Don't have the expensive tools?

Well, sometimes you don't need them!!! Lately I've been seeing alot of beautiful creations with the Copic air brush system...don't get me wrong, I would love to have one but that's not in the budget right now! So, in order to achieve that look on the cards I did today, I went back to an old stand by technique - masking and sponging!

Here is one that incorporates today's sketch challenge over on SCS...
Images by DRS Designs...



I sponged my oval with bliss blue ink and a mask from an oval I cut out previously (it's always good to save scraps like this!!) A mask being the leftovers after you cut out the desired shape - basically a frame of the shape. I use a Creative Memories cutting system for the ovals and larger circles so it is nice and smooth and there are no outside cuts so to speak. (If you need further clarification on any of this - let me know!) My main image was stamped on a scrap, colored and cut out. I mounted it on pop dots. The rest of the card is pretty straight forward. The butterfly was stamped on vellum with chalk ink (quick dry time). I cut it out, scored on each side of the body center and adhered to my card.

Next up is a card sporting a new image by DRS Designs...isn't it pretty?!



For this one I just wanted to highlight a portion of the flower - resembles a sun don't you think?! This time I used a circle mask with summer sun ink. The other difference is that I stamped my image first and then made a mask of the flower and butterfly...laid them on the stamped image and sponged over them and within the circle mask. I then colored with markers and added a jewel center. The dew drops on the side are from my Michaels find! I used a cuttlebug embossing folder on the yellow layer and ran my ribbon in between the focal layers, up and thru my hole punch and then tied a knot. The sentiment is stamped on a oval from a sizzix bookplate die and raised on a pop dot.

Thanks for stopping by - I hope this gives you some ideas on achieving the latest looks with yesterdays techniques!!
See you soon...