December CAS Mix Up Challenge - Sponging

Wow - is it really December already??!!  I guess so - as the December CAS Mix Up challenge has been posted!  

Loll and Bonnie have several links to videos showing different sponging techniques.  I was inspired by this one

Color Layering for Galaxy background by Ilina Crouse (7:40)

I  made a galaxy background with acrylic paints in the past that I learned from an on-line class (see it here), but I have never tried it using Distress Inks and was excited to give it a try!

The main idea is to use lighter inks first - then add the dark ones - and to leave a lighter area in the center.  I used Arches Watercolor paper to sponge First -  Ranger Distress Mustard Seed

Picked Raspberry Ink

Seedless Preserves Ink

Blueprint Sketch

and finally Black Soot

I decided I wanted a little more of the light colors in the center so I went over it again with some Mustard Seed and Picked Raspberry

Next you splatter some white acrylic paint over the panel using a toothbrush

then add some bigger 'stars' using the end of a small dowel or chopstick!

The final step is to put some water in your palm - and flick some onto the panel using your fingers.  Distress Ink is water based and so it reacts with water - making some areas lighter in your galaxy sky!  LOVE how this comes out!

To keep the card CAS - I just used a small panel of the galaxy, framed it in a piece of shiny gold card stock and layered it to a white card base.  I stamped the sentiment from PTI Oh Holy Night set onto a white card die cut rectangle and layered it over the galaxy with foam dots - I used glue on the foam dots that touched the galaxy so they would stick well.  I punched a star out of the gold and added it with a foam dot to the corner of the sentiment.

So please join us this month and show us your sponging techniques!  You'll find lots of inspiration from the Design Team over at the CAS Mix Up Challenge blog!

Also linking my card to:
Merry Monday - Masculine Card

Stamps:  Oh Holy Night  - Papertrey Ink
Paper:  Arches Water Color, White - PTI, Gold - Marks Finest Papers
Ink:  True Black - PTI, Ranger Distress Mustard Seed, Picked Raspberry, Seedless Preserves, Blueprint Sketch, Black Soot.
Accessories:  White Acrylic Paint, chop stick, Stitched Mat Squares Die - Lil'Inker Designs, foam dots, star punch - McGill