Simply Soft with Love

Hi everyone.  Here's my Design Team card for the latest Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - Make your Mark #6 - use any markers on your project.

This week's sponsor is

(please follow the rules of the challenge to be eligible to win)

I have used the marker layering technique (so fun!) for my card today, using my favorite SU! stamp set for this technique - Simply Soft.  Some stamp sets seem to work best with certain techniques (of course, it's all individual taste) ... and this stamp set works best for me using the marker layering technique.  (Just like I always seem to use the Watercolor Spritz technique with SU!'s Gently Falling stamp set.)

Stamps:  Simply Soft, Field Flowers (SU!)
Paper:  Watercolor, White (SU!)
Ink:  Staz-on Black, Marina Mist, Raspberry Ripple, Daffodil Delight, Summer Sun (retired), Old Olive (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, post-it notes for masks, blender Pen (from SU!), 1/4" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, glue dot, and adhesives

There's a link on my Techniques Page to SCS's wonderful tutorial for this technique done by the very talented Karen Barber.  As with any technique, you sometimes develop a little different way of doing things than the originator - whatever works best for you!

In this case, I have found that I use my blender pen and swipe it across my ink pads (very, very light touch) and then color directly onto my watercolor paper (light color base coat).  Then I go back and add just a dot or dash of the same color using my Stampin' Write color (much stronger color) to add shading and then blend the color into the base coat using my blender pen.  A few added white dots with my gel pen finishes things off.  Easy and fun and very therapeutic ... reminds me of when I was little, coloring in my coloring books.


Here's a close-up of the flowers:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!