This is a tip for keeping a record of the types of cardstock you use for stamping and colouring. I use this also to keep track of the effect of embossing and inking on the different cardstock I use for my craft. I have in my supplies approximately 30 types of white cardstock. The paper varies in thickness, whiteness, brand, ability to absorb water for blending etc. I decided to make an index that I can refer to when I need to decide which colouring medium to use for the paper I have stamped on. The photo below is a sample of the first index I created.
Yes… the first one I created above contained a lot of information as I was also using it to test the various blending mediums I have in my stash on my different pencils and watercolours etc. I then decided to select the best blending mediums from my tests and created a second one that looks like this:
The second one has some blanks waiting to be filled in with some other colouring mediums I am looking forward to testing and using in the near future.
Here’s the process of how I tested the different types of papers and colouring mediums:
- I cut up sheets of paper into approximately A6 sizes (quarter sheet of A4) and scored the cardstock to create 12 spaces large enough for me to stamp and note the colouring medium used. A single sheet of paper would look like this after I am done with the first round:
I noted all the brands of colouring mediums as well as the blending mediums used and then selected the ones with the best effect for the second index.
- For the second index, I decided to use a larger image and did not bother to score the cardstock. Instead, the image I selected had several large petals. I used 2 petals for each colouring mediums. The first petal would be fully coloured without any blending medium applied while the second petal would be coloured and blended using a blending medium so that I can see the different effects clearly.
The one shown above is completed using classic colour pencils. These are not water-soluble and are blended either using blending pencils that are actually pencils without any coloured pigments in them. I also used solvents which are known as Odourless Mineral Spirits (OMS) to blend the colours.
The one below is completed using water-soluble mediums such as watercolour pencils, watercolour pans etc. The first petal is full coloured before blending with water while the second petal only has a coloured outline before blending so that I can see the contract in effect of the colouring mediums.
Some close-up photos:
Both the Twinkling H2Os and cosmic shimmer watercolours are so pretty and I just love the shimmery effect on the images. Here’s a close look at the shimmery effect:
Last but not least, I tested the effect of hot embossing as well as the ease of inking the papers using dye inks. I used 4 different brands of dye inks – memento, adirondack, kaleidacolour and distress inks. I stamped an image and embossed it using clear embossing powder. The inks were then blended on the paper from 4 different corners of the paper.
Here a look at all the 3 complete sets of paper index:
With this comprehensive reference, I intend to do several reviews of the different colouring mediums that I use. Also, with the tests done, I will be putting up recommendations for the different types of papers that I use. Do keep a lookout for the upcoming posts as there will be a pleasant surprise waiting for you =)
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