Sensational Sunset Skies - Whistling Windmills

Brutus Monroe August Inspiration box this month called Whistling Windmills is inspired by The Netherlands. Have you been there? I have! When I was 12 years old, I went on an International camp program to Helsinki, Finland. Our student leader took us to many places in Europe. We went to Rome, Italy, Athens in Greece and on the way back from camp, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I was utterly mesmerized seeing windmills for the very first time and the fields of tulips! The stamp set that comes in the box has these two wonderful scenes --the windmills and the fields of flowers! It also has a couple of hot air balloon stamps that would go so well with these scenes.

For my card I was inspired to create a sunset scene with hot air balloons floating in the sky. A slimline card was the perfect size for this project!

I wanted to do an emboss resist technique and the beautiful Spiral Clouds stamp from Brutus Monroe was just perfect for this. First, I placed my slimline card panel onto my Misti. It's ok if it hangs out the bottom, I just made sure I taped it with washi tape onto the Misti to prevent it from moving around. Then I placed the Spiral Clouds stamp on the upper half of the panel.

I used Distress Oxide inks for this technique. First, I took some Squeezed Lemonade and dabbed the ink of the lower parts of the clouds. This will create the highlighted reflections of the setting sun underneath the clouds. Then, I blended Ripe Persimmon after the yellow, then Candied Apple, closing the door to my Misti after every application of color.

I then used Wilted Violet and Chipped Sapphire for the upper part of the clouds, applying each ink with a finger dauber to soften the blending between colors. I even added a little Black Soot at the very top to show a little more darkness as the sun rays begin to fade.

Here is the important part of the technique to create the sky behind the clouds. When the ink on my clouds was dry, I inked up the Clouds Background stamp again but this time with Embossing Ink. I sprinkled Icicle Embossing powder and proceeded to heat set it. Doing this created an embossed "mask" on top of the inked clouds.

Then I proceeded to ink blend the panel, starting with Squeezed Lemonade, then Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Wilted Violet, then Chipped Sapphire at the top. I used a soft cloth to wipe away residual ink over the clouds.

I stamped the fields of flowers scene from the stamp set onto white cardstock with Raven Detail ink. I allowed it dry before I ink blended on top of it using the same color combinations that matched the sky.

I stamped out the images of the hot air balloons, colored them with my copics before fussy cutting them. Then I used a little of the Wilted Violet Distress Oxide Ink dabbing the ink on the sides of the balloon images to create a shadow effect.

I stamped the sentiment "Hello My friend", also from the stamp set, cut it out and used my copics again to create a gradient color over it. I adhered all the elements onto the slimline card base using foam tape.

This was a fun project to make. Next time I will try it with the windmills scene in the stamp set. I’m sure it would look wonderful with a gradient blue sky. I hope I inspired you give this technique a try!

‘Til next time!

Anna

If you would like to see more inspiration, I would love it if you would drop by my social media links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftyannastudio Blog: https://www.craftyannastudio.blog Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftyannastudio Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/craftyannastudio You tube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCk9Fo_v9bL8DXGMNO8IrWfw/