Building stamped scenes using cardboard masks - stamping tutorial

I've been playing about with more stamps sets from the Garden Secrets range from Hunkydory and building up complex scenes by masking off images and stamping partial images over the top.  This cute girl image comes from a set called Happiness Blooms. My first tutorial uses just this first stamp set. The second tutorial incorporates flowerpot images from the Cute as a Bug set which is also part of the Garden Secrets range.

Step one: Stamp the girl image on scrap card and carefully cut round her skirt and legs following the lines as closely as possible.

Step two: Stamp the girl image on to the card you are using for your design

Step three: Cover the stamped image with your cardboard mask.

Step four: Create a partial stamping of the watering can image for the girl to sit on.

When the mask is removed the image looks like this. Stamping over the mask creates the impression that the can is behind her.

Step five: Stamp the watering can image on scrap card and cut it out to make another mask.

Step six: Cover the watering can in your working image with the mask and stamp some partial flowers over the top.

Remove the mask and stamp in some more flowers in the foreground.

In this second tutorial I have created a more complex scene by masking multiple stamped images at the same time. I've picked out some adorable flowerpots that come from another Secret Gardens stamp set called Cute as a Bug.

Step one: Stamp then cover the girl image with the cardboard mask made earlier. Stamp the largest pot image for her to sit on.

Step two: Stamp the pot onto scrap card and cut it out carefully to create a mask for the pot and then cover the image on your work. Stamp a partial watering can  the right of the girl and pot.

When you remove the cardboard masks your image looks like this.

Step three: Cover the watering can and pot with their cardboard masks. Make a partial stamp using the small stack of pots stamp on either side of the covered image

When the masks are removed the image looks like this. I have filled up the foreground with some little leaf images to add more interest.

Step five: Mask the watering can image and stamp the bird image as though he is standing on top of the little stacks of pots

This is how the completed scene now looks with the watering can mask removed.

Below are another couple of examples of complex stamped and masked scenes using the same two stamp sets.

Happy Stamping, Jolene x

You're so special greetings cards

Following on from my colouring tutorial yesterday I thought it would be fun to show some finished cards in a variety of colours made with the cute Garden Secrets You're so special stamp set from Hunkydory.
This first one is the one I coloured for the tutorial.

These cards are currently available in my Facebook group (March 17) www.facebook.com/groups/JoleneWolfe but some may make their way across to Etsy in a couple of weeks www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KitzbitzArtGlass

Jolene x

ZIG art and graphic twin colouring tutorial

I've been playing around with some ZIG art and graphic twin pens by Kuretake for a few months now and have been trying out different techniques and styles with them. I've found them most fun to use when treated like water colour paints. I scribble a little ink from the brush end of the pen on to an acrylic block (the kind used for stamping with clear stamps) and then apply the colour from the block to good quality card stock with a Pentel aquash water brush pen.

This cute girl image stamp is from a set called "You're so special" which is part of the Garden Secrets range from Hunkydory. I've stamped her on 350gsm hammered texture cream coloured card with Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink and set the card aside to dry fro a few minutes. Here is a step by step picture showing how I have coloured her in.

 434 Apricot for face, arms and legs with a the tiniest touch of touch of 230 Pale Rose Blush on the her cheek.

10 Lemon Yellow for highlights on skirt, main colour for the flower and butterfly

 4 Orange for the top and bottom of skirt petals, vest, shoes, detail on butterfly and outer edges of the flower petals

 24 Scarlet red for the toadstool tops

 2 red for depth of colour on toadstool. little details on flower petals and the butterfly

73 sand for highlight on her hair and toadstool stalks

73 Sand to built up detail in her hair

77 Deep Brown for hair tips and crown area and 56 Mid Green for the grass and ground

It takes a bit of practise to work out how much water you want to add to the pen ink on your block but it is possible to create interesting details with just 1 colour depending on how many layers you paint and how much you dilute the ink. Also it is worth noting that you need to wait before painting adjacent sections as the new ink will bleed in to damp areas of your image.

Happy colouring, Jolene x