Timeless Tulips Sponged

You can create some really fun effects when you apply ink using a sponge.  

For this card, made with the Timeless Tulips stamp set, 

I've used the sponge to create depth for the background 

and to provide some color variation on the flower petals.

To get  the color variation I inked the lighter color from the ink pad

and then sponged the darker color on top before applying stamp to paper.

Here's another fun one also done by sponging color onto the stamp itself.
sometimes I feel like my messy stamp room is a "Little Shop of Horrors"!

You can see a short video showing this technique here

and also showing how to make the fork bow on the top card.

---

If you enjoyed this content then I invite you to

follow my Facebook page 

to keep up with my daily crafting.

---

And if you need any Stamping supplies I can help with that too . . . Click here to browse all the current product Product links for this project are below. When placing an on-line order please use this Host Code Be sure you do NOT check "no contact" If you choose that option  I will not be able to see your name and address  but I will also not be able to send you a thank-you card.

---

Thanks for visiting the blog today.

. . . have an INKcredible day

Today's Project Supply List

Timeless Tulips Bundle (English) [153793] - $32.25	Stamping Sponges [141337] - $4.00	Old Olive Classic Ink Pad [147090] - $7.50	Daffodil Delight Classic Ink Pad [147094] - $7.50
	Lovely Lipstick Classic Ink' Pad [147140] - $7.50	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] - $5.00	Silver 3/8" Metallic Edge Ribbon [144213] - $7.00

Breathtaking Bouquet Comparision of Coloring with Markers versus a Sponge

Background Stamping Series Post #7:  Coloring the image

What is your "go-to" tool for coloring a large area? Markers or sponging?
I have two cards today for an easy comparison,
 both made with Stampin'UP!'s Breathtaking Bouquet background stamp.

This first card was colored with markers

 

 I used Stampin' Blends, which are alcohol markers

I really like how smoothly they apply to colored cardstock

 The color on thie second card was applied with a sponge

note: an art sponge, NOT a kitchen sponge

  

you get a much more diffuse look when you sponge on the color.

Both tools give a great  result
It just depends on the artistic look you're going for
Here is one more side-by-side comparison

Full product list below

Color Details: 

• The first card used a black alcohol marker on Merry Merlot paper
  the image was embossed in gold
• The second card was sponged with black ink on Bermuda Bay
  the image was embossed in black

Layer Details:

• The sentiment on the first card was black embossed on vellum card stock and cut with a scissors. Layered using the Pretty Label Punch and a 1-1/2" circle punch
• The sentiment on the 2nd card was stamped with a sentiment and a die from the Peaceful Moments Bundle

When placing an on-line order 

please use this Host Code

Be sure you do NOT check "no contact"

If you choose this option I will not be able to see your name and address 

but I will also not be able to send you a thank-you card. 

Thanks for stopping by today
I hope you've been inspired to pull out some stamps and do some coloring.

Breathtaking Bouquet Cling Stamp Set [151612] - $16.00 Wood-Mount Stamp Set [152201] - $20.00	Peaceful Moments Bundle (English) [153824] - $52.00	Pretty Label Punch [143715] - $18.00	1-1/2" (3.8 Cm) Circle Punch [138299] - $16.00
Merry Merlot 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146979] - $8.75	Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [131197] - $8.75	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [101856] - $10.00	Black 5/8" Glittered Organdy Ribbon [147897] - $8.50
Heat Tool (Us And Canada) [129053] - $30.00	Versamark Pad [102283] - $9.50	Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder [109129] - $6.00	Black Stampin' Emboss Powder [146956] - $5.00
Basic Black Dark Stampin' Blends [147941] - $4.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad [132708] - $6.00	Stamping Sponges [141337] - $4.00

Sponging a Misty Forest Scene

I'm playing a little catch-up this week with projects made with the Merry Moose stamp set. Awhile back I posted a video showing 14 different cards made with the Merry Moose set, including this card with a misty forest scene.

  

In my opinion everyone needs a good evergreen tree stamp 

and the Merry Moose stamp set has 2 different size evergreen trees.

The thing that is special about today's card is the misty background. 

The scene is easy to create, simply sponge over your stamped trees

to fill in the space and to blur the stamped image.

Note: it has to be art sponges, a kitchen sponge is not flexible enough.

 Start looking through your stamp sets and decide what scenes you'd like to create.

Sponging is a fun and easy way to get a different look from your stamps.

Watch this short video to see just how easy it is.

You'll find a complete product list for this project t the bottom of the post. Art sponges are a must for this technique. And if you're looking for a nice stamp set with evergreens the Merry Moose stamp set is really quite versatile. Check out over 2 dozen cards you can make just with this stamp set.

Thanks for stopping by and have an INKcredible day.

If you haven't browsed the Stampin'UP! store I encourage you to spend a little time there. This is a great company with wonderful product. I do receive commission on sales and I appreciate your business - thank-you. My commission is paid by the company, you pay nothing extra when purchasing product through me.

I do appreciate your business and you can earn extra rewards when you shop with me. Contact me to place your order, or be sure to use the Rewards Code for the month (found in the left pane of the blog) if you place an on-line order.

Merry Moose Stamp Set [150494] - $17.00	Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [138337] - $8.75	Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Pad [147106] - $7.50	Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146981] - $8.75	Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad [147088] - $7.50
Stamping Sponges [141337] - $4.00	Silver 3/8" Metallic-Edge Ribbon [144213] - $7.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100730] - $9.75	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] - $5.00

Color Combo Blog Hop

Today's card(s) were made for a color challenge. The colors this month are Stampin'UP"s Lovely Lipstick, Granny Apple Green and Crushed Curry.

An open ended challenge like this offers so many possibilities for imagery.  I ended up making 2 cards, very different from each other.  The first one features the ink colors and the second one features the paper colors.

This first card showcases ink colors on both the scarves of these Playful Penguins and in the sky behind them for the northern lights.

 

The scarves were stamped on white paper and the colors are very vibrant. They are more muted on the sky because they're sponged on blue cardstock. I did paint over the whole sky with Wink of Stella pen to give the sense of an icy cold winter scene. 

The 2nd card showcases the colored cardstock.  This set of colors seemed perfect for these happy little Halloween Monsters.

Of course there had to be some sparkle on this card too.  The glittered Organdy ribbon was a perfect way to add sparkle while still keeping with the darker colors.  And if you look closely at the horns of the first monster you'll see I covered them with a layer of clear glue to give them some shine.

Be sure to check out the other entries in this Color Combo Blog Hop. Next up is Caroline Peck

1. Sue McDonald - UK 
2. Tricia Butts - USA 
3. Katie Johnson YOU ARE HERE
4. Caroline Peck - USA
5. Angélique Nederpel - NL
6. Samira Merzouk - DE
7. Sue Allen - Australia 
8. Pia Gerhardt - DE
9. Nicole Mahler - US  
10. Sandra Roberts  UK
11. Helzie Slimm - UK
12. Jacqui Lawrence  - UK

Thanks for stopping buy. I hope you've been inspired to play

Products for the Penguin Card

Playful Penguins Cling Stamp Set [150532] $22.00	Balmy Blue 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [146982] $8.75	Sparkle Glimmer Paper [146957] $5.00	Stamping Sponges [141337] $4.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels [144220] $5.00
Lovely Lipstick Classic Stampin' Pad [147140] $7.50	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [147087] $7.50	Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad [147095] $7.50	Clear Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush [141897] $8.00	Whisper White Solid Baker's Twine [124262] $3.50