Ghostly goings-on

Yesterday was my brayer class and I hope I convinced the ladies who came along that it’s time to get their brayers out of their boxes and start using them!

We made three simple brayered cards – this wasn’t one of them but this was one of the techniques we used. This is “ghosting” and it’s very simple.

You stamp an image with Versamark® and then brayer over the top. That’s it.

The Versamark resists the ink – but not completely, which is how you end up with these “ghostly” images, which are paler than the ink around them. You don’t need to let it dry, it works straight away.

To brayer the cardstock, always work on a flat surface with a piece of scrap paper underneath your project. Ink your brayer by rolling it in one direction repeatedly on your ink pad – not back and forth.

Starting OFF your project on the scrap paper, brayer back and forth on your cardstock, gradually working in from the edge of the cardstock. Repeat... and repeat. When you start to get a colour build-up at the edge of your cardstock, you can start brayering ON the cardstock and gradually you will build up the colour.

Here are some more brayering tips:

• Always store your brayer on its plastic guard– if you store it rubber down, you could end up with dents in the rubber
• Roll the brayer over the ink pad in the same direction – lift and roll again.
• Get lots of ink on the brayer
• Don’t rest your finger on top of the brayer like you would a wheel handle as this applies too much pressure
• Always start brayering off the edge of your project to remove some of the ink and avoid lines
• Use lots of scrap paper under your project
• Make sure your surface is flat as any lumps and bumps will show through (think brass rubbing!)
• Roll the brayer back and forth over the project, reinking when necessary
• Smooth cardstock such as Whisper White and Very Vanilla, or glossy cardstock work best
• Colours will appear much more intense than with stamping so use paler inks for a subtle effect

Stamps: Best Wishes & More
Cardstock: Barely Banana, Whisper White, Lavender Lace
Paper: Vellum
Ink: So Saffron, Sage Shadow, Lavender Lace, Handsome Hunter, Versamark
Accessories: White eyelet, ¼” Grosgrain Ribbon - Whisper White, Eyelet border punch, Oval punch

All products by Stampin' Up!®