Braying Away!

Hello Stamplings!

Oops, I think the title is wrong. Is this a post about Don Keys? I think not. Although in the past when I've tried to brayer, I did end up braying like a sick donkey from my frustration with making messes!

But thanks to crafty friends, I tried brayering again and I LOVE it! I had a preconceived notion that because of the advent of soft blending brushes, I would prefer to blend ink for a background rather than brayer it, but I discovered that both can be very fun and very addictive!

From my stack of newly brayered backgrounds, I have a coupla simple designs to share. (Wait, wasn't I trying to use UP my backgrounds?!😲)

Onefer

How's that for a big bowl of texture? I mentioned in my last post that I'm knee-deep in Christmas, but I did hope to throw in a few autumnal designs and the brayering was just the opportunity I needed. 

I used Oxie inks in fall colors and spongy brayers from SU to create the background on glossy paper. When you brayer ink onto glossy paper, it leaves a dull finish. So Hammy didn't need to use his winker today. Instead, once we were happy with the inking, he helped me polish the inky finished panels with a piece of old fabric until they were back to a high glossy shine. It works like a magic trick!

The hello was cut from burlap and glued to eight-layers of cardstock because did I mention texture? The leaf is from Gina K.'s "Stitched Leaves" and it was cut from a perfect piece of fiery fall pp. 

Challenges

• Addicted to CAS: Leaf.
• Alphabet Challenge: L is for Leaves.
• Double D: Leaves.

Twofer

And as a toucan of my appreciation for this new-found love of brayering, I made this fun fall birthday card. Again, lots of gloss, lots of dementia. The NBUS 3D embossing folder is "Tropical Leaves" from Sizzix. I like the way the panel split in a few places to give it the look of sanding. 

The NBUS toucan and branch are from Concord & 9th's "Toucan Paradise" stamp and die set. This colorful bird is not normally seen in silhouette, but cut from glossy black paper, he looks googly-eyed and handsome against the colorful background. 

Challenges

• Addicted to Stamps and More: Any occasion.
• Just Us Girls: Color week: yellow, red, and orange
• NBUS: Using it!

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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower! Please let me know you came by so I can return the flavor.

I also want to thank you for your kind and caring comments on my last post. Mwah!

*Life is too short!

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