Smile ...... it's Friday!

Good morning!

Happy end of the week folks ...... hasn't it soon come around!

It's time for a quick reminder about this month's Craft Stamper Take It Make It Challenge ... have you played along yet? Don't worry, there's still time.
And if you're looking for a little inspiration, how about giving this technique a try .....

Faux bleaching, using Distress Oxide inks and water ......... the technique  I used on last weekend's workshop.  I love how this has turned out.

I stamped around the edges of a piece of watercolour card using stamps from Altenew's Beautiful Day and a Versamark ink pad, and then heat embossed with a WOW! Fine Detail White embossing powder.

Starting from the edges and working into the middle of the card, I applied Salty Ocean Distress Oxide ink over the white embossing.

I built up the colour around the edges keeping the center of the card quite pale ...... drawing your eye into the middle
I did the same again this time with Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide over the top to add some darker shading to the edges
The embossing acts as a resist to the ink so the more ink you apply and the darker the colour gets, the more the white will show through.
Once you're happy with the colour take a clean paper towel and just polish over the top of your embossing to remove any excess ink and the white will pop even more

Then, simply taking a paint brush and some clean water I painted the flowers where I wanted to 'bleach' out the colour.
The Oxide inks react so well with water ....... when you simply paint over the top with a little bit of water and then let it dry, you get a pretty chalky finish to the ink (see the leaves)
If you apply a little more water, let it sit for a few seconds and then dab it away using a paper towel the effect is a little more dramatic (see the flowers)
Depending on what sort of cardstock you've used, the effects will be slightly different, and of course will determine how much water you can actually use.  Watercolour card is perfect, mixed media cardstock will all work well as it can take a lot of water ..... just  play around with what you've got in your stash.

I added a sentiment onto the center of the card and finished off with some glitter glue and a few sequins. And then I also did a panel for the inside of the card .....

Same stamps, same colours, same techniques. 

Our challenge sponsor this month is the fabulous Skull and Cross Buns

And the prize for our challenge winner (randomly chosen) is two super cute stamp sets ....

Don't forget ....... we also have a Design Winner, chosen by the DT.  If you fancy having your project in the Craft Stamper magazine, being a Guest Designer on a future challenge and having a Winners Profile on the CS Blog, then why not give it a go.  The theme is Anything Goes, as long as there's rubber stamping on your project somewhere ...... easy!

Happy stamping!

Thanks for popping by .... enjoy the rest of your day and have a lovely weekend.

I've got a great one coming up .......  Port Sunlight tomorrow with the crafty girls ..... looking forward to that

Early night tonight .... we're on the 7.30am boat tomorrow so I'll have to be up at some unearthly hour.  Better get my bag sorted today!  If you're going along to the show I'll see you there!

Cheerio until next time .....