Pigment Inks + discount code

Hello friends,

How are you doing?

Today, I am going to focus on two products. Pigment inks & Neenah card stock.

I will start with Card Stock.

In my tenure of many years of stamping & sharing, the most common query I have addressed is - which paper do I use? 

When I started around 2005, nothing was available in India. I used to get stamps and inks form USA with help of friends or family members. In that case getting paper form there was out of question. I started looking for paper in Ahmedabad. After long struggle I came across to one dealer who was dealing in good quality papers. I didn't know much about paper so I use to carry small stamp (that time i had few wood mount stamps only) and my first ever ink pads - color box pigment inks- petal point pad. I will stamp on the samples and see if that paper is working with ink or not. My intention was to get even stamped image. I learnt that, for stamping we need smooth paper (without any texture), it has to be absorbent (unlike many smooth but glossy coated paper) and it has to be between 260-300 gsm ( unit to measure thickness of paper).

 I know these findings seems very basic right now but 10 years back it was a big thing for me. But the supply is never consistent. Every time i have to look for new paper as previous will go out of stock & the dealer will switch to another paper. The  one I am using since last 3 years is out of stock and I started paper hunting again. I came to know about Neenah paper through many international crafters & asked Shalini to get it in the store. But before that we ordered samples from dealer (he sent 50 + neenah paper swatches). I tried few with various mediums like dye inks, pigment inks, copic, water color markers, heat embossing to make sure it is versatile and works with most mediums.

The one I selected for Crafter's Corner store is

               - 270 gsm Card stock which makes it sturdy enough to work as card base & works well for  single   layer card too.

                 - Smooth which makes it perfect for stamping, ink blending and heat embossing.

                    - egg shell kind of white. I feel that selecting proper white tone for your card is very  important. Some whites will  have  bluish tinge while others will have yellowish. I like  one which is in between as it goes well with all cold and warm  colors of inks.

-It works well with dye inks, pigment inks, distress inks (blending), copic and tombow markers.

Are you with me? or is it too much of paper gyan? Lol. 

In short, my search for paper ends here as this is the best paper I have ever used ( and trust me I have used many) and it is well established brand so we will have consistent supply. It can handle little bit of water wetness  but I suggest to get water color paper if you are using lots of water base medium.

Now, I will come to Pigment inks.

                -These inks have powdery pigments mixed with liquid base.

                -They are very thick and opaque because of pigments. Their pads are made of foam so that it can hold thick inks. Due to their soft foam, be sure to use less pressure while inking the stamp.

                - They are slow drying inks which makes them ideal for heat embossing. The pigment sits on the surface of paper rather than getting absorbed in paper fiber. This gives very crisp and vibrant impression of stamp and makes ideal for detailed   stamp. It also gives good coverage on dark colored card stock. 

- Works well with generation stamping.

                - Drying time varies with the paper and weather. You can heat set to dry it.

                - Cleaning stamp is very easy even with just water.

                - They stamp in true colors that means it stamp exact same color as stamp pad unlike many dye ink ...which fades a  bit upon drying.

I am using pigment inks from the time I started stamping. Recently, I got these Mama Elephant pigment inks. Initially, I got one pad ( I don't do impulsive  buying...) and tried it out....loved it so much that I got another 10 colors.  Today, I will share some cards made using them with different techniques. I really want you to try it. And after seeing my love for pigment inks Shalini allowed me to offer 5% discount by using MAMA5 code.  So, grab them before they are gone...

I am sharing few cards I made with Neenah CS and Mama Elephant Pigment inks. I have used different techniches possible with these inks.

So, Let's start the fun...

Card : 1 stamping

For this card, I have used Avery Elle - Bright Days  stamp set. 

I cut a panel for Neenah card stock and stamp the smaller ray image with ME- moon light ink. Look at the even coverage it gives even with this solid stamp. As it doesn't get absorbed in paper it gives very crisp edges too. I used butter cup ink for that sun image. 

Check how beautifully it stamps these thin lines. These inks are good for solid as well as detailed stamps. I have used Neenah CS for card base too. I have used 2 layers of foam tapes to mount the panel & still it is not warping a little bit. Very thick and sturdy CS.

