Inhale Confidence!

Hi y'all!  Here's a card with a very simple watercolor approach.  Don't get me wrong .... While I adore looking at watercolored images & cards that amaze my eyes, I'd be here all month plus more trying to replicate an ooooh-ahhhhhh.  It's okay .... always have something to reach for ahead.  ;)

My plan was to create something with splattered inks.  I first brushed from my Altenew watercolors onto watercolor paper, leaving brush marks along the sides.  When dry, I used VersaMark ink to stamp the images and heat embossed in white.  As you can see, I did layer color just a little bit in the leaves.  However, watercoloring all in one sitting without dry time between layers results in a softer gradient blend. 

Time for the Misti, and my other favorite tool, the Cut-Align rulers.  Together these make picky placement so much easier so the Picket Fence Studios sentiment on vellum was easily lined up & placed.

News!  I've been loving on some new stamps recently, so stay tuned for a new stamp set coming in a few days!

Inky (((hugs))),

Absolutely Positively Amazing!

I have really enjoyed playing with this new Leafy Wildflower stencil.  Trying various placements, allowing for sentiments of seemingly endless shapes & sizes, and of course choosing which to commit to further development!   Have you noticed that this quarantined life is starting to have a weird effect in your life?

I smeared a bit of Dusty Concord ink on my craft mat, the added a teeny bit of water for randomly dropping color from a watercolor brush.  Then I just had to give in to let myself use some little rhinestones on the bud areas of the stencil.  All done & super easy!

Psssst!  Code BevFan10 is my discount shopping code at A Colorful Life Designs.  Feel free to use it when shopping at ACL!

Inky (((hugggsss))),

Products Used:

STAMPS:  "Seriously, Absolutely, Always" (Picket Fence Studios)

INKS:  Stephanie Barnard Artichoke, Distress Ink Dusty Concord, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Onyx

PAPERS:  Neenah Solar Classic, Olive, Grape

ACCESSORIES:  ‘Leafy Wildflower’ by A Colorful Life Designs, Misti stamp positioner, Life Changing Blender Brushes (Picket Fence), Pixie Spray, Corner rounder, watercolor brush, rhinestones, 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

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 

Never Alone ...

I'm a bit amazed at how easy it felt to create today's card.  This one is a bit rare, in that becoming friendly with the concept of 'clean & simple' design has been tricky for me.  Participating in online CAS challenges has  proven to be a helpful learning tool for me, coupled with the vision loss of the recent 3-4 years.  Now I'm even willing to say that change can be a good thing!  So ... here's one that just seemed to fall into its CAS place with ease:

One of the first things I like to do when opening new stampy toys & tools is to simply mess around with them, i.e. play!  I like to ink up the stamps that insisted on being bought & see them in color on my card stock scraps.  As soon as I inked up this Picket Fence Studios stamp from 'Exhale Worry' ... I knew it needed to be the simple focus of a card.  This simple 'Spokes' stencil called out to me and sure enough .. the card was on its way to being created.  

I smoothed on 'Coastal' Chalkology Paste, then set it aside for a short time to dry.  While it dried, I heat embossed the sentiment and chose the die shape.  Tiny little rhinestones became the final touch.

I'm sure I'll make more of these.  I love the subtle, simplicity of this one.  There are times when one feels so alone ... and this is a beautiful reminder to Christians that we are never truly alone.  It makes my heart smile.

**Just a Note:  I'm beginning reclaim studio storage space and will be selling bunches of stamps & stampy supplies on this blog as well as through my Facebook page/group.  Pages/categories will be found listed beneath my blog header above.  New pages will be added for more categories across Summer 2019.  Check back often, and/or ask to be invited to the 4 Sale group via my Texas Rubber & Ink! facebook page!

Inky (((hugggs))),

Supplies Used:

STAMPS:  Exhale Worry (Picket Fence Studios)

STENCIL:  Spokes (A Colorful Life Designs)

INKS:  VersaMark

PAPERS:  Neenah Classic Solar white, Sahara Sand

ACCESSORIES:  Labels dies (The Stamps of Life), Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue, white embossing powder, tiny rhinestones (Taylored Expressions), foam dimensional tape

Follow Your Path!

What a fun feeling when you spy a new stampy item that instantly causes you to think, "That will be perfect with my *insert cool stampy item*".  That's just what happened when I saw this new stencil from A Colorful Life Designs.  My mind's eye immediately saw it paired with the Follow Your Path stamps by Picket Fence Studios.  ... Make it so! ...

This time I brayered purple & white acrylic paints atop my gelli plate to create this fun background with the Whimsey Lines stencil.  (Pssst!  Get 10% off with code BevFan10 !)    

Using the Misti positioner made sentiment placement quick as a wink.  This phrase is perfect for a beloved special lady who just scored a brand new job that she truly adores!

I hope you've found a bit of inspiration today, and I appreciate your visit!   Compensated affiliate links are used when possible.  When you place an order after clicking one of my links, I receive a small commission at no cost to you.  Thanks so much for using my links and supporting this blog.  

Inky (((huggss))),

Supplies use:
STAMPS:  'Follow Your Path' by Picket Fence Studios
INKS:  VersaFine Onyx
PAPERS:  GK Lovely Lavender, SU Gorgeous Grape
ACCESSORIES:  'Whimsey Lines' stencil, Misti stamp positioner, Simon Says dies, acrylic paints, brayer, sequins (stash), dimensional foam tape