Ink Blending - Brick Backgrounds

While I was writing yesterday's post, my memory sparked and I thought about some of the brick backgrounds I've created with ink blending.  Sometimes I build an entire card, like the butterfly below, and sometimes I just build backgrounds like the THX card.  Building backgrounds is a great way to try new techniques with no pressure. 

The first brick background I created in 2018.  I masked the white butterfly with a Post-it note mask made from a butterfly die cut, then laid the brick stencil over the top.  I applied Distress Inks in Aged Mahogany and added a bit of shadow with Hickory Smoke.  I removed the bricks and added a light layer of both inks to tone down the white of the grout.  Splatters of water and splatters of Perfect Pearls in gold were added before removing the butterfly mask.  I drew on a few branches, some to represent antennas, and added the butterfly body.  From there I stamped the sentiment, matted the panel on black, and then adhered it to a white card base.  

The next card was made after I watched the Scrapbook.com video The Ultimate Ink Blending Tool & Brush Comparison.  The brick technique starts at around the minute 4.  Using this technique and pale grey card stock  I didn't need to add additional ink to the grout.  I used the same brick stencil, with Distress Oxide in Aged Mahogany, Pumice Stone, and Black Soot to give the bricks a more realistic look.  I splattered the bricks lightly with water and laid a paper towel over top to absorb excess water, before removing the stencil.  The sentiment was stamped in VersaFine ink, then the panel was matted with black paper before being adhered to a kraft card base.

The technique is slightly different, and the use of different inks creates a slightly different look on each card.  Don't be afraid to try new techniques using the inks and tools you have.  

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*Pebbles - Cottage Living stamps retired

*Poppy Stamps - Murana Butterfly die retired

Simon Says Stamp STITCHED RECTANGLES Wafer Dies Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad AGED MAHOGANY Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Hickory Smoke Shop at: SSS	Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad BLACK SOOT Shop at: SSS | SBC
Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Ink Pad PUMICE STONE Shop at: SSS | SBC	Tim Holtz Distress Oxides Ink Pad Aged Mahogany Shop at: SSS | SBC	Ranger Perfect Pearls METALLICS Kit Shop at: SSS	Ranger Perfect Pearls PERFECT GOLD Powder Shop at: SSS
Tsukineko VersaFine Pigment Ink Pad - Onyx Black Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ | MFT	LOTS OF THANKS STAMP Shop at: TSM	Simon Says Clear Stamps BIG THANKS WORDS Shop at: SSS	The Crafter's Workshop Mini Bricks Stencil Shop at: SBC | AZ
Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long tape, Refill cartridge 5 Pack, Shop at: SSS | AZ	Kokuyo Tape Glue Dot Liner Long-Blue Shop at: SSS | AZ	Craft Ink Blending Brushes 10 Colorful Pack Set Shop at: AZ	EK Success Mini Scoring Board Shop at: SSS | AZ
Fiskars PREMIUM CUT LINE Paper Trimmer 12 Inches Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Ink Blending Tool with Domed Foam Applicators Shop at: SBC	Lawn Fawn Teflon Bone Folder Shop at: SSS	Ranger MINI DOMED INK BLENDING FOAM Shop at: SSS | SBC
Ranger MINI ROUND FOAM REFILLS Shop at: SSS | SBC	Ranger MINI ROUND INK BLENDING TOOLS Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Scrapbook.com - Replacement Domed Foam Applicators Shop at: SBC	Tim Holtz 12.25 Inch Maxi Guillotine Trimmer Shop at: SSS | SBC
Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER Ranger 4 Ounces Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ | MFT	Tim Holtz Tonic GLASS MEDIA MAT Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Tim Holtz Tonic TRAVEL GLASS MEDIA MAT Shop at: SSS | SBC | AZ	Tonic STENCIL BRUSHES Shop at: SSS | SBC
Neenah Bright White Paper 65lb. Cover Stock Shop at: AZ