Ghosting Technique Video Tutorial

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a video tutorial on the Ghosting Technique (sometimes called Faux Bleaching or Water Stamping).

I used three different types of card stock, along with three different types of colouring mediums to show the variety of looks you can get with this technique. They all start with a dry, inked background, and then the "ghosting" can begin.

Below the video is a detailed written description of the ghosting technique.  All three cards in this post are made from the backgrounds done in the video.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video.  You can watch it on YouTube by clicking HERE.  I'd appreciate a "thumbs up" if you find it helpful. :)  Thank you!

The first segment of the video is ghosting using distress inks (see card sample above).  Since the background is sponged (no water used), you have the option of using regular card stock, watercolour paper or mixed media paper.  I used regular card stock (Neenah 110 lb.) for the card above, randomly sponging with two colours of distress inks.  Distress inks work really well for this technique as they react well with water.

Once you have your inked background, the ghosting technique is always the same. Add water, let sit for 10-15 seconds, and then remove with a paper towel.  You can use a stencil, stamp or just flick water.


IMPORTANT TIP:  If using a stencil, make sure to remove the stencil quickly after spritzing with water so the stenciled images stay crisp.  If the stencil is left on the wet surface for long, the water seeps underneath the stencil and blurs the images.

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Ghosting with Watercolour Sprays on Watercolour Paper

For the second card, I used watercolour paper saturated with two colours of watercolour sprays.  You can use watercolour paper or mixed media paper for the sprays.  Regular card stock will not hold up with all the water content of the sprays.

It is important to use "freshly" made backgrounds when using watercolour paper for this technique.  Pulling out one from a stash will not work well.  Not sure why, but assume the ink absorbs into the watercolour paper and over time becomes permanent.

Again, just added a stencil over top, spritzed with water, removed stencil right away, waited for the water to activate the inks (10-15 seconds) and blotted with a paper towel.  The watercolour paper will be wet after the ghosting technique.  As it dries, the contrast between the background and the ghosted images becomes greater.  You are left with a subtler ghosting image when using watercolour paper.

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Ghosting with Brushos on Mixed Media paper

Here's the third card from my video.  This time I started with Brushos (3 colours) on mixed media paper.  You could use watercolour paper or mixed media paper with Brushos, but not regular card stock.

I just flicked some water onto the dry, inked background, left it for 10-15 seconds, and then blotted up with paper towel.  You can see the large bleached splatters in the background.

Because I used Sponging to create my blue and brown background, I'm entering the first card into the Just Us Girls Challenge #351 - Sponging.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Create without Fear card:
Stamps:  Subway Art Buiders Create (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (gifted to me by my friend Christine)
Ink:  Distress Ink:  Peacock Feathers, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Clock stencil (Tim Holtz), water mister, Copper Frantage Embossing Enamel (Stampendous), heat tool

Leafy Hello card:
Stamps:  The Big, the bold, the happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Watercolour sprays made from Liquid Watercolor Concentrate (Dick Blick)
Accessories & Tools:  Leafy stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo), water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool, Rose die-cuts (gifted to me by my friend Bonnie)

Sunset Silhouette card:
Stamps:  Effulgence (Penny Black); Sentiment - Where your heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. - 400 Series)
Ink:  Brushos:  Lemon, Orange, Brilliant Red; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Black embossing powder, heat tool, Black acrylic paint and Gold acrylic paint for splattering (Liquitex)

Challenges:
Just Us Girls #351 - Sponging