Twinkling H20s

Today I am going to talk a little about Twinkling H2Os. This is one of my favourite colouring mediums, in fact I have lots but I really like the H2Os because they are just so vibrant.

Twinkling H2Os are little solid cakes of watercolour paint in small pots. They are very shimmery, lightfast and acid free. They presently come in 168 colours. H2Os can be used on paper incl watercolour paper, cardstock, wood, plaster and glass.

General Instructions

Select your colours place a few drops of water into the pot to form a puddle, an eyedropper is perfect or you can spritz the water with a small spray bottle. Let sit for a good 10 minutes. By wetting the pots first this will allow the paint to soften and the colours become more vibrant. If you only want a very soft wash of colour there is no need to wet the cake first.

Next

Stamp your image. I prefer to stamp and emboss my image, the embossing helps keep the image sharp and clear. You can use a waterproof ink if you don't want to emboss, however, I find your stamped outline becomes less defined and a little 'murky'.

Now using a paintbrush or a waterbrush simply paint in your colour. As long as the paint remains wet your colours will blend nicely. The more colour you add the more shimmer you will get.

You can also use your Twinkling H2Os on dark coloured cardstock with excellent results, but for even better results on dark card I suggest using the iridescent range of colours.

You can also use the iridescent paints over top of watercolour pencils for a little extra shimmer. for example Green iridescent over any shade of green pencil.

As you can see in the photos I store my H2Os upside down. I have painted the colour on the bottom of each pot for easy reference. The colour you see in the pot is not necessarily how the colour will actually come out on card.

Direct to stamp

You can also paint the H2Os directly onto your stamp. Fter painting your stamp gently mist the stamp with a spray water bottle and stamp direct to your cardstock. Watercolour paper will also give you a fabulous result. NOTE: The H2Os will stain acrylic or clear stamps

the finished cards

Unfortunately the shimmer is not all that visible. They do look better in real life. However you can see the vibrancy that these paints are also known for.

This is a stamp from My Favorite Things

And this gorgeous image is from High Hopes Rubber Stamps

This last image is from Flourishes Stamps this is the direct to stamp method

Until Next Time

Inking of you All

Michelle

Viva Las Vegas

Hello everyone. I hope this post finds you all well. I have just arrived back in Australia after 3 weeks in the USA. I started off in San Francisco and then spent nearly 2 weeks in Las Vegas. My husband slipped and hurt is back and I ventured to the craft stores and Viva Las Vegas Stamps it was probably a good thing I was on my own as I spent lots of money. Whilst in Las Vegas I had an absolutely fantastic couple of days with Laura Canale, (aka Lov'n life n Vegas on SCS). Laura would have to be one of the nicest most gorgeous people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. We had such a nice girly day. Then we had a Barbeque at her home the next day.

Here is Laura and I at the Fabulous Las Vegas sign

Here is the card I gave Laura, it says 'Let's do Lunch'.

Stamps by My Favorite Things.

Not only did we do Lunch we also did morning tea. We also went to the Local scrapbook store where Laura teaches card making classes. Before long our day was over. It just went so fast. Time really does fly when you have fun.

We still had a chance to catch up the next night for dinner and here is Laura and I in her kitchen.

Laura is a kind hearted wonderful lady and really talented stamper you can check out her blog 'Wish you Were Here' in my Favourite Blogs on the right or click HERE

Thanks Laura for a great couple of days. Here's to new found Friends.

Until Next Time

Inking of you All

Michelle

Just One Layer

When was the last time you made a card that was a single layer? That long ago huh! You probably don't remember when it was. Am I right?
Well let me tell you that I am no different. But a couple of days ago I made this little beauty.
My Favorite Things guest designer challenge was to create a single layer card. You could use as many embellishments that you like etc, BUT no extra paper.
I stamped all images in Black Colorbox ink and embossed all of them with clear powder.
I then coloured them in using those fabulous Lyra watercolour crayons from Heavenscent Crafts and then I added some stickles glitter too add a little BLING to the card.
Last but not least I pulled out my Black Millennium pen and hand drew the lines and dots around the edge. The frame gave the card a more finished off feel to it.
Do a little experiment yourself: stamp and colour an image and then do it again this time adding your own frame. Compare the difference, it's huge. It's only scary the first time you do it, besides it is only paper. If you mess it up it's not the end of the world.

Until Next Time
Inking of you all
Michelle

Sorry it's been awhile

I have been so busy lately, I guess it's just that time of the year. I haven't made very many cards, I have been working on my Christmas cards as shown a couple of post ago.
In the past week I decided to sit down and pull put my Fishy Friends set from Stampin Up. I came up with these 2 cards.(They B-Day sentiment is from My Favorite Things)

I have used Bazzill Bling cardstock and the DP is from Kaiser Craft, the stripes are on one side, the dots on the other. I just love the colors. The paper gives a very whimsical feel to these cards. (So does the Pink fish). I have stamped the images on to SU confetti white cardstock with Black Brilliance ink. I have coloured all images with Prismacolor Pencils and Blended with odourless mineral spirits.

Until Next Time

Inking of you all

Michelle