"One Stamp, Five Ways" - Avery Elle Skating By

Today is my first time to use an Avery Elle stamp set in a "one stamp, five ways" post. I ordered this one a couple months ago as well as one other of their cute sets that I will use soon. I love stamp sets with cute little girls and this one has just that - an irresistible skater chick! They are just so fun to color! And I spent so much time on the coloring for these five cards that I didn't get my post up last week as promised! It's a new week (and the last week of school) so let's hope I don't fail again! Here is the stamp set called Skating By I'll be using today:

I think this set is very suited for summer cards with all the little extra accessories. And that is my favorite season - so that is another reason I love it. And then that dog - any set with a dog is a winner to me! There is also a set of dies that go with it or you can buy the stamps and dies together. I made five cards to share with you today, so let's get started!

This is a new type of background to show you. I used mixed media paper (my favorite Canson pad I use for all my drawings) which is a little thinner than watercolor paper and pure white which I love. I used a stencil by Simon Says Stamp called Falling Snow (or falling bubbles in this case) and Texture Paste. I started by dying it with Fossilized Amber Distress Ink and then rubbed it over the stencil with a palette knife. After it was dry, I watercolored over it with yellow and gold paints - this could have been done before I added the texture paste - I believe either way would work just fine (actually I cannot even remember which way I did it - haha). 

I attached a Mama Elephant Frame Die over it and attached them to a red cardstock card base. I then stamped all of the images on watercolor paper with SSS Intense Black Ink. I used watercolors for the bubble, but for the rest of the images, I used my Zig Kuretake watercolor markers. I like that they are dye based ink so they are more intense than watercolor. And they have a fine brush tip making them perfect for small areas. Bottom line - they just work better for small stamped images so I will be using them more often. But nothing beats my expensive Daniel Smith watercolors for backgrounds! After all the images were stamped, I attached them to the background and stamped the sentiment on the bubble with the same SSS black ink. I added some PPP clear sequins to look like bubbles and finish the theme.

You might think this is the same style card I make every single time, but NOPE it is a bit different. My usual method is to stamp all the little images in a set all over watercolor paper randomly and then paint them in perfectly and add a color to the background. Then on a recent post, I showed you a really messy approach to this same technique just spreading color all over the background - I called it messy watercoloring. Well THIS one is kind of in-between. I didn't try to cover the images or stay in the lines - for me the paint was applied very messily and without a lot of effort. I liked this approach for this card since there are SO many little images to paint in and this made it a really quick process - an hour or so to make it.

All these little stamp images are SO cute together! I also used the word HI repetitively throughout. I watercolored them all and then added messy turquoise shades to the background. If you mix two colors instead of just using one color (meaning mix lime green with a royal blue to create a turquoise), then you can use each of the two shades alone in parts and then mixed together in parts making a variance of color on your background. I wonder if anyone reads all these little tips I add here! After it was done, I die-cut it with a large stitched rectangle that was card size and attached it to a card base. I used the smallest rectangle from the MFT Rounded Stitched Rectangle Die-namics set and their word HI die out of black cardstock to tie in with the theme of the card. I then added some PPP clear dots and some Lawn Fawn twine to finish it off.

I'm very proud of this card although not completely happy with how it turned out. But I left the images as no-line stamping without adding black lines. This was so hard for me as I just wanted to outline them - but I resisted! Except for the balloons as they were already stamped with black outlines so I just used them even though they don't match the style of the girl and the dog.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. I started the card with a stitched rectangle from my LF set die-cut from Ranger Watercolor Paper (has lots of texture). i covered the entire surface with water first, then painted green strips on one end with less and less paint added to my brush as I got to the center. Then I turned it to the other side and added blue strips using less and less paint as I moved to the center. The colors naturally blended as they met in the center. This is called a two color wash. It gives the appearance of grass and sky. I attached this piece to a fuchsia card base and then added a SSS Frames die out of white cardstock over it. 

