Bandanna Technique (This is way too much fun to do!!!)

This technique is called the Bandanna Technique. It was originally designed for use with Ranger inks, but I've adapted it to use Stampin Up products.

It was created by Robin Beam (Oh the talent! talent! talent!) <--Click that first 'talent' link to see what Robin did with Kim Hughes's sweet prettybirds--Oulala baby! I don't have the Ranger Distress inks yet--to do the base for this (Tim Holtz's gorgeous wrinkle free distressing technique)--so I made a version of it with Stampin Up reinkers. If you don't want to make your own background paper, you could use a favourite designer paper instead; then, just stamp in black and doodle on the white.

Edited to Add: A gorgeous cards and a great set of instructions for the technique

SUPPLIES to make the background paper:

Glossy white cardstock
(You can also use regular cardstock if you use Tim's wrinklefree method described here & on his blog here)
Reinkers in 2 colours or a monochromatic selection
(too many will muddy it; I used a green selection: Certain Celery, Mellow moss, Sage shadow, Glorious Green & Taken with teal.)
Little spray bottle
(I used an old refillable perfume bottle. You could use a mini mister)
Water Heatgun
Stazon ink (black)
White signo gel pen
Stamps (of your choice)

1) Mix reinkers ( and a few drops water) in a spray-bottle. Mix the lightest colour first & add darker inks as you go.

2) Place the glossy cardstock on a protected work surface. A dry stainless steel sink is the ideal place to work. Spray colour on, starting with the lightest & getting darker until you like it.

3) Leave it on a flat surface & heatgun it dry. (Leaving it flat prevents drips)

4) If the cardstock is all woobley after it's dry, just put it under a stack of books to flatten it out.

5) Stamp over your paper with black Stazon ink. Let dry. Don't worry if you have a couple minor smudges; you can correct them with the next step:

6) Doodle on the white details with a white Signo gel pen. (If the ink stops flowing on you, just tap it on a scrap of paper and scribble 'til it starts again.) This is a very forgiving & fun technique. If you're using glossy paper and Stazon, then you can erase any mistakes you make in the white pen. Just keep some damp cotton swabs on hand.

For how to make this glue pen emboss flower, please see this post.

Other card ingredients:

Stamp: Kind thoughts, French Flair background, Baroque Motifs (little flower)
Cardstock: Blue Bayou, Basic Black & Whisper White
Accessories: Hodge Podge Hardware, black stitched ribbon, Giga scallop punch


Happy Stamping,
:0)
Mel

• Robin Beam, herself, showing a version of her Bandanna technique on You Tube
• E.T.A. Her Tutorial write up is here
• More directions by Robin

P.S. Here's a couple of tutorials for Tim Holtz's wrinklefree distressing:

• Tim Holtz uses his wrinklefree distress technique on a Christmas Tag
• Video by Patti Behan
• Instructions on the Ranger Ink site

Can't wait to get the Distress inks so I can do it properly--I love the bubbles they form. I think I'll have to wrack my brain for stamps that look more bandanna-ish too... :0) If you try this post a link, I'd love to see what you do!

P.S.S. Check this new EKsuccess cutter bee out! It pierces faux-zigzag-stitches in seconds. It's 5 bucks. Me likey! :0)