Seeing Ink Spots: August 2015

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Gorgeous Green Hues

The focal panel of my card includes Mossy Meadow, Garden Green, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive, and Pear Pizzazz ink colors, all are gorgeous green hues inspired by the Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge. To achieve the faux watercoloring look I used the rectangle image from the Work of Art stamp set for each of the green swooshes of color. I simply inked up and stamped, but before lifting the stamp up off my paper I twisted and smeared the image. Then to get even more of a blended look I stamp off and off and off again and again until there was no ink left on the stamp. The beauty of this technique is you create and clean at the same time!

Sunday, August 23, 2015

You're So Sweet

It's our 50th Monday Montage Blog Hop! Welcome and enjoy a few moments of paper crafting goodness. I am sharing a few pictures of a fun gift box and tag stamped with the You're Sweet stamp set. It's a cool set designed to coordinate perfectly with the Mini Treat Bag Thinlets.

Just like we all like to stamp cards and have them ready for any occasion, I enjoy making gift boxes and having them on hand for small presents. I typically design them to easily open and fill. This one includes a belly band of DSP that slides off for easy access. The pattern paper comes from the Neutrals Stack which is awesome!!! I love that stack because it has both gold and silver pieces of DSP along with all the other neutral tones. It's versatility is super cool.

Another cool pack of paper in the catalog is the Cherry on Top Cotton Paper. It has such a unique weight, slick feel, and comes in rich colors. I cut all the layers of the floral topper with the Flower Flair Framelits.

from dara

to julie

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Paper Pumpkin Possibilities

The June Paper Pumpkin Kit was super versatile! You could mix and move, give and take, flip and rearrange the pieces in a huge variety of layouts. I had a blast making one each of the suggested kit designs and then I went to town doin' my own thing!

I heart Paper Pumpkin. It's my one chance each month to attend a stamp class. It's right in my very own home. I get to look frumpy, dumpy, or fabulous. I can go as fast or a leisurely as I wish. And, I love seeing each shiny new box in my mail.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Quick and Easy Patterned Watercoloring

It's time for a color challenge hosted by Hand Stamped Sentiments. For this challenge I put together a watercolor background paper that was quick and easy. I just finally ordered the Happy Patterns Decorative Masks (I know I am so silly for taking so long) and I love them, so I broke them out and used one for my watercolor technique. The designs are super versatile but what makes them so cool is that they are not so huge. They are the perfect size for cards which makes them easy to store, maneuver, and clean.

Here's what I did to create my mint and lagoon colored background. I set one of the masks on top of a piece of Watercolor Paper and then I pounced and smooshed a Mint Macaron Ink Pad directly on them. I pulled the mask away and then spritzed the inked design with water to "bleed" the color. Once the image was dry I did it all over again with Lost Lagoon ink.

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper

I was in a blue mood a few weeks back. Not that I was sad or down, I was drawn to the blue hues in the Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper Stack. You see I don't normally gravitate to strong blue tones, but I decided to push myself and go for it. These 6" x 6" papers are super versatile and colorful and I chose to highlight the blue patterns. So, I am showing you my blue mood for this Monday Montage Blog Hop.

Both cards are stamped with the Friendly Wishes stamp set and both include pieces of DSP from the Pretty Petals stack. I included a little stampin' on the inside of my first card for an added pop of color. The flowers and leaves are scribbled with a skinny tip of Stampin' Write Markers.