                     Lemon Zest
                                     Calypso Teal

Inks: Versafine Onyx Black
         Distress ink-Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Vintage Photo

Stamps: Altenew:  Floral Shadow Set, Painted Flowers Set
             Tim Holtz: Watercolor Butterfly 2
             Dyan Reaveley: Doodle Parts Set, Basic Backgrounds Set

Other: White gesso
           Tim Holtz Small Talk Occasions Stickers
           Uni-ball gel pen-white
           Simon Says Stamp Dot Scallop Border die
           Simon Says Stamp Moonshine Sequins

 I will see you next Monday for a new challenge and another chance to win  a $50 GC to the Simon Says Shop!


For T Stands For Tuesday with Elizabeth:

 My son was recently at a favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner and thoughtfully brought home a special mango pulp drink along with a vegetarian burrito for me-YUM!

 And lastly my March calendar pages:

Peerless watercolors, deli paper Gel Plate print on right along with flower cut from a magazine, butterfly stickers, stencil (Faber Castel), Versafine Onyx Black ink, Studio g stamps.

 Yes, I will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day and one day hope expect to see Ireland in person! Ireland map printed from Google, clippings from a travel magazine along with collage sheet images (dream, 4 leaf clover) from ARTchix Studio.

 Linking also to Art Journal Journey for the theme of "out and about" this month hosted by the lovely Yvonne, and Paint Party Friday where EVA and Kristin are celebrating their sixth year going on seven! Congrats, happy blogiversary-and thank you!!

 Thank you so much for stopping by-looking forward to visiting you too:)

"It's hard for many to imagine, but having fun, feeding your passions, and engaging your talents are simple steps that will take you to the bigger answers you seek".
                                                       Jonathan H. Ellerby