How to get brayer effect with sponging?

[smriti]

I remember seeing a card in the gallery where the person had used sponging instead of brayering to create a shaded background. KWIM? Does anybody know how to do that? Also what would be a cheaper and easily available susbtitute for sponge daubers?

Something like this: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...5171?si=brayer, but with sponges.

[3boysstampin']

If you use White Glossy Paper, you'll get a similar effect with sponging. The ink glides and is "blendable" when you use glossy paper. I did this in my card here.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=20766

[smriti]

That's a beautiful card Sheryl! Yes that is the thing that I was talking about.

Ok, so I need glossy paper for that. Do you know if there's a tutorial anywhere on this? I have no clue how to do it . I have never used sponges.

Another question: if I'm using glossy paper, for stamping the silhouette images can I use pigment ink?

[3boysstampin']

I don't know if there's a tutorial, but I'll tell you what I did. I stamped my trees with Black Stazon. You can use pigment ink, but you would need to add clear embossing powder and heat it. Mask as needed. I masked the grass line so my sponging wouldn't get on that part. Start with your lowest color (and maybe lightest) and simply swipe the sponge across the glossy card stock (press sponge in ink pad first to get ink on sponge). You can go back and add as much ink as you would like. Then do the same with your next color. Make sure you overlap the colors so that they blend. You might need to go back with the first color too to help blend.

HTH

[shellpole]

A permanent ink like StazOn Black will give you lovely clear images on gloss card.

There are heaps of different types of sponges
Cosmetic/Facial Sponges
Porous Everyday Sponges (like dish washing sponges)
Natural Sponges (Jolly Expensive)
Bath toy Sponges
Round Sponges like Stampin Up have

I get ones like the SU ones...and sometimes from them. I cut each sponge up into quarters. Each quarter is dedicated to a colour family. (So I get 4 sponges from the one big sponge. Very economical) (When they get really yukky...I wash them)...

When they are cut into quarters you end up with 4 pieces which look like a wedges of cheese. When holding the sponge piece, pick it up with your fingers so that you are holding the straight edges of the wedge.
Practise on a piece of scrap....You will find the right pressure for you. You know you are pressing too hard when you get lovely little fingerprints coming through!

You can use matt or gloss card but with gloss, pigments will not dry unless you emboss them.

Other stuff about sponges.....

Cut & tear sponges for different texture-use different amounts of pressure to get darker or lighter effects - I don't tear my good sponges.
Use sponges either dry or slightly dampened with water -tapping, smudging, smearing & circular motions are all ways to get different effects & textures - sponge with inks or paints....for a very different tactile result.
Flicking edges of cardstock -always come in from your scrap paper onto the cardstock.
The grid technique is wonderful and it uses sponging.

Sponge around paper masks or stencils.
Sponge through paper doilies, lace or netting for a delicate Victorian look.
Sponge grass in several shades of green & applying different amounts of pressure....different pressure will result in various shades of green emulating the grass much better.
Sponge around die-cuts to create a silhouette.
Make stencils using a different craft punches - sponge through them.
Create frames

Oh the list goes on.....

But I gotta say...I LOVE my brayer and all the wonderful things I can do with it!

Michelle

[smriti]

You guys are awesome!!! Thanks for the instructions and all the information Sheryl and Michelle!

[lbirus]

Those are great tips above! I think the things I keep in mind are:
-use a rounded sponge (I order from SU or get the ceramics sponges in the 'art' area at Micheals. These are a finer texture than a regular sponge, then cut into quarters and use the rounded side!
-rub your sponge into your ink pad then "stamp off" (meaning start on the scrap paper beneath, then rub onto your CS)
-rub in circles around and around, blending as you go
-glossy blends the easiest but regular SU cardstock will work with a bit more elbow grease!

I like to stamp my image after I sponge the background so the black doesn't get "muddy" from all the rubbing.

HERE is my example.

[Paula in GA]

Just a trivial little hint, but a necessary one. Do not substitute photo paper for glossy cardstock. A sponge on glossy cardstock will glide smoothly, but a sponge on photo paper (even though it looks glossy) will just stick and drag.

[smriti]

Lynn your card is beautiful!

Thank you for the helpful tips Lynn and Paula! This has become a wonderful thread for anybody wanting to learn this technique.

[shellpole]

Lynn...Love your card...very swish!

Those were the sorts of sponges I meant in my above post.

I forgot to mention the stamp off...You know, I do it almost instinctively , but when trying to put it into words, I missed it...dopey girl I am!

