New stamping? Or a seasoned crafty creative who loves the look of crisp designs and easy-to-master techniques? You are in the right place! Not only are Penny Black stamps and dies for advanced stampers and colorists, but there is something for everyone as today’s inspiration demonstrates how to “keep it simple.”
Some of our most-loved and popular stamps are our brushstroke floral designs. They give the look of no-line watercolor and are a wonderful way to add rich, bold colors to your cards.
Stamping with them need not be difficult as today’s talented guest, Sherry Hester, demonstrates with her pretty 3 x 3 inch card designs.
Tombow Marker color combo shown above: 665, 679, 228
SHOP for the Penny Black products featured above: 40-452 Bejeweled, 25-012 Honeycomb, 30-358 Happy Snippets
Tombow Marker color combo shown above: 933, 743, 228, 177
SHOP for the Penny Black products featured above: 4384K Promise Me, 25-019 Leaf Frolic, 30-358 Happy Snippets
Tombow Marker color combo shown above: 603, 636, 228
SHOP for the Penny Black products featured above: 4377K Noble, 25-014 Oscillation, 30-358 Happy Snippets
Tombow Marker color combo shown above: 993, 933, 225
SHOP for the Penny Black products featured above: 40-597 Spontaneous Joy, 25-017 Trailing Vines, 30-358 Happy Snippets
So how did she do it?
Easy-peasy! All you need are a few markers and a couple spritzes of water. No stamp positioning tools required or time-consuming painting processes.
Ink flowers and leaves with Tombow Dual Brush pens, coloring directly onto the stamp with the marker. Sherry has shared her favorite color combos for each card, listed directly underneath each card photo. But you can use any water-soluble marker for this technique such as Tombow Dual Brush Pens (shown), Memento Markers, Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers, and Distress Markers. Or you can even ink up your stamp using mini dye ink pads, such as Distress Inks.
Lightly spritz the stamp with water and stamp onto 2.75” square Neenah Solar White cardstock. Reinforce color if needed by squiggling desired color onto non-porous surface and applying it with a wet watercolor paintbrush.
For an added background detail, sponge Antique Linen Distress Ink through Penny Black stencils onto the background, avoiding the stamped image. Stamp sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black Ink. Mount onto 3 x 6 inch folded Neenah Natural White cardstock with foam tape. Splatter background with the darkest color used on each card. (Squiggle ink onto non-porous surface, spritz with water, and splatter with paintbrush.)
These 3 x 3 inch cards are great for including with presents, gift bags, or to hold gift cards. (And if you’re looking for envelopes to suit this size of card, Sherry recommends jampaper.com.)
B O N U S
This 3 x 3 inch card style is also a great match with our holiday stamps.
SHOP for the Penny Black products featured above: 40-630 Tweet Wreath, 30-518 Smile All Season, 25-020 Petite Blossoms
Design Details: Ink image with your favorite green ink, such as Memento Luxe Olive Grove ink, and stamp onto Neenah Solar White cardstock cut at 2.75” square. Lightly paint the open leaves with green ink. Lay the stencil over the image and sponge Distress Oxide Peeled Paint Ink through the stencil, avoiding the image. Add red glitter to the berries. Stamp sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black Ink. Mount onto 3 x 6 inch folded white cardstock with foam tape.