Reflections of India (posted by Elaine)

I am loving working with these Indian themed stamps and working with silhouettes is one of my favourite techniques, especially when combined with ink shading as I have done here. This card uses the Taj Mahal image from the Indian Textiles stamp set. I wanted to create a feeling of peace and tranquility and the sun setting over water.

I started by stamping my image in Cobalt Blue Archival ink. I added the reflection by stamping into acetate and laying it ink side down under the original stamped image to transfer the ink and make the reflection. I then masked the sun using two circles die cut out of Eclipse tape. I masked off the top of the card above the horizon first using post it notes and then added pink, lilac and pale blue dye inks inks and added hills using a torn piece of paper and Eggplant ink. All my ink shading is done using Cut and Dry foam, working to build layer on layer of ink and depth and range of colour. Once the sky was complete, I moved the masking and then inked below with shades of turquoise and blue and added the reflection of the hill with more Eggplant ink. I added some touches of darker blue here and there in the water to get a more watery effect. I stamped the water lillies from the Lily Pad clear stamp set and added birds from the Landscape Edges set. I added colour to the lilies with Prisma coloured pencils. I finished with a lattice work die cut border which made me think of looking out of a window in a ancient building with pierced stonework.

I am sure you will be enjoying the work of all my DT colleagues this month, there are some delicious designs coming your way inspired by these great new stamps.

Elaine