How Do You Make A Sponged Background??

[havonfamily]

Ok, I have been drooling over all of your sponged ink backgrounds, especially Kim T's, and I was wondering, would anyone be ok with helping me figure it out? I just want to know what I'm doing wrong. Please send some tips and info my way and help me out

When I use my Tim Holtz sponge blending tool, I tap off the excess and start swirling it on from the outside in to the center. But no matter what I do or what color I use, it ends up looking gray and for lack of better words "blah". Ther is no pop or punch to the color. And I am using clean and new sponges, so that isn't it. Could it be my paper, my inks or the technique? Please help me someone!

~ Thank you in advance, Ladies!!

[BillieDee]

Would you link a card or link a member? I'm not sure which technique you're referring to. You have me intrigued. Thanks!

[havonfamily]

Hi BillieDee Here is a few examples of Kim T's cards with sponged backgrounds:

The blue sky here : A Birthday Journal for Jessica by blondie090277 at Splitcoaststampers


The background color behind the Poppies : TSG Sneak Peek - Poppies by blondie090277 at Splitcoaststampers


Sky behind buttryfly: Hop for Haiti by blondie090277 at Splitcoaststampers


Sky behind chick: CDS Sneak Peek - You're My Peep by blondie090277 at Splitcoaststampers



I gave a few examples, but I love the look so much that I'm just going crazy trying to figure it out What do you think of them? Aren't they pretty backgrounds and cards?

[twinwillowsfarm]

I'm guessing she just pounced the inked sponged up and down, working toward the center since that's a little bit lighter. I don't see anything that looks like swirling.

[53queenbee]

I use cosmetic wedgies and pounce for a more solid effect like in the chickie card. She was really good at that!

Miss Pegg, my avatar is dedicated to you....

[BillieDee]

They are very pretty cards! I also believe that some of them are done starting with lighter colors - blotting towards the outside - and getting darker as she gets closer to the edge. I like using the cosmetic sponges, too, because I feel that there's more control. Just keep practicing! Another person who I've seen do work like this is Michelle Zindorf.

[Cook22]

Faith (Markie's Mom) has a couple of tutorials on her blog:
http://stampinwithmarkiesmom.blogspo...ing%20Tutorial

[twinwillowsfarm]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 53queenbee

I use cosmetic wedgies and pounce for a more solid effect like in the chickie card. She was really good at that!

Miss Pegg, my avatar is dedicated to you....

Awww... shucks.

[BadSherry]

One way to achieve this look especially when you are using the ink applicator tool (like Time Holtz), is to start in a circular motion off your paper, working toward the center. As you continue to work in this manner, the edges keep getting darker because that is were most of the ink is.

[havonfamily]

Thank you for your tips pointer and info all of you kind Ladies have offered! I really appreciate it and I am taking the advice to heart and thank you for the links, I need those!!

BadSherry, I KNEW I wasn't crazy. I knew you had to start off the paper before swirling in, it just seemed like the right idea.

I'm off to check out the links, Thank you !

I'm sorry this is so stilted, it's been one of "those days"...ugh.

[AmberDawn]

Along with the Inkssentials blending tool, I also use the the jumbo sponge daubers (with the purple "handle") and sponge the same way, starting from the outside and working in! I also use Versamagic chalk ink to blend, it's a little more forgiving than dye ink.

[havonfamily]

Ok, I know it's been a while since I've posted on this but I have been practicing and trying over and over again to get a background that turns out right. It Always ends up "muddy" or swirly ( I don't want to see the swirls), or it ends up with a sponged on look. This is driving me crazy! I have tried all of your suggestions and it just isn't looking quite right. Is it my paper or my inks? I'm using my Tombows and Distress Inks. But they don't blend well. But I know others who use them and get FAB results! What am I still doing wrong?