Card - 2: stamping

I have use Hero Arts- Twid Pattern   stamp and ME - Pacific Blue, Moon Light, Fresh Mint & Ocean inks to create ombré effect. I inked 1/4th of stamp in each ink, look how beautifully they blend in to each other giving smooth gradation of colours. For flower I have used very old wood mounted stamp & Plum Berry, Lollipop, Lemon grass & mojito  inks to stamp on Neenah cs.

The smooth paper captures itched detail  of flower beautifully.

Card : 3 -Embossing

I stamped different images from Altnew stamp set . in various inks and heat embossed with clear powder. This will give you raised colored image. Isn't that beautiful? I colored them with different tombow markers. Sentiment is by Some Odd Girl stamps.

Look at the close up:

Card : 4-5 layered stamping

The most famous layered stamps are 'Vintage Roses' by altnew. Don't we all love it?  Some time back I tried it with many different inks and combinations which you can see HERE.

But having so many inks are not possible for every one. So i tried just with one or two pigment inks and 2nd and third generation stamping. These inks very well with this technique. 

First I will talk about generation stamping. 

Generation Stamping is an easy technique to add depth to your cards and get more out of your inks. Pigment inks works well because they have opaque pigments in it and will have enough ink left on the stamp even after stamping once.  Ink up your stamp and stamp on your paper ( this is first generation of image) . Next you will stamp on your project without inking the stamp. This will give lighter image and is known as second generation. You can do 3rd and 4th generation too for even lighter image. Huff (blow moist air from your mouth)  your stamp in between stamping to activate ink. I did those roses with little alteration. I used 2nd an 3rd generation image by stamping off it on a scrap paper.

For the flowers , I have used Plumberry  ink with three layers of stamp and all three generation images. Leaver are done with two shades of inks. I also edge the panel with same ink to make it pop.

What do you say? isn't that cool ? 

Here is a little chart to show how I made those roses along with inks I used.

Card : 6-7 Ink Blending

For the first card, I just masked Neenah cs panel with masking tape & blended various inks with ink blending tool. 

I used this small ink blending tool for the first time.( I have old rectangular one) I love this as it is small and can reach into tiny places. The sentiment is with Papertrey Ink. I used it because of its clean lines to go with my geometric BG.

For the second card, I have  used Hero arts- News Print stamp set. stamp with memento ink. I blended various ME inks using Heidi Swap butterfly stencil. These inks blend so so easily. You have to experience by yourself to believe it.

  

Card 8-9 Coloured CS

I used Altenew Henna Elements stamp and various mama elephant inks with masking on an aqua CS. See how beautifully all the colors shows up on colored card too. The inks stays vibrant and will not change colour .

For second card, I stamped mama elephant stamps on craft card stock with ME pigment inks. 

See, how the light colours pop on kraft CS. This will not be possible using dye inks as it gets absorbed in paper.

Look, how vivid they stamp even on dark grey and black card stock.

I hope this will help you to choose your inks wisely. I will be sharing my experience with other different inks next month in here. So keep watching.

Bye for now...keep crafting!

Supply List :

Stamps :  Avery Elle - Bright Days  , 

                Hero Arts- Twid Pattern 

                Altnew stamp set striped flower

                Some Odd Girl  - Balloon Kaylee

                Altenew - Vintage Roses

                Hero arts- News Print 

                Altenew Henna Elements

                Mama Elephant  - PANDAMONIUM

Neenah Classic Crest Card Stock

Mama Elephant Inks

Memento Black Ink

Clear Embossing Powder

Heidi Swap Stencil

Ranger mini  ink blending tool

Craft Sheet

Sue Wilson die

                

Mimi Stamps - Penny Black

Hello Crafty Friends,

Neha here...once again I am playing  with pennyblack clear stamps. This is my last post in Pennyblack series. Of course, I will be playing  with these fabulous products (new release is soon coming to the store.... :P ) but for next month, I want to focus on my another favorite brand.

 Stay tuned... (any guesses??) Please leave a comment on this post with your guess (by 27th) and I will select one random winner who will receive one of the card from next post.

Last couple of weeks, it's been extremely hot here in Ahmedabad ( It hit 47c) . I just hate summers. You don't feel like doing anything. On top of that I had bad back ach... after a course of injections and medicine I am feeling better but not there yet. So this time there aren't as many cards as I used to share. The stamp set ( Big wish )  is also such that you can't try many techniques. These Mimis  are so so cute and really good if you enjoy coloring. It is easy for fussy cutting too.

