Altenew Education Certification Program - Easy Ink Blending Techniques

Hi Everyone,

Looks like I will manage to squeeze in one more post just before Christmas. Woohoo! 

Today, we'll focus on the Easy Ink Blending Techniques class over at the Altenew Academy. Whether you are totally new to ink blending, or want to expand your knowledge about this technique a little bit, Amy Lee has you covered. She teaches the class starting with real basics, and slowly steps it up a bit in each class. And let me tell you - her inspiration examples are amazing! I saved a good few for the future - when the mojo is missing, these are sure to help me get crafty! 

I personally love ink blending, and use this technique very often - especially with Distress Inks, and Distress Oxide inks. If you look at my Christmas cards from this year, you'll definitely see the confirmation of that - most of my cards incorporate ink blending in one way or another!

Having finished Amy's class, I was inspired to make yet another card using ink blending. I was going to do some emboss resist on this design also, but in the end decided to skip it, and I am glad I did. However, I did make another card later on, which used the fun emboss resist technique. 

I opted for a circular card, to make it a little bit different from the usual A2 size. I actually don't have any pictures of it, but before I posted the card to its recipient, I decided to punch a small hole at the top of the card, and added some silver thread to it - so that the card ended up as a little hanging decoration/ornament! I was so proud of this idea! 

The background is ink blended with the use of blues in Distress Oxide inks. I left the center of the panel a bit lighter, as this is where I planned to have my focal image. I then stamped the gorgeous little Altenew Winter Cottage image in the center of the lighter area, and added some detailing with my white gel pen, for additional interest. 

I wanted this scene to look snowy, hence I added some white splatters to it. Amy mostly added splatters in the same colours that she used for the blending on her cards, but I needed snow - hence the white. I love how it turned out! 

I stamped my sentiment in a silver glittery embossing powder, and created my own silver glitter paper with the same embossing powder, in order to be able to add a matching layer under my main panel. I popped the matted panel on a white card base, with the use of some foam tape - for a bit of dimension. 

And voila - the card was ready (the sentiment is a bit hard to read in the picture, but it was perfectly legible in person):

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Altenew - 2018 Year in review (July2018)

SSS Work It Wednesday - Something new (the winter cottage stamp set, and turning the card into a hanging ornament)

This was one of my favourite cards of the 2018 Christmas season, and I really only wish that I had taken a photo of it with the punched hole. But, I'm sure that all you crafty peeps can imagine it?! :o)

Once again, have a Merry Christmas and a crafty New Year!

Mirella

SUPPLY LIST (please see affiliate disclaimer & essential supplies info here):

Circle dies - Nesting Circles by We Are Memory Keepers