A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

August 28, 2023

Group of Seven - Water Lifting

Hello Stamplings!

I hope you are doing well and I hope your garden is producing wonderful treats. Gardens love the heat, I think; people, not so much. But before we know it, we will be enjoying the cooler temperatures and beautiful colors of fall. Hang in there!

This month our Group of Seven Cardmakers played with a second way to do ink blending and you can find instructions and video links on the website.  We then took that one step further by adding another technique to our cards with water lifting. Using a water brush or watercolor paintbrush and water, we lifted the ink from our open images by applying the water in small areas and then blotting up the water with a paper towel. This technique is also known as faux bleaching.

I enjoyed playing with this technique and made two cards.

Onefer
I used a NBUS Birthday Balloons stamp from Studio Katia. The date on it is 2018, which is basically considered brand-new to me!😂 There are two stamps in the set and they are so cute. 

I heat-embossed the image in gold and then blended two oxide inks over the panel. Using my waterbrush and a paper towel, I removed the ink from the balloons. To finish the card, I added the sediment and two lines of gold Washi tape.

Challenges
Twofer
Next I had fun making a Christmas card using the same technique. After I was happy with the "bleached" snowman (from Gerda Steiner Designs), I turned it over to Hammy who gleefully schplattered the scene with water so it looked like it was snowing. I matted the panel with crinkly gold mulberry paper. I don't remember using mulberry paper without fraying the edges, but I like it unfrayed. Now I will start using more of my stash of it!

