Blue Essence Inspired – Tutorial

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Last night I decided to challenge myself and use a fairly complicated piece of art as inspiration.  The original art was created by Megan Aroon and it’s titled Blue Essence.

  

Isn’t it beautiful!

My card doesn’t even come close, but it was a learning experience.

Here is tutorial #40.

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Trees Three & Simply Circles
Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Cool Caribbean, Basic Black and More Mustard
Ink: Stampin’ Up More Mustard, Really Rust, Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, Real Red and Brilliant Blue, Broken China Distress Ink, Adirondack Butterscot, Aqua & Hazelnut
Accessories: Brads, Versamark Pad & Marker, Circle Punch, Exacto Knife, Sponges, Post it Notes, Cuttebug Embossing Folder, Clear embossing powder and heat gun

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Stamped trees on Whisper White card stock by first loading stamp with Versamark and the loading it with black ink before stamping.

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Heat embossed image with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

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I used a glass mat and Exacto knife to cut a curved portion from the post it notes.   I then stuck them to the card stock for a mask for the sky area.

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Sponged Cool Caribbean ink on un-masked area.

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Sponged Brilliant Blue ink just at the edge of the post it note.

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Moved the mask down some and sponged Brilliant Blue ink again right at the post it note masked edge to create another line of Brilliant Blue.

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Moved the post it note masks again so I could create the small hill at the right side.  Sponged Cool Caribbean ink on the open area.

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Sponged Brilliant Blue ink at the edge of the top post it note.

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Moved the post it note mask down a little and put in a second line of Brilliant Blue ink.

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Removed post it notes and went over hills with a Versamark marker and then heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

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Cut a circle from the middle of a post it note with a 1 1/4″ circle punch.  Placed mask where I wanted the sun to be and sponged More Mustard ink on using a circular motion.

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Sponged Really Rust ink around edge of sun using a circular motion.

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Removed post it note mask and went over the sun with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

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Stamped Dots on sky area by first loading stamp with Versamark, Soft Sky ink and stamping off one time on my scrap paper before stamping on the card stock.  After stamping all of the dots, heat embossed them with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

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Randomly in the sky area, applied Real Red ink using direct to paper technique and only using a corner of the stamp pad.  Note:  the corner of the stamp pad makes those little “V” markers.

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Using same technique, applied Hazelnut ink to sky area.

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Using same technique, applied Aqua ink to sky area.

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Using same technique, applied Butterscotch ink to sky area.

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Using same technique, applied Broken China ink to sky area.

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Using same technique, applied Brilliant Blue ink to sky area.

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Wiped ink from embossed images with a paper towel.

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Assembled card after using a cuttlebug embossing folder on the More Mustard panel.  Here you have it, the complete card.

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This is the 40th tutorial I’ve posted to this blog.  Do you want more or is 40 enough?  Encouragement is greatly appreciated by way of comments, especially during gardening season when I should be weeding, lol.

I hope you find a piece of art today that inspires you and makes you want to recreate it.  It’s such a great learning tool!

Until tomorrow. . . . . .

128 thoughts on “Blue Essence Inspired – Tutorial

  1. Beth Van Brunt's avatar Beth Van Brunt

    40 is not enough! Did you stop after 40 stamps or 40 ink pads??? NO you kept going!!! Granted at the end of a work week 40 hours is more than enough but that’s different. Every day it’s like a little present. People look forward to your genius. Your tutorials are great.

    Like

  2. wow! wow! wow! That is just amazing. I really liked your tutorial as when I first saw the end product, I thought there is no way I could make this card. But your instructions are fantastic and I am definitely going to try it now! 🙂

    Like

  3. Kerry's avatar Kerry

    Do no stop! I am in love with your techniques. I have just finished going through the archives and want more…greedy little thing, aren’t I?