Cheers,

And i agree about the photo paper..YUCK!

Originally Posted by lbirus

Those are great tips above! I think the things I keep in mind are:
-use a rounded sponge (I order from SU or get the ceramics sponges in the 'art' area at Micheals. These are a finer texture than a regular sponge, then cut into quarters and use the rounded side!
-rub your sponge into your ink pad then "stamp off" (meaning start on the scrap paper beneath, then rub onto your CS)
-rub in circles around and around, blending as you go
-glossy blends the easiest but regular SU cardstock will work with a bit more elbow grease!

I like to stamp my image after I sponge the background so the black doesn't get "muddy" from all the rubbing.

HERE is my example.

[MJHBJS]

awesome...subbing to learn

[qvande]

I'm not very good with a brayer so I sponge alot. I use any white cs and pounce and drag the sponge to blend. I've used dye inks, Distress Inks, Chalk inks, it just depends on the shades I want.

Here are a few that I sponged:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=45000

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=45000

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=45000

[biblesistersmom]

I love the phrase "pounce and blend"!

[justwritedesigns]

Well hey, I do this all the time! I do use brayers, but I'm just as likely to use a sponge. And by sponge I mean either a make up sponge or a soft paper towel. Whichever is handy.

I rarely use glossy so mine are mostly on just plain old white, by Georgia Pacific, that I get at WalMart or Sam's The big trick for me is to always start w/ the lightest color first and work my way in to the darker colors. When I've sponged on a couple of colors, I use the almost dry sponge (don't re-ink) to blend the areas where the colors meet. Another thing is unless you're really good, don't try to put opposite colors next to each other. Opposites on the color wheel (like red & green) will turn to mud when mixed. When I use black ink to stamp the images, I use Ancient Page. I stamp the images first, then sponge so I can see where I want the color. I don't have to worry about getting the lines muddy w/ AP. That ink stays put. I can bleach and it won't affect it.

Here are a some that I've done so you can see for yourself.

Asian Winter
Pink Poppy (this one I did put opposite colors next to each other, but I was really careful about it)
Sunrise Cross
Winter Night
Birthday Bandana
Moonlight Flowers
Bird on a Limb
Peaceful Nature
Dragonfly Poetry
Road to Recovery
In the Garden

Jeez, I guess I do this more than I thought I did, lol.

[thescpells]

Originally Posted by justwritedesigns

Well hey, I do this all the time! I do use brayers, but I'm just as likely to use a sponge. And by sponge I mean either a make up sponge or a soft paper towel. Whichever is handy.

I rarely use glossy so mine are mostly on just plain old white, by Georgia Pacific, that I get at WalMart or Sam's The big trick for me is to always start w/ the lightest color first and work my way in to the darker colors. When I've sponged on a couple of colors, I use the almost dry sponge (don't re-ink) to blend the areas where the colors meet. Another thing is unless you're really good, don't try to put opposite colors next to each other. Opposites on the color wheel (like red & green) will turn to mud when mixed. When I use black ink to stamp the images, I use Ancient Page. I stamp the images first, then sponge so I can see where I want the color. I don't have to worry about getting the lines muddy w/ AP. That ink stays put. I can bleach and it won't affect it.

Here are a some that I've done so you can see for yourself.

Asian Winter
Pink Poppy (this one I did put opposite colors next to each other, but I was really careful about it)
Sunrise Cross
Winter Night
Birthday Bandana
Moonlight Flowers
Bird on a Limb
Peaceful Nature
Dragonfly Poetry
Road to Recovery
In the Garden

Jeez, I guess I do this more than I thought I did, lol.

Those are beautiful cards. I've not had much luck with the brayer and you've inspired me to try the sponges again. Thanks for sharing!

Julie

[smriti]

Julie and Qvande, thanks for sharing your creations! They are so beautiful! Thanks for all the tips too and looking at everybody's cards using this technique I'm so motivated to try it out .

[mjtrudel]

Sponging is my favorite technique. I tried many of them and my favorite are simply those cheap sponges from groceries or hardware stores: http://alapause.blogspot.com/2008/05/ponges.html

Here are samples of my works:

http://alapause.blogspot.com/2009/04/colibri.html

http://alapause.blogspot.com/2009/04...y-as-tree.html

http://alapause.blogspot.com/2009/03...t-friends.html

I have made some videos on my blog and Youtube.

[Maggiebru]

Originally Posted by smriti

That's a beautiful card Sheryl! Yes that is the thing that I was talking about.

