Today, I’m showing you a way to create with the Metalz Trio from Seth Apter which you might feel fulls more into the mixed media look, but they can easily be combined to create a whimsy card. In addition, I’m showing you how to use your dye inks to create fun colour backgrounds to add you scene too. Dye ink block stamping is a fun technique that I hope you’ll try out on your next project! So let’s create 3 cards where grunge meets whimsy!
PRODUCED AS PART OF MY DESIGN-TEAM WORK FOR WOW! Embossing powder - SEE END OF POST FOR MORE DETAILS
Dye Ink Block stamping - Never stop looking up
All cards are created using watercolour cards stock as the backgrounds are created with ink block stamping.
For this first, you need a round acrylic block. Smoosh you ink pads down onto the ink block to transfer the ink. The colours used were: Tiara, Mandarin Spice and Sangria ink from Catherine Pooler Designs. Spritz the block with water so the ink beads up.

Place block onto your watercolour card panel and let it sit for a minute or so, to allow the ink to sink into the cardstock. Remove the block and allow this to dry.
For the stamping, heat emboss the sun and clouds from the Hero Arts ‘You’re my Universe’ stamp set. These were heat embossed in Crusty Copper embossing powder from the Seth Apter Metalz Trio. This copper colour pairs well with the oranges/pinks of the background.

To colour the images in, use Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. Alternatively, you can use watercolours or pencils. Add a little yellow/orange to the shadow areas of the clouds to complement the colour from the sun. Use the coordinating die to die-cut the stamps out and foam mount on to the front of the card. Lastly, stamp a sentiment in Midnight Ink from Catherine Pooler designs and add a few clean Morning Dew Nuvo Drops.
Dye Ink Block stamping - You're my moon & stars

Place this onto you watercolour cardstock and allow the ink to seep into the cardstock. When I removed this block, it was a little patchy as I had not added another water to bead the ink up, however, it added a more textured look as though they were clouds.
For this card, stamp the moon, clouds and the shooting star and heat emboss these in Etched platinum from the Metalz Trio embossing powders. The colour of the etched platinum pairs really well with the blues in the background.

Use the coordinating dies to die-cut the images out and add some grey tones to the moon and clouds to add definition and dimension. Foam mount these onto the card from with varying levels of dimension for added interest.
Stamp the sentiment ‘You’re my moon & stars’ in Midnight ink and add a few Morning Dew Nuvo drops again to embellish the card.
Dye Ink Block stamping - Shoot for the stars
For this card, use a slim rectangle acrylic block. Smoosh Juniper Mist, Queen for A Day and Sangria ink onto the block and spritz with water to bead the ink up. Transfer the block to the watercolour cardstock to stamp the ink down.

Make sure this panel is completely dry before stamping as moisture will attract the embossing powder. Stamp and heat emboss the wave of stars of directly onto the panel. Cover this with Weathered Gold embossing powder from the Metalz Trio. The gold in this powder is perfect for stars and works well with the warm colours in the background.
Move the position of the stars stamp and repeat heat embossing, moving this down the panel as you go. In addition, also stamp a few of the larger single stars from the set and heat emboss in the same powder.

Foam mount the die-cut stars onto the card panel, adding these as embellishments. Stamp the sentiment ‘Shoot for the stars’ from the stamp set in Midnight ink. Lastly, add a few Morning Dew Nuvo Drops to finish the card off.



Supplies
Dye Ink Block stamping
Affiliate links used at no extra cost to you at these shops: Altenew (ALT), Scrapbook.com (SB), Hero Arts (HA), Picket Fence Studios (PF), My Favourite Things (MFT), and Craft Stash UK/US (CS UK/US).
All other shops are not affiliated links: Bumbleberry Papercrafts (BP) and WOW! UK/US (WOW UK/US).
You’re My Universe – Hero Arts Shop at: SB | HA | BP | You’re My Universe die – Hero Arts Shop at: SB | HA | BP | ![]() Juniper Mist Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT |
![]() Juniper Mist Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT | ![]() Juniper Mist Bundle – Cathering Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | LPT | ![]() Suede Shoes – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT |
![]() Suede Shoes reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT | ![]() Suede Shoes Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | LPT | ![]() Stone Blue Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB |
![]() Stone Blue Reinker- Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | ![]() Tiara Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT | ![]() Tiara Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT |
![]() Tiara Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | LPT | ![]() Mandarin Spice ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT | ![]() Mandarin Spice Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT |
![]() Mandarin Spice Ink bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | LPT | ![]() Sangria Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | ![]() Sangria Reinker – Catherine pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB |
![]() Sangria Ink Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Queen for a Day Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT | ![]() Queen for a Day Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | LPT |
![]() Queen for a Day Ink Bundle – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | LPT | ![]() Midnight Ink – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | ![]() Midnight Mini Ink Cube – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB |
![]() Midnight Reinker – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | SB | ![]() WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink pad Shop at: CPD | CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) | ![]() WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink refill Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) |
![]() WOW! Clear ultra slow drying embossing ink pad & refill Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | ![]() Metalz Seth Apter Trio – WOW! Shop at: CS (UK) | CS (US) | WOW (UK) | WOW (US) | ![]() Morning Dew Nuvo Crystal Drops – Tonic Studios Shop at: CPD | SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) |
Original MISTI 2.0 – My Sweet Petunia Shop at: ALT | CPD | SB | HA | BP | 2-3/4″ Round arcylic block – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | 1-1/4 x 3-1/2″ rectangle acrylic block – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD |
3-1/4 x 4-1/4″ rectangle acrylic block – Catherine Pooler Designs Shop at: CPD | ![]() Gina K Designs – Connect Glue Shop at: BP | ![]() Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares 1/4″ white Shop at: CPD | SB | BP |
![]() WOW! Dual Speed Heat Gun (UK version) Shop at: CS (UK) | WOW (UK) | ![]() WOW! Dual Speed Heat Gun (US version) Shop at: CPD | WOW (US) | ![]() Teflon Bone Folder – Lawn Fawn Shop at: CPD | BP |
![]() Tim Holtz 8.5 Inches Comfort Trimmer – Tonic Studios Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) | ![]() Trim and Score Board – We R Memory Keepers Shop at: SB | CS (UK) | CS (US) |
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DISCLOSURE
This post was produced as part of my design team work for WOW! Embossing Powders have not been paid to make this post, but I am given supplies from WOW! Embossing Powder to use. However, I create projects with creative control and produce projects I am proud of and with products that I love. The information provided is based on my own personal experience – I am not an expert.