If you've followed my blog for a while, you know that this is my favourite colour combo. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! :)
Last Saturday when I had my friends Susan and Christine over, I showed them how I've been saving my inky paper towels that I use for mopping up leftover ink after making a card. I hang them over the drawer front of a small cabinet to dry. I have them saved in colour families ... one for yellow, orange, pink ... and another for green and blue. Once they are dry, I reuse them to mop up even more ink, until they start leaving ink behind when cleaning up. That means they are full and ready to use to make backgrounds.
Here's a picture of how I have them drying ...
I used the top one for the background of today's card. The colours show more orange and pink, but there is yellow ink in there too. :)
I placed the dry paper towel over a piece of mixed media paper (works with regular card stock too - use less water, and watercolour paper), sprayed with lots of water and then pressed with my fingers to get a random design. The ink transfers through to the card stock and so does the design of the paper towel, which adds lots of visual texture.
If I want a more consistent design, I found pressing with an acrylic block on top ... or using a brayer works well. Click here to check out my earlier card using this same background technique.
Then I just added two die-cut flower sprigs in black, along with a white heat embossed sentiment on black banner. Super easy card to make.
I used snippets of black paper for my die-cuts and banner, so I'm heading over for some play time at the Snippets Playground. Di is away this week, so Parsnip is in charge. I'm sure there's lots of shenanigans going on there this week! :)
Stamps: A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper: White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Mixed Media card front (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink: Left over distress inks: squeezed lemonade, mustard seed, spiced marmalate, ripe persimmon, picked raspberry (Tim Holtz) ... or a combination of some or all of them
Accessories & Tools: Water mister, Flower Frolic die (Penny Black),
Challenges:
JUGS Challenge #352 - Coral, Yellow and Pink
Snippets Playground - Week 238
How awesome is this, Loll! Ingenious...and the results, gorgeous! Need to start keeping my 'inky sop up' messy towels in the hope I can transform them into something pretty! Ideas sparked!
ReplyDeleteHugs~c
Wow another new technique. How do you think of these things? Gorgeous background to set off your black leaves.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous background color and black contrast Loll.
ReplyDeleteHugs Diane
This may be super easy to make, but it looks sooooooooo good. Love it 😍
ReplyDeleteThis looks so pretty ..... I love how delicate the background looks against the black. My mop up cloths never look like these .... maybe I should start being a bit more careful with them xx
ReplyDeleteThis is such a clever way to reuse, Loll! A gorgeous background and it definitely is your colors!
ReplyDeleteWhat? Paper towels? So clever and cool! Mine go straight into the bin but I may give this a go!
ReplyDeleteReally must get busy and use my pieces from Saturday!! Love the end result of your paper towel background! The black die cut and sentiment strip are perfect for it.
ReplyDeleteYou really are a master artist with backgrounds Loll! Using the 'mop-up' tissue as a kind of 'Bleeding Art Tissue' is sheer genius!! Thanks for the details, I will definitely give this a go! have a wonderful evening! Hazel xx
ReplyDeleteMy Card Attic
Chuckled at your post today. I knew you used the paper towels from your previous blog post but when you said after they dried you use them again to mop up more ink until they can take no more and then use them on a card.....Respect!!!! Fabulous idea and fabulous card today x Thank you for sharing x Still smiling x
ReplyDeleteLoll, that's brilliant! I love how it turned out. I have to start saving my inky paper towels. x
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome way to both clean up and then recycle the ink! Love it!!! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThis represents my favorite colors too! Love how you mix your distress inks to achieve this fabulous color, Loll! This technique is one I tried and will try again! LOVE this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great technique Loll - thanks for sharing how you got more than double duty from your paper towels. A fabulous card too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
Oh, you are so clever at making such fabulous bgs, Loll!!!! And, WOW, do I love those little black flowers against the wonderful colours of the bg!!! This is such a great card - LOVE it!!!! Always such a joy to come here to see what you have made!!!!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day!!!
Hugz
Amazing! That background is phenomenal! I am definitely going to try this technique. I love the black flowers against that background. Gorgeous design. Thanks for playing along with us at JUGS!
ReplyDeleteJust gorgeous and how fun to reuse something that would be thrown away. Great card, Loll.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card as always Loll. x
ReplyDeleteClever recycling, and wowsers, did it ever create a fantastic texture with the gorgeous coloration. The black flower arrangement really stands out against this soft background. Love it!!!TFS
ReplyDeleteI love the results of your paper towel background, Loll, and I'm glad these are your favorite colors. ;) They look great with the black silhouette flowers. Thanks for sharing your card at Just Us Girls.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card Loll, always love the look of the die cut flower black or white against your stunning backgrounds.
ReplyDeletealso love the picture of your elaborate drying system.
What an inventive way to make a background! Very fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous technique Loll, really clever - and such a pretty card! I adore the colour of the background with the black flowers and b/W sentiment.
ReplyDeleteGreat way to dry out the paper towels too! :)
Hugs
Di xx
I love coming here and seeing what you have been up to! Love the idea...so great to get more mileage and is truly a great way to recycle!
ReplyDeleteYour gf days make me so wanting to have a friend to play with.
Love the look of this beauty. I am missing my crafting time...hopefully next week.
Have a great wknd
hugs,
Karen
I love those colours of the background with the black die cuts. Great idea of using the towels too.
ReplyDeleteStunning card and beautiful color combo! This technique still blows my mind and one that I so want to try sometime. I've got to remind myself to start saving my inky paper toweling!! What a way to get more mileage from inks and nice looking texture! Yep, this just might be a favorite all time technique! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Loll, I've been mopping up all colours with the one paper towel, I'll have to try keeping the colours separate to try this great technique, Cathy x
ReplyDeleteJust shows you should NEVER throw anything away. I'll need more space. I love the colours in your fabulous technique.
ReplyDeleteYou are the Queen of Inking/Blending techniques, Loll...Hands down! What a fabulous technique this is...I love the soft pastel color palette, and your black Flower Frolic die is the perfect element for this card! I think I'm going to have to start saving my paper towels from now on...Thanks so much for sharing another beautiful technique with us ♥
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh ... you are brilliant Loll. I have to start saving my paper towels for this technique. And, yes those colours just sparkle. Thanks for sharing with us ...
ReplyDeleteHugs,
How smart are you?????? What a wonderful idea. Thanks so much for sharing that...I will definitely give it a try.
ReplyDeleteAn ecological card, bet you David Suzuki would love it ;)
ReplyDeleteI will definitely use your method and recycle, smart lady!
Love the black die-cut against that pastel background. Gorgeous card xx
This card looks fantastic - the black really pops against that really cleverly created background. Very pretty!
ReplyDelete