Altenew Educator Certification Program: Easy Ink Blending Techniques

If you follow my blog on a regular basis, you already know that I’ve been taking some classes from Altenew Academy.  If you’re new here, now you know!!

I finished the Easy Ink Blending Techniques class a couple of weeks before I got accepted into the AECP part of the academy.  I wanted to create a new ink blended card to share in that gallery online.  Plus, I have a stamp set from Altenew that I’ve been dying to use!

It is called Painted Jellyfish and I’ve used only 3 stamps from the set.  It has several other stamps that can be used to create layers for these jellyfish, but I wanted to focus on the background technique.

This is an emboss resist technique with ink blending.  I used the two jellyfish outline stamps and a fun sentiment from the set.

I’ve been waiting to use it because I had several ideas for this set and couldn’t choose which to do first.  Then a box came from Altenew today with their newest ink colors that were just released a couple of days ago.

BAM!  I knew I had to use the Sweet Dreams set of teals to make my ocean card.

For this card, I’ve used a piece of white card stock cut at 4 x 5-1/2″ for the blending technique.  I added a small strip of Altenew’s Lagoon card stock along the side and for the white embossed sentiment.  I snuck in a small strip of the silver glitter washi tape and some clear sequins.  I’ve also used a white card base to attach everything to.

I embossed the two outline images in white and then used my ink blending tool.  I started by giving the jellyfish a little buttercream around the top.  I feel like jellyfish always look like they have a pinkish yellow glow when I see them floating by the pier in town.  I wanted to create that feel with the soft buttercream.

Next I started at the top of the card using the lightest color called Dew Drops.  The next layer is Aqualicious, which seems totally appropriate for this card!  I then added a Teal Cave layer and at the bottom is the darkest color, Galactic Stream.  As I added each layer, I went back with the lighter color and blended over the edges where the colors came together to soften them and blend them together.  I was trying for an almost ombre effect since water always gets darker as you get deeper.

I spritzed the entire piece with water using my Ranger Distress Spritzer and let it dry.  While it was drying, I assembled the card.  The spritzing adds an almost faux watercolor look to the card.  It feels like there are bubbles in the water…or maybe smaller jellyfish!

I hope it feels like flowing water with jellyfish swimming all around.  I can’t wait until it is warm enough for the jellyfish to return!

Isn’t the sentiment fun?  Relax and go with the flow!  Clever!

Thank you for stopping by!  Please leave a comment to let me know what you think!  I really appreciate your thoughts and comments!

I hope you find time to craft and when you do, remember to embrace the imperfections!