Stampin’ Blends – Blending Basics
Previously I share with you “9 Stampin’ Blend Crafting Hacks” and storage solutions for your Stampin’ Blends, if you missed you can read it HERE
There are various ways to add ink to paper. The two most common ways are circling and flicking. Each technique produces a particular appearance, and knowing how to utilise them will add depth and variation to your creations.
Watch the below video as I share tips for basic colouring and simple, basic blending techniques.
Practice Sheets Download
Download: Practice Sheets (PDF)
Please click the link above to download the Practice Sheets. Using these practice sheets, you will be colouring the same images as I, which will make it easier to follow along closely with the videos. And now just a few things to remember when printing your images:
- Look for a “do not scale” or “print at 100%” option when printing. Your particular printer may require that you select “fit to page”.
- Print on high-quality cardstock or paper that you know works well with Stampin’ Blends. For suggestions, please see “Stampin’ Blends Product Compatibility” post.
- If you have never used digital images for Stampin’ Blends, “”print a test page first. If your printer ink is not compatible with Stampin’ Blends, you can take your practice sheets to a copy center and have them printed on your prefered cardstock. The ink used in Stampin’ Blends or other toner based printers (like laser printers) work well with Blends.
- If you need to have your Practice Sheets printed at a copy center or at a friend’s house, consider printing two copies of the practice sheets. You might want t colour additional Practice Sheets.
Smooth Colouring
Stampin’ Blends have the unique ability to lay down smooth, even colour without streaks. Using the following steps, practice smooth colouring with a variety of colours and shades until you achieve a smooth image every time.
Step 1: Colour in small circles. This will keep the leading edge “wet” and allow the ink to blend with itself, creating a seamless look.
Step 2: Make sure to saturate the entire area so that you eliminate any light or mottled areas
Step 3: Check the back of your card stock to make sure that the ink is saturating through evenly.
Tips & Troubleshooting
- Do not colour with back-and-forth strokes as this will not saturate the paper evenly and will leave you with streaks.
- Letting an area dry and going back over it will create uneven patches.
- Over-saturating or using too much ink may make your ink feather outside the image
Flicking
This technique is achieved by applying ink in quick, single strokes. The key to this inking technique is to “flick” the marker tip across the paper to create a single stroke that goes from dark to light.
Step 1: Holding the marker loosely, start a downward movement toward the paper
Step 2: As the marker tips touches the paper, quickly move across the paper, bringing your hand up and away at the end of the stroke. This will apply more ink at the beginning of the stroke and less ink at the end.
Tips & Troubleshooting
- The darker the shade you use in the “Flick/Feather” technique, the more pronounced the feathered effect. Use light shades and this technique to blend a colour into white.
- Flick with the side of the nib for larger, smoother strokes or use the tip of the nib for narrow strokes (image 1)
- If you are getting a blob of ink at the beginning of your stroke, make sure to start moving your marker as soon as it touches the paper. The longer it sits in one spot, the more ink the paper will absorb. (image 2)
- If you are getting a curved “c” or “u” shape instead of a straight line, you might be moving your arm instead of your wrist/fingers. (image 3)
Practice Makes Perfect!
Don’t worry about staying in the lines as you’re learning to blend. Relax and have fun! Remember that the Practice Sheets are available for you to use! (You can always print extras!)
Let’s put the basics to practice and start blending with 2 shades of colour. Learn more HERE
Speak Your Mind