Hello Lovelies! I went to the dark side...I've been experimenting with "messy" coloring lately and I went to town on Tim Holtz's Stampers Anonymous Cozy Christmas Stamp Set...drips and splatters and splotches!! Oh my. :-)
I feel like my card-making is so restrained sometimes that I want to break the mold that I created for myself. I try to do things that feel may initially uncomfortable to explore new ways that spark joy in my card-making.
Sometimes I get everything and the kitchen sink out for a card, but today's project is really focused on stamps, ink and brush! I may have piled on Distress Snowfall Grit Paste Snowflakes in the corner, but who can resist that little pot of yummy texture!
Cozy Christmas comes with two beautiful scenes that are packed with holiday cheer. I can't wait to give the mini Santa a whirl on another project. The Bold Tidings mini is actually sized perfectly for Christmas tag-making, but I love how the modern lettering contrasts and compliments these beautiful vintage scenes.
Full supply list at the end of this post!
Today's cards showcases "painting" stamps with Distress Ink and spritzing for a watercolor effect.
BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC CARD - Direct-inking Stamps with Distress Mini Ink Pads and creating a "Distressed" Look with Water and Ink Splatters
Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Card Front: 4" x 5 1/4"
Featuring:
Tim Holtz Ranger Ink Distress Ink - Hickory Smoke, Blueprint Sketch, Prize Ribbon, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers
Tim Holtz Ranger Ink Distress Oxide - Hickory Smoke
Key Steps
Ink the stamp in Hickory Smoke Distress Ink and stamp to get an impression of the image and where the different elements that will be colored in various shades of blue start and end
Continue by inking and stamping in each of the colors shown until the entire image is inked in blues. Please note that I missed taking a photo for inking the holly leaf that is beneath the snowman in Peacock Feathers!!! So don't miss this step if you are giving this a try. Also, the snowman is inked in Tumbled Glass
With a generously wet paintbrush, begin to trace the stamped image with water which will make the colors flow and blend together
Continue until you are satisfied with the "distressed" look of your image
Dab a little bit of ink from your stamp pads onto your craft mat, spritz with water, pick up diluted with your paintbrush and flick it across your image
Next you can use the Mini-Snowflake stencil to add dimensional Snowfall Gritpaste snowflakes to the bottom-left and upper-right corners of the card
Allow to dry and then use a blending tool inked with a little Tumbled Glass and Salty Ocean Distress Ink to emphasize the outline of the snowflakes
Stamp the sentiment in Hickory Smoke Distress Oxide Ink and pop up with foam tape
Embellish with a few silver metallic baubles
How easy was that???
I do believe that there is a little bit of magic in this card!
The snowflake stenciling is subtle, but so fun!
Lovelies, it does not have to be "messy watercoloring" and splatters, but I hope you won't create too many rules in your card-making and that you will leave space to experiment...even when that means making a mess.
Thank you again for visiting! See you soon!
SUPPLIES:
I listed the products that I have used below. Please note that these are compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. I really appreciate your support. All dies used today were part of my maker package from Tim Holtz and Stampers Anonymous. Click on the icons below each product picture to shop with SimonSaysStamp.com.