Technique Tuesday - Perfect Pearls Techniques

I love to use Perfect Pearls pigment powders by Ranger on my cards and scrapbook pages, and other paper crafts projects.  These pigment powders are pearlescent, and come in six color palettes.  They can be used wet or dry to create dazzling pearlescent effects.  Here are three cards that demonstrate just four of the techniques possible.

Dusting 

• Ink stamp with clear VersaMark ink pad, or Perfect Medium.  Don't over-ink your stamp, and be sure to let the image dry for a minute, especially if the pad is very wet and inky. 
  
• Apply Perfect Pearls with a DRY small watercolor brush. To apply, simply dip the tip of the brush into the powder, and brush it onto the part of the stamped image you want that color on. Repeat with other colors, as desired.  If your stamped image is too inky or wet, the powder will smear. Be sure to wait until it has dried a little to prevent this blurring.
  
• Remove excess powder with larger, duster brush.  Simply brush over the powder until all traces of excess powder are removed.  The background and the flower in this card were done with the dusting technique.
  
• No need for fixatives.  For increased sticking, just spritz with a very light mist of water.

 Painting and Spattering

• The resins (binding agent) are built in to Perfect Pearls, so there is nothing to add.  Simply add water to create pearlescent paint. The amount of water you add will determine how transparent the paint is.
• Remove some powders from the jar with the tip of your watercolor brush and place on palette.  Dip brush into water and add a drop or two at a time, and mix, until it is the consistency needed to paint.  The amount of water you add will determine how strong the color is on your image.
• "Paint" the  image with this mixture.  For added depth, color image first with a marker, then paint over the marker coloring with the Pearls.  The flower in this card was painted in this fashion.
  
• Spattering - To create spatters, work up some "paint" on your palette with the Pearls and water, making it quite wet.  Load your brush, then tap the brush while you hold it over your card or page that you wish to spatter.  You can see this look on the black panel on the above card.
  

Batik Resist

 The picture here does not do this card justice, as you can't see the shimmer of the Pearls.  This batick technique is one of my favorites, and it's so easy to do.

• Emboss images on white or light cs (cardstock) with clear VersaMark or Perfect Medium,  and emboss with clear embossing powder.  Create a random design with the embossed images on your card or page. 
• Mix water with dye based reinkers and swirl onto this embossed cs, blending colors.  Do not over-blend as this will make the colors muddy.  No need to cover entire card.  
• Next, pick up some complimentary Perfect Pearls, and some metallic, such as gold, Perfect Pearls with the water brush, and add to the composition.  
• Dab with a paper towel (do not rub) to remove excess wetness.  Let dry a minute or two, then press between newsprint with hot iron till embossing melts off into newsprint.  You can use scrap paper, such as computer paper.  The images that were protected by the embossing will “pop out,” creating a fabulous, shimmery background.

That's it for today.  Check back soon for more blog posts.  I am working on a Fall Colors trading card for a Magenta trading card swap I entered.  I will post that as soon as it is finished.

Right now, I'm off to finish shower invitations.  Hope you have a great evening.

Blessings,

lynda