Wednesday, March 17, 2010

How To ~ Do the reinker Float

I did a tutorial today for the stamping 411 blog and thought you might like to see it on my blog too. Have a great day. Also, someone posted over there that Patty Bennett did a video on this if you need it.

Good Morning Friends!

I have been playing with the reinker float technique for the last few weeks. I had an embossing class at my house and it was one of the techniques we covered.

I know that Crystal French from Denver came up with this idea. I heard about it from Sandi Maciver after she attended the the Stampin' Up! Seattle Regional Seminar. There it was demo'd by Connie Ingram. In other words, this is not my original idea. However... I never really "got" the directions for it, so my spin might be a little different from the original. I couldn't find a tutorial online for it anywhere to point people to, so here we go.

I originally saw this technique done with the large rose from The Manhattan flower Stamp set, but I think it works with any LINE ART type image, and my favorite to use with it is Embrace Life.

The Number ONE thing that you should absolutely have is shimmer white cardstock... This cardstock lets the water float on top instead of absorbing it... So, if you don't want to be frustrated... Get yourself some shimmer ~ or cardstock with that quality. How do I know?? Tried it.. :)

If you've never done embossing, there's a tutorial for it on the stampin up customer website here.

My tutorial has a few parts so hopefully I won't lose anybody.. :) First, the measurements to make your life easier if you're looking to reproduce this card.

Base: 11 x 4 1/4", scored and folded in half at 5 1/2" ~Rich Razzleberry
2nd: Layer: 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" ~ Bordering Blue
3rd Layer:5 1/4" x 4" ~ Whisper White
4th Layer: 4 x 3 1/4" ~ Rich Razzleberry
5th Layer:4 x 2 5/8" ~ Bordering Blue
6th Layer: 4 x 2 1/2" ~ Shimmer White

Next ~ What you will need to start
Your cut layer of Shimmer white
A pretty line art image that can overlap nicely
white embossing powder
versamark
heat tool
dry Paintbrush
Aqua painters, or a wet paint brush
Reinkers
Some type of plastic to put the ink on
a buddy and a pal..
So what's a buddy... Well you call a friend for your Pal.. but I use my powder pal tray.. This is much more fun with a friend, so call someone and use paper to catch your powder.

A buddy is a small rosin type bag, that helps you remove the static and imperfections from your fingers and the paper. So first ~ rub your fingers with the buddy then your paper and it will help the embossing powder not stick to you or unwanted areas of your project.

Next, using versamark ink, stamp a random pattern with your line art stamp. I overlapped mine to make the cool background. I couldn't really get a good photo for the versamark, so skipped that part.

But next I poured my embossing powder on top and flicked the back of my paper to remove any excess.


At this point ~ no matter what I'm embossing, I take a small paint brush and clean up any areas that have flecks of embossing powder where it's not supposed to be. By doing this, my embossing always looks clean and sharp.

Heat your powder and watch it melt. Make sure you embossed the whole thing, it should look shiny. Don't overheat or you'll scorch your cardstock.. oh and ummm watch your fingers.

Next I filled my glass dish with water, and used an aqua painter to pick up my ink droplets. Here I used rich razzleberry and bordering blue.
Notice I used an old dimensionals paper to drop my ink onto! Reuse it all! When it's done, it gets thrown out anyway.

Next I sprayed the BACK of my paper with water... Why did I do that??

Well ~ here's a dorky art thing that I learned in college... Whenever you do something to paper that makes it warp. (heat, water, etc.) do the same thing to the back and it wont roll up on you. By wetting the back first, I wont have curling cardstock.

After wetting the back, I turn my image over and sit it in a plate (hi Eeyore!) Then, really soak the top to make puddles of water. Note ** the embossed areas will keep the puddles somewhat separate, but it's fun to watch the reinker fly into other sections like a little flood.

So here, I'm showing the bordering blue being dropped onto my embossed shimmer. Isn't that fun??

After I was done with the blue, I painted more with the razzleberry and made a wonderful mess! Looky here mom!

I managed to get the paper off the plate without spilling my pools of ink. I set it under my room heater for about 20 minutes, You need to just walk away and let it dry. However, if you get really excited and can't wait, you could use your heat gun. :)

And here she is! This is my reinker float tutorial.. I hope this gets your creative "juices" flowing... (Oh I'm a geek).

I have two more examples online here and here. I hope you enjoyed my silly little tutorial and that it made you smile. :)

Happy Wednesday!

Selene Kempton

12 comments:

Marisa said...

Absolutely stunning card!!! Thanks for the tutorial too. I've never tried this technique yet so may have to give it a whirl.

lindiloo said...

Thank you or the tutorial. I have been trying this technique since I saw your first posting (Carole'Anne referred to your beautiful works of art!) I have been somewhat successful; however I let the puddles run off which. From reading your tutorial are you saying to let the puddles stay on the page?? This could be a challenge in itself??

Karen Bernier said...

What a great and fun tutorial Selene!! Thanks for sharing it. I will have to try that technique. Oh - the cards are beautiful too.

Stamping in Bedford said...

Selene, I love this tutorial and am going to get out Embrace Life and try this technique. Your card is beatiful. Also, congratulations on being published in the Just Card Magizine. YOU DO ROCK!
Priscilla

Anonymous said...

Selene--this is BEAUTIFUL--thank you so much for sharing the technique--can't wait to try it!
Let's plan to have lunch in April--I'd love to be able to chat with you again, Nola

Kim said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial.

Anonymous said...

Hi Selene,

A demo friend sent this link on to me and I really like your 'take' on my technique. Thought you'd like to know that I originally came up with the technique as an answer to having to 'color in' a hundred of these Embrace Life flowers for a swap! I always cut out my flowers, though, so really enjoyed seeing your idea for creating an entire panel like this - I will be CASEing it!
Thanks again for sharing,
Crystal French, Denver, CO

stampingmadly said...

What a beautiful project. I like how you made a background of flowers and colors, I have only used this technique with the 5th Ave. Rose and cut it out. I will have to try this.

Barbara said...

Can't wait to try this! Thanks so much for the tutorial. Your card is simply stunning. Love the colors used.

Anonymous said...

This is so stunning! I love it! I am so trying it....and I know I will make a huge mess!

Sharon Steinwand said...

This is gorgeous! I love your tutorial - very easy for me to follow. I made a few scribbled notes, and intend to CASE soon! Thanks so much!
I have to take time to snoop through other things on your blog!

Anonymous said...

On your card done with fifth ave set, where yiu used the reink float techique,on the two flowers that are done togeather it looks like you have just done the embossed edges with the brush or can you explain how you did that .
Thanks,Jocelan