How to mass produce with inky techniques!

 Hey Krafty Friends,

Today I'm sharing some projects using an ink smooshing technique. To recreate this technique you can use any water reactive inks you have in your stash.

Supplies:

Stamp Set of your choice

Water reactive ink

White card stock, watercolour card works well or any card with a smoother surface 

Water preferably in a spray bottle

Small paintbrush 

Media mat/acetate/shiny wipable surface

Heat embossing tool 

Tip: Why not grab those scrap pieces of white card stock to mass produce some gift tags, just be sure they are big enough to die cut what you need at the end!

I've chosen 2 shades of red and 2 shades of green to make christmas cards and tags.

Start by putting down some ink onto your media surface (acetate or worktop works too if wipable to clean)

React with a small amount of water, make sure your surroundings is clear for this if using a spray bottle! Or you can drop small amounts of water with a paintbrush, mix with the ink so it's a liquid form but not too runny.

Take your white card stock, I'm starting with a whole piece of card measured at 11 x 8.5. Whatever size your have in your stash will work. Mine will cut down into 4 pieces ready for 4 cards!

Place your card down onto the ink and in a swoosh motion move the card stock around. 

Tip: wet your card stock just a little with a spray bottle before laying it onto the ink, this will help you get a smooshing motion going easier.

Turn your card stock over and use your heat tool to dry it off a bit. 

Tip: see drips of ink, move the card stock round and get them to drip in different directions to create more texture.

Repeat the above steps using the ink still on your surface, you can concentrate getting certain colours in certain areas of the card stock too if you want more colour at a certain area.

Don't be afraid to put more ink down on your surface too if your getting low or need more a particular colour.

Keep drying with your heat tool in between layers so your card stock isn't too wet at each stage or it will tear/rip and become unmanageable.

Your card stock will bend, you can flatten this out later when it's completely dry with your hands by gently bending or if you have time set it under a heavy book!

Tip: before you wipe your surface clean do you have any scrap card you can use to make tags and pick up the remaining ink! Go for it, get the most out your inky session!

Experiment with your colours, my first attempt as you can see below some of the colours muddied together, it's all about experimenting and having fun!

I grabbed some more scraps and used just 2 colours to create some extras. im not worried though, plenty of stamp sets in the krafty store that will work with the muddie colours!

Grab some stamp sets and get colouring! I sharing just a couple quick projects with my inky backgrounds today and will work on the rest to share soon!

Moossel-toe and Autumn Pumpkins stamp set used for todays tags.

Don't fancy getting this inky?! Why not grab some stencils and blending brushes, some stencils will allow you to lay over and continue the pattern. Why not do this on a large piece of card before cutting down to size!

I hope you will give this inky technique a go, you might just come up with a colour combo you really like!

Until next time, happy krafting!

Jas