Pages

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Old School and New Stamps

In my first Hero Arts order of the year, I bought the Color Layering Birds and Blossoms set (with dies). Then, while watching one of Jennifer McGuire's videos, this uncontrollable urge came over me to buy the Hero Arts February kit, which includes a huge bird set and coordinating dies and three of the most wonderful colors of ink Hero Arts has come out with in a long time.

Someone really ought to do something about Jennifer. She's far too powerful an influence with her talent and all.  Perhaps we should bill her for the impulse purchases we make because she makes everything look so easy. It's all her fault, really. Other suggestions?

Anyway, last weekend, I sat and stared at the two sets of stamps wondering what the heck to do with them. An old-school idea popped into my head, and I ran with it.



These stamps were inked with markers, spritzed with water, and stamped on watercolor paper. So easy, so soft, so pretty!

I blended colors of Memento markers on the stamps: Bahama blue and Danube blue on the bird, London fog and rich cocoa on the branch, and Lulu lavender and grape jelly on the blossoms. Then I added bling for a little shine, and a black half pearl for the birdie's eye.




Yay for Old School!!!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,
Susan

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts 
ink: Archival black
paper: Tim Holtz watercolor, Papertrey white cardstock
accessories: Memento markers, water spritzer, rhinestones

9 comments:

  1. This is so cheerful! And, funny thing, I was just thinking about this technique this morning! What do you use to spritz your stamps? I've seen special misters offered by Ranger and Hero Arts, and I was wondering whether something like that is necessary to achieve a proper spritz for stamps, or whether a spray bottle like what one can pick up in the travel toiletries aisle would do just as well. Do you have any recommendations?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I picked one up at Marco's Paper. It didn't have a label. I imagine you could try the toiletries spritzer. This technique is definitely NOT about precision, LOL!

      Delete
  2. Beautifully done - I love that technique. Your matting is striking as always. You are so right about Jennifer. She makes everything look so easy. I have often thought I could do what she did, but usually it turns out that I cannot...

    ReplyDelete
  3. You're right...Jennifer is really a powerful influence, which is kind of amazing! She shows a new stamp and/or die, and by golly they are out of stock immediately. So what does that say about us crafters? Kidding aside, I've learned a lot from her...especially about basic products. It does seem sometimes, she's just "pushing new stamps/dies" constantly. Much prefer technique type videos & use "what you have" instead of buying new stamps I don't need!
    I just bought a HA layering bird set similar to yours because it was on sale for 85% off at my LSS that is closing...what's a stamper to do with a sale that great???

    ReplyDelete
  4. this is lovely! I haven't used that color-and-spritz technique in a long time. I love watching Jennifer's videos and I try hard to find stuff in my stash that can be used to get close to her results. Sometimes though she definitely enables me!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I too bought the HA bird set and have yet to use it. My bestie is a "birder", so she's likely to get a card or two if I can get the coloring right. Sigh. I do love your blue bird. tfs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My uncle is a birder, and I'm always worried that my bird stamps won't be accurate enough for him!

      Delete

Thank you so much for taking time to comment!