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. Melanie's avatar Melanie

    You do this technique so well, I have never been able to ‘master’ this. Please enter me in the running for this great set! I was sad to have to pass that one up!!

    Like

  2. cynthia beynon's avatar cynthia beynon

    MICHELLE YOU MAKE VERY BEAUTIFUL CARDS AND ANY ONE RECEIVING ONE WOULD
    BE VERY HAPPY.. LIKE WHEN I HAVE A KNEE REPLACEMENT ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
    I SURE WILL GET A LOT OF CARDS MADE THEN AS I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF
    BED.

    CYNTHIA

    Like

  3. Nancy Tuttens's avatar Nancy Tuttens

    Hi Michelle:
    Thank you for another blog candy. You are amazing. Please enter me.
    Hope you have a great trip!. Looking forward to your new creation upon your return.

    Like

  4. Marci's avatar Marci

    Consider this my entrance into the blog candy drawing. I don’t have this set and probably would never have given it a second glimpse. That said, I’d definitely use it now that I’ve seen the beautiful card you’ve created! Isn’t it something how just a cool sample can change your view on a stamp set. You never fail to amaze me with your artistry. Great card and I appreciate your step by step tutorials as usual.

    Marci Snee

    Like

  5. Lillian Child's avatar Lillian Child

    I simply ADORE the Christmas holiday and would LOVE to win this stamp set … only thing I like better are your tutorials – fantastic!

    Like

  6. Laura's avatar Laura

    I’m really looking forward to your brayering workshop and I love seeing all the great things you come up with. It’s amazing what you will make from a stamp set that I would have never even noticed. Also, I would like to be enetered in the blog candy drawing. Thanks for all the inspiration!

    Like

  7. ColindaSue's avatar ColindaSue

    Wow! How generous of you to give away these stamp sets! thank you! I LOVE your artistic take on these cards! You have such talent!
    Please enter me into your draw for this set!
    See you in July at your brayering class!

    Like

  8. Pat Meinders's avatar Pat Meinders

    I enjoy your tutorials so much. You are so creative. I am always looking for new ideas, especially for the guys. Your skateboard and bicycle cards were great! I love this blog candy stamp set. Please enter me.

    Like

  9. Gail's avatar Gail

    I just found your site.
    Signed up for the e-mails, and would like to be entered in the draw.
    Thanks for the chance!
    I DID buy a brayer, now I have to get brave enough to try a card…yours are fabulous, and your tutorials so easy to follow and inspiring!

    Like

  10. Linda Viers's avatar Linda Viers

    Hi Michele, Please enter me in the drawing for the Christmas stamp set and punch. I had a great time at your classes in Riverside on Sunday and will definitely be using that brayer to create beautiful cards.

    Like

  11. jessicak's avatar jessicak

    Yes, please enter me in. I love the little postage stamp on this and am already in planning for Christmas stuff. Christmas in May, I guess :).

    Like

  12. Hi Michelle just love your work. I wish I lived in US sometimes so I could get to your classes. Almost every day I check out what your next gorgeous card is. Love your tutorials.You are an inspiration to us.
    I would love to be entered into the drawing for your gorgeous stamp set.
    Have a great day.
    Barbara.

    Like

  13. Carol Dee's avatar Carol Dee

    Great card. You alwys make direct to paper look good 🙂
    YES, I can get excited about that MUST HAVE set!
    (I have all the punches to go with it ! Hugs…

    Like

  14. Roxanne Spearman's avatar Roxanne Spearman

    Michelle, Please enter me in your blog candy giveaway. I must say I’ve been following your blog for a long time, and love every creation you have made. You inspire me to look at my cardstock as a canvas and use the ink as paint. I love your style and all your cards! Happy Stampin’!

    Like

  15. Mary Hansen's avatar Mary Hansen

    Wow, another great card! Please enter me in the drawing for the Christmas Punch set, it’s sooooooo cute!! Thanks for the inspirations, too!

    Like

  16. Linda's avatar Linda

    I love your smear cards. I am still trying to master it but I get better each time. Please enter me in the drawing for this great stamp set.

    Like

  17. Stephanie S.'s avatar Stephanie S.

    As always the cards are just beautiful and so insprising. Thank you for the ideas and a chance to win a wonderful stamp set.

    Like

  18. I love the colors you chose for this card! So pretty and I love how the swipes of color remind you of a canvas painting. Thank you so much for sharing your talent with us!

    Like

  19. Oh, Wow… you never cease to amaze me! This is beautiful and I bet it’s not quite as easy as it looks!! I will have to try this myself… but it’s always easier with the teacher standing right there! Hugs!

    Like

  20. Jo Reynolds's avatar Jo Reynolds

    Please enter me in the give-away! I love your site and I’m looking forward to getting into Stampin’ Up!

    Bright Blessings,
    Jo Reynolds…Tennessee

    Like

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