Before I start the tutorial today, let’s spice things up a bit with some Blog Candy.  The Blog Candy today is a brand new, current, set of Stampin’ Up Stamps “Frames with a Flourish”.

So to enter for a chance to win this great set of stamps, please leave me a comment on this post telling me your all time favorite stamp.  You know, the stamp you grab when you just don’t know what to make.   I have several dragonfly stamps, but that’s what I get out when I have a creative block. :)  If you are getting this blog update by e-mail you will need to click this link to leave a comment on this blog post:

 http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2008/08/19/marbled-dragonfly-tutorial-and-blog-candy/

I will use a random number generator to pick the winner on the morning of Saturday, August 23rd. 

A little about today’s tutorial:  I like to make my own interesting backgrounds by layering colors of ink.  I try to start my backgrounds with a bright light color and work darker as I go.  This creates a glow by the light color showing through. 

Let’s get started! 

Supplies:

Stamped Dragonfly on a 3.25″ x 3.25″ piece of Whisper White card stock by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Really Rust ink before stamping it.

Heat embossed image using fine detail clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Readied my Adirondack Willow ink pad for watercoloring by squeezing the ink pad when it is closed to create a pool of ink on the inside of the ink pad lid.  This is what I will use to water color with. 

Watercolored the wings and body of the dragonfly using an Aqua Painter and Willow ink.

Watercolored the edge of the wings with Lettuce ink.

Traced right on the inside edge of the wings with a Lettuce marker.

Colored over the entire dragonfly with a Versamark marker and heat embossed using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

Used the Stampendous “TC01 Marble Texture Cube” with Willow ink and stamped all over the card stock with side “A” of the cube.

Stamped all over the card stock with side “B” of the Marble Texture cube with Close to Cocoa ink.

Using a circular motion, sponged Willow ink all of the card stock.

Sponged on some Close to Cocoa ink randomly around the card stock.

Stamped side “C” of the marble texture cube with Chocolate Chip ink in 3 places on the card stock.

Let the ink dry a moment and then wiped the embossed image off with an old rag to remove the ink from it.

Sponged Chocolate Chip ink around the outside edge of the card stock.

Starting a larger panel of Whisper White 5″ x 5″.

Rubbed the Willow ink pad directly on the White card stock in a circular motion almost covering it entirely.

Stamped side “A” of the Marble Texture cube around the sides of the card stock using Lettuce ink.  Then used side “B” and stamped Chocolate Chip ink around the edges, sorry missed the photo :(.

Sponged Lettuce ink around the sides of the card stock using a circular motion.

Sponged Chocolate Chip ink in a circular motion on the inside of the card stock work outward and then sponged some of the Chocolate Chip in around the edges of the card stock.

Sponged Basic Black ink on the very edge of both panels of card stock.

Assembled card front and toned down the bottom panel of Really Rust card stock by sponging on the very edges of it with Basic Black ink.

Here is the finished card measuring 5.25″ x 5.25″.

Why don’t you give a try at making your own background paper today?  I think you will be pleasantly surprised. 

Hope your day today is pleasant in every way.

Until my next post. . . . . .. . .

Hugs,
Michelle