Challenges

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I hope you will pop over to the Group of Seven Cardmakers website to see the other cool designs from the other ladies! There will be a link for you to share your own fabulous creations using this technique. Many thanks go to our talented friends Linda Snodgrass and Colleen Foelker for introducing these techniques to some of us at a craft retreat years ago. It's been a fun technique to revisit!
~~~


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! 

*Life is too short!

50 comments:

nancy littrell said...

TFS both your cute ink blended and color lifted cards, Dolly:-) I finally got to make one card after being so busy harvesting our veggie/fruit garden all month. Now I can't wait to make more...such a fun and creative technique. It looks like you had fun too, my friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy

HilaryJane said...

Looks like you have mastered this technique. Your cards are very special, love them both xx

Julia Aston said...

Oh sis! so pretty with the gold embossing on your images! Love, love, love that cute row of balloons and they are so pretty in the blues - you got great color lifting on this, leaving just a whisper inside the balloons! Your snowman is adorable with his big smile - probably because the snow is falling and he will be able to add to his bulk??!! A beautiful blended blue sky and again so pretty with the gold embossing! Julia xx

Christine Alexander said...

Two fun cards Darnell :) the balloons are adorable and love your little snowman xx This was a fun technique

jimlynn said...

BOTH are adorable and so pretty Love the lifting of the ink. Great technique and wonderful cards!
Lynn

Colleen said...

I am back from the three days at the beach with my high school girl friends and my friend of 56 years from Norway! she is right now sitting watching some youtube shows that she follows at home, so I thought I could slink away into my studio and check out what I have been missing! I will want to try this water lifting, I may have done it before as I have done the bleaching, I will watch the videos and see if I can recall the process! I am excited to hear about your adventures in Europe! I love your cards, both are so cute and clever! I think I am partial to snowmen, so that one stole my heart, but the shaped balloons is sure fun! Heart Hugs, col

Cat Craig said...

Both are fabulous, love this technique. Thanks for the reminder. I am playing catch up after having been out of town. I’ve checked outyour lovely cards I missed and commenting just the current one. (It gets too overwhelming for me to catch up individually).

Loll said...

LOVE your two cards Dolly! The gold accents are so beautiful with your lovely blended blue backgrounds. These techniques have been so fun to do and I'm a little obsessed with them. :) I have some more cards in the works. Love, Lolly

Bonnie said...

I like the gold embossing with the ink lifting, Dolly! It's so festive with these fun balloons and that sweet snowman! You got wonderful contrast with your ink lifting, my friend!

Lisa Elton said...

I like the touch of pizazz your gold embossing adds, Darnell! These are both cute cards, love that sweet snowman!

Susan said...

Great job on this month's technique! Especially love the snowman - the water really lifted the ink well (and Hammy did a great splattering job). The gold embossing on both cards is beautiful!

Alyson Mayo said...

Love the design and the colours of all those balloons! Thanks for sharing with us at HLS Birthday :)

Kathyk said...

And your use of the technique turned out to be fabulous

Happy Tuesday

Kathyk

Aquarius said...

This is a great technique and you've made two lovely cards. The balloon design is fun and the jolly snowman made me smile

Gerrina said...

These are two beautiful examples for that fun technique! One that I often forget, and when I am looking to make a card some more interesting, I sometimes use... Hugs, Gerrina

kiwimeskreations said...

What a pair of beauties, Darnell - love the technique and you have used it wonderfully. Well done Hammy on your schplattering - very cool snow!
Your snowman stamp is a sweetie, Darnell, and I love how you have perched him on a hill. He looks suitably blue from the cold :)
Blessings
Maxine

Sandra H said...

Wow love both of your cards Darnell love the embossing on both cards and the designs the gold blends in so beautifully totally stunning creations and l just love Hammy just the cutest xx

Carol L said...

What a fun technique used on these cards, and each one turned out so cute! Love those balloons but that little snowman just stole my heart. Wishing you a good week ahead!

Julie B said...

Twp cute cards, you've certainly mastered this technique! No high temps here I'm afraid but plenty of rain! :)

Diane said...

You always amaze me with all the techniques you use on your cards are they are always perfection!! Fabulous and beautiful cards!! What you didn't know that while you were 'playing' Hammy snuck over to my house and 'twinked' a few of my cards that will show up later on some of my DT's, bet he didn't tell you did he? The little rascal!!

R's Rue said...

So pretty my friend. Love it. Have a great day.
www.rsrue.blogspot.com

Brenda in IN said...

That soft shade of aqua is gorgeous and the balloons are adorable. A perfect sentiment for that card. A cute snowman standing in the "snow". I like the crinkle look of the mulberry paper. It never occurred to me to use it as it is!





1

Pat said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell, and I love the fun line of balloons and also a fun sentiment, and then the cute snowman on the second, and the ink blending and water lifting are terrific on both, and love the colours too. x

Lori Turner said...

Super cute cards, Darnell! I love the snowman :) Thanks for joining us at Krafty Chicks Challenge this week xoxoox

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

How sweet cards, Darnell!!! Love s much how they both came out, such lovely technique, just perfect for delicate feels!! I will have a try, even if my heavy hand might be some blobs LOL
Love the gold, just perfect too add interest and Hammy did a fabulous work splattering the snow!
Hugs

Jennifer Reece said...

What a great technique! I love how your cards turned out. Thank you for playing along with us at SAS4Kids!

Bobby said...

Great job lifting the color, Darnell. It worked especially well on the snowman. The group of balloons is fun and also look good 'bleached'.

wienerhoneymooners said...

This really popped out of the gallery to me ---FROSTY feel is fabulous!
Thanks for joining in the Krafty Chicks Challenge - "ALL OCCASIONS"
-HUGS
-Kimberly (Guesting this month of August at the Krafty Chicks Challenge)

Cheryl W. said...

Fun technique, and I love the way you used it on your cards. I checked out the Group of & site and I think I'd award you the blue ribbon of faux bleaching.

TK said...

Two fun cards, and a great technique to add (or revisit) to your repertoire! Really cute cards, Darnell

Jeanne said...

Beautiful soft blended backgrounds on these cards, Darnell. So lovely!

Lynette said...

A very cool technique, and your cards are beautiful, Darnell!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

I love this technique Darnell, which I must try, and your cards are just so much fun and wonderful.
Faith x

Em Louise Fairley said...

Both cards are beautiful, Darnell xoxo

Bonnie Lynn said...

Both cards are fabulous Darnell. I've never tried the water lifting/faux bleaching technique. I'm going to have to try this sometime.

Donna said...

Your water lifted cards are fabulous, I'm anxious to give this a try. Thanks for the inspiration my friend.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Two great examples of that lift technique, Darnell - those balloons are especially eye-catching and I love your snowman too!!

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
Happy Rudolf Days.
Your cards are wonderful and what a great technique.
I love both designs especially the snowman one he looks os cute and gorgewous embossed in the gold.
The bleah effect on the background is perfect for a Christmas sky.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Whisper said...

Ooooo what an absolutely adorable & what a great technique too, thanks for joining us at Rudolph Days August Challenge, luv Sam x

Leslie Miller said...

I love the look of this technique and it's so easy I should sit down and try it right now. It's especially effective for your balloons. They look perfect! It's also a really great way to make a snowman in a snowfall. BTW, 2018 sounds pretty new to me as well.

Jeanne H said...

Just super well done cards, Darnell. Love them both. I'm just back from San Diego, so wish I could've visited. Hugs to you.

Papercraft Boutique said...

Both cards are so cute, Darnell! The balloon animals are adorable, and your ink-lifting is perfect to show the dimension and texture of balloons. Great job of bleaching the snowman! Hammy also did a great job of adding falling snow!
Hideko xx

Craftychris said...

I love both of these! The balloon card is so cute and I love the happy smiling snowman! I forget the faux bleaching technique - must use it more, thank you. Take care. Hugs xxx💖💖💖

R's Rue said...

So pretty.

I Card Everyone said...

I don't know who has more fun than you seven crafty chicks, Darnell! I love that you keep finding more techniques to try - and to try together makes them better! All of you have made lifting color a treat!
Good to see you've added the FollowIt link - I miss getting your posts by email, my friend!
Hope life is treating you well!
=]

Linda said...

Darnell, two fantastic cards using the water bleaching technique. I should really try that. I don't use my Ziggs or watercolors much at all. Really like both images. That balloon stamp is adorable and of course, Snowmen are my favorite. BTW, I have a Triplet update on my blog if you get a chance to stop by.

Sybrina K said...

Hello, there! It was fantastic seeing a Darnell creation in our SAS4Kids August gallery. And it was great fun learning about that ink-lifting technique. Need to give that a try. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Send a Smile 4 Kids!

BożenA said...

After removing the color, the balloons seem even lighter and ephemeral. I love this effect. I also love the 2 gold strips of washi tape. They really add glamor to the card.
And the second card! Brilliant design. This snowman looks amazing against the blue background.
xx

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

The balloons are great! I have this stamp too, but my cards
don't turn out as good as yours!

Brenda said...

I love your balloon card Auntie, such a cool stamp and so fun! The water lifting looks so great! Your snowman card is just adorable and I love how it came out. He bleached out very well, love the sky too. Such a fun technique! I'm off to see what the other ladies have done as well. Hugs, Brenda