Card : 1

For the first card, I used Wendi Vecchi Gold Embossing paste   and SSS stencil on a white card base.

 -  Keep it aside to dry. Cut a white cs with Spellbinder Label 17 

- Stamp one of the image from the set in Memento Black ink. Colour it with your favourite colouring medium. Here I have used copics. The frosting of cake is heat embossed with frosted crystal  embossing  powder and clear perfect pen. I hope you can see...it looks yummy in person.

- Cut a few strips of pattern papers and adhere them on left side of card base. 

- Emboss sentiment in gold on velum, punch it out with circle punch, back it with lavender paper and adhere with help of a button.

- Pop the colored panel on some foam tape.

Card : 2

-Stamp the bottom of white cs with Sprigs    stamp & clear emboss it.  Add a wash of green distress inks. Use red/orange marker  for the centre of flowers.

-As you can see, the balloon is attached to the girl. But I cut the stamp  and  separated balloon. Now, stamp the Mimi on a piece of  white card, color and fussy cut. Lay it on card base and mark the spot behind her palm which is holding the string.

- Stamp the cut balloon multiple times using mask. Color all of them and  hand draw strings so that they will meet at the marked spot. Pop the Mimi on foam tape in such a way that her palm will align on the marked spot and it will look like she is holding all the balloons.

-Stamp the sentiment and you are done.

Card : 3

All the images in the set are birthday themed but I decided to use them for a card other than birthday.  For that I had to get rid of those party hats. I used sticky part of post it notes to make masks. 

- Mask the party hats of Mimi as well as cat , ink the stamp, remove the mask and stamp. I have used Memento black( for Mimi) and brown( for cat) inks. Now hand draw the top of her head (masked area). Colour them.

- Add green for ground and some stamped grass. On the top right corner I added some details form the Sprig set. Add sentiment to finish it off.

Card : 4

It is a  shaker card. The process is simple. Sharing a pictorial for the same.

- Cut the window with a rectangular die from a pale green cs. I made extra frames too from white cs.

- Use the red double stick tape to adhere the piece of acetate on the back of green window.

- stick one white frame on acetate with red tape for extra support.

-Mark the position of window on the white card base. Add some stamped gift boxes & confetti. Cut two banners form pattern paper and glue them. (I cut the confetti from one of the images in the set.)

         

- Now comes the most tedious part. Load the base with foam tape. Using one single strip is advisable but I just had 1/2 inch wide tape. so I cut it into pieces and stick them carefully so there is no gap in between to trap your shaker elements.

- Run the sides of tape facing inside the frame (before removing backing) with Ek Success powder tool so that shaker elements won't stick to it and move freely. You can use regular talcum powder with paint brush too.

- Remove the backing of foam tape, add shaker elements in the center and mount the green frame with acetate on it.

- Add colored and fussy cut Mimi & diecut sentiment to finish it.

Card : 5

-  For the last card, I have use several die cuts from Flower Frolic Die and adhere to the base to give faux embossed look. 

- For the stamping I have used blush pink coloured cs. Stamp the Mimis and colour with water coloured pencils. Add sentiment coloured die cut and few black stripes to finish it off.

That is all for now. 

Hope you will enjoy the cards & give it a try. Copic is good but not necessary for coloring. Try distress inks or markers with these cute girls. (for face and skin you can use combination of scattered straw and tea dye....it works for me)

Supply List

Stamps : Wish Big by Penny Black

               Sprigs

Dies : Spellbinder Label 17

           Flower Frolic die

Pattern Paper : Painted Blooms 

Inks : Mamaelephant , Memento

Gold Embossing Paste

Frosted Crystal Embossing powder Ranger

clear perfect pen

Penny Black... love continues...

Hello Friends,

Neha here with more Penny Black stamps. This time I am using their photo polymer clear stamp set 'Sprigs'. There are various twigs and branches in the set which we can use as a focal point  or to create backgrounds. They are great as silhouette too. They are very good quality stamps which takes all inks pretty well. 

Card : 1

This is totally inspired by Jill's card HERE. I don't remember how many times I have seen that video. Her ease with water colors is amazing.

