Sunday, April 1, 2018

April CAS Mix Up - Rubber Band Technique

Happy Easter everyone!    It's April 1st and I'm also hosting this month's CAS Mix Up Challenge!!  And my challenge is to use a Rubber Band Technique!  
What?  You've never heard of using rubber bands to ink a design?   Or maybe you have but haven't done it in a long time??
Not to worry!  We have some links to videos using the technique over at the CAS Mix Up blog
Here's my card.
And here are a few photos of how I used a rubber band technique on the colored strip on my card.
First I masked off a column on a panel of white card stock using some Eclipse Masking paper.  It helps to work on a grid so you are sure your papers are straight.
I chose 3 colors of Ranger Distress Inks to use, Black Soot, Crushed Olive and Broken China.  And I wrapped some thin and thick elastics around an acrylic block.
First I pressed the Broken China Distress ink over the elastics.  Then I spritzed the block lightly with water and pressed it against the masked panel.
I inked up the elastics 3 times with the blue, spritzing with water each time I 'stamped' them over the panel - moving the block around so the pattern was varied.  You don't really know what it will look like until you're done!
Then I wiped off the block and elastics with a baby wipe 
(you could use a wet paper towel as well)
 and inked it up with Crushed Olive and 'stamped' three times.
Then I did the same with Black Soot - stamping the dark color less times so it didn't over power the other colors.  
Then I removed the masking paper and revealed my lovely rubber band technique design!
I stamped the flowers and sentiment from AALL & Create Set #44 
(designed by my stamping friend Tracy Evans!) 
 around the colored panel.   
The sentiment says "Happiness held is the seed.  Happiness shared is the flower".  
I knotted a piece of bakers twine around the panel.   
I layered the panel onto a slightly larger Limeaide Ice panel and then to a slightly larger Hawaiian Shores Panel and all of it to a white card base.
I brushed over the flowers and the Crushed Olive inked parts with a Clear Glitter Wink of Stella -  you can see the shimmer on this photo I hope!
You can't see the glittery shimmer at all on the photo below - but it IS really shiny IRL when you tilt it in the light!
So please join us and show us how you use the Rubber Band Technique!!  The CAS Mix Up Design team has lots of creative inspiration over on the challenge blog here.  And there are links to videos using the technique too!


Stamps:  Set #44 by Tracy Evans - AALL & Create
Paper:  White, Hawaiian Shores, Limeaide Ice - PTI
Ink:  Ranger Distress Crushed Olive, Broken China and Black Soot,  True Black - PTI, Hero Arts Black.
Accessories:  Caribbean Bakers Twine - The Twinery,  Clear Glitter Wink of Stella Brush, clear acrylic stamping block, assorted width elastic bands, water mister.

19 comments:

Mac Mable said...

What a fun technique, which I hadn't heard of and I had so much fun with it. Your card is unique, contemporary and absolutely stunning. Love the three colurs you used, the stylish flower stamp and thank you for the step by step process. Thank you too for the challenge this month Julia x

Trina P. said...

What a cool challenge you’re hosting, Julia! I haven’t done this technique in ages. Great tutorial, colour choices and of course your lovely card itself with a terrific CAS design. xx

Sharli Schaitberger said...

I've heard of the technique, but have never seen it used so effectively as you have in this card! Excellent work!!!!

nancy littrell said...

Thank you so much Julia for hosting this fun challenge. I love how you used an acrylic block to ink, spritz with water and then stamp your rubber bands. Beautiful with the added twine and stamping. Beautiful sentiment too. TFS my friend. Hugs.

Christine Alexander said...

Wow, Julia, what a beautiful effect with the bands, I just love that random stamping so artsy :)

Deb said...

Beautiful card Julia and what a fab stamping technique, think I read of this once long ago but don't think I ever tried it, you have inspired me to give it a go! Thanks so much for sharing and happy Easter to you and yours, Deb xo

Papercraft Boutique said...

Thank you so much for hosting this fun challenge and sharing your great photo tutorial, Julia! I love your cool rubber band stamped images and the three ink colors you used! The matching mattes are a nice touch too. Happy Easter to you and your family!
Hideko xx

Ina G said...

This technique has been on my 'to try list' for an age - so Thank You Julia for choosing it for this month's Challenge. I will soon be able to tick this off my list.
Love how you created your rubber banded card especially adding 2 different colours for great interest. Those flowers are just perfect with that lovely sentiment. Nice finish with the twine.

Loll said...

Cool design Julia! I have not tried spritzing the inked bands with water ... what a great way to create a watercoloured look! Love the colours you've used for your background and then the neutral colour for your flowers and sentiment. Awesome design. Thanks so much for hosting this fun challenge! xx

Bonnie said...

Julia, this is such a fun technique and I love how I never know what it's going to look like! It's a wonderful surprise each time! Love your colors here and the artsy flowers! A fantastic card and a fun challenge, Julia! Thanks for hosting this month.

Susan said...

Love your artsy cross-hatched backgrounds. Great idea to try spritzing the rubber bands with water! Love those simple flowers and the lime and turquoise borders! Now off to find some rubber bands!

Redanne said...

Your card is gorgeous Julia, what a great technique too - I have heard of using the rubber bands on a brayer but not like this - it is one that I will be trying out! Thanks so much for the wonderful inspiration. Hugs, Anne xx

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

This bought back memories Julia, love this technique and you have used it brilliantly. I adore how,you have combined it with my stamps. Thank you so much for always showcasing them so beautifully. Big hugs ❤️❤️

Darnell said...

I can't stand how fun this is, Sis! And I can't wait to try it! You've used favorite colors of mine and that makes me love your design even more!! ❤️Hugs, Darnell

Pat said...

This is really pretty Julia and love the combination of colours and the added flowers go beautifully too, and finished perfectly with the baker's twine. x

sarascloset said...

This is a great technique and makes for a very effective clean and simple card! Those colors are some of my favorites, too. You are inspiring me to try clean and simple! Hugs!

Jo said...

Truly enjoying this great technique Julie, thank you. Your card is truly harmonious. What a great idea in stamping a little black to match your bouquet and sentiment. Beautiful card, TFS, hugs xx

Heather said...

Your colour choices worked beautifully and the stamps you chose to feature work perfectly with the background strip.

MaryH said...

So very artistic, and thanks so much for taking time to photo the different steps necessary to create the bands of color. Overstamping the pretty bands of color with the elegant flower design really gives this the look of a painting hanging in a gallery. The colors worked so well together to ground the floral image too. TFS