It’s Monday, and there’s a fun sketch challenge for you at Global Design Project. Check out what our designers did with the sketch, then play along.
I am “hooked” on coloring with Soft Pastels; my new favorite coloring tool. After watching Sara Douglass, our Stampin’ Up! CEO, on Facebook Live, I picked up a new technique.
Soft Pastels and VersaMark
I began by stamping the image, from the Eden’s Garden Stamp Set, in VersaMark on Basic White Cardstock, 4″ X 5 1/4″. Then, I used Sponge Daubers to pick up the powder from the Soft Pastels to blot on the VersaMark. I first tried rubbing the Sponge Dauber on the Soft Pastel, but it didn’t pick up enough color. Watching Sara, I saw how she needed to rub the Pastel on scratch paper to get sufficient powder for coloring.
I used Daffodil Delight, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, and Coastal Cabana, in that order. This technique works well with “Distinktive” stamps. I’ll be looking for more stamp sets conducive to this technique.
The sketch gave me the idea to trim the right side of my white layer with the long Eden Die. Isn’t it pretty?
A smaller Eden Die was used to cut Thick Basic White Cardstock for the sentiment. This wonderful sentiment is from the Eden’s Garden Stamp Set; “My heart is tied to yours…tug if you need anything,” stamped in Memento Black Ink. Don’t you love it?
I snipped off the right side of the sentiment label to make it flush with the border, and attached it with Dimensionals. A few Artistry Bloom Sequins were added as a final touch.
My December Host Code Gift
Just type the current host code (found beneath my profile picture) in the box provided, on your order of $75.00 or more, and I will send you the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush in January.
Glitter brush for accenting stamped images.
The brush tip produces thick and thin lines.
Clear
Archival quality
Acid free
Xylene free
Would you like to join my team? Order the $99 Starter Kit and join Stampin’ Up! through me, CLICK HERE!
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your blog is a wonderful open book of knowledge; thank you for sharing!
That’s such a nice compliment, Sue! Thank you!
Su, you inspired me to break out my pastels. I’ve used them on two different cards, both “distinktive” stamp sets (one being Eden’s Garden) and I am just not getting the same depth and definition that you get. Do you think it could be my VersaMark pad? It is very old. It still works for heat embossing but I am wondering if it is not leaving enough “ink” for the pastel dust to cling to. Thoughts?
Hi Kelly,
I think an old VersaMark Pad is a good guess, although Distinktive stamps can be difficult, even with regular ink. Try using your Stamparatus to stamp several times with VersaMark. Also, make sure to use lots of powder, and stamp repeatedly. Good luck!
Such a beautiful card. Now I need the pastels!
Thank you, Beth! The Soft Pastels are great, and now I want more colors!
Gorgeous! You just convinced me that I really need to get this suite!
Thank you, Sue! You won’t be sorry!
Your card is gorgeous!! Love the greens & that die-cut edge is just beautiful.
Thank you, Tracy! I’m so glad you like it!
I have the soft pastels but not guile sure what to do with them.
Also don’t know to much about the ink pads, I do use them, not sure what I’m doing.
Thanks for any help you might give me.
Hi Mary,
The Ink Pads are the most basic tool to use with the stamps. You stick the stamps on acrylic blocks, stamp on the ink pad, and then onto paper. You can also stick the stamps to a Stamparatus, which allows you to stamp multiple times to darken the image, or have an exact placement.
You can also use the ink pads to pick up color to use with Water Painters, but this is more difficult.
I’ve just recently used the Soft Pastels. Here is the FB live with Sara Douglass that I watched. Maybe it will help.
https://fb.watch/9TlSfhTxaX/
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful card and
for the idea using the pastels. A product I have
completely missed using.
Thank you, Mary Katherine! I had missed it also!