a happy accident

I just love a good happy accident - especially when it comes to my stamping projects. Definitely not planned, but turns out to be something very good.

You all know I love using white ink. And when I am working on my projects, a lot of white ink ends up onto the scrap paper that I have under my projects that protects my desk. So, I was cleaning up and changing that scrap paper one day and saw something that caught my eye. Something that I thought I could use on a project. Something that turned out pretty darn cool! And let me share that something with you now... a very happy accident!

(click any photo to see it larger)

  

So to get started, I stamped images from Guidelines Two in Fresh Snow ink onto kraft and white cardstock. Just like the Fresh Snow ink that had gotten stamped onto my scrap paper.

 

Let the white ink completely dry. You can use a heat gun to speed up the process if you want. It's hard to see in the photo, but there are white ink images stamped onto the white cardstock.

 

Next, I took a brayer, inked it up with Ripe Avocado ink, and rolled it over my images stamped in white - you could also experiment with using a sponge to add the color as well. Check out how the Fresh Snow ink looks like it resisted the ink - or at least holds the ink just rolled onto the cardstock in a lighter hue.

 

I wanted to play with another color so I cleaned up my brayer and inked it up with Spring Rain. I got some Ripe Avocado ink mixed in with the blue on my brayer and it created a cool marble/dyed look - another happy accident!

 

Aren't the results stunning? It looks like a batik effect, but without all the embossing and ironing. It looks like a piece of patterned paper that I would pick up at the store, but I didn't spend a penny! I used what I had on hand: cardstock, white ink, colored ink, and a brayer.

 

I decided to use the teapot from Nichole's Tea for Twoset and paper piece it with my newly created batik look cardstock!

 

The cardstock reminds me of pretty porcelain - perfect for a teapot!

 

I made my teapots steaming hot with the steam image from my Warm Happiness set!

 

I used strips from my custom cardstock to accent my card design...

 

stitched on some buttons...

 

and here is the completed card! I have no doubt that I will use this happy accident technique again - I love the results! You just never know where you are going to find new inspiration and ideas...

Have a great weekend everyone and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by! Happy stamping!

 

Batik Teapot Cards

stamps: Tea for Two, Guidelines Two, Warm Happiness (Papertrey Ink)

ink: Fresh Snow, Ripe Avocado, Spring Rain, True Black (Papertrey Ink)

cardstock: white, kraft, Ocean Tides

other: Aqua Mist vintage mix buttons (Papertrey Ink), corner rounder (EK Success), brayer (Speedball), linen thread, dimensionals