Make it Shimmer!

Hi all and Happy Friday!  I have a little something to share today that was in the spotlight over on the Power Poppy blog earlier this week! Did you catch the latest Creative Confetti Challenge? It not, you can click HERE for the linky so that you can play along with me! The challenge is based on Ally Cope's tutorial she ushered in last Monday. It's right up my alley because you know I love my glitter and sparkle! Check it out HERE as she shows us a fun way to add a little glimmer! 

And with her fabulous tutorial in mind, I decided we should ALL add a little shimmer to our projects this week! Check it out! 

On to my creation!  

You might look at this card above using Power Poppy's Vibrant Thanks and say, "Wait a minute here... where's the sparkle!?!?" And, I would agree -- it's hard to see, until you tilt it to the light! The little tutorial I am going to share today gives your stamped images a pearlescent look that's just too lovely! And, you use this fine stuff... Pearl Ex! How many of you have a gazillion mica powders that haven't seen the light of day in a while? Yes, I see you! I am with you too! 

So, I started by grabbing Pearl White Pearl Ex, it is just a plain white shimmer. They have so many though -- Duo Blue Green, Duo Blue Pink, White Gold, it's crazy all the colors! 

And this above is my foundation! I stamped one of the flowers from the Vibrant Thanks set using Memento Tuxedo Black and then went to town with my Copic markers, using a range of greens and purples. I wanted to bring some of the purple into my backdrop, so I highlighted using BG0000 and then went over the top with V0000 to give it more of a purple-ish glow. 

And here's where it gets fun! This is what I grabbed - a large soft brush, Versamark Ink and the Pearl Ex. 

I took the Versamark ink pad and just covered my image with it. This was NOT easy at first because I honestly wasn't sure this would turn out so covering something I just spent time coloring was a bit of a "close one eye and let's see what happens" moment. After my image was completely covered with ink, I took my wide, soft brush, dipped it into the Pearl White Pearl Ex and then brushed it over top. After I was done, I took a dry Swiffer sheet and burnished the Pearl Ex into the ink. This releases the extra powder and helps it to stay put.  This effect is one that makes it appear like you stamped and colored on pearlescent paper. It's kind of dreamy! 

If you have a Workable Fixatif on hand in your craft room, it's not a bad idea to seal this with a light spray. It helps the powder from rubbing off, even if it is just slightly. 

And, here's a close up for you! You can see I matted it up, playing up the green and purple and adding just a few accents. The sentiment was from the Power Poppy set Potted Primrose. I love that sentiment -- one of my favorites! 

And, one last look at my card! 

Thanks for stopping by y'all! I hope you have a fabulous week and remember, to play along, all you need to do is add a little shimmer to your creation, link up your card below and then, once a month, we draw one random and lucky stamper to win $25! Woo HOOOO! So, as I love to say, go ahead and get those fingers inky! 

Some of my fellow Bloomies have been busy in their crafting spaces so you'll need to run over to their spaces on the web to see for yourself! I know you won't be disappointed! ;-) 

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Julie Koerber >>> you are here! 

Stacy Morgan

Thanks for sharing a little time with me! I so enjoy your visits!

Until next time!

~Julie