40 Ways To Love Your Brayer

author unknown....passed around via email

1. Stripes: using markers, make stripes on your brayer (this works best if
you lie it on its back and turn the roller while holding the marker) all the
way around until the beginning and ending stripe meet. Roll brayer across
your paper in whatever direction you desire.

2. Squiggles (technical term): Repeat the same process as for Stripes but
make wavy lines instead of straight ones.

3. Confetti/Dots/Raindrops: Randomly make marks on your brayer with your
marker (you can use different colors) all over the entire roller. Then roll
away.

4. Plaids: Same as with the markers for stripes except crisscross pattern.
You can also outline the stripes for your plaids with the smaller tip of
your marker to make the plaid/stripes stand out more.

5. Plaids: Rainbow/Kaliedacolor plaids are made with the brayer being rolled
over a KC pad several times then brayering over your paper. Repeat as
necessary for the desired depth of color and surface coverage. Then repeat
the process in the opposite direction.

6. KC Backgrounds: Same as above just don't create a plaid design. This
works great for those scenery/landscape cards.

7. Reverse/mirror Image: Color your stamp, rubber side up and roll the
brayer over the image several times, then roll over your paper (works great
with trees, flowers, etc.) You can also add this technique to the above KC
backgrounds for a great scenic card.

8. Mirror Image: If you have an image that you want to face each other say
the Pig from Farm Fun..you would brayer over the stamp like above and then
roll onto your paper then stamp the original pig image nose to nose with the
first.

9. Kissing: Brayer over a background stamp like Pindot Plaids then use your
other stamps like the Seasonal Solid and stamp onto the background stamp
then stamp onto your card stock - your solid stamp now has a design and you
have just multiplied your uses of one set.

10. Ghosting: Stamp an image on your card (say the Snowflake from the
Snowflake set) several times in clear embossing ink. (Do Not Emboss) Then
brayer over your invisible images with regular dye pad and your snowflakes
will start to appear.

11. Resist: Works best with glossy paper, you will need a Versamark inkpad.
Stamp image on glossy cardstock then brayer over top of that the same as in
Ghosting technique.  The stamped image will not let the brayered ink absorb
through the card stock, therefore, comes the "resist".  Others to try:  oil
colored pencils (work best with regular matte finished papers); crayons, wax
paper, metallic pens, embossing ink, rubber cement, masking fluid, white
out/correction pen; gel pens, was resist sticks, Deka paint (for fabric -
much harder to do).

12. Another "resist" able technique: crumble a piece of waxed paper; iron
(on hottest setting/no steam) waxed paper onto white card stock (be sure to
use an additional sheet of card stock between the waxed paper and the iron);
press for only 2-3 seconds - this will transfer the wax to both sheets of
card stock (if you iron too long the wax will be absorbed into the paper.)
Ink your brayer and then brayer over card stock. The brayer will resist
laying color where the waxed paper has left its design. Makes a great
background paper.

13. Another variation to the above is to use your stylus tool and with the
wax paper on the card stock use the tip of your stylus to write your own
message or draw your own design - brayer over to reveal  your design or
message.

14. Use your brayer for those big background stamps to get an all over
inking.

15. You could also use the same technique as above for those bigger solid
images that you want to emboss. Brayer over the image with the emboss pad
for an even/smoother finish.

16. Put a piece of cheesecloth down and brayer over the cheesecloth for a
different effect.

17. Try the same as above with lace doilies, lace, bubble wrap.

18. Brayer over a leaf (two ways to do this: place card stock over leaf or
other nature finds and bring out the textured surfaces below; or use the
reverse/mirror image technique to pick up the pattern of  your nature find.)

19. Joseph's Coat: Brayer with a KC pad and cover the entire area of your
card (glossy works best). Emboss your image with clear embossing ink and
clear powder on top of the area colored (this technique works best with the
more solid image stamps like the tent from Rough' in It or the Kids Prints).
Then ink your brayer with the black or Navy (the darker, the better) and
cover the entire card again with this new color. Let the overcoat of ink
dry; buff the card with a paper towel to remove excess ink. What happens is
that your KC color will then shine through. Just think of a great landscape
card with stars in the sky and trees) WOW!

20. Ink up your brayer with embossing ink and roll over the entire card then
emboss with clear powder.

21. Brayer an intense/brilliant color on glossy card stock then use a
speckle background stamp and clear emboss ink, stamp then emboss with
Rainbow Razzle or other multi-colored emboss powder. When you heat it will
bring out the beautiful play in colors.

22. Watercolor brayer: Ink your brayer with a rainbow pad or markers, then
spritz with a water bottle, then roll out for a very pretty watercolor look.

LUCITE/ACRYLIC:

23. Put rubber bands around your brayer for unique background.

24. Wrap plastic wrap around your brayer for another unique background.

25. Try fabric netting or the netting from bags of oranges or marbles as
above.

26. Cheesecloth another unique background.

27. Try string.

28. Yarn.

29. Try the new Encore pads and rolling it out onto liquid appliqué for a
faux suede look.

30. Use your acrylic brayer to roll out paperclay.

31. Use your acrylic brayer to make sharp creases in your card stock.

32. Crinkle up a piece of Mulberry paper, ink up your brayer with Encore pad
and give Mulberry paper a gilded look.

33. Faux Suede - squeeze brown liquid appliqué on wax paper or aluminum
foil. Roll the brayer until it is coated on your cut out image (try the
gingerbread man die cut) let it set for a minute then heat. This will give
you a nice suede feel. Try it with different colors. But be sure to clean
your brayer right away.

34. Use your acrylic brayer with pigment ink on glossy card stock (takes a
little while to dry) don't roll, use a quick sliding motion to brush the
inked brayer across the card stock, wiggle if you want (the brayer, that
is). You can make some awesome plaids or sunbursts.

35. Try the same technique above but tap the brayer around in different
areas for an all over color burst.

FOAM:

36. Use your foam brayer for an all over airbrush effect.

37. Use your foam brayer with your stencils.

38. Use with the KC pads for rainbow effect.

39. Use your foam brayer with markers for an interesting look. I've heard
that you can make some great tortoise shell, leopard or gemstone looks on
glossy card stock.

40. You can also use the spritz technique with the foam brayer for a
watercolor effect.