Layering stamps have become so popular…I finally decided to try an idea I had!
Most folks I’ve seen using these have stamped with different colors of dye inks or pigment inks…I can’t do that since I don’t collect all the colors in those kinds of inks. I focus so much on coloring, that it’s not worth it to me to buy and have to store all those. I wondered if it’d work with distress inks, though, and would I be able to move some of the color with water too. I liked it!
Video
Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.
Not only are there flamingoes – but tons of others too. See the list in the description to get you started – try them with distress inks or water based markers, too, and tag me on instagram if you get them to work too!
Supplies
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
Many just make backgrounds with watercolor powder – but Brusho is so much more powerful!
The cute set from My Favorite Things is called Forest Friends but it’s out of production as of 2021…but guess what? MFT has another set called Lets Curl Up full of foxes with great open spots for a technique like this, too.
Aren’t these sweet little stamps?
Supplies
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
My Favorite Things, Forest Friends is discontinued – but try Lets Curl Up
Ever since my epic coloring book, I’ve had sooooo many emails asking me to review coloring books. I’ve told you guys before that I didn’t want to become “the coloring book lady” on YouTube or elsewhere, since my focus really isn’t on them. So I’ve said no to many many requests….except this one, I sought out on my own! Huge thanks to Kristy for hooking me up with one of them…and starting the addiction, since I’ve now ordered the other two designs!
Painterly Days Watercolor Coloring Book
I heard about this watercolor coloring book series from a Periscope viewer…I started looking around for info on the books , and started following Kristy Rice on Periscope. She’s the talented lady behind these books, and I emailed her to ask more. I wanted one of these to try out ahead of the release of the book, knowing you guys would ask me about it, and I was blessed that she not only said yes, but we had a chat by phone about being one of her Painterly Days “Ambassadors” – meaning someone who’d go out into my community and do demos at art stores and book stores. How exciting! I’m hoping we find somewhere soon that would like a demo, I’d love to go out and share this one 🙂
Video
Watch the video below or click HERE to see it in HD on YouTube.
For coloring books, as you’ve heard me say before, crazy artist quality paints certainly aren’t required. The Koi or Gansai Tambi or Peerless (all listed below) are just dandy. But if you end up with a gorgeous page in the Painterly Days book and want to frame it and have it remain lightfast – my top recommendation is the Daniel Smith watercolors. The set of 6 really isn’t that much money at all – and gives you a great opportunity to learn to mix colors. In the video, I used them just squeezed out onto an 89cent tile from the hardware store – so you don’t have to go wild on supplies. (The paints did re-wet when I left the tile out overnight, so don’t worry you’re wasting color or anything.)
For the sake of crazy fun – Brusho is simply a blast.
And just in case you’re hankering for a few colors, this might help you pick which ones you might want. 😉 #justsayin
Supplies
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
Have you struggled like I have with getting loose with watercolor? See if trying something like today’s project will shake things up a little!
Watercolor powders are, by nature, something that makes an artist loosen up. The powders move across the paper in unexpected ways, they have such opportunities for deep, intense color that can quickly drop off to a soft faded edge. Learning to paint images with them is a definite challenge, but has taught me how to use other watercolors in new ways too – I’m learning to love the painted edges, the splatters, the imperfections, so I think my hand is slowly being trained to “Let it go.” [Cue the music. #earworm!] See how I created a sweet little garden of flowers using powders – and maybe give it a try yourself!
You can do something similar with other watercolors; you can drop color into the puddles of water and move it, but the effect will be different than this due to the ways different kinds of paint move. But I encourage you to give it a try!
Supplies
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
Any science fans out there?? I’m Sandy Allnock and it’s time for a little confession. When I was in school, I loved the idea of science. I loved all the pretty beakers, and all the things to mix in them, watch them bubble and broil. But I couldn’t get past the way the science lab smelled! Okay okay, for you scientists, that might be your love, or I might have just had fellow students who liked to mix up stinky things! But today I bring you science that makes the artist in me happy. Are you ready?
I’ve made two cards today, one using leftover parts from the other – don’t waste those bits! And in the video, I’ll show you a couple different ways to apply your watercolor powders to your work. 1) Dropping powder into pools of water; 2) Picking up brusho from a palette or work surface; and 3) Spritzing with water!
There are a couple different brands of watercolor powders – after playing with different ones, my favorite is Brusho. I love my little caps I made for them too – you can see more on that HERE, as well as some differences between different ones.
