Home to Roost was the perfect set to show you a sample of this cool technique for making flawless sponged background. I love sponging--the perfect touch on so many cards--but sometimes I get spots that are too distinct or show a hard line. I've even pressed too hard and gotten the inky imprint of a fingernail before!
TOP TIP: a super cheap and easy way to get the most gorgeous, flawless sponging is by adding a common drug store product! Buy a small bottle of 100% vegetable glycerin--often found in the lotion aisle. You might also find it in the candy-making aisle of a craft store. Use a dedicated round craft sponge to apply a super thin coat to your entire paper before you begin sponging. The clear glycerin gives you more time to manipulate and blend the colors and smooth out the ink before it dries. Your project will dry in a few minutes, and you can stamp on it and continue as desired.
Remember to keep the glycerin coat very light. The tiny amount of glycerin that gets on your colored sponges won't hurt your ink pads, but if you're concerned about compromising the color, you can also mix a little ink refill and glycerin in a separate dish and sponge out of that.
TOP TIP TWO: cut your background paper 1/2-1 inch wider than necessary on one end. Use that end to hold the paper (or adhere to table with washi tape) so that you're not trying to buff out fingerprints as you sponge your background. When your background is done and dried, slice off that extra bit and you'll have a flawless piece to layer on your card.
We're down to the last three days of Sale-A-Bration 2019, so Home to Roost is retiring on the 31st! If you haven't gotten this set yet (free with any $50 ordered) I am really enjoying it. I even did a little blog series on it! if you want an excuse to get one more Sale-A-Bration order in, you won't be disappointed if you choose Home to Roost.
Got questions? Leave a comment below or email me directly at [email protected]. I love to talk shop! and I love sharing easy, quick ideas that real-life papercrafters can use. If you're enjoying the blog, it would make my day to hear it! It keeps me encouraged and posting. Thanks for visiting today!
Do you apply the glycerin in any particular way? Do you do circles like when you are blending or do you just swipe it across? I have never heard of this tip and am eager to try it because I get those hard circles and lines you are talking about! Then I don't want to use my sponges and inks for backgrounds. Everyone else's always looks so great! Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Gale S. | 03/29/2019 at 11:41 AM
Very delicate card
Posted by: trivia | 04/01/2019 at 01:05 AM
No particular way--swipes or circles work just fine. There are no hard edges either way. try it out!
Posted by: Lyssa for Song of My Heart Stampers | 04/11/2019 at 01:43 PM