Retiform Technique

A few weeks ago, I saw a Gina K YouTube video where she did a technique called Retiform.  I gave it a try for some Fathers Day cards and this is how they came out:

To make the cards I used the following:

• Gina K - Vertical Greetings, Wetlands 2, By the Sea 2 
• Seaside Stamping Ink - Beach Stories Too 
• Stamping Up - By the Tide
• Local King Rubber Stamps - Seaside, Rough Rider
• Close To My Heart - Enjoy Life
• Tim Holtz - Hear and There
• Hero Arts - Sandstone, Cocoa Ink (Brown Card)
• Gina K - Fresh Asparagus, Grass Green (Green Card)
• Gina K - Stormy Sky, Soft Stone (Gray Card) 
• Gina K - Blue Denim, Powder Blue (Blue Card)
• Gina K - Master Layouts 1

To make the cards, I masked areas and using a blending brush added ink to create the background areas.  This was done with the lighter of the ink colors.  I then stamped the images from the various stamp sets into the areas using the darker colored inks making sure to mask the area first.  The image was then cut (along with the mat) using Master Layouts 1.  The image was added to the mat, and then the entire piece to the card base.  The sentiment was stamped, matted and added to the card.

Here are some close ups of the cards:

Happy Birthday!

Here is a card I made using a stamp from Local King Rubber Stamps and a stencil from Neat and Tangled.

I used:
Local King Rubber Stamps - Rio (Stamp and Dies)
Neat and Tangled - Radiating Star Stencil
Memento - New Sprout (used with the stencil)
Various Dye Based Markers (for the bird) - mainly markers from Local King Rubber Stamps.
Altenew - Beautiful Inside (sentiment)
Gina K - Fresh Asparagus Ink

Penny Black Passionate Birthday Card

I fell in love with the stamp form Penny Black.  I couldn't figure out how at first to use it, but then realized there was a very easy method - color the stamp directly!  Here is the card:

I used the following to make the card:

• Penny Black - Passionate stamp
• Local King Rubber Stamps Markers - Light Purple, Purple, Green, Light Green, Light Pink
• Close To My Heart - Joyful Birthday Occasions
• Pima - Cracked Background Stamp
• Versafine Black Onyx Ink
• Zing Clear Embossing Powder

To make the card, I colored the stamp with the markers, starting with the lightest colors, then adding detail with the darker colors.  I then stamped the image.  I then colored the background stamp, and stamped it over the image.  Since I used a light color marker, it didn't show through the flower.  The sentiment was then added with Versafine Black Onyx ink, embossing powder was added and heat set to complete the card.