I've just recently learned a new technique with the Aqua Pens and have been having a blast trying it out. Since it was my husband's birthday on Monday, one of the things I made was this cute birthday card with the Loads of Love stamp set. As some of you may not have tried this technique yet, I figured I'd write you up a quick tutorial on how to achieve this look.
Loads of Love Birthday Card Tutorial
Supplies (all Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamps: Loads of Love, Fundamental Phrases, Big Bold Birthday
Paper: Always Artichoke and Night of Navy card stock; Watercolor paper
Ink: Black Staz-On; Night of Navy, Real Red, Riding Hood Red, Ruby Red, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Tempting Turquoise, Creamy Caramel, Only Orange, YoYo Yellow, Brilliant Blue, Basic Gray, Basic Black Classic Ink
Other: Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Snail Adhesive, Aqua Pens, Stampin' Write Markers, Signo Gel Pen, Crystal Effects, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Basic Black Journaling Pen, Sticky Notes (office supply store)
1. With Black Staz-On, stamp the truck image in the middle of Watercolor Paper.
2. Using the Aqua Pen, pick up some Riding Hood Red ink and float in some color on the body of the truck. Continue to build up the color this way to color in the whole truck. Leave some of the areas lighter to create highlights. Pick up Real Red and float in areas to create shadows.Pick up some Basic Black ink and color in the tires. Add Basic Gray to the bumpers and the hubcaps.
3. Once dry, mask off the truck bed by placing a sticky note over the top of it lining up the edge with the top of the truck bed.
4. Place a few random candles in the back of the truck with the candle stamp from Big Bold Birthday and Brilliant Blue Stampin' Write marker. Color the flame outline with the Only Orange Stampin' Write marker. Fill in with a few more candles using Real Red and Only Orange. Color the flames in with YoYo Yellow.
5. Using Old Olive and the Aqua Painters, float in some color underneath the truck for the grass. Continue to float in color making it a little darker directly under the truck. Add some Always Artichoke to create shadows. Add a little bit of Creamy Caramel as well to give it the grassy dirt effect. You can continue to build up color as long as you let it dry in between.
6. Using a tiny amount of Tempting Turquoise with the Aqua Painter, float in some color in the background for the sky area as well as the truck windows.
7. Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamp "Wishing You Loads of" with Basic Gray. I used the markers for this step so that I could move the word "of" below "Loads". Stamp "Birthday Wishes" below the truck in the grassy area.
8. Using the Basic Black Journaling Pen, outline the candles and draw in the candle wicks. I had some bleeding issues since my paper wasn't quite dry (ooops!) so I "covered" this by adding little hash marks on the right side of the candles.
9. Use the White Signo Gel Pen to draw in some highlights on the truck.
10. Trim this piece to 4-3/4" x 2-1/2".
11. Add Crystal Effects to the candle flames, hubcaps, headlight, taillight, and door handle. Set aside to dry.
12. On another piece of Watercolor paper, float in some Tempting Turquoise ink to form the sky area as you did previously.
13. At the bottom of the sheet, randomly stamp some of the candles as you did in the back of the truck. I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to make sure I got the candles just where I wanted them.
14. Outline the candles and draw in the wicks with the Basic Black Journaling Pen. Add the hash marks if you'd like. I had to do this so they would match the candles in my truck.
15. Trim this piece to 4-3/4" x 1-1/4".
16. Add Crystal Effects to each of the candle flames and set aside to dry.
17. Matte the truck image with a piece of Always Artichoke card stock cut to 5" x 2-3/4". Matte the candle strip image to a piece cut to 5" x 1-1/2".
18. Cut a piece of Night of Navy card stock to 5-1/4" x 5-1/4". Leaving a 1/8" border, mount the truck image near the top and the candle strip image near the bottom leaving a 3/4" gap between the two matted images.
19. Cut a 6-1/2" piece of Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and tie in a knot in the center. Align the knot in between the two matted images and adhere the tails to the backside.
20. Trim Always Artichoke card stock to 11" x 5-1/2". Fold in half to create card base.
21. Mount matted image to the card base.
Update (3/18/2009): A few people have asked me what I mean when I say "float" color in. This is a term from my tole painting days. Although normally it is done with a flat brush and color loaded on one side of the brush, it basically means to slowly build the color up blending until it's the color/shade you want. So, what you want to do is continually "float" in more color until it's the shade or as dark as you want.
Enjoy!
Lianne Carper
Loads of Love Birthday Card
Linear Mode
