Pages

Saturday, June 22, 2019

Two Toned Backgrounds + Giveaway + Sale

At my retreat on Memorial Day, I taught a super duper fun Distress Oxide technique, inspired by Jennifer McGuire's micro-glaze technique on glossy cardstock.

Photo paper does fun things too with just baby wipes, and so that's what we did in my class. It's a very easy technique to do with your favorite stencils, and I have a quick video on it at the end of this post. Oxides are such magical inks. What's hilarious is the day we were having this class, my friend Chris Dayton actually did a similar technique! It goes to show you that everything Elizabeth Gilbert says in Big Magic is true - those creative ideas swirl around people who are engaged in creative pursuits, and people just grab them when the time is right. I HIGHLY recommend that book.

On this first card, I used this stunning stencil (nearly everything I'm using is 20% off this weekend, so I'll include all that info below) and this gorgeous hello die on top of the background, along with the magic sequins. You could crank out 100 of these in no time, and each one would be unique - it's perfect for holiday cards. This type of technique is my go to - splashy backgrounds that you can just add a quick sentiment to for a real wow.
It works with larger openings in stencils too - so on this nextcard I used this scrollwork stencil for a looser pattern, and added this gorgeous cityscape die cut, and the sentiment from this floral stamp set. I used the new StazOn pigment ink for the sentiment because the photo paper was both slick and chalky, so that's definitely the ink for that job! I added the same sequins for a little sparkle.
It's such a fun textural contrast and so easy to do. My five minute video proves it! :)

Stay tuned below for a big sale, a giveaway and tons of inspiration!




Hello Message Fancy Die
[ HA ]
Hero Arts Clear Stamps, Little...
[ ELH ]
City Skyline Fancy Die
[ HA ]
Glorious Petal Stencil
[ HA ]
Hero Arts Stencils, Scrollwork -...
[ ELH ]
Jungle Frame, Hero Arts Dies - Ellen...
[ ELH ]
Hero Arts | Ellen Hutson
[ ELH ]
Amazon.com: CanonInk Glossy Photo...
[ AMZUS ]
Piano Black, StazOn Pigment Ink Pad -...
[ ELH ]
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Fired...
[ ELH ]
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Wild...
[ ELH ]
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad,...
[ ELH ]
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Spiced...
[ ELH ]
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad, Worn...
[ ELH ]
Ranger Distress Oxide Ink Pad,...
[ ELH ]
Like Magic Sequin Mix
[ N&T ]
Sakura CLASSIC WHITE Fine Line 05...
[ SSS ]
Art Anthology BIG CRAFT MAT 24x36 311473
[ SSS ]
Crafter's Companion Gemini Junior -...
[ ELH ]
Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC
[ ELH ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSP | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for...
[ BRG ]
Essentials by Ellen Storage...
[ ELH ]
Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets...
[ CHC ]
XL Stamp Storage Pockets
[ ELH ]
Airtable: Organize your stamps & dies
[ ART ]
Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond...
[ AMZUS ]


So there's an awesome blog hop today, combined with a big sale on Hero Arts products and a giveaway from my friend Ellen Hutson. If you haven't met her, I hope you get the chance to do so at a stamping event - she's a doll. She has the best laugh and I've never seen her not smiling, which is pretty much my favorite. She's that type of girl who laughs all the time but will tear up instantly if she empathizes with someone.

Anyway, here's the deal. She will give you 20% off Hero Arts this weekend if you shop here and use her code below. Click the graphic to go right to the sale.


But, there's more! A lot of amazing designers and my friends are giving you inspiration for that Hero Arts shopping cart, and if you leave comments, you'll be entered to win one of three $25 gift certificates to her store. You have to leave your comment by June 28th to be entered, and winners will be announced on her blog!

Enjoy the art, and I hope your weekend is peaceful and filled with joy.

Loveyameanitbye.

Adelina Starace  https://estudio206.com/

Ardyth Percy-Robb  https://ardythpr.blogspot.com/

59 comments:

  1. These backgrounds are awesome! :) Love your cards.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This technique looks awesome, Lydia! I now need photo paper so I can give this a try. Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I've been loving my stencils lately - will definitely give this a try!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I haven't tried this before but it looks really easy and quite pretty. Thanks for showing how easy it is.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful cards, thanks for another awesome tutorial and way to use DOX inks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks for sharing such a fun technique!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I’m working on some of these backgrounds today! So much fun:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. WOW! What a cool background! I love those colors!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The city skyline and your colourful background pair together so well.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Always love all your techniques but I think this was May favorite from the last retreat. Such pretty cards!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow that backgrounds look very interesting ! Wonderful cards too !

