Direct To Paper (DTP)

Add ink directly on to your cardstock with your ink pad.

Supplies

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Direct to paper just involves using your ink pad as a stamp.
   
   Apply the lightest color you are working with to the paper first, so you don't contaminate your ink pads.
   
   Make a stripe with one end of the narrowest side of the dye based ink pad, pressing firmly and dragging the ink pad about two inches across the center of a white card front.

   

2. Step 2

   Using a second, darker color, and overlapping slightly, press and drag the narrow end of your ink pad in a stripe next to your first stripe.

   

3. Step 3

   Repeat step two with your third color. If the edge of your inkpad is curved or leaves voids, you can go over each stripe multiple times if needed.

   

4. Step 4

   This is the finished background.

   

5. Finish your card with stamps.

   

6. Step 5

   Direct to paper can also be used to create faux textures, like wood. Start with a base color of dye ink (grey used here) - and make rough stripes vertically on the card. Layer additional dye colors and pigment inks (aqua used here) to create a distressed, pickled wood look.
   
   Hint:
   The background of this paper was created with the Faux Barn Board technique.

   

7. Step 6

   Pigment inks are perfect for creating opaque colors on chipboard elements.

   

8. Step 7

   Use the DTP technique to apply aqua pigment ink to the base of a cameo chipboard, and white pigment ink for the silhouette piece for a beautiful vintage element.

   

9. Step 8

   Using small dye based ink pads, rub the raised part of dry embossed cardstock to get dramatic contrast or a distressed, faux tin look.

   

10. Step 9

    Use punches or dies to create small accents.

    

11. Step 10

    Use a variety of ink colors and embossing folders for unique looks with this technique.

    

12. Arrange these pieces on a finished card.

    

Video!

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Direct To Paper (DTP). Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

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