Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Watercolor Fun with Distress Inks

I've been trying new ways to use my Distress inks to share with my Rubberstamping 101 class at Stamp Fever. After filling the recycle bin with un-salvageable rejects over the course of a week I finally have 3 cards that I like!

For this first one I was inspired by Jacqueline's fabulous card HERE. She used a paintbrush to "paint" the Distress inks on to the stamp. After painting I spritzed the stamp with water before stamping.


I used Garden Bouquet, a cling stamp from Hero Arts and layered it with Hero Hues papers and Basic Grey pp from the Lauderdale collection. The sentiment is Lawn Fawn from Just My Type, Too.

The next technique used a paintbrush also.


This time I stamped the Lawn Fawn images from Blissful Botanicals with Memento ink. Then I added Distress ink in Dusty Concord, Mustard Seed and Peeled Paint to an acrylic block and spritzed on a bit of water. I used this to "paint" the images with a messy look. The sentiment is another Lawn Fawn stamp from Hello Friend. The background panel is covered with Dusty Concord and then I stamped Friend Definition just with water using inspiration from Vicky's video HERE.
 
The last technique is a favorite one for getting a watercolor look that's quick and easy. I used my own card HERE as inspiration.



All the stamps on this card are from Hero Arts. On the smaller panel I stamped Envelope Pattern with Scattered Straw for a bit of texture. Then I inked up the Silhouette Ivy with Crushed Olive and spritzed it with a mini mister before stamping each time. I let this dry then followed with the same technique using Stormy Sky.  I inked the edges with more Scattered Straw and stamped the sentiment with Jenni Bowlin No.11 Brown Sugar ink. Layered this to a white panel and tied a bit of jute string then set it aside while I stamped the background panel. I started with a white piece of cardstock and covered it with Stormy Sky using an ink blending tool. Then I inked up the Classic Fabric Design cling with more Stormy Sky and spritzed it before stamping on the prepared background. Once it dried I layered it on a 4.25 x 5.5 top fold card base then added the panel with dimensional foam.

I'm not sure which two will be used for the class, maybe we'll do all 3 techniques, you never know!

~ Isaiah 26:3-4 ~

You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

My heart has been breaking lately for all of my dear friends and loved ones who have been experiencing tragedy, sickness, loss of jobs, etc. I hope this verse will bring you comfort. It's so easy to lose our focus on the Lord and forget that it's not about this life but the one to come. Our pain and suffering here only serves to make our hearts long for our true home in heaven.

blessings and prayers loved ones,
nancy

21 comments:

  1. Your cards are stunning Nancy - makes me wish I had more Distress Inks in my stash! And that I could go to a fabulous class like yours ;)
    Rx

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  2. All three of these techniques make for some really lovely cards! My Michaels is now carrying more of the Distress Inks so I've got them on my list! I'll be able to try this out soon! Thanks very much!
    A big thanks for sharing the verses from Isaiah as well...I love those ones! :o)

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  3. Hi Nancy! Love the different watercoloring techniques you've shown! I've been playing around with the 3rd one but you've inspired me to try the others :) Love all 3 cards - especially the warm feeling the first one evokes, the lovely color combo of the second and the composition of the third! Hugs, Robin

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  4. Such wonderful inspiration today, Nancy! I love the pops of yellow on your first card! Great techniques used on all three beautiful cards! Hugs to you!

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  5. Love the watercoloring techniques. All three are beautiful. Thanks for detailed explanation. I have tried this technique but it doesn't seem to look just right.

    Thank you for your inspiration (in cards and from the word) :-)

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  6. Nancy these cards are beautiful and love the technique that you used. Your class should be loads of fun with these cards as your muse. Wow!

    Just wanted to say thanks for this encouragement that you shared. I felt it was meant for me. We have some things going on here that are difficult but not like some other folks who are dieing or without homes, like you mentioned in your post. Nonetheless, still stressful and trying at times. Funny how your verse today was hitting home with regards to our heavenly home and that God is our strong Rock. It can be easy to take our eyes off Him sometimes, but I am ever grateful that when I do He still loves me the same. Thanks sweetie for mininstering to my heart today. Hugs

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  7. What fun your class must have with you as a teacher! Love all of these! And thank you for that verse tonight......it seems we are surrounded by bad news and so many people I care about getting sick. A breaking heart is a good way of putting it. Peace of mind is surely what the Lord has plenty of for us if we only will ask for it. Hugs, my friend!

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  8. Beautiful, your class will be delighted! :o)

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  9. Gorgeous cards, Nancy! Wish I cold take a class with you!

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  10. Thanks for sharing your techniques. These cards are so pretty!!

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  11. Oh wow Nancy! Your 3 cards are absolute beauties! Thanks for explaining the different techniques you used, it inspires me to try something different!

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  12. Gorgeous cards! Love how the first bouquet of flowers reflects the lovely paper behind it. The vines are gorgeous on your last card and the lawn fawn set with the lavendars and purples are beautiful! Lovely verse today. I too feel for all of the friends going through difficult times right now.

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  13. Beautiful, Nancy! These will sure to be a hit in your next class, so sorry you had to do so many takes to find a design you liked, but the result here is fabulous!

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  14. Fantastic cards Nancy... All so beautifully done... I do like the third one... the mixture of the green and blue is so pretty.

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  15. I love all 3 cards, Nancy. The first one is my fav. Wish I was closer so I could take your class. :) Thanks for the card inspiration and the thought for the day. It gives me hope.

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  16. Lovely cards. All of them! I love using Distress Inks and always look for new ideas for them! I love reading your inspiration verses as well!

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  17. These cards are SO pretty, Nancy! I love them all.

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  18. Your cards are beautiful, speaking summer and freshness!
    Loved your words today to be focused on our home in heaven, what bliss it will be!

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  19. love the 'messy' coloring on the lawn fawn card! i want to try that soon! the result is lovely!

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Thanks for your comments, I love hearing from you!