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))),

Whirlpool of Feelings?

It's obvious that as we continue our battle to defeat the Covid19 pandemic, we have been experiencing a remarkably wide range of emotions.  Some days it seems the news seems to make us feel that daylight & hope are nearly close enough to touch.  Other days, it feels as though we're sinking into the sands of time, doesn't it?   

The thing I'm missing most is being able to just spend time with friends & family ... in person.  My heart is yearning to travel back to my little hometown right now to share laughs & hugs with friends I've known all my life.   This Crazy Cats image seems to be expressing my feelings perfectly!

Just to add some creative fun, I used A Colorful Life Designs' new 'Whirlpool' stencil with Ranger's Texture Paste - Translucent Matte onto a saved watercolor background.  

 Being an afternoon/evening stamper, I allowed the design to dry overnight before coming back to finishing up the actual card.  I love that the subtle colors of the background show through the texture paste, even a bit more than caught in my photos.  

Hopefully the sun will be warming us up here tomorrow.  I've got lots of bushes still waiting for me to seriously cut them down to size before the heat of Summer locks me back inside.   ;)

Stay safe and well, m'friends!

Inky (((hugs))),

Products used:

STAMPS:  Crazy Cats (Stampers Anonymous), Poppy Friendship (Inky Antics)

INKS:  Distress Oxides, VersaFine Clair Nocturne

PAPERS:  watercolor, Gina K Wild Lilac, Neenah

ACCESSORIES:  "Whirlpool" stencil by A Colorful Life Designs, 

Peach Rain

So do you ever start working on something with no particular recipient in mind?

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That's how today's card started.  I spotted the Fusion Challenge - 'Paris Rain', and quickly had an idea of what I might do ... ... and so it began!

The large image space drew my attention right away, and both my aqua painter brush plus watercolor paper were within reach. 
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Let's be honest ... I do have a LOT of stamps.  But I do not have the Eiffel tower, etc.  No problem!  I wanted this happy image from 'Beautiful You' to be 'dancing in the rain', so the image was stamped, then stamped again on some Eclipse masking tape.  The mask protected the central image while I lightly washed the paper as though it were a rainy day.  

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While that was drying, I worked on color selection and chose the additional stamps.  All the while, I still didn't really have a recipient in mind for the card-to-be, until I heard about a friend from my stamping group.  With that cyber shoulder-tap, I knew the exact purpose of this creation.

Don't you love it when that happens?

The framing around the sentiment was stamped with the leaf image from Kinda Eclectic as seen creating the surrounding foliage on the card's front.
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Psssst!  Sale-A-Bration ends next week!  
Thanks for using my March Host Code on your 
final orders this month!   March Host Code QZ7R3NTD 

Click to shop!

  Inky (((hugs))),

Product List

Beautiful You Clear-Mount Stamp Set [143637] $28.00	Kinda Eclectic Clear-Mount Stamp Set [135350] $20.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00
Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad [141398] $6.50	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [131180] $6.50	Soft Sky Classic Stampin' Pad [131181] $6.50	Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978] $6.50	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [126975] $6.50	Peekaboo Peach 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141417] $8.00

Taco 'Bout Your Awesomeness!

Last week I heard a brief discussion about the possibility of changing the 'state food' of Texas from 'Chili Con Carne' to ... guess what .... Tacos!    

First ... I'm not a Texan originally.  But, in all my Texas years, I'm not sure I've ever eaten 'Chili Con Carne'.  I can say with certainty that I've never 'ordered' it at a restaurant, etc.  Now tacos?  That's entirely different!  I've made tacos in a few different versions right here at home, and ordered them in Texas as well as other states for sure.  So my vote would be obvious!

I created this little taco pick-me-up with the darling Sale-A-Bration stamp set ... Tasty Trucks!  I armed myself with an Aqua Painter, a few ink pads, and the SC633 Sketch  from Splitcoaststampers.  

Sale-A-Bration continues thru March 31, and there now a few new SAB choices tossed into the already fun mix of stamps and accessories!  Just click here to see those newly-added options!  And check the right column to download the original SAB catalog ... all items in both SAB's are 'live' now.  There's no limit on how many items you can earn, 1 free choice per each $50 product purchased.  Woooohooooo!

I'm so glad you stopped by today.  Hope you found a bit of inspiration during your visit.  

Thank you bunches for shopping in my SU Store!  Please let me know if I can be of help with questions, hopes, or just yada yada!

Inky (((huggss))),

Product List

Tasty Trucks Photopolymer Stamp Set [143300] $0.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00	Layering Ovals Framelits Dies [141706] $35.00	Blushing Bride Sequin Trim [138400] $5.00	Peekaboo Peach 3/8" (1 Cm) Ruched Ribbon [141427] $8.00	Aqua Painters [103954] $17.00	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $7.00
Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad [141398] $6.50	Watermelon Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad [138323] $6.50	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad [126982] $6.50	Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad [140932] $7.00	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Pad [126957] $6.50	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad [131180] $6.50	Fruit Stand Designer Series Paper [141660] $11.00
Peekaboo Peach 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141417] $8.00	Flirty Flamingo 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [141416] $8.00	Watermelon Wonder 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138334] $8.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] $7.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $4.00