Julie is sharing a variation of blending inks for an ombré effect directly on your stamps AND a sneak peek at some new Essentials by Ellen (available Friday, August 9th)!
Halloween has always been a pretty big deal at Julie’s house—it’s her hubby’s birthday! With a new release just around the corner, she is sharing a variation of ink blending right on your stamps with small, but super-effective tool! Pay close attention towards the end of the video—she also shows how today’s project was based on the same stamps, exact same layout and similar color scheme of a previous design yet has a completely different “look”!
TIPS:
- You can blend with just two colors of ink, but using three creates a more dramatic effect.
- A stamp positioning tool like the MISTI or the We R Memory Keepers Precision Press is essential for optimal results with this ink blending/stamping method.
- Stamp your outline images first; it’s often easier to align the filler within the outline, as opposed to vice versa.
- Start with your lightest ink first, and ink up the whole solid/filler image; make your first impression. You do not need to worry about cleaning the stamp at this point.
- Now apply the 2nd color of ink (which would be a medium tone), but ink only the next 2/3rds of the stamp image and blend the ink line on the stamping using your Smoothie’s rounded side. Stamp again, right over the top of the first impression. Again, no need to clean off the stamp at this point.
- Ink only the last third of the image with your darkest ink color; blend the ink line and then stamp again right over the top.
- Before making your next series of ombré impressions, you will want to clean your stamp to avoid cross contaminating your ink pads.
- You can clean off your Smoothie by tapping it against clean scratch paper until no more ink transfers. You can also rinse it out with water and allow to air dry when you’re completely finished. (Or, as Julie suggests, keep enough Smoothie’s on hand that you can assign one to each of the main color families.)
- With mid-darker toned inks and blending brushes, tap off excess ink onto scratch paper before blending onto your project. Start off project, and use a circular motion to blend towards and then onto your project. A loose grip on the handle and allowing only the weight of your arm (instead of exerting/applying pressure) will give you a subtle, delicate blend.