[TheresaCC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by havonfamily

Ok, I know it's been a while since I've posted on this but I have been practicing and trying over and over again to get a background that turns out right. It Always ends up "muddy" or swirly ( I don't want to see the swirls), or it ends up with a sponged on look. This is driving me crazy! I have tried all of your suggestions and it just isn't looking quite right. Is it my paper or my inks? I'm using my Tombows and Distress Inks. But they don't blend well. But I know others who use them and get FAB results! What am I still doing wrong?

Usually, if I get swirls or splotches showing up, it is caused by one of two things. Either I have too much ink on my sponge dauber, or I haven't built up the color enough yet.

Here are my general sponging tips...

I recommend starting with a very dry sponge. If your ink pads are very juicy, tap off the excess on scratch paper first, then build up the color very slowly, working in a swirling motion and starting off the paper.

Start with your lightest color. If you are doing a green sponged background, start with your lightest green, build up the color, then switch to a darker tone.

Keep in mind that not all colors mix well. Yellow and blue, for example, make green, but yellow and purple make brown. If you are transitioning between colors that don't mix well, try to use a color between them that works with both. If I am doing a sunset that goes from yellow to purple, then I use a little pink between the two colors, so I don't wind up with brown.

High quality paper (SU Whisper White, Gina K Pure Luxury White, or Neenah are the best I've found for sponging) helps a ton for sponging. Papers that are more absorbent, like Georgia Pacific, grab the ink and make it harder to blend.

I hope something there is helpful. Good luck and keep trying. Sponging is my favorite technique.

[havonfamily]

Hi Theresa Thank you, that is sooo helpful! I never thought of building the color up and I never thought about the colors getting muddy because there was no "filler" in between! That makes so much sense.
May I ask what kind of sponges do you use? and do you tap or swirl? Or both?

[Lola G.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by havonfamily

Ok, I have been drooling over all of your sponged ink backgrounds, especially Kim T's, and I was wondering, would anyone be ok with helping me figure it out? I just want to know what I'm doing wrong. Please send some tips and info my way and help me out

When I use my Tim Holtz sponge blending tool, I tap off the excess and start swirling it on from the outside in to the center. But no matter what I do or what color I use, it ends up looking gray and for lack of better words "blah". Ther is no pop or punch to the color. And I am using clean and new sponges, so that isn't it. Could it be my paper, my inks or the technique? Please help me someone!

~ Thank you in advance, Ladies!!

I saw a link on Kim's blog for Sponged Ink Backgrounds at My Creative Classroom: http://www.mycreativeclassroom.com/

I found the class listed under Course Categories and then Rubber Stamping. The site appears to be undergoing maintenance, and I don't know anything about their offerings (fee or free), but I'm thinking this might be a way to get more of the specifics about her gorgeous work. Good luck!

[TheresaCC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by havonfamily

Hi Theresa Thank you, that is sooo helpful! I never thought of building the color up and I never thought about the colors getting muddy because there was no "filler" in between! That makes so much sense.
May I ask what kind of sponges do you use? and do you tap or swirl? Or both?

I mainly use Jumbo Sponge Daubers and love them. I used to use the soft, round craft sponges, cut into wedges, but I like the daubers better. I think you need to make sure to use a soft sponge.

I almost always swirl. If I want really intense color along the edges, I lift the card stock and scrape the sponge across the edge. I only tap, or pounce if I am going for a certain look, like for clouds.

I do step by step photos for most (not all) of my cards, so if you see something in my gallery that you want to try, there will usually be a link to the corresponding post on my blog.

Have fun sponging!

[havonfamily]

Oh WOW, Theresa!!! I saw your blog and That is what I wanted my backgrounds to look like, all along! I see now that it's my INKS! I don't have any of those Memento Inks. I have London Fog, Rich Cocoa, and Tuxedo Black, but I see that I need to invest in a few Mementos for sponging.
Thank you oh, so much!! You have no idea how much this means to me! I was starting to wonder why everyone seemed so great at it, when I was trying so hard for so long, and not even getting ONE piece that would turn out.
You have Great cards and Wonderful sponging! I'm now following your blog so I can glean more knowledge from you

[kikikaren]

I think you've gotten some great ideas and links. I just wanted to add that Kim T. seems to mostly use watercolor paper, which does change the look she gets from sponging a bit.

