2012 Technique Calendar - May - Colorized Bleach Stamping

Today's technique kicks one of my favorite "experimentation" type techniques up a few notches...  It's bleach stamping but we're going to color it to add a little different look.

When you give today's technique a try you'll want to make sure you take the proper precautions...good ventaliation, protect your clothing and your hands if you have sensative skin.  Bleach is very caustic and will burn you both inside and out if you're careless.

Now I mentioned that this is an experimentation type technique.  What I mean is you're going to have to experiment a bit with your cardstock.  Every paper manufacture has their own process for making paper - the pulp, colorants, and finishing process are all effected differently when the bleach is applied.  It's fun to just sit and dab the bleach onto a variety of papers to see how it reacts.  Some papers instantly turn white, while others don't react at all.  You'll be surprised at the rainbow of colors you get from different paper.  When you find one you like the looks of it's time to begin.

2012 Technique Calendar

May

Colorized Bleach Stamping

Supplies:

Bleach
Black or dark colored cardstock
Paint Brush
Stamps
White Gel Pen
Your favorite medium to color with  - Distress Stain, Watercolor Pencils, Markers, Pastels, etc.
Embellishments to finish off your calendar

Instructions:

1. After you have chosen your cardstock it's time to apply the bleach.  I like to use two differnt styles for applying the bleach to my paper....  Painting and stamping.  It's totally up to you which you decide to use.

Option #1 - Painting

I just pour a tiny bit of bleach into a plastic cup and paint the bleach directly onto my paper...

You can see what it looks like as it begins to dry...

Option #2 - Stamping

Fold a napkin and place it in a pie pan, plate, lid, etc.  Pour enough bleach over the napkin to wet it entirely.

Press your rubber stamp into the moist napkin...

And press the wet stamp onto the paper.

Doesn't look like much now but as it dries....

The image magically appears!

2. After you have stamped your images and they have dried completely it's time to color.  I used markers for this example.

3.  To add a bit more contrast I like to highlight parts of my image with a white gel pen.

Now when working with my calendar page I like to trace the outline so I know where to stamp...

Then I go to it...stamp, color and highlight!

Here's a peek at my page before I trim it...

And here is May's finished page!

I love this technique because you're never quite sure how the bleach is going to react. 

The color and highlights just add that extra zing.

I hope you all are having fun so far!

5 months down, 7 more to go