    Like

  4. Linda Collins's avatar Linda Collins

    Michelle,
    Please, Please don’t stop. You don’t have to post everyday. I look forward to your posts so much. I have learned so much from your detailed tutorials. I get up early each morning and make a cup of tea and sit down to read through all the blogs I subscribe to, but I always save yours for last. Want to know why? because it is like the dessert after dinner. In fact I almost cancelled all the other blogs after yours started because although their creations are nice, yours are spectacular. If you haven’t posted when I check in the morning I check back all day waiting for your newest creation. I have been stamping for almost 8 years but had never used Post it Notes or a Brayer. I feel so inspired when I look at your work that It makes me want to try to take my stamping to the next level. While I will never be as talented as you I feel like you have so much to teach us. I understand how life can put so much pressure on us to allocate our time wisely but believe me when I say there are many of us that would be devasted if you stop the tutorials. I had admired your work in SCS for a long time and was so excited when you began to blog. If we have to we will drive to you and do the weeding so that you can have more time for those of us who “need you”. LOL. Aren’t weeds like dust? They just never stop.
    Linda

    Like

  5. Just one word: WOooooooooooooW…..!

    Just discoverd your blog and you amaze me wit all the gorgeous creations you have here, so please don’t stop;-)

    xx, Inge.

    Like

  6. Bessey's avatar Bessey

    Michelle,
    Please don’t stop!!! I wake up in the morning, turn my computer on, make my coffee and sit down at the computer to look at what you have for us. Just love your cards!!!
    It would be sad for you to stop, you bring so much joy to people with the beautiful cards and tutorials you give all of us. You touch more people than you know. Keep going pleaseeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

    Like

  7. stephanie's avatar stephanie

    NO!!!!!!!!! Your tutorials are wonderful and have opened my eyes to a new world of stampin.
    I would understand if posting a new tutorial every day might be too much (but I do love it!), but please don’t stop all together!

    Like

  8. Tamara's avatar Tamara

    I do the same thing as Bessey does. You are my early morning.
    I hope you choose not to stop teaching us. We would miss you dearly.
    I so look forward to your daily post. Thanks for opening our eyes to the world of art. That is really whart your cards are is art.

    Like

  9. Carol's avatar Carol

    Stop at 40? No Way! This is the best blog to learn new techniques! Your tutorials are so easy to understand and I’ve learned a wealth of information from all your hard work! TFS!

    Like

  10. anna's avatar anna

    i only just discovered your blog – i love your tutorials! even bought a versamark pen just so i could try some… thanks for the inspiration!

    Like

  11. Mary L.'s avatar Mary L.

    More, more, more!! I check your site every morning! I was going through withdrawals while you were away!

    I could never even attempt what you do here…failure wouldn’t adequately describe the result…but I love seeing how you work through it and looking at your art!!!

    Thanks for being so generous and sharing so opening…and PLEASE don’t stop!!!

    Mary L.

    Like

  12. Linda Vogt's avatar Linda Vogt

    Please don’t stop, although I always wonder how you manage to come up with these fabulous tutorials every single day. I certainly hope you are teaching classes and making lots of money at it!

    Like

  13. Terri's avatar Terri

    Wow, wow, wow Michelle! This one takes my breath away. It looks like stained glass! You absolutely must let your garden go to weeds! (okay, just kidding) Your blog and tutorials are wonderful and appreciated! When you were gone on vacation and you didn’t post, my days were just not the same! Please keep them coming!

    Like

  14. Phyllis Gunn's avatar Phyllis Gunn

    Please keep those tutorials coming! And thank you for your kind comments when I case one of your creations. It makes me feel wonderful. I appreciate your time you take making such clear directions and the visuals are excellent.

    Like

  15. Laurie's avatar Laurie

    Gosh Michelle, I so would like to see you continue. I love looking step by step at your work and going back to the top to take a second look at the finished so I can see the detail of each step in the finished project. I don’t want you to burn out from it, because it must take longer, but if you are still okay, then I say keep them coming!

    Like

  16. Laurie's avatar Laurie

    I got so caught up in the idea that you might stop the tutorials, that I nearly forgot to comment on your beautiful creation. It is just lovely and you do the artist inspired piece total justice with your work.

    Like

  17. Cathy Steward's avatar Cathy Steward

    noway don’t stop now i just got here. bessy showed me the site and i check you out every morning your the first thing i do in the morning. your the one person that i’ve found that shows us step by step , this is so helpfull. bessy and i do lots of scraping and cards together we try something new everytime we get together.

    keep those cards coming ……..
    cathy steward / Jay Maine

    Like

  18. Marilyn's avatar Marilyn

    Michelle ,Your work is amazing please don’t stop posting your tutorials ,I look forward each morning to checking your blog to see what you have created today . I have learned a lot for your tutorials and like others comments you have taken stamping to another level . Please, please continue !