[havonfamily]

I know, and I saw that and agree, it Does change it. Because the cream CS I was using in the past seemed to just get muddy when ever I tried to do this. So I tried another CS and then it just "laid" there and woudn't blend at all. It showed every swirl line and mark, I made! Ugh! So I started to try using watercolor paper and that helped some but enough. By the way, not all Watercolor paper is created equal either, trust me, I learned the hard way

[craftymel]

I took Kim Teasdale's Sponging and Watercoloring (2 separate classes) classes over at My Creative Classroom and LOVED them both. I have created some pretty neat cards using both techniques. I haven't uploaded or blogged in quite some time, but I am in the process of photo editing some of my cards so hopefully that will change soon.

I do know that Kim uses Strathmore watercolor paper cold press 140lb (brown cover) paper which is available at both Michael's and AC Moore.
HTH

[havonfamily]

Hi Mel I actually wanted to take those classes, but Kim isn't offering them for a while. She took time off to be with her family, so until then, I need to some how figure it out Thank you for the tip, too

[craftymel]

Waiting for the classes to start is brutal! When sponging I would use the rule of three; like if you were doing a sunset for example- use a light yellow, then a medium yellow/orange, then a dark yellow/orange. Same rule for blue skies, ocean scenes and grass/hills etc.. When using blues, you can add a finishing touch of a dark purple too. Good Luck!!

[Stamper for fun]

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheresaCC

I mainly use Jumbo Sponge Daubers and love them. I used to use the soft, round craft sponges, cut into wedges, but I like the daubers better. I think you need to make sure to use a soft sponge.

I almost always swirl. If I want really intense color along the edges, I lift the card stock and scrape the sponge across the edge. I only tap, or pounce if I am going for a certain look, like for clouds.

I do step by step photos for most (not all) of my cards, so if you see something in my gallery that you want to try, there will usually be a link to the corresponding post on my blog.

Have fun sponging!

Theresa, I love your sponge work and view your blog daily. You are the Queen of Sponging as far as I am concerned.

[havonfamily]

Ok, so I need about 3 colors to get a more natural shading effect? That makes sense! I have been using only one color and trying it that way. Ok, I'll give that a try. I only have Distress inks, but I'll try on them and see what I can do

[mtgchic]

If I may ask a question of the sponging goddesses on here: how many big sponge daubers do you have/use? Do you have one for each color of ink, or one for all yellows, one for all blues, etc? Do you use wash them after you use them each time or just scrub them off?

[havonfamily]

Good question, Mtgchic, I was wondering the same thing. And may I add/ask, where can I buy bulk daubers (if you use one for each color)? Or can you buy them in bulk?

[TheresaCC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtgchic

If I may ask a question of the sponging goddesses on here: how many big sponge daubers do you have/use? Do you have one for each color of ink, or one for all yellows, one for all blues, etc? Do you use wash them after you use them each time or just scrub them off?

Sorry for the long delay in answering.

I try to have one for each color. I do have a few that pull double duty when the colors are very similar. I think I have around 40 and have had to replace a few. I sponge on almost every card and average around 4 cards per week, so dedicated daubers make sense for me. If I only sponged on occasion I would probably keep fewer, like just one or two for greens, one or two for yellows and so on. They are washable, but I'm too lazy to do that. Stamping should be fun! LOL

As far as where to get them, I see them at Michaels, so they are a good thing to grab when you don't have anything else to use your coupon on. Most of the time, I just add to my Gina K orders. I usually get one, two or more with each order, depending on how many I need to get my total up high enough for free shipping. I'm sure there are a lot of other online sources. I don't know of any bulk sources.

[TheresaCC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stamper for fun

Theresa, I love your sponge work and view your blog daily. You are the Queen of Sponging as far as I am concerned.

Thank you!