Marker Mayhem

Thank you all for your kind words and prayers regarding my recent auto accident. I have no update on the other driver yet, though my insurance agent said she would try to find out if the woman is okay. I'll keep you posted. BTW, I love my insurance company...USAA. Your comments on stopping for funeral processions have been fascinating; thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences. If you missed them, check the comments on this post.


Markers are a staple in the stamper's hoard of stuff, but I find I simply don't use them often enough. The other day, after perusing my Pure Inspiration board on Pinterest, I felt the need to do something with circles...such a basic element of design, pure geometry, simple, strong. Circles and markers...a match made in heaven.

I combined markers, a spritz bottle of water, and a simple circle stamp to make this pair of cards that quite literally made me squeal with delight so loudly my 16-year-old came to investigate. He pronounced them cool.

Hear that? I make stuff cool enough for a teenage boy to notice.

That's a pat on the back if I ever had one!

To get this strong wash effect, I inked the stamp in a very light shade of a color, then scribbled a brighter, darker marker of the same color over the stamp. (Don't try to blend! Just quickly scribble a few streaks.) Normally, when I spritz water to blend colors on a stamp, I'll let the water swirl around on the stamp a bit before stamping, but this time I spritzed and stamped immediately for maximum contrast. Isn't it fun?!?!?!

The key, I think, to making this work is have really light and really dark shades of ink for contrast.

The sentiment is stamped with Memento Luxe tuxedo black ink to make it really stand out and accented with bling because everything is better with bling.

This simple marker treatment produces such a bold and bright background!

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts
ink: Memento, Memento Luxe
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestones, water spritzer, marker (Memento), corner rounder