Versamark Resist and Polished Stone

by Kate Burroughs   (buglady@sonic.net)

Versamark Resist Technique

Supplies:

Heat gun Clear Embossing Powder Versamark or Clear Embossing Ink Sheet of Glossy Cardstock Stamp of your choice Ink pad of your choice Brayer (either sponge or rubber)-Rubber works better Tray or Scrap paper to work on

Step 1:

Choose a stamp image with wide outlines and not a lot of fine detail as this will get lost with this technique.

Ink your stamp with either the Versamark or clear embossing ink. Stamp this image onto your glossy cardstock and immediately cover with clear embossing powder. Tap your paper over a

craft tray to recycle the unused embossing powder and get the image ready to be heat set. Wherever you stamp will remain white.

Optional tip:

If you would like to have a colored image, you can apply ink to the glossy cardstock before you stamp the image with Versamark and this part will stay the color you have inked the cardstock. This is great with a rainbow pad or doing rainbow colors.

Step 2:

Heat emboss your image. I did mine one at a time. Make sure to do a random pattern all over your cardstock. Here is what your cardstock will look after you are done embossing the random images!

Sorry this picture isn't clearer but I think you can see the detail ok.

Step 3:

Ink up your brayer! Make sure that your ink pad is really juicy and wet! It will make it easier. Then run your brayer over your cardstock. Or if you don't have a brayer, use a cotton ball that you swipe across the ink pad to pick up the color you want to make the nonstamped area of your cardstock.

Here is a sheet that is half brayered:

Here is the finished product:

This is a very easy technique but yet looks like you put lots of time and effort into your project. You can use this background technique on anything from cards to layouts to even altered art!! Have fun and I can't wait to see your Versamark resist techniques in the ArtWork Bulletin Board.

Here is a card that was made using pieces cut from the above full sheet:

Using the June SOTM with Hollyhock, Sweet Leaf and Buttercup inks.

Polished Stone Technique

Special thanks to Susanne (ssbfarms2@juno.com) for helping me with how to do this technique via the VC Yahoo Group!

Supplies:

Glossy cardstock Re-inkers (you may want to use one color until you have this mastered) Metallic re-inker or gold metallic pigment pad or you can substitute a gold leafing pen Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) Cotton balls Rubber gloves (if you don't like stained fingers)

Optional and not necessary in most cases: Krylon Spray Acrylic Sealant (I like matte finish)

There are lots of different ways to do this technique so after you have tried it this way, experiment!!!!!!!!

Have all materials out and ready to go. Put a plastic bag or other impervious surface under your cardstock so you don't get ink or alcohol on your work surface.

Cut the glossy cardstock to size. Or if you do a full sheet, do a quarter of an 8.5" x 11" sheet at a time (so the ink doesn't dry before you get back).

Squirt out 3-4 small globs of the metallic reinker over the 1/4 page of cardstock. Moderately saturate a cotton ball with alcohol. Hold the cotton ball wet side up and drop 1-2 drops of colored reinker directly onto the cotton ball.

Pounce the ball with the ink side down around the glossy cardstock where you don't have the metallic ink.

Once you have most of the area inked up with color, gradually start pouncing over the metallic ink, working around the cardstock until you achieve the desired effect. The longer you pounce the more multi-layered and blended it will look.

This sample shows varying numbers of globs of metallic ink in each quadrant. If you like a lot of metal use more, if you like less, use less.

If you are using a metallic ink pad you have to swipe the cotton ball on the pad to get ink on it and then pounce on the glossy cardstock. You can also dab the ink pad directly on the glossy cardstock. If you are using a metallic leafing pen you make a small puddle with the pen and then follow the directions above.

How much metallic you put down is up to you. Experiment!!

If desired, seal it with acrylic sealer and allow to dry.

It's a beautiful look, almost like marble. You might like it layered on coordinating metallic cardstock. You can stamp directly on the marbled cardstock. Use your Polished Stone cardstock to make beautiful punchies or die cuts.