Let's make some space galaxy backgrounds!
I tried two methods to compare - using a base made of water-based ink (Stampin' Up) or using a base made of distress oxides. Both methods use a distress oxide black soot topper.
My conclusion? Both look amazing! I personally like the use of a water-based ink for the base as it looks like it pops more, while the distress oxides blend more for an even smooth galaxy background. Just depends on what you have and the look you're going for!
OK... so what do you need?
My technique is using a lot of water, so you want watercolor paper if you have it. Otherwise, use the thickest smooth white paper you got (to avoid pilling with all the water) you will just get some good paper curling - easily fixed by running the finished panel through a laminator sleeve to flatten it ;-)
water color paper (off white is fine since it will all get covered)
blending tools
your choice of bright yellow/orange, blue, teal, and purple (or whatever spacey colors you want to peek through) - you can use water-based or pigment inks.
My sample uses Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie, Balmy Blue, Bermuda Bay, Rich Razzleberry (water-based) or Distress Oxides Wild Honey, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, and Seedless Preserves.
Black Soot Distress Oxide
(optional) liquid pixie dust or other subtle shiny additive (optional shine to galaxy effect) and also for finishing splatter for stars
cleanable wet messy surface area - i used a silicon mat/glass media mat - for smooshing the Black Soot
water to add for smooshing (spray bottle or other method to get water down)
spray bottle for melding color base and adding splatter interest
(optional) white acrylic paint and splatter tools (for bright starry accents) - you can also use a white gel pen.
Step 0: get your paper ready!
-If you're using a die cut like I am from my stash, do this first as running the panel through a die cut machine at the end can get messy even when dry.
Step 1: blend your bright color base
- alternate colors all around the piece. You can leave a little white area if you wish, or color it completely. No two pieces will be the same!
Left 2 are water-based, right image is distress oxides
Step 2: lightly spritz the colored panel with water
- this will let the colors blend and not have any hard lines show through your black cover blend
- no need to super soak it, just enough til the colors blend at the edges
Left: water-based Right Distress Oxide
Step 3: let it dry, you can use a heat gun if you want to quickly move on or, use this time to make more panels ;-)
Step 4: Get Ready to Smoosh Black Soot distress oxide
- on your glass media mat or silicon mat apply the ink pad right to the surfacce
- (optional) add a couple drops of liquid pixie dust
**if you dont want super glittery, you can do 3 layers of plain Black Soot and then mix in pixie dust for the last layer
- add water (controlled spray with spraybottle) for a mixing effect and making it a little pool to smoosh into
Step 5: Smoosh it real good!
- ok this is the artzy fartzy part! no right way or wrong way! and it will look better once you're all done and dry!
- take your colored panel, color down and lightly dab small areas into the pool of black soot - randomly, here and there. get a layer in a few spots (leave some color to show)
- let dry or heat set the first layer
- do a second layer the same way, building color. Dab in the black soot pool in different areas/overlapping a little on layer 1 areas. just let it gooooooooo... do what feels right (or wrong haha)
- I did 4 layers. On the 4th, i added two drops of liquid pixie dust to the Black Soot pool and dabbed the final black layer on
**at any time you can add more ink if you think the Black Soot dabbing pool too watery (stamp again on surface next to the pool and spread out the pool and mix)
- Let the panel dry (or heat gun set)
Voila! Now after it dries, you can decide if its perfect or if you want more accents.
Step 6: Add optional splatter interest
- spritz with spray bottle and let dry
Step 7: Add optional splatter stars
- bold stars - use white acrylic ink to splatter with your choice of splatter tool
- silvery stars - use liquid pixie dust or other silvery liquid and splatter on the panel. I had Kuretake Starry Colors
Step 8: Finish off the card!!!
-If you had too much curling of the paper send it through a laminator (after its all dry and set) to flatten it
- add some cute astronauts!! haha - add some crystal effects to their little helmets or the rocket window for some added detail
- make it a shaker!!
My finished cards used Mama Elephant Little Agenda Spaceship, Sentiments from Honey Bee Stellar Sentiments, and KSCRAFT Slimline Star window die
FINALLY.... Admire your HAND-diwork :-D maybe send some friends a "tell me you've been crafting without telling me you have been crafting" memes and a photo of your hands!
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