Pages

Wednesday, 28 May 2025

Group of Seven - Batik

Hi everybody.  This month over at the Group of Seven Cardmakers it is all about creating the look of Batik on cards by using an emboss resist technique.  I used a fern from a set called Grasses by Art Journey and a couple of different leaves from a set by Chocolate Baroque called From Nature 1.  I also used the Torn Edge Oval dies from Creative Craft Products and a Crafter's Companion set of leaf dies called Thankful and Blessed - Forest Floor.


I started by ink blending some different colours onto a piece of white card cut to fit a 6" square base card using Ripe Persimmon, Salty Ocean, Mustard Seed and Blueprint Sketch Distress Inks.  I kept the coverage quite light and then covered the piece with the fern and leaves using Versamark Ink and heat set with WOW Clear Gloss Embossing Powder, first making sure the background inking was perfectly dry and I also dusted it with an anti static bag.  In between adding the various stamped and embossed leaves I added a bit more colour so that some are paler and those added later were a bit darker as the strength of colour beneath the embossing was heavier.  I felt that there were still too many big gaps and perhaps needed a flower stamp, and I had the Spellbinders Bold Blooms out and I decided to make a stamp from one of the smaller flowers using craft foam, and I die cut one and then cut it twice more from a bit of white card and layered them together with the craft foam on the top.  I then inked it with the Versamark and tested it out on a scrap of card and it worked well, so I used that a few times to fill the gaps.  I then inked over it all with the first three colours but the images still did not seem to stand out enough so I used the Blueprint Sketch DI over the whole thing to give it more definition and it just darkened the background sufficiently to make the images pop a bit more.  The last step was adding the creases to the card with a bone folder, and at random intervals and slanted rather than straight across the card I think looks best, and I then inked again with the Blueprint Sketch to add ink into the creases.  I did also run the bone folder over the back of the piece to flatten it out a bit which made it easier to add onto the card but didn't spoil the look of the creasing.

I finished the card by adding a Torn Edge Oval sentiment plate and inked and heat embossed the sentiment quite lightly with Versafine Majestic Blue with a bit of the Salty Ocean ink over the top to keep it a bit lighter, and clear embossed with WOW EP, and a little Salty Ocean left on the brush added around the edges, and also added three gold die cut leaves using the Crafter's Companion set and having its first outing, and then added this all onto a 6" square white card.

You can also add just one colour on the background and then stamp and emboss the images and also if you prefer you can stamp and emboss straight onto the white card and then add some colour over the top and then the images will be white, and also instead of stamps you emboss through a stencil which works well too.  If you want to see more do go and visit the GO7 blog and you will find lots of wonderful examples of ways of doing this technique and also a link to a video, and if you make something there is a Linky at the bottom of the page where you can add it for us all to see and enjoy.

Thank you for visiting my blog today and I'll see you again soon.






I am entering the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge - No. 824 Happy Birthday/Anything Goes.  How great to have reached 16 years!
NBUS Challenge - No. 74 Where we use our Never Before Used Schtuff.

15 comments:

Aquarius said...

A great background showing the batik effect - off to check out the GO7 blog as well. It's always good to have something a bit different to try. Thanks very much for sharing this with us at Allsorts special celebration challenge.

I Card Everyone said...

Pat I love that you've all chosen these gorgeous botanical stamps for your batik technique! I love that you've made your own stamp from craft foam - so very clever! All these colors make me think of peering through the leaves in Autumn!
=]

Julia Aston said...

What a beautiful background you created with your inks and embossing Pat - a lovely faux batik - and so pretty for Fall with the leaves and ferns! Julia xx

Loll said...

WOW!! Gorgeous images for your background that really pop with the beautiful sponged colours you've used, Pat!! This is such an amazing card, my friend. Great Batik work!! xx

Bonnie said...

Your card makes me think of hiking in the forest in the fall! I love these bright colors and how the creasing adds extra texture! Fantastic success with the technique, my friend!

Christine said...

Wow what a beautiful colour combination, you really nailed this technique.
I ran out of time after my holiday, hopefully I can make one and post in the gallery ♥

Gail L said...

This is so pretty!
Thank you for joining us at Allsorts!

brenda said...

A lovely blend of Autumnal colours topped with the pair of leaves, lovely to see you at Allsorts 16th Birthday celebrations, many thanks for joining in the fun.

B x

Marjolijn van Elsberg said...

Very, very beautiful!

Sarn said...

Fantastic card using this lovely inky Batik technique.

Thanks for joining in with the Allsorts' birthday celebrations. x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

This is beautiful Pat, I love how you did the technique. Thanks for the tips. x

Catie Cuddles said...

Beautiful card- what a great technique

Thanks for joining us at Addicted to stamps and more.
Happy crafting!
Catherine x DT

Darnell said...

I love that you tried this technique with fall colors, Pat, and I love the blue! You did a great job and the added leaves add a ton of interest! Hugs, Darnell

foleysfriend said...

What an amazing background you created. Thank you for the detail instructions in case I'm brave enough to give it a try. Like your decision to use a torn edge die for the sentiment. Perfection! Thanks for joining us at Addicted to Stamps and More!

sue n.

Liz said...

Beautiful card Pat, lovely technique and colour combination.
Liz xx