Ok, so I need glossy paper for that. Do you know if there's a tutorial anywhere on this? I have no clue how to do it . I have never used sponges.

Another question: if I'm using glossy paper, for stamping the silhouette images can I use pigment ink?

Michelle Zindorf has a blog through SCS and she has 204 tutorials on her blog and almost everyone of them will either spong or brayer ink. They are a great learning tool

[Phantom]

I have found that Distress Inks blend beautifully. I also like the Inkssentials blending tool by Tim Holtz

[Allistamps123]

Great tips here!

[star]

I use sponges a lot (sponge daubers are a favorite of mine) but my "new" favorite method is using LARGE stipple brushes (NOT the narrow ones that SU sells....I'm talking the "flat" top ones that come in various sizes...I have from approx 1/4" to 2" brushes). Here are a couple of cards that I've used my stipple brushes on:
For Maggie
Faux Tulips
This one used daubers
Bustin' Broncs
And the last one using daubers
After the Rain

The Faux Tulips was done on SU's Very Vanilla and "For Maggie" was done on Gina K's pure luxury (lOOOVE that paper!) so it is possible to blend on "regular" paper and not jut glossy!

[DebKNeer]

Originally Posted by Phantom

I have found that Distress Inks blend beautifully. I also like the Inkssentials blending tool by Tim Holtz

I second that! Perfect rice every time!

[alliwhit]

subbing

[KelliJo]

I have been stalking this thread for awhile now, and all examples are TRULY beautiful! Not sure that it's making me want to try it though! LOL I mean, WOW!!!!!

[jazzytobi]

i've done a couple cards like that, and i will do a tutorial soon.. people seem to be mystified about how to do it, but it's so easy!!!

here are a few that have got a lot of views/comments

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=89058
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=89058

the second card was made using about 5 or 6 different shades of pink/red and layering the colours and blending them together so they're seamless... i use sponge daubers, the kind SU! sells.. i have used other kinds of sponging methods but prefer them to all others.

[hawk]

Originally Posted by mjtrudel

Sponging is my favorite technique. I tried many of them and my favorite are simply those cheap sponges from groceries or hardware stores: http://alapause.blogspot.com/2008/05/ponges.html

Here are samples of my works:

http://alapause.blogspot.com/2009/04/colibri.html

http://alapause.blogspot.com/2009/04...y-as-tree.html

http://alapause.blogspot.com/2009/03...t-friends.html

I have made some videos on my blog and Youtube.

I agree. I've tried several types of sponges and was frustrated by hard edges(makeup sponges) or circle (dauber) marks. Sea sponges left marks as well , interesting effect but not what I wanted. Finally grabbed every sponge I could lay my hands on and tried them all on scrap. For me the best were the cheapest ones. Dollar store soft type ( ones that do not harden after they dry). These have many holes and gave me a softer, well blended result without the hard edges.

[jazzytobi]

Originally Posted by hawk

I agree. I've tried several types of sponges and was frustrated by hard edges(makeup sponges) or circle (dauber) marks. Sea sponges left marks as well , interesting effect but not what I wanted. Finally grabbed every sponge I could lay my hands on and tried them all on scrap. For me the best were the cheapest ones. Dollar store soft type ( ones that do not harden after they dry). These have many holes and gave me a softer, well blended result without the hard edges.

with the sponge dauber you have to have scrap paper and rub a little off before you touch it to the image.. I get a flawless result with a light touch and a properly inked dauber...

[HollyWatts]

Originally Posted by 3boysstampin'

If you use White Glossy Paper, you'll get a similar effect with sponging. The ink glides and is "blendable" when you use glossy paper. I did this in my card here.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...0&ppuser=20766

BEAUTIFUL!

[HollyWatts]

Originally Posted by Maggiebru

Michelle Zindorf has a blog through SCS and she has 204 tutorials on her blog and almost everyone of them will either spong or brayer ink. They are a great learning tool

I'm taking one of her classes in July! I can hardly wait!

[6Ficks]

Can't wait to try some of these fantastic ideas. I enjoy trying new techniques.
TFS!!!

[Biko8666]

I've spent the better part of an hour just looking at all of your galleries. Just absolutely beautiful. You give me hope!!! My first attempt at sponging looked like a first grader did it. lol. You ladies are certainly talented. Thanks for sharing your work and techniques.

[lmcgraw01]

Anybody have a substitute for daubers? I can't find them for less than a buck a piece.

[dasimonds]

Beautiful examples...
TFS