T his week I finally had the chance to check out our new Brusho inks. To be honest, I’m a little intimidated, I’ve been seeing some truly beautiful cards created using it. Not really sure where to start, I decided to see how the Brusho worked on different papers. I’d love to hear what you think.
Project Recipe
For this comparison I used Glossy, Shimmery, Thick Whisper White, & Watercolor papers.
Stampin spritzer filled with water and an Aqua Painter.
White Embossin’ powder, Versamark ink, and of course, Brusho Crystal Inks.
I also used a couple sheets of grid paper and some left over cardboard to protect my table, and had Q-tips, paper towels and cotton squares handy.
I cut a piece of of each paper to 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”, then using the butterfly from the Beautiful Day stamp set, stamped each paper with the Versamark ink. I then embossed with white Embossing powder.
Basically, I followed the same steps for each card. All the papers curl when you get them wet, so do not be surprised. I used all five of the Brusho colors, Brilliant Red, Gamboge, Moss Green, Prussian Blue, & Yellow. I did a light dusting to start on the butterfly.
On a side note, the Brusho crystals are very powerful. I heard from other demonstrators the best way to use them is to poke a single hole in the top of the canister which allows you a bit more control when shaking out the inks. To store them, put a pushpin in the hole so you don’t spill and make a mess.
Next I sprayed the paper with the Stampin’ spritzer. I used an aqua painter and Q-tips to clean up the ink on the embossed butterfly on all the cards. On some I used paper towels to clean up excess water and ink on the sides as well.
The ink on the Glossy paper really ran a lot. It mixed more easily and with less control because of the slick surface. You can really see how the ink ran off the side and left tracks. I have to admit, I was impatient and helped the cards dry by using my heat tool.
With the Whisper White Thick Card stock I found that the ink set faster than on other papers, and it curled the most too, so i used less water. The look was a bit more splotchy and I did use my aqua painter to blend the crystals inside the butterfly more. To me the color looked softer, but I like the effect.
The Water color paper I feel like there was more control with the blending. I was able to use more water and, with the Aqua painter, achieved a smooth look. I wiped the Aqua Painter brush on the cotton squares to clean it between colors. You can see how much more the ink spread outside the butterfly too.
I think the Shimmery white is my favorite! The colors seem much more vibrant. The inks reacted in so many different ways. Smooth, but distinct too, almost gives a tye-dye look overall. In some areas it looks like ice crystals. What’s extra cool about the Shimmery paper, you get that sparkly effect once it’s dry.
Over all I love each of the papers, and I think it’s going to be fun to play with them more. This is just one technique, and my very first try. I ended up trimming the finished pieces and adhered them to a coordinating card stock. It’s a pretty quick way to make a beautiful card. What do you think? What’s your favorite? I’d love to hear your comments!