
Hi everyone, today I would like to show you how you can create a fabulous tone of tone background for your cards, art journalling or mixed media projects!

Step 1:
Key is that the first colour that you add to your background is very light and that you don’t add too much shimmer because the VersaMark (or other sticky ink) might have a hard time attaching to it. That is why I choose to use a Lindy’s spray for this first step. I picked Whale Watch Blue and C’est la Vie Cerise.
I started my project by die cutting two rectangle panels each two sizes smaller than my card base, for this I used watercolour paper. I then stamped my sentiments (Kaisercraft Background Birthday Sentiments stamp set) using Jet Black Archival Ink.
Next I sprayed the part of the panel that I wanted to add the colour to with water and then added some of the Whale Watch Blue (for one panel) and C’est la Vie Cerise (for the other panel), using a brush, keeping the panel in an angle so the colour would drip off and then drying my panel with my heat tool.


Step 2:
When you use chunky embossing powders for this step your might have some bare patches, which I didn’t mind, if you use a finer embossing powder your result will be smoother. I choose the new Lindy’s Stamp Gang Carefree Verdigris and Don’t Scream Aquamarine chunky embossing powders for my project.
To prevent the embossing powder from sticking to area’s where I didn’t wanted it to go I first used an anti-static powder tool over the watercolour panel. Then I stamped my background using VersaMark ink in combination with a Spellbinders background stamp called Fretwork, adding the chunky embossing powder (one colour for each panel) to the panel, tapping of the excess and melting the rest with my heat tool. Later on I added some splatters in the same colours as my background colour for some added interest.
And this is how you can create these stunning tone on tone backgrounds! I totally love how they turned out!


Step 3:
You can finish these cards any way you like, but I choose one flower image and one wedding image and coloured them to use as my toppers. For the anniversary card I used a Little Miss Muffet Stamp called Le Baiser Vole, stamped it on smooth card stock using Versafine Onyx Black ink and heat embossing afterwards using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Clearly Clear Embossing Powder. You get the best results when you use an anti-static powder tool before stamping the image. This way the embossing powder will not stick to area’s where your fingers have touched the paper for example.
Next I started colouring the image: the image has lots of small area’s so it’s not easy to create depth, but I tried anyway. I first started with my red, adding Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical in Peony Scarlet Red to my project using a small brush in combination with water. Layering Lindy’s Stamp Gang Spray in Jazzy Jivin’ Purple on top for more depth and finishing with adding some highlights using a white gel pen.
I also fussy cut the image leaving a small border.


Step 4:
Than I worked on my mint/teal area’s using first Lindy’s Stamp Gang Spray in C’est la Vie Cerise and next Lindy’s Stamp Gang Squirt in Loonie Toonie Teal for my shadow colour, again finishing with highlights in white.

Step 5:
Finishing the project with all the area’s that are black using Lindy’s Stamp Gang Magical Shaker in Black Forest Black thinned with lots of water and layering up where I felt this was needed.

Step 6:
The same way I coloured the flower image for the other card using a stamp by Gina K Designs called You Make Me Smile. I used the previously mentioned Lindy’s Stamp Gang colours in Peony Scarlet Red, Jazzy Jivin’ Purple and Whale Watch Blue.




Step 7:
Time to put my cards together: I die cut two slightly larger rectangle panels from matching deep red card stock and adhered the rectangle panels together using liquid glue. Around the anniversary card I wrapped some torn vellum and adhered on the back using regular tape. This combination of rectangle panels I adhered to my white card base using one millimetre thick foam tape.
For the anniversary card I now only have to adhere the coloured and fussy cut image on top using one millimetre thick foam tape and for the other card I first adhered the coloured and fussy cut image on top and then added some sparkling clear sequins as my finishing touch.
And that’s it for today’s fun card project! I wish you a creative day!
Lindy’s Stamp Gang products used on this project:
Spray: Whale Watch Blue, C’est la Vie Cerise, Jazzy Jivin’ Purple
Squirt: Loonie Toonie Teal
Magical: Peony Scarlet Red
Magical Shaker: Black Forest Black
Embossing Powder: Clearly Clear, Carefree Verdigris, Don’t Scream Aquamarine