Sponged Sunset Backgrounds

Tried my hand at sponging sunset scenes again recently. I love playing with my ink pads and sponges,  and it's such an easy technique - I often make these backgrounds with no card in mind, I just pop them away until the right stamp set comes along that needs a sunset lol.

A couple of important things that will ensure your sponging efforts are not just blobs of ink smooched onto paper

• Use card stock that is ideal for blending inks - something with smooth coated surfaces. I use Stampin'Up' Shimmery White card stock as it is great for blending, sponging and light watercolouring. Plus it has a gorgeous shimmer when it catches the light it sparkles 
• Key is to apply light layers and work your way upto the desired depth. 
• Always sponge on to scrap paper after collecting ink on your sponge, yes, every single time you re-ink your sponge, if you don't then you get the yucky blotches. 
• Always use a circular motion when apply sponge to card stock and keep it moving. 
• Always start sponging in circular motions off the card stock, keep motion going as you approach card stock from edges. If masking start with sponge on mask and work your way off it. 

 

The above card was inspired by Kimber Kreations. Her sponging skills are seriously out of this world! I don't have a lot of foliage stamp sets....working on that lol, but used what I had. 

Moon was masked using post it notes and a large circle die. I took the lady from the Beautiful You stamp set and measured where I wanted her in the moon and where her feet landed to gauge where to mask the horizon. Start off by sponging the lightest colour first - Soft Sky around the masked moon.  Then Pool Party, Marina Mist, Dapper Denim and Night of Navy. 

Remove moon mask and lightly sponge the moon with Softy Sky. Take the stark white away with cloud like effects. 

Mask horizon. I used Night of Navy ink and sponged along the mask to create horizon line. Also bring some of the darker ink colours used on the side, down above 

the horizon line you just sponged.

I stamped the lady twice. Once on the card front and the other on the polka dot DSP. Fussy cut the DSP stamped image as close to the stamp line as possible even removing the slightest layer if your skills are on point. Before apply her polka dot fussy cut "dress and hat". Stamp and sponge the foliage. Then glue her clothing onto the stamped lady on the card front. I used a white gel pen to put reflection swirls in the water and for the little details on the plants.

 

This card uses the same technique but with a splash of colour. The sun and horizon were masked at the same time. Then the sun mask was removed and placed directly  underneath the horizon line before sponging the water. Daffodil Delight, Peakaboo Peach and Flirty Flamingo were used to sponge the sun and horizon. Any array of blues can be used for the sea and sky just start with light to dark.

The waves on the water in this card was achieved by taking a small paint brush, lightly spritzing with water and with full fast horizontal strokes run across your inked sea. Better to have brush with minimal water on it as it removes the ink you just applied so becareful.

 

This one uses the same techniques. I wanted to try the Palm Tree idea that Amanda Bates had used for the Avant Garden Flowers as I don't have a Palm tree stamp. It worked a treat. Love getting versatily out of my stamp sets. I then die cut the word "love" from the Sunshine Wishes bundle and replaced the stamped word "smiles" from the sentiment in the Up and Away Bundle.

Happy Crafting xx