Painting with Versamark

Are you like me...not very fond of fussy cutting or cutting up masks for every image I want covered so that I can color the background how I want it? Sometimes not all images can be completely fussy cut either, there's inside pieces that I just don't have the patience nor the time to cut off. So I started thinking...what if I modify the emboss resist technique and paint with Versamark instead? So experiment I did...

First I tried painting directly with Versamark ink refill. It kinda worked, but the ink is too thick and it didn't make for an even embossing. So I tried thinning out the ink, but no luck there. I was about to give up when I thought, heck, why not just try inking my brush directly from the pad??? So try it I did, and success! Mind blown!

Here's a short video on how I did this technique...

I am so happy to discover this technique, it just opens up so many other possibilities!! Here's another card I made using this technique.

And here's how I made it...

 I stamped the birds from the Free as a Bird set using Memento ink

 Colored my images in using my Blends

 Painted my images with Versamark, covered with clear embossing powder and heat-set

And finally sponged my background using Mango Melody, Terracotta Tile and Merry Merlot. I added a Mango Melody mat piece using my Ornate Layers Dies, added my Baker's twine, and adhered the whole piece to my Crumb Cake card base. My sentiment is from Beautiful You on a piece of Whisper White piece die cut with a Stitched Nested Labels die. Lastly I added some rhinestones for embellishment.

Now isn't that such a fun technique?!?! I can't wait for you to try it and see what you create! Thanks for stopping by, and as always, keep safe and happy crafting! See you next time!

Beautiful Preggy You :)

I have been asked recently to make a card for one of my co-workers who is expecting a baby boy in a few weeks. I of course said yes, thinking that I have the perfect stamp set for that...the Wonderful Moments set! Well, imagine my surprise when I found out that I hadn't actually ordered that one yet...that set was on my wish list after all! So what was I to do?! Luckily I owned the gorgeous set Beautiful You, and with just a little bit of tweaking, I was able to make it work! 

Here's my super simple card...I hope she likes it!

For the pregnant look I just wiped the ink off her tummy before stamping my image. This enabled me to draw in her pregnant tummy. I colored my image using my Watercolor Pencils and AquaPainters and then used my Stitched Framelits to cut my oval piece. I also cut up strips of my Springtime Foils DSP (retired SAB item) and sponged them in Pool Party ink to match my cardstock. Finally for embellishment I just added some sequins with some Rhinestone jewels in the middle.

And that is my simple card for today. With just a little bit of imagination, the possibilities are endless! Thanks for stopping by today and I hope to see you next time. Happy crafting!

Beautiful You Watercolor Effect

      It is my beautiful sister-in-law's birthday and I need to make her a card. I wanted to do a watercolor effect card but done easily & quickly, without all the fuss of actual watercoloring. I wanted to use just ink pads with all my coloring too...easy-peasy. For her card, I used the Beautiful You stamp set together with the Wild About Flowers stamp set.

     I started my card by running my layering piece of Very Vanilla through my Big Shot with the largest stitched oval framelit. The oval cut-out piece is where I'm gonna be stamping and doing my watercoloring.

     

     I tried a few techniques to see what worked best for the watercolor effect. I tried stamping first, and then trying to spread the color with my aqua brush...that's a no-go. I tried switching to my blender pen...still no. I even tried it on watercolor paper...the ink simply just won't budge once it's down on paper. I next tried to stamp and then spray with a bit of water to help move the ink. This just warped my paper terribly so I decided to ditch that too. And then finally it dawned on me...why not ink my stamp and spray it with water before stamping on paper?! That way the ink is definitely moving and I'll have more of a watercolor effect. Perfect!

My inked stamp spritzed with water

Comparison of a straight-stamped image to a spritzed-before-stamped image

     After my first layer of Pool Party ink, I then moved on to Marina Mist and the smaller squiggle stamp to add depth to my watercolor sky. I repeated this technique for my grass using my Pear Pizzazz ink pad, as well as for coloring in her dress using my Fresh Fig. 

     I then moved on to stamping the flowers at the bottom of the oval. For that I used my Old Olive and Calypso Coral ink pads. For additional detail I just put white dots on the flowers using my white gel pen. Then I lined up my layering piece of Very Vanilla (with the oval opening) against the Calypso Coral piece and glued my watercolor piece right through the opening onto the Calypso Coral...this way I know that my oval piece is right where I want it to be. Next I just added some ribbon for embellisment.

     For additional dimension, I put foam tape at the back of the Very Vanilla piece before adhering it to my Calypso Coral piece. Lastly, I added my sentiment. And my simple watercolor card is done! 

     This technique was so easy and simple to do but with big results, which I love. I'm sure glad my experiments paid off! Here's hoping my sister-in-law likes her card! Well I hope you enjoyed my card for today crafters and I hope you all have a lovely day! See you next time!

PRODUCTS USED:

• Beautiful You stamp set
• Wild About Flowers stamp set
• Fresh Fig ink pad
• Pear Pizzazz ink pad
• Old Olive ink pad
• Marina Mist ink pad
• Pool Party ink pad
• Calypso Coral ink pad
• Calypso Coral cardstock
• Very Vanilla cardstock
• Tombow multipurpose glue
• Blender pen
• Stitched Shapes Framelits
• Big Shot