inspiration monday

the calendar says that spring is officially here later this week, so let's celebrate by making a little card using some rubber stamps and my favorite "faux watercolor" technique!  all you need are a few distress ink pads, a black stamp pad, a small piece of watercolor paper, some springtime rubber stamps, a waterbrush or paintbrush, and a black marker.
{i'm using fabriano artistico 140 lb CP paper and my new "grow happy" stamp set!}

first, divide the watercolor paper into three sections on the long side, 

and mark the edge with a pencil.

{my paper is about 8"x4", so i marked at 2-5/8" from each end}

now stamp your images using a water based ink pad.

{i used distress inks by ranger}  

touch a wet paintbrush to the ink to "paint" your image.  

the water will activate the ink and you can move it around to create a watercolor effect.  

if the image starts to disappear, you can fix it once everything is dry by dabbing your paintbrush directly onto the stamp pad, and then painting the details back in.

now stamp a cheerful sentiment using black ink….. 

and add a border, if you like!

place a ruler on the pencil marks, and use a bone folder 

to score from edge to edge across the front.

now fold the paper along the scored lines into three sections…..

and write your own happy springtime message!

now just tuck your sweet greeting inside an envelope and share it with someone special!
celebrate those warm, sunny, springtime days ahead!!  woo hoo!

{i found these little polka-dot glassine bags at michael's and the card fits inside perfectly….i just love it when that happens, don't you?!} 



{i used these supplies to make my card:  
fabriano artistico 140 lb CP watercolor paper,  "grow happy" stamp set, distress ink pads, black archival ink pad, waterbrush, micron pen, ruler, bone folder, pencil}

inspiration monday

here's a fun, easy way to add some autumn flair to your journal page!

start by carving a solid leaf stamp (i carved this stamp from a plastic eraser).

then smoosh three different colors of distress ink onto a smooth, non-porous surface.

now spray a very fine mist of water onto the ink…..

and press your stamp into the ink, trying to include all three colors.

now stamp your image onto your journal page.  

you can fill in some of the white areas by using your water brush to smooth out the color……

and you can also use the leftover ink on your craft sheet to paint in other important things on your journal page.

then, once you've added all your favorite journal-touches,
celebrate these crisp autumn days by making yourself a big cup of hot chocolate!
(p.s.  and make sure you put plenty of those soft, ooey-gooey, mini marshmallows on top!)


{watch me carve a stamp here}

{supplies:  moleskine watercolor journal,  plastic eraser, carving tools,  distress ink stamp pads in fired brick, rusty hinge, and crushed olive, craft sheet, waterbrush, 6B graphite pencil, sepia pitt pens}

inspiration monday

here's another fun way to create a "faux watercolor",  

without having to get out your watercolors!  

all you need are some water-soluble markers,  a paintbrush, 

a mini mister, a pencil, a piece of watercolor paper, and your 

favorite solid stamp (i'm using a hand-carved circle stamp).

using your markers, scribble some color onto your watercolor paper.  

try to keep your colored area a little smaller than the size of your stamp.

now spray a light mist of water onto the surface of your stamp

{the more water you spray, the less vibrant your image will be}......

and press it onto the colored area of your paper.

the water will activate the pigment of your water-soluble markers 

and create a really cool looking watercolor image!

now you can add some details, if you like......

and you can also add to your design by using some different colors......
 just activate the pigment using a damp brush
{a waterbrush is perfect for this!}.

when you're finished putting all your favorite touches on it,
you've got a sweet little watercolor bliss.....
without the watercolor!


{supplies:  strathmore 140lb. watercolor paper, 4B graphite pencil,
tombow markers #856, #933, & #158,  mini mister, water brush,
hand-carved circle stamp using speedy carve,  pink pilot hi-tec-c pen

inspiration monday

to continue on with this obsession that i seem to have with using markers to create "faux watercolors",  let's try it on some cone-shaped coffee filters this time!  all you need are some water-based markers (i'm using tombow markers), a mini mister, and coffee filters (different brands will probably give different results, which could be a lot of fun to experiment!).

first, draw a simple design using your marker.

you don't need to color in all the shapes.......

because once you spray it with water, the color will bleed out into the filter paper and fill in most of those blank areas.  now comes the hard part.......waiting for it to dry!  the longer you wait, the more watercolor effect you'll get.  (if you're impatient like me, you can also wait for a while, and then zap it with your heat gun to finish drying!)

and some of that juicy color will bleed onto the back of your coffee filter, too!

once your filter is dry, you can add some doodles if you like.

(i used a waterproof micron pen for this step)

and then you can use your new "watercolor" in your journals, for collage fodder,
or you can even create a nice little card!

have fun!

{supplies:  tombow markers, melitta cone-shaped coffee filters, 
mini mister, sakura micron pen, white card stock,  3B graphite pencil,
yellow waxed linen thread (to sew the filter onto the card)}

inspiration monday

here's an easy way to add some watercolor flair to your projects......and you don't even have to draw or use watercolor!  all it takes is a few supplies:  your favorite rubber stamp, a watersoluble marker,  a waterbrush or paint brush,  and some watercolor paper.

first, run the tip of your marker across the rubber stamp.  make sure you cover all the areas of the image well.

then stamp it onto your paper.  don't worry if it doesn't come out even.....we're going to change it up a bit anyway!

using your waterbrush or damp paintbrush, touch the lines made by the marker and start to "paint" the color around the image.  the water on your brush activates the pigment of the watersoluble marker, giving it a watercolor look!  {one thing i noticed, though......i used a very damp brush here.  if you add too much water, your image will start to disappear!}

you can go back with your marker and add some of the details and lines that may have been lost during your painting.

and if you want to add more color without putting more marker directly onto your image, you can also swipe your marker across your acrylic stamp block,  or piece of plastic......

then pick up the color off the block with your brush and add it to your image.

once you have your image all painted and detailed, add a title if you want, and presto....
you've got a little faux watercolor masterpiece
(and you didn't even have to draw a thing!!)!


for my faux watercolor, i used these supplies:
framed girl rubber stamp, tombow watersoluble marker #493, niji waterbrush, 
strathmore 400 series w/c paper, pilot hi-tech pen for lettering