Brakin' For Monday.....

Happy Monday!!!  All  this month, I'm sharing floral beauties from I Brake For Stamps during my Monday IBFS share.  Thank you for joining me!!  I'm glad you are here and ready to kick off yet another week of stampy fun!

I couldn't help, but play with my bisters again while creating this week's floral project!  The bisters become easier to control the more you play with them and produce an intriguing background every time!  I'm like a moth to flame when it comes to these amazing pigments!

For this project, I began by creating a floral resist using several images from IBFS's Floral Half Sheet 148A and Floral Half Sheet 148B..  I stamped the images in versamark on water color paper.  Then, using white embossing powder, I embossed each of them.  Once cooled, I was able to sprinkle bisters in strategic places and mist to create the colorful background you see.  I was specific to place only red bisters in the center of the two cone flowers....I love how this turned out!

To finish things off, I used my white signo pen to color the cone flower petals and some distress markers for other accenting.  I just got this cute little stampy stapler so, that is now my favorite rustic accent--you might be seeing it a lot for awhile :)  Only because I MAY just be tiring of sequins and need a new obsession!

You can stock up on floral images, bisters and so much more over in the IBFS store!  Be sure to use my coupon code SAVE10JANE for some sweet savings!

Have an inky week and don't forget to be awesome!  TTFN, Jane

Where Art Thou, O Spring?

Happy Monday, my friends!!  It's I Brake For Stamps Monday here on More Than You See.  I have a sunny flower card to share....it is near freezing and gray where I am so, I really need this project to rain a little sunshine in my soul!  We had a few teaser days of Spring like weather, but it appears that Central Wisconsin is still trying to decide if winter is actually over!

I created my background using bisters and an ink dip technique.  If you are not familiar with Bisters, please see the great video at I Brake For Stamps that will help give you some understanding and background on these great color pigments!  You will note that in the video, specialty paper is used.  I do recommend playing around and experimenting on all types of paper.  Some of the effects the video artist achieves are due, at least in part, to the paper she is using.  My sample, today, is done with water color paper.

I started by scattering some green bisters on my nonstick craft sheet.  After adding water, I dipped the water color paper into the wet colors.  When using a dip technique, allow the inks to dry between dips.  This creates layers of color--which I find more interesting.  After the green was dry, I repeated the same steps with yellow bisters.

Finally, I added several flower images from I Brake For Stamps'  Floral Half Sheet 148B.  To add color to my florals, I again used my craft sheet and scribbled various colors of distress markers.  Then, I picked up color with my aqua brush and layered it on. 

Yes, I know y'all are going to be wanting to visit the Store now!  You can save with my coupon code SAVE10JANE.  Be sure to say Hi Dee Ho....to my pal, Sweet Ms. Della Bo Bella!

Thanks for stopping by---have a GREAT day and don't forget to be awesome!
TTFN, Jane

Bister, Mister!

Happy Monday and welcome to my I Brake For Stamps Monday share!!  I have a quick and easy boy card to share, today!

I adore this Music Sheet from I Brake For Stamps!  It is one of the first sets I ever purchased from IBFS and I still use it all the time!  I love music, so it really speaks to me.  The images are genderless and versatile and just never go out of style!

I started by stamping the drum set in black ink on Fabriano water color paper and then heat embossing it.  In real life, it is shiny and the embossing makes it a bit dimensional--like it could pop right off the page.  I like using the water color paper with my bisters.    For this project, I used Green, Blue and Yellow Bisters.  I'm still learning how to control and layer the color so, I tend to use a lot of water--especially for a well blended look like this.  I periodically tilt the paper to roll the colors.  I also use my heat gun to stop and concentrate color in some places.

To finish, I added the birthday sentiment from the Floral Half Sheet 148A.  When you shop the IBFS store, say halllloooooo to Sweet Ms Della for me and don't forget to use my coupon code SAVE10JANE.

Don't forget to be awesome!  TTFN--Jane

Bister, Bister....

Happy Monday!  I'm so glad you stopped by for my I Brake For Stamps Monday share!  I spent a great deal of time playing with my bisters yesterday!  And, yes, my garbage can does bear some signs of my experimentations!  This is definitely a color medium that requires some learning and most definitely, following!  You absolutely have to go with the flow when using bisters and let the project evolve as it will.

I've used bister, in the past, with watercolor paper.  This project uses Ranger specialty paper.  It is a matt coated cardstock and definitely provides a different finished product.  Paper matters, Ladies and Gents!

After applying bisters in green, red, blue and yellow, I spritzed with water, rolled the colors around, dabbed and dried.  I love the marbled look you can achieve.  Images were stamped using Stazon and then colored using distress markers.

 
You can see the blue bisters more clearly in the second project.  For this, starting at the bottom of the white cardstock, I layered up with green, yellow, red and blue.

All of my stamp images come from one or the other of Floral Half Sheet 148A and Floral Half Sheet 148B from I Brake For Stamps.  These are some beautiful and whimsical images!  Be sure to pick up your bisters, too while you are there!  I would also recommend some of the Stampinback Paper.  Let Ms. Della know I sent you AND, save a little with my coupon code SAVE10JANE!

Thanks for stopping!  Don't forget the awesome!
TTFN, Jane

Broken Fences

Happy Monday, and thank you for stopping by for a fresh start of the week and my I Brake For Stamps Monday project!

Today, I'm bringing you a colorful and texture full project I created using those fabulous Bisters!  If you are new to bisters, the IBFS store has a great video featuring their use.  I find that I am a complete sucker for any and all forms of color!  In fact, I stamp because I adore color.  So, I am always fascinated and on board with any and all types of coloring medium!

I started by masking off the edges of a piece of watercolor paper with low tack tape.  Afterwards, I applied a sprinkling of Red, Yellow and Natural bisters.  To activate the bisters, I spritzed with a generous amount of water. I used a considerable amount of water because I wanted a blended, watercolored effect.  You can control the outcome of your bister art by controlling the application and amount of water you use.  It's fun to play around to see what you can make happen!

I moved the saturated color around a bit by rolling my paper and using a heat gun.  Again, the outcome is influenced by all of these events.  I used my finger to move some color around.  And, at one point, I removed some of the color with a paper towel and, I didn't like it!  So, I just added more water and rolled the paper around a bit more.

When the piece was completely dry, I stamped the beautiful silhouette garden image from Stamp Half Sheet 138B.  Because I wanted to maintain the clean paper frame, I only removed the low tack tape after stamping the image.  Next, I mounted the art piece on a portion of black cardstock and added a random, sloppy stitch around the border.  I think I may just be figuring out that little mini Janome machine!   It's a handy little thing and a nice way to add texture to a project.  Thanks to one of my readers (yay, Nance!) I may have figured out my breaking thread issue.....

To complete my card, I added a punched shape with the sentiment, also from the Half Sheet 138B.  It reads: "Friends overlook your broken fence and admire your garden." Isn't that the truth?  I've been reflecting a bit on my best gal pal from many many moons ago since she recently became older than me!  We became friends in 1978 (gasp!)  It seems so long ago doesn't it?  But, I remember that day in 4th grade when Ms. Helf announced we would have a new student.  I was excited to learn that she lived just around the block from me.  Thirty seven years later, we remain friends and I am ever certain that she isn't the least bit distracted by my broken fence.......love ya, girl...(you know who you are!)


That's it for me, friends!
TTFN & don't forget the awesome!
Jane