    ReplyDelete
  12. Awesome cards! I'll have to try this technique! Beautiful stencil designs and colors!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow! What a cool effect! So the paper doesn't get/stay sticky from the emulsion?

    ReplyDelete
  14. Just a big WOW! I love all the colours.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your technique! Your backgrounds turned out beautiful too. Lydia, every post that has a link to your Like Magic Sequins, I try. It always brings me to a page not found on N&T's site. Can you please check the link?

    ReplyDelete
  16. The background reminded me of batik fabric...great job!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love your technique videos. I always have to try it and usually get all enjoyably colorful hands.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, awesome effect you got using photo paper & Distress Oxides, thanks for the video!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I absolutely love your Hero Arts fish shaker card!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love the way you did your card. Great look. Great job. Thank you so much for sharing yet a different way to use these products.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've never seen this technique before but the results are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Looks great. I have some Kirkland photo paper. What brand didn't work? Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great backgrounds. Thanks for sharing this technique.

    ReplyDelete
  24. What a fun and beautiful techinque. I have to give this a try with the photo paper I have at home.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love this technique. I have a bunch of photo paper...gonna have to try it on.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love this! I use photo paper with watercolor pigments (brusho), but this I had no idea could work! I am guessing that the new oxide spray inks would also work amazing! Thanks for the inspiration! <3

    ReplyDelete
  27. Gorgeous effects on that photo paper. Love the chalky and shiny combo that the technique brings out on the paper!

    ReplyDelete
  28. The background is gorgeous and I love the big HELLO!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Beautiful cards, gorgeous backgrounds. Those stencils are wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Pretty backgrounds on your cards. Thank you for sharing. Brenda West

    ReplyDelete
  31. Stunning cards! I love the backgrounds!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Such a neat technique. I have to try that!! I have tons of photo paper from when I THOUGHT I could print photos cheaper--what a crock. Now I have a use for it!!! Thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  33. These backgrounds are so cool!

    ReplyDelete
  34. This dual tone cards are fantastic.. thanks for the video tutorial..

    ReplyDelete
  35. Such pretty backgrounds on your cards.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love your cards! I will have to give this technique a try. Thanks for the inspiration and chance to win. :D

    ReplyDelete
  37. Love this technique, thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Fantastic cards! Thanks for sharing your awesome technique. I have tons of photo paper that I received for free. Time to play!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Distress Oxides are so unique and I love what you've done with them.

    ReplyDelete
  40. what a lovely background - so colorful

    ReplyDelete
  41. Gorgeous background! I have some photo paper & I cannot wait to try this!
    Here is a laugh... at the start of your video I wondered about your photo paper... I had never seen a bronze colored photo
    Paper before... aha! That is your craft mat! Enter white photo paper!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Oops.. I told my funny story and forgot to put down my email
    js1225hh@gmail.com. Your card is beautiful by the way, I love it !

    ReplyDelete
  43. Fantastic cards and I love new techinques. Thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
  44. You always inspire me to create---thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  45. What great backgrounds! They really make the focal stamps pop!!

    ReplyDelete
  46. What a fun technique. I can’t wait to try it. TFS!

    ReplyDelete
  47. So pretty! Love the look of Distress Oxides!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Love the goldfish - they're so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Amazing cards and technique, can't wait to try it!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Great cards! Have to give this technique a try.

    ReplyDelete
  51. I have been waiting for a chance to give this technique a try, as I was fascinated by it, and today was finally the day - and yes, it worked a treat. I love it. Thank you for sharing it Lydia. I do have one question though: the chalky part left after rubbing through the stencil doesn't seem to be permanent. I have tried covering it with Distress Glaze, but rubbing on the glaze rubs the pattern off. Do you have any suggestions for sealing the work?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You could try hairspray - I just spray it in the air and swoosh my card through it when I use pan pastels.

      Delete
    2. Many thanks Lydia. I'll give it a go

      Delete

Every time you leave a comment, a new LOLcat is born. ALSO - don't panic if you don't see your comment right away - I moderate my comments to keep those spammers out, so your comment will show up in short order. Unless you're linking me to Russian brides or Nigerian princes.