Color Blocking by Karen Slusher

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1.  Using black dye ink, stamp some images onto a card-size piece of white, glossy cardstock.  (See Picture 1)
 Your images can be a deliberate design (sample 1) or a random collage (sample 2). 

2.  Decide where you want to put a line of color.  Maybe you’ll want to build a block of color around a particular section or maybe you just want some random lines.  Either way, make that decision and mask along one line using post-it notes. (See Picture 2)

3.  Decide on a color of dye ink, then use a stipple brush to apply the color along the masked line.  Stipple heavily along the edge of the post-it note, and stipple lighter away from it, fading from dark to light intensity in about a ½-1-inch band of color.  (See Picture 3)

4.  Remove the masking, and then replace it along the stippled edge – this time covering the stippled part and revealing the previously masked area.  Using a different color of dye ink, stipple along the masked edge the same way as described above.  (See Picture 4)
 NOTE:  Be sure to line the post-it notes carefully along the edge of the first inked area or you’ll end up with white (un-inked) strips in between the two colors.  Here’s what the first two colors look like (See Picture 5)

5.  Now remove the masking post-its again and decide on another place you want a line.  Mask a straight edge with post-it notes and pick another color of dye ink.  Stipple in the same way as described above.  (See Picture 6)
 Continue masking and stippling around the card using different angles of masked lines and different ink colors as you go. (See Picture 7)

6.  There are different ways to finish your card.  With Sample 1
, I masked around the edge and stippled black dye ink, then cut around the card about 1/8 inch into the black stipple.  I also stippled a small amount of black into the design around the perimeter, excluding the words.  Next I mounted the card onto a slightly larger piece of white paper and then attached it to a dark green card. 

For Sample 2
, I just stippled black around the edge of the finished project after cutting it to the finished size.  I also stamped a final image on top of the coloring so it would stand out a little (the “We Are One” stamp).  On another section of glossy cardstock I stamped the Statue of Liberty and just stippled the edges with color, then mounted it off to the side using foam mounting tape.

Rubber Stamps:
Sample 1: corner by Eureka Stamps, hat by Impression Obsession, saying from River City Rubber Works.  
Sample 2: all stamps from Dream Impressions (“We The People” set).

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