Blending Tools

Welcome back! In my last post I said I’d be back soon with my favorite blending tools, so let’s get started!

First off, there is no right or wrong blending tool. There is a better technique but tools are a personal preference. Use what you’re comfortable with and use what gets you your most desired results. The market is overwhelmed with crafting products and I admit that I also fall prey to buying the latest and greatest.

My most preferred blending tool is a blending brush. As you can see, mine are color coordinating. Using similar colors on brushes helps with ease of use and cleaning (or lack of cleaning). The brushes give me the smoothest blends and can fade as desired. These bristles hold color well and clean off well. Their soft providing a smooth blend. I got mine on Amazon.com and they were inexpensive (under $15), not bad for repetitive use.

Next up there’s a blending tool with foam Velcro (on the back) heads. I have a flat attachment and a rounded attachment. Both are for the same purpose but from different companies expecting different results. I find the flat head to leave a harsher line but I’ll discuss techniques later. These are foam and need more ink to get a fuller blend. They do serve a great purpose on smaller projects. The rounded attachment is also a foam but not as porous as they seem to have a slicker surface. These blend over my papers more smoothly than the flat heads. I still find myself reaching for more ink mid project and I DO NOT with the brushes mentioned above. I still use these in color families. The blending handles can be purchased at any major crafting store or my personal favorite, Scrapbook.com. The flat foam attachments can be purchased with multiples in a pack at your local craft store or the rounded attachments at Scrapbook.com as they are a Scrapbook.com exclusive. Both have great price points and both clean well. Let’s talk technique!

Techniques. Start off the project 1st to avoid harsh lines. Remember I prefer a glass mat or a craft mat for easy cleaning. Next, I start small. DO NOT BLEND LARGE AREAS AT ONE TIME. You’ll never get the results you want. Once you get a smaller blend, move out to larger areas. Before you know it, you’ll have a fully blended project! I learned this the hard way and gathered my inspiration from Tim Holtz and experience. Don’t stop here, there’s more!

Color coordinating. As I stated in a previous blog post, I use Distress Oxide and Distress Inks. I stated the formula difference in simple terms. Go check out my blending post. I use Distress Oxide and my other inks aka. Other brands, with the same tools. Clean in-between by simply rubbing on a paper towel or baby wipe. TA-DA cleaned! May be stained but won’t contaminant each other. Remember Oxide is a hybrid. Now, my Distress inks are a little different. I only use specific tools on that formula (not hybrid) they can get contaminated. For the purpose of cost, I use my Velcro heads for this. I’ll show you how I store them in another storage post coming up. Subscribe so you don’t miss that!

I hope this helped inspire you and answered any follow-up questions you may have had since my last post. DON’T FORGET to check out my other forms of social media: Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest @sewmuchglitter Let me know you were there and what you would like to see more of. If you are inspired by any of my projects or techniques please tag me on your social media #sewmuchglitter

Don’t miss out and subscribe to my blog. You’ll be notified of new posts, which could contain great inspiration and ideas for your creative side. Leave me a comment and let me know which blending tools you prefer.

SEE YOU SOON!

June 10, 2020June 7, 2020 by sewmuchglitter Categories: Paper crafts, The JourneyTags: #amazon, #blendingbrushes, #blendingtool, #blogging, #contaminated, #distressinks, #distressoxide, #facebook, #illbeback, #inkblending, #inspiration, #instagram, #papernerd, #pinterest, #ranger, #scrapbookcom, #sewmuchglitter, #socialmedia, #startoutsmall, #subscribe, #techniques, #timholtz, #velcro, #welcomeback, #zerotohero Leave a comment

I’m Back

Hello and Happy Sunday! I took a very long break due to life situations that kept me occupied. My creative space is now a classroom, my dining room is now my creative space and my early retirement due to injury has brought me on a new journey that has finally started. My high school senior has also been facing difficulties as many others and adult children never stop being children. I hope everyone and their loved ones are well. I am sure everyone still finds themselves at home or working an essential job. As summer weather is approaching, we are getting restless. I am grateful for our health and those working everyday to keep us all save and well. I have faced some creative slumps during this process and been inspired by those who never stop creating.

Today, I want to share a card that I made for an organization (Cardz for Kidz). They also donate hand made cards to senior living facilities around the country. If you face moments of creative block, I hope this inspires you. I made about a dozen cards to give to the organization and mail them off according to their website guidelines. Scrapbook.com also has a similar donation system. I also have been trying to make happy mail cards for friends and family that we cannot see right now. Do what makes you happy or less anxious during this time and hopefully we will be at our favorite spots visiting soon!

This card is a monochromatic type card and simple. I started with a standard A2 size card base (4.25 x 5.5), I chose black, I like a heavy base (110 lb card stock) I find the paper at Joann’s (when their open of course, but online has similar selections) I then trimmed down kraft card stock slightly less than the base, so there is a border.

I dug through my stamp stash and found mandala stamps that would be easy to color. I stamped directly onto the kraft card stock with versa fine black ink. This ink is great at fine details, perfect for colored pencils and water coring images. I used my stamp positioner but an acrylic block will work as well. Once my image is stamped I simply colored spaces in with a white colored pencil (keep it sharp, something I learned from Kathy at the daily marker) I use prismacolor premier colored pencils as they blend well when I use gamsol. You can randomly color spaces in or color in a pattern.

Once I was satisfied with my colored image, I made a sentiment tag. I used the scrap paper from my project and stamped a sentiment (also in versa fine ink) I then popped up the sentiment with foam tape and I was done! These would be easy to mass produce or fun for a quick card.

Let me know in the comments below if you enjoy the monochromatic inspired look and how you are keeping busy and healthy during our trying times. I PROMISE I will be back very soon. Don’t forget to check out my other projects on Instagram or Facebook: sewmuchglitter

Stay safe and well! Carrie

May 3, 2020 by sewmuchglitter Categories: Paper crafts, The JourneyTags: #cardmaking, #cardstock, #cardzforkidz, #classof2020, #distancelearning, #happymail, #illbeback, #journey, #monochromatic, #satisfied, #scrapbookcom, #sewmuchglitter, #simple 4 Comments