A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
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Friday 15 July 2016

Swallowtail Coloured Three Ways

I was at my Stampin' Up rep's catalogue release party last weekend and she offered a great deal on retired stamps so I picked up the very large Swallowtail stamp - I've always admired cards made with it but was never sure how I'd use it.  So I bought it and decided to use it right away, and experiment with inking it up with three different mediums (other than straightforward ink).

This first one uses markers so I'm putting it in as my reminder card for the CAS Mix Up Design Team, since this month's challenge is markers.


For my July 1st CAS Mix UpDesign Team card here, I inked up my stamp with markers and then stamped immediately.  For this card, I inked up with Tombow markers and then spritzed with water to get a soft watercolour look.


I used my MISTI to make sure I got it stamped well.  I made a mask of the stamp and covered my image and splattered some brown watered down Vintage Photo ink.

I trimmed it down to a square and added a very narrow brown border and the white heat embossed sentiment on brown.  Two iridescent gemstones filled in the holes in the die cut sentiment label.

Staying in a similar colour range, I then tried inking up the stamp with watercolour crayons and spritzing with Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz spray instead of plain water.


Either I used less water or the watercolour crayons don't react as much with water, but I got a lot more detail and less of a watercolour look than I achieved in the first card.

I bordered it with a Spellbinders decorative border for the SU Ways to Use It challenge "Decorative Borders", used a shimmery copper card base, and die cut the sentiment from the same cs.  Some iridescent sequins finished it off.

My third medium was gelatos - and I totally changed my colour scheme as I only have a few gelatos.


Again, I scribbled on the stamp with a few colours, spritzed with water, and stamped on watercolour paper.   I prefer the results I got with the Tombow markers and the watercolour crayons to this.

I masked the butterfly, added a bit of pale blue text and some black splatters in the background, and made a white heat embossed sentiment.  I bordered with black to tie in the sentiment.  My embellishments are tiny flower sequins.


My favourite of the three is the first one - I love the watercolour look I got from using the Tombow markers.  How about you?




You have until July 24th to join us at CAS Mix Up if you want to try your hand at a clean and simple card using stamping, markers, and at least one other element.






Supplies:
Stamps - SU Swallowtail, SU sentiment, Wendy Vechhi text background
Ink - ColorBox white, ColorBox Cape Cod, Distress Black Soot and Vintage Photo
Paper - white, copper shimmer, brown, and black cs; watercolour paper
Accessories - Tombow markers, SU watercolour crayons, Gelatos, white embossing powder, iridescent gemstones, iridescent sequins, flower sequins, Memory Box label die, Spellbinders fancy border die, Nesties label die



5 comments:

  1. Thanks for showing three ways to colour this amazing stamp. All turned out really pretty ... but my favourite is the first one done with markers. It's a beautiful, soft, watercoloured look. And I love the rainbow of colours. So beautiful grounded with brown. xx

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  2. I Love your 1st butterfly card the most, but it was really fun seeing the results of your other 2 card techniques as well. I love the soft loose watercolor effect on your 1st card Susan. You have me Inspired to get out my Swallowtail stamp. TFS your card and detailed description. Hugs, Nancy

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  3. I Love your 1st butterfly card the most, but it was really fun seeing the results of your other 2 card techniques as well. I love the soft loose watercolor effect on your 1st card Susan. You have me Inspired to get out my Swallowtail stamp. TFS your card and detailed description. Hugs, Nancy

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  4. All of these are gorgeous, Susan! I think I like the first one the best too! I've had this stamp for years and have never been able to do anything I like! I love all these butterflies! Amazing range of media!

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  5. What beautiful cards Susan! I love this stamp but never bought it, you are making me regret that. I love how all your cards turned out, the colors are so pretty and soft. Very nice way to use this stamp! Hugs, Brenda

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