The first card came out so cute using just the dies – before cutting anything apart! Lots of times the dies are set up so that verticals are vertical, or there are interesting patterns they can create. When you get a new set, think about it before getting out your snipping tools! And if one part of the die set looks odd – like the “insides” of the beakers in the lower left here – just put your sentiment panel there. Easy peasy!
The little Pure Innocence stamps are so much fun to color – and I used similar techniques for her as for the background above. Just dropping watercolor powder into wet areas, and drying them in between.
For the background for card two, a spritz of water and sprinkle of powder made that fun cloud of bubbling beakers! And to color those little “contents” for the beakers was easy too – spritz and sprinkle!
The watercolor powders work on other watercolor papers, but I love how nicely they move on the Arches Rough Cold Press – it’s got a texture that pushes color in fun ways! On my blog today I’ve got a playlist of more Brusho videos if the product intrigues you. WARNING: It’s highly addictive!
Supplies
Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. If you choose to shop using my EH (Ellen Hutson) links, please accept cookies on that site in order to retain the link to my blog, or that compensation does not happen for me. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art
I don’t know if you have experienced the blessing of receiving a handmade card by a completely anonymous person. But I can tell you, a card arriving at a tender, emotional moment – handmade, so you know someone who you do not know has spent time and effort on your behalf – can make such a difference. This happened to me in 1996, I was showered with anonymous love in the form of cards and letters; I wasn’t able to locate any of them for thank-yous, which made it even MORE powerful to me. These were gifts of love given freely, with no payback, nothing expected in return, no way to even be acknowledged for their efforts. Selflessness at its best.
That’s what I’ll be asking of you in just a moment. But first…the background.
My friend Kimberly, who I met through Hero Arts, has begun an initiative born out of her own pain – but one that will bless so many people with broken hearts. You can read Kim’s whole story on the Give Forward page HERE – but the short version: She is raising money to give a comforting book to mothers who suffer the tragic loss of a child in miscarriage. She’ll provide these books for the doctors to distribute….and she’s collecting cards to give to each mom as well! Please visit and share the Give Forward page, and Fb page HERE to help spread the word!
Last night I broadcast live on Periscope while making cards for this beautiful cause, and Kim joined in to answer questions for viewers. You can catch the replay HERE for 24 hours, or on Katch HERE. We made an airbrush card last night with periscope-style hearts….
I had made a few of these before the broadcast….
And afterward made a few more with splishysplashy brusho. (Oh how I love this stuff.)
If you’re wondering what to write inside – keep it simple. Just let them know you’re thinking of them.
A few other suggestions:
These are my thoughts, after knowing the kinds of cards and questions from my days running OWH.
Beautiful, simple cards, can be so impactful. Your sweet handwritten message inside is the most powerful part!
Cheerful cards are fine, but not *overly* bubbly; remember the emotional state the recipients are in.
Generic Christian messages may be okay; but not knowing who they’re going to, keep it very simple, and no proselytizing.
Sentiments like “Thinking of you,” “Praying for you,” “Hugs,” or sympathy messages would be great.
Include a simple note – sign with just your first name and hometown.
I’d leave the backs blank, not adding a url or anything. It’s not the time to promote your blog or card business.
Send with an envelope, but don’t seal it. (They’ll want to make sure the message is appropriate for each recipient.) No return address.
The address to send them to is on the Giving page HERE.
There’s no end date at this time – refer to the Giving page for any updates if you stumble onto this post a long time in the future!
Supplies
The sentiment stamps are ones I picked up at Queens Ink when I taught there last year, they are perfect for cards like this! I looked them up on the Verses site for you. (No affiliate links are used.)
They Are Not Stars by Verses (QQ0821-F) (Link takes you to the whole category of quote stamps.)
Healing by Verses (GW0625-C) (Link takes you to the whole category of get well stamps.)
I’d like to challenge all of my readers to make cards—even one or two cards will make a difference to couples going through heartache! And in addition….please consider donating a dollar amount per card you make.
My giveaway is to Lasting Heats: I’ll send in 25 cards PLUS I’ll donate $1 per commenter committing to make at least one card to send in(up to $300). Deadline to comment is Saturday, but you can send the cards in anytime. I’m going on the honor system, so don’t go posting that you’ll do it and then bail! These families need your support, so please follow through….and share this post with your friends – let’s see how many people we can get involved!
