I started on my Father's Day cards and I thought I would show you how I made the above card - it has lots of great subtle details that add to it's overall look.  It is kind of hard to see them in the above photos but trust me - in real life this card has a lot of wow-factor.

To start, I will show you how I made the background effect. 

First, I ran some thin chipboard (about the thickness of a cereal box) through my Big Shot with a Texturz plate.  It gave me this effect...

Love this - nice and subtle and perfect for the inky background I wanted to make.

This next technique is nothing new - a blended inky background.  I have seen it about a million times but until I attend Ranger U 2 months ago I had never tried it.  So it is new-to-me! :) 

(maybe you haven't tried it yet either so I am going to show you how I did it step by step)

First you need an ink blending tool...

Or several like me.  After Ranger U I ran out and bought the above craft spinner because it is so much easier  to have one tool for every color group (definitely read that as me being lazy).  You don't need more than one tool - you can change the foam between colors (attached to tool with velcro) or just use one foam for a whole project - working with the lightest color to the darkest - and wash it after. 

So you now see how it feels lazy to have one for every color group - but oh so luxurious!  I love, love this little spinning holder - makes me grab these tools way more often as it sits on the corner of my table.

OK.  Back to the technique. :)

I have my blending tools and my Distress Ink - Vintage Photo, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade & Walnut Stain.

OK - let me make one last digression - here is a tip for you.  Once you open up your ink pads they kinda all look the same.  To save myself some trouble, I always tuck the lids underneath the pad while working and then when I go to clean up I know which lid goes with which ink pad without thinking.

And NOW back to the inking/blending. :)

You want to pounce your blending tool onto your ink pad - one or two "pounces" will do.  Basically you are transfering a little bit of ink to the foam so you can rub it onto your project.

To start - let me show you want you don't want to have happen.

Harsh lines on your project that show the shape of your tool.  Here's how to avoid that...:)

To start, you want to place your tool down next to your project and start moving it towards the project with small circles (this lets the harsh lines happen off your project).  As you drag your tool from the edge of your project towards the center if it (remember - always moving in small circles) you will start to see the ink transfering.  You need to keep repeating the process to build up your color - you will get a feel for it once you try it.  And since you always go over the edge of your project first and move towards the center, more of the ink will transfer on the outer edge causing it to look shaded/blended.

(Note:  more layers of ink will result in darker effect - for a lighter effect use less layers of ink)

You can work with just one color or lots of different ones - blending them together with the tool. 

(It really is very easy to get the blended effect - one practice session and you will be a pro!)

Here is how my embossed chipboard looked as I built up my colors...

The above photos is what is looks like up close - it shows how wonderfully the colors just blend into each other - with the raised/embossed parts picking up more of the ink. (I ran a blending tool loaded with Walnut Stain over the entire surface once I was finished so all the dots would have a dark color to them.)

Then I ran a sanding block over some spots to break up how uniform it looked.

I liked this background but I decided to add some stamping over it to give it a finished look.

Used my favorite handwritten text stamp from Hero Arts and matched it with some pigment ink in Snow Cap (this is nice bright white).

Look at what a gorgeous impression it gave...

Ahhh, sigh. I love how crisp the image is.

Next, I add this inky background piece to a card base I made from some folded kraft cardstock.

Then I decorated it.

Then... I decided that the chipboard letters I had alreadyglued down to the card were too "plain".  LOL

So what to do?  Stamp 'em of course!

Got out my grid stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms that I absolutely adore and some dye based ink by Ranger in Lettuce.  Inked up the stamp and gently pressed it onto my letters. (I had to be careful that I didn't accidently stamp my background.)

I LOVE how this little touch looks - seems absolutely perfect to me.

I have another one to show you - but I am not quite finished it - maybe tomorrow. :)

(other items used on the card - chipboard letters by Kurio/K&Co, journaling circle - Heidi Swapp, orange label & chipboard circle - Scenic Route, green label - Fontwerks)