Snowy Topiaries: LPS Challenge (& a LONG sponging-blender-pen tut)

This card is for an LPS challenge set by my ultra talented DT member Ely, to make a card using at least 2 Little Paper Shop sets, some kinda colouring, & some glitter. I've used {Topiary} & the snowflake from {Global} (Hardly counts as two sets maybe, but I have a lot of colouring to try and make up for it, hehehe.) The glitter is my favourite Sakura Stardust pen.

You can play along with Ely's challenge too if ya wanna & check out what the rest of the LPS DT peeps made by clicking on the thumbnails in the side bar over there --->

The design of this was inspired by this stunning Zindorf classic. So...this tutorial is about getting a Zindorf-esque look by masking and sponging ...and doin' the details with a blender pen. I'm afraid of brayering and only a wee bit less afraid of sponging, but I love the look that Michelle gets... so, I thought I'd see if I could come up with some ways to make sponging easier & get a version of her style.

This is a looonnnng tutorial (30 photos! Squeek!) but if any of you share my phobia of the technique maybe these tricks will help. :O) The thing that seemed to make the biggest difference was using a slightly damp sponge...

Part A) Prep stuff & the stamped image



Step 1) Wet the sponge
(this is a piece cut out of a Stampin' Up! sponge)



Step 2) Wring it out like crazy! (I also wrung it out in a cloth to make sure that almost every bit of the water was out. If you have too much water on your sponge to start with your paper might curl.)



Step 3) Put some reinker in some kind of dish (you can line it with saran or tinfoil if ya like. This is Soft Sky reinker, sorry retired I know but I hadda use it.)



Step 4) Emboss the image.
I love that acrylic stamps make lining up two of one image easy-peasy. (This is the {Topiary} stamp from Little Paper Shop embossed with Encore metallic ink & silver ep. The paper is homemade...printed out scans of vintage Dictionary definitions: "Merry" & "Christmas") If you'd like it, just lemme know.

Some papers may be easier to work on than others.



Step 5) Step Tear the tops of Sticky notes (leaving some of the sticky intact) & adhere them to your image. Rub it down well so it's nice & sealed on there.


Part B) Sponging...Get inky wid it:



Step 1) Dip the sponge into the dish of reinker



Step 2) Load the sponge off into a dish or onto tinfoil or somethin' (This saves wasting ink & gets the sponge more workable.)



Step 3) Using a scrap of paper, work some more of the ink off of the sponge off (I like to do circles. This keeps blobs of ink from ruining the smooth look of your stamped piece. It also lets you test the technique a little to see if you like the look it's giving ya) :O)



Part 4) Sponge on the ink. I like to work in circles...avoiding the edges of the image (in this case the pots) No worries about a white edge around the pots because the next steps with a blender pen

Of course, you can use two or more colours and use more ink for a bolder look.


Part C) Fine tune the sponging:



Step 1) Load a blender pen with the same colour of reinker that you used before



Step 2) Test the blender pen out on scrap paper, and take some of the ink off. (Better too little than too much, right? You can layer it for a natural blend with the sponging...)



Step 3) Use the loaded blender pen to deepen the horizon line & detail around the pots. Add more ink if you think it needs it



Step 4) Remove the sticky notes. That part is so fun! (If you have any spots where the colour bled out, you can touch it up with the blender pen.)

Part D) Colour the image



Step 1) Colour the leaves with light green (This is Certain Celery marker from SU)



Step 2) Colour areas with medium green. (This is an SU Mellow Moss marker. I added it mostly on the outsides of the topiary balls and to the bottom right of them to create shadows.)



Step 3) Shade the leaves more with a dark green (This is a marker from CTMH called New England Ivy)



Step 4) Add deep shadows to the leaves with black marker



Step 5) Colour the pots and add shadows. I used these colours (working from light to dark & blending with a Copic colourless blender): CTMH Desert Sand on a blender pen (weakly), Desert Sand full strength, CTMH Chocolate on a blender pen & then full strength, Copic Marker Putty YG91 to blend. A bit of black marker on the Putty to make deeper sections of shadow.


Part E) Make it Snow:



Step 1) Add white marker from CTMH to the ground. (I also added bits of Copic marker Frost Blue (B00) with white on top of it.)



Step 2) Add white marker to the topiaries & pots



Step 3) Brighten the snow with White Inkssentials pen on the topiaries, pots, & ground



Step 4) Rub on an embossing buddy (When the Inkssentials is dry)




Step 5) Stamp & Emboss some snowflakes (this one is from the {Global} set. I stamped it lightly in white ink & embossed with clear embossing powder.) The wee snowflakes are from Happy Winter (retired SU)


Part F) Add Berries:

I stitched mine on with wee knots 'cause I find it so meditative and cutsie to look at, but you could use Stickles or sumthin' else. :O)



Piercing holes. You can use a paper piercer, of course, but you can also use a needle or pin for smaller holes.



You can see from the back where the holes are, which makes sewing easy.



To sew the berries I just did this schtuff:

1. Pierced the holes
   
2. Threaded three strands of embroidery floss.
3. Adhered the end of the thread to the back with good double-sided tape.
4. Tied a single knot in the front & went back down the same hole.

Part G) Some finishin' touches:

The "Joy" sentiment:

1. Stamp j-o-y (This is Euphoria Alphabet & Numbers [retired SU] in versamark, embossed with clear e.p.)
2. Punch with a small square punch (SU)
   
3. Stick on a scrap of the printed Christmas script cardstock
4. Add a shadow to the letters with Putty with Copic Marker (Putty YG9)
5. Glitter around them with a stardust pen
6. Cover the letters in Crystal Lacquer

(I drew that little birdy because I don't have that cardinal stamp, but had to have a cardinal. He's coloured in with copics and is named Charles the 2nd after my Sweetie & this lil' guy, hehehe.)



Add Stardust Glitter pen details to the trees & snowflakes & the ground


Next time, I'm gonna try and be brave & use more bold Zindorfian colours! :O)
Hope your stamping is bright and blissful!



P.S. The Winter Wonderland characters are back in a mini set! You can find 'em here & they have new buddies too!