Cracked Up – Tutorial #326 and Blog Candy

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How about smearing a little ink today.   This tutorial is all about the technique of “Direct to Paper”.   Direct to Paper, aka “DTP” is the art of smearing the ink pad directly onto the card stock.   I use the short end of my ink pad throughout this piece and leave a bit of the Whisper White card stock showing through for sparkle.

Before I get into the tutorial though I want to announce the blog candy that I now have to give away.  This is a special blog candy, a brand new Stampin’ Up! Level 2 Hostess set, Christmas Punch.  Can you get excited about that?  I can!

To enter to win this set, please leave a comment on this post telling me to enter you in the drawing.  If you are getting this blog update via e-mail, please click HERE and then leave your comment at the bottom of the post.  Please no e-mail enties.

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I will select the winner using a random number generator on Tuesday, May 4, 2010.  Until Tuesday I will be on the road teaching my brayer workshops to the fabulous ladies in Riverside, California.

Now let’s get started on that tutorial. . . .  . . . . . .  . . . .

Supplies:

Stamps: Stampin’ Up! Trendy Trees
Paper: Stampin’ Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Perfect Plum and Almost Amethyst
Ink: Stampin’ Up! Perfect Plum, Going Gray, Almost Amethyst, Really Rust and Basic Black
Accessories: Stampin’ Up! Word Window Punch, White Gel Pen, Basic Black Marker, Sponges, paper Snips and Rhinestone Brads

Live in the USA and need a copy of the Summer Mini Catalog?  E-mail your mailing address to mzindorf@aim.com and I will get one in the mail to you.  )  Are you getting inspiration from this blog?   One way you can help support it is to order your Stampin’ Up products through me.   Click HERE to place an order.  Want to become a Stampin’ Up Demonstrator , receive a 20% discount on product and earn instant income on orders?  Consider being part of my Stampin’ Up Team and start your own business.  Click HERE for more information.dsc03707.JPG

Using the sort end of a Almost Amethyst ink pad, smeared the ink on a 4″ square piece of Whisper white card stock, leaving plenty of white showing.

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Added Going Gray ink by using the short end of the ink pad and smearing it.

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Stamped the trunks of the trees using Basic Black ink.

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Stamped the leaves of the tree by loading the leaves stamp first with Going Gray ink and then tapping a bit of Really Rust on the bottom half of the leaves before stamping it.

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Ripped a post it note and masked right at the bottom of the tree trunks.  Took a Basic Black marker and traced the jagged edge of the mask, leaving a tiny unmarked area in order to form the crack in the next step.

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Removed the mask and drew a crooked line down from the Basic Black line opening to the bottom of the card stock to form the crack.

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Sponged a tiny bit of Going Gray in the rock area to tone it down a bit.

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Added white gel pen highlights in the leaves of the trees.

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Added Basic Black marker under the leaves of the tree to give them a bit more definition.

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Decided to put a little more drama in the sky by adding a tiny bit of Perfect Plum ink by smearing it on the right and left sides of the sky area.

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Added White Gel pen highlights to the left side of the tree trunks.

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Cut a 5.25″ square piece of Almost Amethyst Card stock and sponged Perfect Plum ink on the edges.

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Punched a Word Window from Basic Black card stock and cut one end off of the punch.  Assembled my card front and added the punch.

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Added purple rhinestone brads to the punch.

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Here is the finish card measuring 5.5″ square.

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May your weekend be over flowing with Joy!

Until my next post. . . . . . .  ..

Hugs,

Michelle

dsc07090.jpg    Get ready for Brayer Workshops!  I am coming to:

Riverside, California (Southern California) (only a couple of seats available for Saturday, May 1st)  Click HERE for info.

Salem, Oregon (Sold Out)

Wheaton, Illinois

St. Cloud, Minnesota (Sold Out)

Rockville, Maryland (Sold Out)

North Chili, New York (near Rochester) (Sold Out)

Kenova (Huntington), West Virginia

Helena, Montana

Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Venice, Florida

Grinnell, Iowa

Piedmont, Alabama (Near GA border close to Cedartown)

Auburn, Washington (near Seattle)

Elk Grove Village, Illinois

Savannah, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

North Liberty, Indiana

Soledad, California

Here is a link to my workshop calendar where you can see all of my travel schedule and to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops:   http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar 

Link to my Stampin’ Up website where you can order all of your must have Stampin’ Up products from me 24-7:  http://michellezindorf.stampinup.net

Frequently asked questions answers:  http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/frequently-asked-questions/ 

390 thoughts on “Cracked Up – Tutorial #326 and Blog Candy

  1. When I discovered your work just a couple of days ago you opened up a whole new world to stamping for me! I cannot even begin to tell you what a huge fan I have become in just a few short days but I will tell you this. I have spent many a sleepless night – and went to work feeling absolutely ill due to my lack of sleep yesterday – just because I can’t stop going through all your amazing work and trying to learn from you. You are simply AMAZING! Too bad you do not visit us up here in Canada! Keep it coming Michelle! I am a new devoted fan who would love to enter the contest. So please enter me before I go on and on and drive you crazy with my rambling!

