Technique Tuesday - Highlight Spot

I really had a fun day today, and got lots of cards made.  Today's technique is something that I do quite often.  I call it a highlight spot.  Basically, it's an area or block of color, used to "ground" an image.  If you stamp an image, and feel like it "needs" something, chances are it needs to be grounded, so it doesn't just sit there all by itself, or look like it's floating. How it's done:
Start with watercolor paper.  Draw a border the size and shape desired with a water based marker, such as Marvy LePlume or Tombow markers.  Use a wet paintbrush to "pull" the color from the border into the inside of the shape.  Be sure to fade to almost no color as you get toward the center.  You can add color by rubbing marker on a craft sheet or piece of plastic, and picking up the color with your brush and adding it to the shape.  If you put too much color, some of it can be removed. Just add more water and dab with a paper towel.  Practice this a few times, and you'll get it.  Try keeping your brush a little dryer after the initial water application...this helps keep the color from becoming too intense.

After you make our highlight, be sure to let it dry completely, or heat set, before stamping in it.  Then, just stamp and color as usual.

Here are some cards using this technique:

I have entered this card in the Hero Arts Blog monthly challenge http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/june-2010-contest-details/ , and the Paper Crafts Sketch Challenge 4 http://www.flickr.com/groups/pc_go-to_sketch_challenge_4/ . Here's the sketch:

And this next card is one I made for my daughter.  I really miss her....I know she's only an hour and a half away, but with both of us working, we just don't see each other as often as I'd like. I had a hard time leaving Sunday to come home. Poor hubby, had to listen to me blubbering all the way home!  I know, at least I get to see her more often than some of my friends get to see their kids, who live many states away, so I try not to complain. But I MISS HER!!  We always have such a good time together, and now that she's grown, I truly enjoy her company.  Not to mention, her little 5 year old shadow, Keeley!  Don't even get me started on how much I miss seeing more of my awesome little granddaughter!!  She's really enjoying stamping, and will sit and stamp with me for a couple of hours!
But, I digress....here's the card:

Penny Black stamps 3368K Asters, 2007E Scroll Motif, 1989E Harlequin Border, 2652J Dot & Scroll Border, 1967H Music Pattern, 1969D Swirl Border, 30-014 Salutations (miss you).

Notice how the little highlighted areas on these cards give the images "a place to be?"  A few years ago, we used shadow stamps to achieve this.  Now, you can make your own, and any shape and size you want!  Hope you'll give it a try.  Practice several and you'll get it before you know it.  Be sure to use watercolor paper, or it will not work.

Oh, and do scroll down to the previous two or three posts, as I posted several today and yesterday. Don't want you to miss anything!  Have fun!

Have a wonderful evening, and a great week!

Blessings and peace,

lynda