Group of Cardmakers - Faux Cyanotype

Hi everyone, it's time for the Group of Cardmakers to try a new Technique. This month we are playing with Faux Cyanotype. 

Cyanotype is a photographic technique using photographic chemicals and sunlight to create a negative image. The images produced have a blue to green colouring with light areas where items have been placed on the paper or fabric. this can be replicated by using blended ink and either the same ink to stamp or by using white ink.

Here are two videos showing how to create a card using the technique

1. Faux Cyanotype using White Ink By Tracy Evans

2. Faux Cyanotype using the same ink as the blended background By Understand Blue - Lydia Fieldler

Both techniques mask off a border then blend a blue colour over the whole area. If you use white paint the blending will need to be much darker. The blue stamping or same ink can be a lot lighter.

For my first card I blended the background and used an old Serendipity stamp.

My second card I used the ink pad direct to paper to give me a deep blue and then stamped in white, Again I used and old Serendipity stamp. I did mask of the edges but the ink pad worked its way under the mask. I don't mind as I like the rougher edges in the darker ink.

My third card I blended a very pale blue ink and then stamped the image using the same ink. The circle was embossed using a circle die and a mask cut out of the centre of some copy paper to blend inside of the embossed area. I'm not sure who makes the bird.

My last card I again used a direct to paper technique with the ink pad but this time I didn't use a masked border. I decided to try the technique with another colour other than blue.  I actually like the rough more organic edges from the ink pad. and the colour. The leaves are a Magenta stamp.

I hope we have inspired you to try Faux Cyanotype stamping.

Card Recipe
Stamps: Serendipity, Magenta
Paper: 110 Lb White, Black, Pale Blue
Ink: Ranger Distress Inks, Hero Arts White
Accessories: Stamp Platform
Techniques: Cyanotype, ink Blending

Group of Cardmakers -Inlaid Die cuts

Hi everyone the Group of Cardmakers are playing with dies again. This month we are inlaying some colour inside the die cuts. Inlay can be clouding the die cuts, using Designer Paper ore scraps of leftover backgrounds.

Videos:

Inlaid Paper Backgrounds by Cathy Zielske (7:52)

Inlaid Die-cutting with Dimension - 2-for1 Cards by Charlene Madrid (10:30)

Die-cutting Hack for Intricate Dies by Anna Helman (6:56)

For my first card I watercoloiured the inlay pieces cut from white card into a black outline, the background is a script embossing folder.

For my second card, I used one of my favourite poinsettia dies I've blended inks on the first die cut image without removing the pieces then die cut the outline a second time in gold.

My third card I rummaged through my stash and found a scrap of salted water colour background. I die cut the frame twice in white card and layered them for a little dimension, then die cut the background. the sentiment was die cut twice, once in the watercolour card and again in black, the black was off set slightly to give a shadow effect making it stand out a little more on the background.

We hop you give this fun technique a try, it's a great way to use up some scraps and have fun with your dies.

Card Recipe
Stamps: see individual cards.
Paper:
Ink:
Accessories: Embossing folder, Dies, 
Techniques: Inlaid die cuts