PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Friday 8 June 2012

Tackling Sponging & Minimal Clutter

I have never been terribly successful with sponging techniques & settled for using Distress Inks with Sponge Daubers or the Ink Blending Tool but inspired by Heather Telford's card on Tuesday's Penny Black post I decided to have another go.

my inexpensive organizing for
sponging
There are times when I need to make a card without embellishments or clutter &, as it happened, I had an anniversary card to make for today - for a gentleman with conservative taste. Interrupted by several migraines & some unplanned plus incorrect furniture deliveries I finally managed to finish the card last night & I'm daftly thrilled at having produced something that might pass for Clean & Simple yet still satisfies my desire for layers, plus the sponging was far more successful than it has ever been. I thought about why & came to the conclusion that it was a combination of practice, organizing a separate sponge for each colour of ink & using the longer drying pigment inks on cardstock that they seemed to 'like' (surprisingly the relatively inexpensive 220 gsm white card available from  WHSmith in the UK). It also seemed to me that by removing the decision making of what corners to round & which pearls/gems/flowers to add where, I was dithering about less & that the straight mat & layering enhances the sponging & stamping.

front of card - the glittery flecks in the gold matting
layer can be seen by clicking on the image
close-up 
inside of card
Recipe
Stamps Chocolate Baroque UA4SP0339 Essence of Nature (flowers), UA5SP0356 Floral Bouquet (sentiment) & UA5SP0252 Tall Trees (leaves inside).
Inks ColorBox Petal Point Pigment (Arboretum & Tuscany sets).
Cardstock An assortment of whites, browns & cream plus gold with glitter flecks from stash.

As I've rarely used the Petal Point Pigment sets & the sentiment stamp has not been used since it was purchased (May 2011) I shall join in Judith's Forgotten Friday with this card.

16 comments:

Sally H said...

Stunning card, Paula! I love the colours you used and the sponging was very successful. Heather's work is so inspirational isn't it? I do quite a lot of cards like this, but tend to use my ink dusters rather than sponging.

Lorraine said...

oh wow Paula hun he is going to love his card wow the sponging technique looks so beautiful and i love the ink colours used here too i really love scene cards like this one you have done a fab job and i do hope the migraines are settling hun
much love
Lorraine xx

Aquarius said...

A great card and the sponging has worked very well - I tend to shy away from the one layer cards because they seem to mysteriously develop spots and smudges at the very last minute. Well done for joining the Forgotten Friday challenge and do persevere with the Cropodile - a very handy tool (hontestly). Hope your head is behaving now.

Gill Edmonds said...

Wow Paula I love this card. Ixsn't it nice when a new technique is successful?

jackiescrafts said...

This is a beautiful card Paula and your sponging looks great and has been very successful. I love the colours you have used and I hope it was liked and appreciated.
Enjoy what is left of your day and I hope the migraines are keeping at bay for you today

Jackie x

Elizabeth Allan said...

Paula by the results of your card I would say you were beyond successful! Great crisp blending and fabulous colors.

Jean said...

Paula this is lovely.You have achieved great blending of colours with your sponging and I love how the stamping extends out from the coloured panel.Jean x

Wiccababe said...

that's a beauty of a card - the simple matting really makes it pop too
just wanted to say thankyou for the lovely comment you left for Willow - she was thrilled
Debz
xx

Heather T said...

I am so glad you were inspired by my card. The results are wonderful. The stamp and the colours you chose work beautifully together

GinaA said...

Totally awesome Paula, your blending of the background is terrific, the stamping placement is beautiful and very 3D.
I tend to work with distress inks and sponge daubers as well so will have a look at Heather's post. Your idea of how to organize the sponges is very smart.
Hope your head is behaving and that the correct furniture arrives.
Happy Inking.

judith@poppy cottage said...

This is a lovely card Paula, the colours are really great for a man, and I'm sure that he was very pleased with the finished result.

I use lots of different options for blending, but have dedicated sponges for each colour ink, usually Cut 'n' Dry. I also use brushes, depending on my mood, or the look that I'm going for. Our mutual friend Elaine likes brushes as well.

The extended foliage looks really effective, and I really like how you have continued the theme inside the card.

I'm sorry to hear about your migraine trouble, I am a migraine sufferer as well, so you have my sympathy.

Thank you so much for linking a card to Forgotten Friday this week. Hopefully next week, I might manage one myself! My visitors went home today, and the house seems very quiet without them.

Judith x

Elaine said...

Great inking Paula, I'm glad you feel you have had a breakthrough with your shading, it's a great feeling when it happens isn't it? This is lovely and I hope the recipient appreciated your efforts. Hope the head has settled down for you. Elaine x

Cathy A said...

Paula, this is an absolute triumph, and what a neat way to store those inky sponges

xxxtglxxx said...

Gorgeous, stylish and stunning Paula! :) Love the image and beautiful background.

My sponges are kept in a rummage box - LOL! :) If it vaguely resembles the colour I need, then thats enough for me! ;)

I do get better results from chalk than ink though, I think its because I am very cautious as usually I have a coloured image in one hand and a sponge of colour in the other - one false move and I am stuffed! lol :)

hugs

xxalisonxx

Kathryn said...

Aw this is fabby x bet he's very pleased with it xxxx

Sarah said...

Paula, I just don't know how I missed this one! I absolutely love it and the colours are perfect. Your very organised sponging has definitely come off - don't forget, you've got a confirmed booking to come over here to organise me ... God Bless, Sarah x