    Like

  2. Karen Dellovo's avatar Karen Dellovo

    Please enter me in the drawing, here is hoping the random # generator picks a high number!

    You art is always spectacular, and I am going to dip my toes into one of your tutorials today. here’s wishing you would come to my neck of the woods! Southern NH

    Like

  3. Beth Rue's avatar Beth Rue

    Hello Michelle!
    Love the card and would like to be entered into the drawing….
    It is never to soon to start your Christmas cards!
    Thanks for everything…sharing your talent, your inspiration, not to mention the freebies!
    Have a wondrful day!
    Beth

    Like

  4. Michelle Foster's avatar Michelle Foster

    I want one!!! You are just so very generous!! I cannot believe how many of these you just GIVE AWAY! But I am very glad that you do! Happy Day to you!
    Michelle

    Like

  5. SANDYH50's avatar SANDYH50

    Oh Michelle, I love your tutorials and always try to do at least one of them a week. Please enter me in the drawing. You are so kind to share!

    Like

  6. I am still receiving your e-mail updates and I luck fwd to them always. This is a super Stamp kit and would give me a boost to get a few Chrissy cards started I just love the santa stamp So Cool

    Love Dawn xx

    Like

  7. laura's avatar laura

    OMG I absolutely love this card it looks like something that would hang on a gallery wall. the colors are great in this. And of course if it has a tree in it I just go gaga over it.

    oh sure enter me in the drawing too

    Like

  8. Niki Winchell's avatar Niki Winchell

    Michelle,
    Lovely card, as always. Why is it, you can smear ink around and it looks great, and when I do it, it just looks smeared??

    Have fun in sunny CA, please enter me for the drawing.

    Thanks,
    Niki

    Like

  9. LaNell's avatar LaNell

    I love the colors in this art piece. Must try this. I would just LOVE to win this stamp set. Thanks so much for the opportunity to enter. Continue to appreciate your tutorials.

    Like

  10. Leanne D.'s avatar Leanne D.

    What a great Christmas stamp set – I’d LOVE to win it! Have a great trip to California. Boy, that’s a LONG way from home! Blessings, leanne

    Like

  11. DonnaB's avatar DonnaB

    Michelle,
    What a fun set….CHRISTMAS ALREADY? YIKES! Please enter my name in the drawing! You are just too generous! THANK YOU!
    Donna

    Like

  12. Michelle, Thanks so much for all of your awesome tutorials! I’ve learned so much thanks to you! Wonderful new set of stamps that I’d LOVE to win! I’m already making cards for the troops through Operation Write Home and these would be great to use!

    Like

  13. I watch all your tutorials & save them so I can refer to them over & over again.I wish I could attend one of your classes but being disabled that’s not to be.Thanks again for your wonderful tutorials.
    Ellie

    Like

  14. gina goodling's avatar gina goodling

    Thanks for including my name in the blog candy giveaway…I am going to win this one day!

    You inspire me to take the stamps out of the package and create a background that I love first, before using the stamps!
    Thanks, Gina G

    Like

  15. Caroline King's avatar Caroline King

    Hi Michelle,
    Have fun in Riverside. My family lives in Lancaster, which is considered the “High desert” and you’ll be in the “low desert” warmer than Lancaster.
    Hope you have a beautiful day and not have too much smog.

    Would love to win your latest blog candy. Your cards are amazing.
    talk with you soon
    Caroline :o)

    Like

  16. Crystle K.'s avatar Crystle K.

    Please enter me in the giveaway. I love your stuff and everything you make is great. I see your cards and i say wow. Thanks for the chance and keep the cards comeing.

    Like

  17. BEAUTIFUL card (as usual!) Someday you will come to So Cal and I will actually be able to attend class with you! Hope you have a grand time and I hope the wind dies down so you have beautiful weather tomorrow! Please enter me in the contest!

    Thanks.

    Like

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