Coloring Gesso

Today I'm sharing a fun new technique I learned for coloring over top of white gesso! It's super easy, a little messy, and lots of fun!

Here are the steps I used to create the pretty panel on my card:

1. Lay a stencil over a piece of black card stock (I used the Watercolor stencil from Tim Holtz)
2. Apply White Gesso (Art Basics) over your entire panel
3. Remove stencil and wash the gesso off
4. Allow your gesso to dry (or help it along with a heat gun)
5. Once the gesso is dry, apply your choice of colors using Distress Crayons (Ranger) ~~ [I used Tumbled Glass - Mermaid Lagoon - Shaded Lilac]
6. Rub the colors in with your finger - apply more in areas you see need it
7. Remove your stencil and - wa-la - a colorful-textured background!

To create my card I:

• embossed a piece of lavender card stock with the Lattice embossing folder from Creative Expressions
• attached my gesso panel to the left side with my ATG gun
• Die cut a Circle (Spellbinders Nestabilities) in white and a scallop circle (Spellbinders Nestabilities) in black
• stamped a sentiment from Praying For You (Stampin' Up) in Tuxedo Black ink (Tsukineko)
• added some die cuts using the Romantic Vines Die set from Spellbinders
• added two tiny pearls with Ocean Blue Liquid Pearls  
• Added a baker's twine bow
• Die cut two flowers using the Tim Holtz Tattered Florals Die
• inked up my flowers with Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink (Ranger)
• stamped the crackle background (Stampin' Up) over them in Blueprint Sketch Distress Ink
• die cut a rose using the 3D flowers Sizzix die and added it to the center of my tattered floral
• popped the circular element up with mounting tape

I would love to see your take on this fun technique, so after you've finished creating - stop by the CURRENT CHALLENGE and link up!! Hope to see you there!