2016 #8 Sizzling Summer Cards {by Wanda Hentges}

 2016 Topic 8: White Space

Hi everyone!!!!  Wanda Hentges here.

I'm thrilled to be back on the PaperArtsy blog and tonight I'd like to share with you a post for the  white space theme.

White space is hard for me.  I did a couple cards last year where I was trying to leave white space and then went right back to my normal which is to cover the background completely with whatever technique I'm using that day and then build upon it.  When I saw white space as a theme this year and today was using Ellen Vargo stamps, which I love, I just had to give it a whirl again.  I've made a set of cards for today and I hope you enjoy them!!!

Step One:  To easily (that would be easy for me to add some color and not continue to fill up the whole background) put color in my background I began by putting drops of paint on my craftsheet.  I used Zesty Zing, Banana, and Bougainvillea.  I put a few drops of each color leaving space between each drop, sprayed each drop with water and used my finger to blend the water and paint of each drop.  I made sure this area of color on my craft sheet would just color the center of a piece of cardstock leaving lots of white around it.

Step Two:  I then laid a whole sheet of Heavy Smoothy Cardstock into the color pressing well but not twisting it around, lifted the paper and this is what I had.  I very lightly blotted in the areas with lots of liquid....

... and then dried the paper.  This is the piece dried.

I sprayed more water over the color left on my craft sheet, took another piece of paper and dipped again.  This time I left all the liquid and just set it aside to dry.  This will get used on a future project.

Step Three:  I took the original paper and cut it into 4 pieces to give me the beginning of 4 cards with plenty of white space.

I really like the EEV10 set of stamps that has 3 flowers and 3 quotes on it and chose this set to finish my cards.  I also added to the background using stamps from EEV06 and EEV07.

EEV06

EEV07.

 EEV10 

Step Four:  I stamped background images from EEV06 and 07 over the colored areas of the cards using Distress Ink Picket Fence. The flowers and words were stamped on Heavy Smoothy Cardstock using Archival Ink Jet Black and then cut out.  Color was added to all the flowers with Distress Ink. 

 The edges of the background panels were distressed and then layered to a folded white card created from Heavy Smoothy Cardstock.  I love the weight of the cards and how they feel in my hands when they are made from the heavy cardstock.  All the words were cut apart and the pieces edged with ink. For all of the flowers, after attaching them to the card, I trimmed the stem even with the bottom of the folded card.

For this card I used a waterbrush along with Squeezed Lemonade and Mustard Seed to color the flower.  The stem was colored using the Mowed Lawn Distress Marker.  The words were edged with Distress Ink Picked Raspberry.  I popped up the flower and words with foam mounting tape. 

Here I've used Picked Raspberry with a waterbrush and then the Shaded Lilac Marker to color the petals.  The center was done with Brushed Corduroy and Rusty Hinge using the waterbrush.  The Mowed Lawn Marker was used for the stem.  The words are edges with Archival Ink Jet Black.  The flower and words were glued to the card and I left the ends of the flower petals loose so they could lift from the card. 

This time for the flower I used an Ink Blending Tool to add the colors, Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade, and then used a White Gel Pen to give it highlights.  The words are edged with Archival Ink Jet Black.  I put foam mounting tape just under the flower head and glued the stem and words directly onto the background 

Those three cards used all 3 flowers and all 3 quotes from the stamp sheet but I still had another background to use.  I decided that instead of making a card to match I would really change it up (giving you all another idea) but still use the same stamps.  I stamped my chosen flower twice, directly onto the background with black ink and embossed them with clear powder.  I then used a Black Copic Marker to color them in.  I used words from 2 of the quote stamps to create the saying on the card both stamping the words and edging the pieces with Archival Ink Jet Black. 

I really had fun making these cards and love how they turned out.  If you are nervous about white space or have trouble stopping yourself and leaving white space, then try this out because it makes it a lot easier.  It's also a great idea if you need a lot of cards and have limited time.  

Thanks so much for following along!!!  

Hugs,
Wanda Hentges

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Thanks Wanda, I would say you have mastered the white space challenge perfectly. I love the pressed, splodged transferred paint in the background, it is always unpredictable but effective. The added background stamping is a great bridge to the focal images. Fabulous colour pallette, so striking. ~Darcy 

We would love to see how you interpret this White Space topic by linking what you make to our 2016 Challenge #8: White Space, on this page HERE.

All of our bloggers love to see your twist on their ideas,  particularly if you were inspired directly by their post. 

All links go in the draw to win a £50 voucher to spend on products of your choice from the PaperArtsy online store. The White Space link will close 17:00 (London Time) Sunday, May 1st 2016. The winner will be announced 2 hours later at 19:00.