Reindeer in the Snow by Susan Bradney

A step by step tutorial on how to create an alcohol ink sky with snowbanks.

For this, you will need

A sheet of Lavinia Stamps Yupo card A5
A selection of alcohol inks
Alcohol blending solution
Hairdryer or hand pump
Alcohol lift off
A brayer
Copy paper
A piece of white A5 multifarious card
A selection of stamps
Versafine Clair inks in nocturne and twilight
White gel pen
Chunky white embossing powder

The Steps in creating Reindeer in the Snow
(click on the first image to view as a slideshow)

: Take a sheet of A5 Lavinia Yupo card and a selection of alcohol inks, I’ve used ocean blue, blue lagoon and starline grey.

: Add some drops of inks to your yupo and add some blending solution. Use either a hairdryer or in my case an alcohol ink hand pump to blow the inks around.

: Keep adding colour and blending solution until you are happy with the coverage. Make sure the top 2/3rds of the card is covered. Leave to dry or use a hair dryer, this is where Lavinia’s yupo is great as it is really thick and won’t warp or melt.

: Take 2 sheets of copy paper (keeping them together) and tear in half along the length. It is important both sheets are the same profile.

: Put a bead of alcohol lift off along the short edge and spread it down the yupo using a brayer.

: Lay 1 sheet of your torn paper on the yupo where you want the horizon.

: Take a print by laying a sheet of A5 white multifarious card on top and smooth over lightly with your hand.

: Trim to the size you require, I’ve made mine 6 1/4” x 4 1/4”. This will fit nicely on a 7x5 card after matting and layering.

: This is where your 2nd sheet of torn paper is needed. Lay it back on and stamp the trees, I used versafine clair nocturne ink and The spring trees.

: Using more torn paper and twilight ink create some snowbanks, make sure to blend some ink up the edges of each bank.

: Using a white pen put some highlights on the trees.

: Stamp your main image, I like to place the same piece of torn paper on and stamp the image slightly on the paper, this gives the illusion the stag is standing in deep snow.

: Add some foliage and add white pen to highlight.

Finally, sprinkle some white thick embossing powder on heat from either behind or from high up and slowly get closer.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and will give it a go

Stay safe

Susan x