Next, I stamped the images on watercolor paper with Tattered Rose Distress Ink (nice subtle color for blending into an image). I then used my watercolor markers to color the images in. I added some white details with a uniball. I then stamped the package, hat and balloons with black ink and colored with Copics- sorry they don't match style wise, but these things happen when you create a bunch of images to use before making your cards. I die-cut a white banner using MFT Blueprints 2 and stamped the sentiment. I placed all on the card base and stamped the word HI with black ink to finish it off. Still not sure I like this girl without outlines, but I'm dealing with it!

I made TWO shaker cards this time. For this one, I die-cut a stitched rectangle using MFT Blueprints 13. I then used the MFT Rounded Stitched Rectangle Stax dies to die-cut a window in the top center of this piece. I watercolored it with gold gouache. Gouache is basically watercolor paint that is a little more opaque than watercolors. I use both on my palette so when I want more concentrated color I use gouache. I used a thin coat though so it is still transparent, but definitely glistens! I used foam tape behind the rectangle and made a window out of the opening. I then added some Rose Gold PPP sequins and some clear sequins inside the window. The sequins match the outside perfectly! I attached all of that to a white card base.

Next I stamped the sentiment (with two stamps combined) using black intense ink. Any time I stamp a sentiment over watercolors, they aren't dark black, so I usually go over the letters with a fine tip black marker which I did here. I stamped the images with MFT Natural Ink on white cardstock and colored them with Copics. They time I didn't resist my urge to add black doodled lines. I used a white and silver uniball to add details. The balloons were stamped in black ink and colored with Copic markers. All were attached to the front of the card.

This is my second shaker card. I started by die-cutting a stitched rectangle out of watercolor paper and then a SSS stitched circle from the top center. I watercolored that with purples and turquoise Daniel Smith paints. I created a shaker out of it by building up two layers of foam tape on the back and attached white white cardstock below it. Before I added the sequins, I attached several of the smaller images in the window and then added the clear sequins on top of those (not many so they would still show up). I attached this piece to a pink card base with a SSS scallop frame on it. After it was all done, I decided it needed something, so I added a white SSS Frame die around the rectangle and glued it behind it. 

Next, I stamped the images on white cardstock with SSS Intense Black Ink and colored them with Copics. I used markers to create the little flowers on her skirt. I used a silver Uniball marker for the skate wheels. I added the dog and a leash and attached all to the card base. I stamped the word HI with Hero Arts Bubble gum ink and then decided it didn't stand out enough, so I outlined it with a fine tip black marker. I added three PPP clear sequins from the mixed bag. 

These were time consuming cards and I really hope you liked them. I also tried to make one more card, but it didn't turn out so I didn't post it. I embossed just the bubble blower and lots of the little circles that look like bubbles from the set on a piece of Ranger watercolor paper. I then painted over them with light watercolors, but I used clear embossing powder and it didn't turn out very good. I should have used white. I just love the look of that bubble blower with the little bubble stamps in the set though so I will have to try it again.

Have a great week friends and thanks so much for visiting today. I hope something I showed today will inspire you to think of new ways to use your stamps! Suzy

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Comments

[Lisa]

I want you to know I read everything about how you make your cards, haha! I love these posts where you use 1 stamp set 5 ways. I'm always inspired afterwards and want to try the techniques you use, so keep 'em coming! :) This post has made me want to purchase this stamp set, it is so darling. Thank you!!

[Carol L]

Cute stamps and adorable cards! It is amazing how you take the same little girl and make her look so different on the different cards! Love the backgrounds you always come up with. The second card you did - these always amaze me. First, how evenly you place the little stamps and then the time it must take to color each one!! Love the look! Thanks for all of the time you spend making your cards, describing how you did them, and for sharing your talent. You are inspiring! Have a great day!

[Jeanne]

Oh yes, ma'am. I do read every word! I am so grateful for the tips you share. And the effort you put into each card you make. Your love and care are very evident. Like others, I'm always inspired and usually want to buy each stamp set you feature. Unfortunately, my wallet doesn't much match with the desire. Ha ha. Thank you, thank you, thank you! :)

[Joy Revert]

All of these are too cute