No Stamps, No Ink!

What's up with this?  No stamps?  No inks?  It's one of those off-beat times for everyone, I'm sure.  Today, my card is stenciled with acrylic paint!

The April release at A Colorful Life Designs includes a variety of text stencils.  The new 'Wonderful' stencil is all about encouragement!   Surely a welcome statement to share with so many people you're missing right now!  

  

The card's style was inspired by the Mix375 challenge at SCS, to used white ink on blue c/s, i.e. faux blueprint.  I need a new white pigment pad & reinker, so I gave it a try with a watercolor brush and a bottle of white acrylic paint.  Thank goodness for Pixie spray keeping all the cut edges secure while I brushed the paint on.  

The challenge included adding drawn white lines with a white pen, so I tried.  Now I remember why I typically just add white lines & such in much smaller bits!  lol

You're welcome to use my discount code, BevFan10, when shopping for stencils at A Colorful Life Designs!  

In other news, I "attacked" some hedge-type bushes this morning, as I was desperate to soak up the brand new sunshine blessing Texas today.  All the previous gray added to the current stay-at-home style of living has felt a bit oppressive!  Now that I'm appropriately pink-skinned and whooped, I can allow self to be inside.  My teeny progress toward trimming down & removing said bushes indicates that this will be a very long project.  Oh. My. Goodness.

Hope you find your own style of sunshine during these closed-in days.  Be well, my friends!

Inky (((hugs))),

Products used:  

INKS:  white Signo pen

PAPERS:  Blueberry, silver/white stripes printed paper

ACCESSORIES:  ‘Wonderful’ stencil by A Colorful Life Designs, white acrylic paint, small paint brush

Positive Thinking!

Yes, we will get through this together!  

The new 'Stay Positive' stencil from A Colorful Life Designs makes it so quick & easy to share a smile via mail with all of those friends we're missing.  I used a simple subscription postcard from a magazine as a mask while adding inks to the arrows, allowing me to color all of the sky blues, then the sand, then the red arrows.  A simple swipe with my damp shammy picked up left-over ink from the stencil before repositioning.

Sequins bring in a little shine, but then I wanted just a smidge more.  Just because.  So I opted for tone-on-tone doodling around the edge.  Did you notice?  No stamping on this one.  Just inks and my smallest blending brushes!

The card base was cut 7" X 6.5", then scored to create a 3.5" X 6.5" card.  

I welcome you to use my code, BevFan10, when shopping for your stencils at A Colorful Life Designs!

Stay well, m'friends!  Remember that all of this hand-washing calls for frequent self-pampering with your fave hand or body lotions.  Ahhhhhh!

Inky (((hugs))),

Products used:
INKS:  Ranger Distress Inks Barn Door + Frayed Burlap, Sahara
PAPERS:  Poppy, Sky, Sahara
ACCESSORIES:  'Think Positive' stencil by A Colorful Life Designs, Life Changing Blender Brushes (Picket Fence Studios), sequins, Gina K Connect Glue

Good Vibes to You!

Another week coming to a close, another week closer to good news concerning the global pandemic.  If I could send today's card to each of you, I would happily do so.  At least sharing online is a safe option for all.

After smooshing watercolor paper onto water-spritzed Distress Inks then drying overnight, the background was ready become a lovely sky setting.  The new 'Flock' stencil from A Colorful Life Designs reminds me of happy swallows doing their own version of a happy dance in the air.  Just perfect for this bold sentiment!

You're welcome to use my code, BevFan10, for a discount when shopping at A Colorful Life Designs!  

Find some joy this week, m'friends ... something that makes your heart smile, even in the midst of this storm.

Inky (((huggss))),

Products used:
STAMPS:  'Good Vibes' stamp set Picket Fence
INKS:  Distress Oxide Inks Broken China + Seedless Preserves
PAPERS:  watercolor paper, Blackberry Bliss, Neenah Solar White
ACCESSORIES:  'Flock' stencil by A Colorful Life Designs, Life Changing Blender Brushes (Picket Fence Studios), sequins

Comfort in Calico

Today's card 'had' to be created, so I could stop thinking about the idea of coloring the stencil to have a slightly different look.  Happily, it was easy ...  Yay!

First, I used Life Changing Blending Brushes to color random areas on the 'Paws' stencil (A Colorful Life Designs) with Wild Honey Distress ink.  I followed up in similar style with Rusty Hinge Distress ink.  The final step was adding dabs of dark gray ink to complete the calico idea.

It was a happy discovery to see that the Chloe dies (Darcie's) work so well with the paws shapes for this compact sentiment!  My card follows the Splitcoaststampers SC792 challenge.

Pssst!  Remember to take advantage of my discount code, BevFan10, when stencil shopping at A Colorful Life Designs!

My hope for you is that you remain resilient and ever hopeful during this time of struggle while our country & our world tackles the Covid-19 virus.  We can do this, my friends.  My faith in God is strong, and I have faith in you as well.   

Inky (((hugs))),

Products used:
STAMPS:  Flourishing Phrases (sentiment), Watercolor Basics (Cat’s Pajamas - splatters)
INKS:  Distress Rusty Hinge + Wild Honey, gray, VersaFine Onyx
PAPERS:  Neenah Solar Classic, Crushed Curry, Gina K’s Pumpkin Spice + Smoky Slate
ACCESSORIES:  Paws stencil (A Colorful Life), Darcie’s Chloe dies, blending brushes (Picket Fence)

Cross Off Worry

This card came about as a result of just inking around with the 'Field of Crosses' stencil by A Colorful Life Designs.  

After considering my many sentiment stamps, I began to peruse some of the unused stamps needing to be inked.  For me, unstructured 'play' with ink & stamps can bring ideas together when I'm otherwise stamping without a specific need.

The current global virus emergency has caused many changes.  Along with these changes comes natural concerns for the health of all citizens.  I know it's difficult to find a sense of 'calm', but that's actually the reminder I receive from this Picket Fence sentiment.  Even as a much younger person, I was occasionally reminded "don't worry so much".  This sentiment holds a more powerful way to bring on a welcome sense of peace and calm.  I hope it does for you as well.   

Remember, you're welcome to use my discount code, BevFan10, when you shop for stencils at A Colorful Life Designs!

Inky (((huggss))) and well-wishes too,

Products used:

STAMPS:  'Exhale Worry'

INKS:  VersaMark, DOX Blueprint Sketch + Broken China

PAPERS:  Vellum, Ballet Blue, Bashful Blue, Bliss Blue, Navy, Neenah Solar Classic White

ACCESSORIES:  ACL stencil ‘Field of Crosses’, Mini Misti, Life Changing Blender Brushes (PFS), Silver embossing powder