Inspire Me Monday: Embossed Silhouette

Hi all and Happy Monday! I have a fun and easy tutorial for you today that I know you are going to want to try in your own stamping spaces. It's a super quick creation that puts the drama of a silhouette at the center of this technique. Let's take a peek at the cards I created using this technique and then, I'll get to the step-by-step!

I have to say that this idea was sparked after I saw THIS video from the fabulous Jennifer McGuire. She showed how you can take lined stamps and give them new life when you make them into a silhouette. You'll have to watch the video to see what I mean. In a nutshell, she stamped the detailed image and then, using a fine-tipped marker, made that lined stamp a silhouette. Clever, huh?

I loved the technique and then I started to think. What if you did that, but took the Silhouette one step further by reintroducing all that detail back into the picture? Thanks to the MISTI stamping tool, this technique is so easy! So, let's get started and you'll see what I mean!

I started with the Power Poppy Vibrant Thanks stamp set and situated my paper right along the bottom corner of the MISTI....

And this is what my sweet little flower looked like after stamping...

From there, I took a fine tip multi-liner black pen and colored all the little nooks and crannies of the image so I ended up with a silhouette.

I knew I wanted to add some bold color and did one of my favorite effects, which is to mask off a section of my panel using a ripped edge Post-It Note and then add color with sponged ink.

I used the Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters and Broken China with some little sponge daubers to apply the ink.

And this is what it looked like above after I ripped off the Post-It Notes. From there, I rubbed an anti-static chalk pouch over my image so that when I stamped and embossed the detailed image overtop, the embossing powder would stay where I wanted it to. I used Versamark Ink and white detail embossing powder but you can really use any color combo. I just loved the dramatic look of a black and white color combo against the bold background colors. 

And here's a closeup of the image itself...

Isn't that fun? I just love that sweet little flower. The sentiment I added is from Power Poppy's Lilac Time stamp set. 

I did want to point out something that happened while I was making my second card. I stamped and the image didn't stamp completely... 

You might think that is the worst thing ever but because I knew I was going to be coloring in my image, no worries! It didn't matter! I just went about masking and inking and then added my black pen to create my silhouette. 

 And here's a gander at the two colors I used in order to create that bold backdrop for my stamped image.

Now for a closeup of that Zinnia after I stamped with Versamark and added that detail back in with white detail powder. I just love the depth! I also added a sentiment that I also heat embossed. The sentiment is also from the Vibrant Thanks set as well.

And here's one more look below at the finished cards and how I layered them up. I love that this technique delivers a design punch without a ton of effort. These cards took minutes to create and are the perfect way to create a little snail mail love in a jiffy!

So, will you give this technique a try? I hope so! I am working on a few more versions that I hope to share in the future, so stay tuned! And, if YOU give this a try, please link up your creation in the comments section. I'd love to see!

On that note... Happy Monday and have a wonderful week! I'll be back tomorrow with another Creative Confetti Challenge so be sure to stop back and see what I have in store!

Until then, Enjoy!
Julie 

Inspire Me Monday: Cut down your coloring time

Hello Friends! How are you all? My name is Kathy Racoosin from The Daily Marker and I LOVE To color but, often I run short on time or I need a quick card. 

Have you ever seen a detailed stamp that you are in love with but, didn't have the time to color it? Hopefully after today you might be able to think twice about coloring that detailed stamp. 

This Santa stamp called, "Flowering Santa" is so magical and brings the magic of the season to a card. It's beautiful and spectacular but, it can take a little time coloring it.... that is if your want to fully color it. :)

Note: Pick up Flowering Santa for only $14.99 — save over $3 for a limited time!

Cut your coloring time in half by coloring over parts of a stamp and adding highlights with pencils or like my friends from the UK and Canada say, "Pencil Crayons" lol. 

Blue Memento ink was sitting on my desk so I decided to stamp this awesome image with it but, any color would work. 

Cutting off part of this beautiful Santa pains me but, it's essential when you want to cut the coloring time in half. Adding a layer of color with some alcohol markers saves time too. 

Filling in part of the beard with a solid color will save me time in the long run. With that said I can't wait to color ALL of this Santa with all it's personality and glory when a quick card isn't a must. 

Adding lines of color with a colored pencil.... a sharp colored pencil.  I have been traveling a lot with the Chameleon pencils and really enjoy using them.  

Following the lines in the illustration ... like I did on the hair just needs some highlights and that's it. 

Adding more cheek color on top of that first layer of copic markers. If you compare the two images you see more warmth in the face and those cheeks that the pencils add easily. 

Love this sentiment and I stamped it with Vera Mark black ink. 

Using a 0.03 Copic super fine tip marker to add small lines to highlight and accent certain areas especially the eyes & lashes. A white gel pen added some interest in the parts that I didn't color to save time. 

Glossy accents were added to the specs. 

I hope you find a little time to color a beautifully detailed stamp like this one without a big time investment.  

Thanks for your visit today and I hope you find the magic of the season in your daily grind. 

Hugs, Kathy