Faux Cyanotype: Version One

Hello! Have you heard of cyanotype? It’s essentially an old photographic printing process that gives ghostly results in shades of (Prussian) blue. It uses the power of the sun and a couple of chemical solutions to achieve really incredible results, without the need for a camera. I have always loved cyanotype prints, and have made some a long time ago. But recently, I was inspired in a few ways to make a faux version. First, the album Indigo from BTS’ RM came out recently, and the included book is filled with gorgeous cyanotypes. Also, 3 of the newest stencils from A Colorful Life Designs really reminded me of these prints. My card today features the Trailing Vines stencil, and on Friday, I will share a YouTube video that will show you my entire process using a different stencil.

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You only need a couple of supplies for this technique, and it doesn’t take long to make. I applied some of Therm O Web’s Pixie Spray to the back of the stencil, which I then laid on to a piece of Smooth Bristol Cardstock. Next, I inked the entire thing with Prize Ribbon Distress Ink. That color is very similar to cyanotypes, though you can certainly experiment with other shades of blue if you’d like.

Once the panel was inked, I removed the stencil. I wet the inked side of the stencil and placed it on to another piece of cardstock, to get the reverse image that I can use at a later date. I’ll share that project later this month. Back to this card….I then sprayed it lightly with Sheer Shimmer Spritz in Frost. I used my ink blower (this is the current one available) from Ranger and moved the ink around a bit, to create that ghostly effect. If you don’t want the shimmer, you can use plain water instead. Cyanotypes don’t have a shine like my card does, but who am I to pass up a good opportunity to have this beautiful shimmer everywhere?

To finish the card off, I used a couple of die cuts from the Tim Holtz/Sizzix set called Abstract Elements. I love this die set. In it has my new favorite die to use for teeny sentiment strips, as shown in my photos. It’s a funky shape, I love the little holes, and it just gives you another cool feature on your projects. The foliage was colored with watered-down Prize Ribbon Distress Ink. The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp’s Tiny Words.

If you want to see exactly how to do this technique, I hope you will check out my YouTube video that will be up on Friday. As I mentioned earlier, I use a different stencil, but the technique is exactly the same. I hope you’ll give it a try! Please be sure to visit A Colorful Life Designs to see the many, many stencils they have to offer. You can use my code, AlFan10 to save 10% off of your regular-priced purchase. Then, show off your creations in the A Colorful Life Designs Fan Group on FB. Thanks so much for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!