INKY BACKGROUNDS and GILDING FLAKES

          How nice it has been this week now that the clocks have gone forward and it is not getting dark so early. I do love the longer days and the lighter mornings, I always get so much more done. I have also spent more time in our conservatory at my desk. I have been trying out some different techniques for backgrounds. 

       Alcohol inks were my first choice as I rarely use them. Just drip them onto some yupo paper and watch the magic happen especially when you add some blending solution, just a few drops. I also added some white mixative that I bought ages ago and never used.

        So these were the results but then I got out my quickie glue pen and drew some squiggly lines across the paper. Before it dried I dropped on some gold gilding flakes and gently rubbed them in. Wow that added some interest.

 
                                                

             Not sure why it looks silver in the photos it was definitely gold flakes.

     I wanted these to be a feature on a card not covered up. So I cut off a narrow strip of the blue piece. 

  This was my finished card, now the flakes look gold, must have been the light. The butterfly was stamped in Versamark and gold embossed. Then I painted it with inks in similar colours to the coloured strip. 

                               A closer view of the yupo paper

   
                  The butterfly trail is little dip dots made with an embossing tool and Kuretake gold paste.

         Now I need to use the rest of the yupo paper, I have an idea for the orange piece but that will be for another day now. 

    I am off for a day with Maria Moorhouse at one of her classes tomorrow and we are using inks there too. I am sure she will have some great ideas for us. 

            Back soon and thank-you for visiting.  xx