Ok, back to my card... 

1.Paint the background- slope, sky- with various distress inks. Let it dry.

2. Ink the stamp with 2-3 shades of yellow distress inks. Add brown color to trunk & branches. You can use distress ink with brush, distress markers or any water based marker. I have use tombow markers as I don't own any distress markers. Spritz the stamp with water and stamp on the dry background.

3. At this point you can manipulate your image with thin paint bush and distress inks. Add more colour to trunk and blooms for some dimension. Let it dry.

4. I used hero art's stamp (Woodland leaves and grass- one of my first stamps. ) for those bare trees in the background - it will add depth to the scene.

5. Add some birds and sentiment. I love this quote stamp by Verve stamp. Yup, no one's life is perfect - just like my card... ;) ...hope you will find it wonderful though!

Card : 2

They says inpiration is everywhere. In this case, I was inspired by a lid of Versafine Ink pad.

And here is my take on the inspiration.

1. I chose the Kaisercraft sentiment as it is very bold and will give good contrast.

2. Select a die which will frame the sentiment well. Cut a copy paper with same die for a mask.

3. Deboss the center of cs panel with the same die. 

4. Mask the center with die cut paper. Stamp images around it with various inks. Just make sure you space them out evenly .

 

5. Remove the mask and stamp sentiment.

Card : 3

Here, I have tried 'Layered Batik Resist' technique. I was inspired by very talented Dina Kowal's tutorial here. She is the queen of various techniques and an awesome artist. I even own few Impression Obsession stamps designed by her.  I followed exact same steps but with distress inks. Make sure you allow each layer of ink to dry thoroughly, before adding embossing powder.   

Card : 4

  Last year I took one of the Online Card Classes to learn how to use pattern paper. Yes, I get confused when i have to use pp. I love them but never can use effectively. I used Penny Black pattern paper - Painted Blooms .

1. I clear embossed one of the image on a piece of pp. Apply distress inks in shades of blue. The embossed part will resist the ink. 

2. Sandwich pp between folded copy paper and heat it with mini craft iron to remove the clear embossing. Now, you have your own, altered pp. The patterns peeking through the stamped image is just magical.

3. Add twine, butterfly charm and sentiment to finish off.

Card : 5

I love this sentiment from 'Heartfelt' set - and designed the card around it. I used different shades of grey to capture  essence of the sentiment. Add some butterflies and blings to give finishing touch.

Card : 6

1. Cut the white cs panel with mft Polaroid frame dies and emboss it.

2. Place the panel on card base & mark the position of windows. Remove the panel and stmap various images with choice of your inks. I have used distress inks and tombow markers for the same.

3. Adhear the panel on card base & add die cut frames .

4. For the glitter boarder, stick red double sided tape on the base, pour some glitter, burnish with finger, tap off excess glitter. Add the sentiment.

Card : 7

I have created night scene with them here. They are detailed and delicate so even if you use as silhouette, they won't overpower the scene.

  Background is created with distress inks and masking. Silhouettes are stamped with some grey and black inks. (you can do first and second generation stamping with just black inks too). Moon is winked** with clear wink of stella glitter pen. 

Card : 8

This last one is my favourite one. I always like to mix florals and geometrics.

1. Cut a circle form a colored cs. Stamp stripes in black. Let it dry thoroughly.

2. Rub some anti static powder. Stamp & emboss floral image in gold.

3. Emboss sentiment in copper, add ribbon and pop the circle with foam tape.

Close Up:

These stamps are good as fillers too. Combine them with you favorite floral stamp to make a bouquet. I wanted to try it but ran out of time. Please share if you do that. Let me know how you like this 'one set many looks' series.

 Keep crafting...keep sharing....! 

Supply List :

 Stamps :   Penny Black - Sprigs, Penny Black - Heartfelt, Kaisercraft - True Friendship

Inks :  Distress Inks, Versamark,  Versafine Black,  Mama Elephant-moon light

Embossing Powder :     Clear, Gold,  Copper           

Tools : Stamping Buddy,  Mini Craft Iron,  Heat Gun, Wink Of Stella, red tape, glitter,  , Nonstick Mat, ink blending tool

Die :     Spellbinder - Circle