    Like

  19. Ann C.'s avatar Ann C.

    Well, everyone above said what I would say. Your work & techniques are totally unique. No one else that I know of is creating cards using “art” with stamps and ink like you. Certainly take the time you need to garden and enjoy whatever you like to do and don’t feel like you have to post every day, but when you feel like making a card, please show us how you do it!! I think it looks like you have a true following of brayer & post-it-note lovers! Beautiful work!

    Like

  20. I just discovered you a week ago and you and I love your tutorials!!!! Please keep them coming… Your work is gorgeous…

    What I love most is you use ‘basic’ ingredients to create wonderful art… things we can all get our hands on (and most likely already have!) without a huge expense!!!

    Please keep them coming!!!!

    Like

  21. Erin McMilon's avatar Erin McMilon

    love it – puh-leeze keep em coming – you are an artist and i love learning from you – your use of supplies and stamps have made me see things in a new way – perspective is hard to show much less photograph and word and you do both fantastically – i look forward to your blog every morning! thanks –

    Like

  22. Debi C's avatar Debi C

    You did a fabulous job recreating the artwork… your work is amazing!
    Thanks for the tutorials – they have really inspired me to try new techniques!

    Like

  23. Gidget-Trish's avatar Gidget-Trish

    *GASP* Stop????? Please don’t stop!!! Whenever I used to see your cards on SCS before your blog started, I always wondered how you did things and I wanted to be able to watch you work. Now I can see the step-by-step process and I love “watching” you. You are an amazing talent and a fantastic teacher and oh so generous with your time and talent. I can only imagine the amount of work your tutorials take, but please keep them coming. Just don’t feel you have to do so many! We’ll all be here waiting patiently for more of our Michelle Zindorf fix each day. I really appreciate everything you’ve done. Please keep up the wonderful tutorials.
    With genuine admiration and appreciation,
    Trish

    Like

  24. Sally's avatar Sally

    Pure selfishness here, but I would love to see more. Your cards and tutorials are beyond amazing; they are beautiful art. I know your weeds are calling (I, too love to flower garden), but please don’t stop posting. I will be happy to see just your lovely creations as I know the tutorials must take an immense amount of time to produce. Thank you so very much for sharing your fabulous work.

    Like

  25. mnhyrkas's avatar mnhyrkas

    I was so excited when you started blogging because I would see your vibrant color created art in the gallery at SCS and always wonder, “how in the world did she do that?”. I look at many, many cards and I can almost always figure out how to do it but for some reason your cards always stump me. I love how you can make magic with a brayer, sponge and some ink. Stunning and amazing! Thanks for sharing with us.
    I do especially love when you make cards based on other art like your entry today. So inspiring! What an interesting piece to recreate- I love the contrast between slick swirly blue and the background on the original. I wonder if alcohol inks would give that same effect or even shaving cream technique. Hmm, wish I had time to play today!

    Like

  26. Wow! I can tell by the comments you all are reading my tutorials. So very glad to hear it. Makes it easier to give tutorial making high priority.
    I’ll keep them coming the best I can, 🙂
    Big Hugs to all of you!
    Michelle

    Like

  27. All i can say is thank you thank you thank you for taking your time to share this card and how to and all cards past— and to come i hope! I printed out all the pages just so i could give the technique a try. Diana

    Like

  28. MSBetsyZ's avatar MSBetsyZ

    Oh, Michelle….I just found your blog, too! I love your tutorials! I’ve had my yahoo bookmarks on my home page for years now, but until I found yours I’d never put a blog on the list. I guess I was thinking there’d be too many for the bookmarks to be useful. The second I hit yours though, I knocked off one of the bookmarks and put you in there, lol! I am a creature of habit, and in a short time I’ve settled into the routine of opening your blog when I sit down to my 2nd cup of coffee, lol….

    You are such a marvelous talent! I hope you can continue providing us tutorials, although I certainly understand the lure of weeding….(snort!), lol!

