Hello! Today starts a BRAND NEW CHALLENGE over on the MarkerPOP blog!! The theme this time is EMBOSSING. Head on over to the blog to get the details on how to enter for a chance to win some awesome stamps!!

I'm sharing this fun baby shower card today. I started off by ink blending a soft blue sky on the Neenah card stock base with foam applicators and Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass. Using MFT's STAX Stitched Circle Scallop Frames, I die cut the largest circle from the set using Neenah card stock. Using black embossing powder and VersaMark ink, I stamped and heat embossed the stork, balloons, and baby bundle from Avery Elle's Special Delivery stamp set on watercolor card stock. Those images were then die cut from the Avery Elle Special Delivery Die Set.

The images were colored in using Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Bundled Sage, Tumbled Glass, and Wilted Violet. I then used a water brush to move the ink colors around and create a watercolor look.

After all the pieces were water colored, I adhered the circle die to the card base. I wanted to get the sentiment perfectly centered within the circle, so I used the wonderful MISTI tool to do that!! If you don't have one of these yet, I HIGHLY recommend it! It will greatly improve your stamping results!! So, I stamped the sentiment with VersaMark ink, and then heat embossed it with black embossing powder. When the sentiment is heat embossed, it really adds some 'punch' to the card. Love that shiny look!

The clouds were adhered directly to the card base, and the rest of the die cut elements were adhered using foam tape to add some dimension. A white gel pen was used to add a 'light spot' to the balloons.

I had a blast creating this card....I hope it brings you some crafty inspiration today! Thanks for stopping by!

Nicki
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You Are Awesome!

Hello friends! I'm really excited to share this colorful card today that is featured on the MarkerPOP blog. I was inspired by Jennifer McGuire's recent video about pattern stamping.

I started by creating a pattern using multiple stamps from the Hero Arts set Just for You by Lia Griffith. I stamped the whole watercolor card stock panel using VersaMark ink, and then heat embossed it with black embossing powder. You can see in the first pic below.
Then, using Distress Markers in rainbow colors (Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Pine Needles, Tumbled Glass, Dusty Concord, and Wilted Violet), I quickly colored in the flowers and around some leaves. You really don't have to worry about coloring each one perfectly, just work quickly and you'll be glad you did ;) You can see what I did in the second pic below.

Now comes the fun part! Place the panel onto a water resistant surface such as a craft mat or countertop. Using a Ranger Mini Mister filled with water, hold it about 6" above the panel and spray away! I LOVE watching the water react with the distress inks! The third pic below was taken right after I sprayed it. You can see that the colors are just starting to spread, and in the fourth pic, taken a minute or two later, they have spread even more and have blended with nearby colors!



After that, I just let it sit and dry for a half hour or so. I really love the results of this technique!
The panel is adhered to Neenah Solar White card stock. The Altenew sentiment is stamped with black ink on Neenah card stock and fussy cut. It was adhered to the panel with Foam tape, and some silver cord was looped around and placed behind it.

If you haven't tried this technique before, I hope I've inspired you to try it! Thanks so much for stopping by! :D  Have a great day!

Nicki ~ Find me on Instagram