spotlight on a rainbow gone awry

More stenciling... this time not so fun. For the background story on this rainbow gone somewhat awry, check out my Spotlight tutorial over at STAMPlorations ;)

STAMPlorations special release - the bee's knees

There are a couple new stamp sets being released over at STAMPlorations. They're from our own Shirley Bampton and here's the Little Owls set I got to play with today.

I decided to pick one of the owls and design a card around him. First up, I had to give that frazzled cutie a go.

STAMPlorations Little Owls stamp
STAMPlorations Be You stamp

Distress inks

I used my MISTI to stamp each line of the sentiment stamp with a different rainbow color, then perched Mr Frazzled on top of it. I love this large sentiment - both the message and the way it can carry a card design.

Then I decided to use the striped cutie cuz I felt the need to rainbow something else ;)

 STAMPlorations Little Owls stamp

STAMPlorations Clouds stencil

Copics

I stamped and masked the owl. Die cut a circle from scrap and using the negative as a mask, stenciled the clouds with light gray ink. Colored the owl, stamped the sentiment and gave the clouds a coat of Wink of Stella.

Shirley has a second new set out today with larger owls (both new sets are 10% off til August 10). Visit the STAMPlorations blog to see more inspiration using both sets. By commenting here and there before August 8, you could possibly win yourself a prize! Thanks for coming by. I'll have more makes with these cuties tomorrow.

STAMPlorations inspiration #227

Welcome to another Tuesday inspiration from the STAMPlorations inspiration team.

Another from my series of ink blending with stencils. It's so easy (and satisfying) to create a one-layer card (my faves) with a stencil and some inks. Here's a sympathy card inspired by nature.

 STAMPlorations Just Squares stencil
STAMPlorations Blooming Buds stamp

Distress inks
makeup brushes
white embossing powder

Did an all-over design for this one. Used Bundled Sage and Peeled Paint inks. Splattered water. Stamped the loose bloom images which provide a nice contrast to the graphic squares. Added a heat embossed sentiment on a black snippet (always a good idea ;)

You could win yourself a $10 GC to the store by leaving a comment on this month's inspiration posts! Check out today's post here. Thanks for looking.

simon says stamp - never quit swimming dude!

Happy weekend! There's a new Believe in You release in town from Simon Says Stamp. I got to play with Never Quit Swimming. Talk about putting you in a good mood.

OK. So I think being in the company of these little cuties took me back to those good old Finding Nemo days. What a great movie! One of my favorite parts was the turtles riding the East Australian Current. I had to run with it...

 SSS Never Quit Swimming stamp
Waffle Flower Cutaway Letters die

Distress inks

So that's supposed to be little Squirt (maybe you need to go watch the clip and then come back ;) I had to incorporate "dude" so I die cut it and colored it with some leftover ink and water. 

Check out the release if you haven't, and all the makes with it in the Believe in You gallery at Simon Says Stamp. I'll have a few more makes for you with this stamp set. Thanks mucho, Simon.

I'm playing at:
AAA Card Challenge - One Image + positivity (optional)

simon says stamp - never quit swimming jelli

Have you seen the latest SSS release, Believe in You? I was so excited to receive a super cute set of adorable sea creatures to play with, Never Quit Swimming. Talk about putting you in a good mood.

As I mentioned yesterday, I seldom "do" super cute. But there's something about these creatures. They are smaller then the typical "cute" images and for some reason I think they're just perfectly illustrated. The sentiments are a riot too and in a fresh font style.

SSS Never Quit Swimming stamp

watercolors

There's a story behind this one. I'm a beachcomber. A few years ago I was walking along a beach on the Atlantic coast of France. Barefoot. There was this thing on the beach - bluish, purplish, plasticy, squishy. I nudged at it with my toes. Couldn't really define it (thank God I didn't pick it up) so walked on.

Later that evening I couldn't feel my toes. Turns out I'd nudged a dead Portuguese Man of War. After googling, my kids were certain I was going to die. I didn't. But this Great Lakes girl learned her lesson. Trust me, if you see a bluish, purplish, plasticy, squishy thingy on a beach at the ocean, don't touch it.

So, in a nod to that bluish, purplish, plasticy, squishy encounter I merely stamped the image with waterproof ink, sloshed on some water, dabbed some Blueprint Sketch, Wilted Violet and Picked Raspberry into it and then restamped the jelli with rich Versafine black.

Check out the release if you haven't, and all the makes with it in the Believe in You gallery at Simon Says Stamp. I'll have a few more makes for you with this stamp set. Thanks mucho, Simon.

I'm playing at:
AAA Card Challenge - One Image + positivity (optional)

simon says stamp - never quit swimming rainbowed

Have you seen the latest SSS release, Believe in You? I was so excited to receive a super cute set of adorable sea creatures to play with, Never Quit Swimming.

You know I seldom "do" super cute. But there's something about these creatures. They are smaller then the typical "cute" images and for some reason I think they're just perfectly illustrated. The sentiments are a riot too and in a fresh font style.

SSS Never Quit Swimming stamp

watercolors

So when I saw that striped fish I had to rainbow him. Actually a bunch of him. A school. Drew myself a guide line, stamped the sentiments and fish in a row and then the rest of the school using Antique Linen Distress Ink. Then I did some simple watercoloring.

I seriously doubt that I'll ever be swimming with a school of fish, but if I did I'd want them to look like these.

Then I had the idea to run a line of fish and a line of sentiments across a card front. The "rainbowing" took a slightly different turn for this one. But you get the idea.

  SSS Never Quit Swimming stamp

Sakura Gelly Roll pen

watercolors

Check out the release if you haven't yet, and all the makes with it in the Believe in You gallery at Simon Says Stamp. I'll have a couple more makes for you with this adorable set. Thanks mucho, Simon.

I'm playing at:

neon goes pastel

OK. So a while ago I had a fling with neon  (for the CUTplorations challenge). And then I ran into neon watercolors at the Creativeworld in Frankfurt. Had to add them to my stash and had a good play with them trying out some hand lettering.

Each time I was done with one color and hand lettering, I added a splash of water to a spare piece of cardstock and dabbed the brush off on it. Had to do something with the panel when it was complete, right?

 Rico Design neon watercolors

STAMPlorations Let Go stamp

STAMPlorations Mixed Media Grunge stamp

black and white acrylic paint

washi

I stamped an old BG stamp over it the watercolored panel (with white pigment ink) and because I just love neon with B/W I had to give the whole thing some splatters with watered down paints too. A couple washi strips finished it off.

I need to remember to let the heavy stuff go as I head to Michigan and my dear Dad whose heart is getting weaker and weaker...

I'm linking up at:
Bastel Traum - AG
Craft Stamper - TIMI July
Happy Little Stampers - Watercolor July