    Hugs,
    Betsy

    Like

  29. This is just FABULOUS!! It has an essence of Van Gogh’ s “Starry Night” I just LOVE it and I’m going to have to give this tutorial a try. You did a great job explaining it. TFS

    Like

  30. Debra Hogg's avatar Debra Hogg

    Please don’t STOP I look forward to your cards always. I wish I could live in your craft room [as stated before] If every day is too much, then every other day or so but please I have learn so much, is there are thing we could do for you?

    Like

  31. Sue's avatar Sue

    Amazingly gorgeous! Your work is just beautiful- thank you so much for showing us how to acheive the same look. I knew I had versamark and a versamarker for a reason! Now I know what to do with it. Keep up the beautiful art work.

    Like

  32. Evelynn Saddler's avatar Evelynn Saddler

    NO NO NO please don’t stop. I know all about being busy, so if you can’t post every day thats ok just do when you can find time. I will be heartbroken if I can’t read your tutorials they are wonderful. I got up the nerve to post a card that I cased from your tutorial, nothing like yours but I was happy with it. You bring so much to your followers, and we appreciate you sooooo much. Have a great day!
    KS.stamper

    Like

  33. Donna Billingsley's avatar Donna Billingsley

    Michelle,
    You are truly an inspiration. What I appreciate about you and your blog is your willingness to share your art and to share Michelle. Your lack of pretensiouness is refreshing. Thank you for all the time and effort that goes into your tutorials. I know you enjoy the art work but I also understand the time involved in photographing, writing and posting the tutorial.
    40 cards and tutorials are not enough. I truly enjoy reading and looking at your blog. It is the best relaxation except for working at my own table. From my heart…THANK YOU!

    Donna Billingsley

    Like

  34. Sharon in NE's avatar Sharon in NE

    I would have to find a Zindorf Tutorial Anonymous group to join as I am addicted! But then I have no desire to give up this addiction. More please….. 😀

    Like

  35. Trish's avatar Trish

    Not just “reading” your tutorials – ABSORBING them! I don’t comment often because I feel very repetitive – but then I suppose if you are the maker of the card – perhaps “stunning” never gets old! But for sure, your blog is my first stop when I hit the computer – even when you were away and you told us when you would come back I checked every day – just in case! I will do whatever it takes to keep you out of your garden and chained to your stamp table 🙂 You just tell me what I need to do! Also, if we could see more pictures of your gorgeous doggie that would be okay too! – the other notgidget trish

    Like

  36. Michelle, your card is absolutely stunning. Breathtaking. Bravo. Thank you for linking up your inspiration. That art is awesome, and through reading your tutorial, you have given me the strength to try CASE’ng. You never cease to amaze me. Earlier this morning, I even purchased a new brayer because I want to do better work (I got gesso all over my old brayer and it has lumps and bumps). The selfish Beth says, “don’t stop the tutorials”, but the giving Beth says, “do what you can, when you can.” I post weekly tutorials and had enough. I can’t imagine what it is like to go through all those steps with your camera, each and every day. Thanks for your hard work. I do love to see your daily work.

    Like

  37. Elizabeth's avatar Elizabeth

    YOu are the sunshine in my day! YOu have no idea how much I look forward to what you are creating and your super talent! Keep on amazing us!

    Elizabeth

    Like

  38. Wow; I’m a 1st-time visitor & will definitely bookmark your site to visit again. I’m amazed at your clever creations!!! Yes, you should definitely do more tuts!!! Keep ’em comin’!!!

    Like

  39. Linda Marie's avatar Linda Marie

    Holy Smokes! This is one amazing piece of artwork! This is my first visit but not my last! Please hire someone to pull those weeds!

    Like

  40. Sara in WI's avatar Sara in WI

    I’ve only seen a couple of your tutorials because I just found your site. You do amazing work. I personally want more. I have learned much from you! Thank you. On the other hand, one has to garden to grow the flowers to find inspiration there, too. It is all a slippery slope, my friend!

    Like

  41. Another totally unbelievably *awesome* tutorial!! Please don’t stop – I can’t get enough of them!! And you absolutely did justice to that painting!! Your artistic eye and ability to translate techniques into stamping are inspiring!

    Like

  42. Fabulous tutorial – your card is a work of art! In the short time I have been coming to your blog, I have come to love your tutorials. Your techniques are fascinating to me as a new stamper, and even though I can’t aspire to do half what you do, I love to see you doing it! So when you have time to fit them in, please continue with the tutorials.

    Like

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