I pulled out my Zig Clean Color Real Brush water-based pens to use with the Penny Black "Bouquets" Clear stamp set. It became a little addictive, I couldn't stop! You'll see another card tomorrow using another one of the bouquets in the stamp set. Today's card will go to a friend who celebrates her 70th birthday with a drop-in reception later this afternoon.

Using the MISTI, I stamped the image onto 140 lb. cold press watercolor card stock with archival ink. I left the stamp on the MISTI for another step in the card design. I carefully colored the stamp design with the real brush pens. We're so used to coloring with markers that we forget the touch with the "real brush" markers is a much softer and lighter touch; too much pressure makes the color "splat", often times outside the lines. Using a Niji watercolor brush with the Zig brush markers, I would first apply a layer of clear water to each petal, followed with touches of color into the water, allowing the color to spread. After each section was dried, I went back with a darker color tone.

After I was satisfied with the coloring, I let the card sit for a while so it would completely dry. After rubbing the entire panel with my embossing buddy, I returned the stamp panel to the MISTI so I could re-stamp the image with VersaMark and heat emboss with gold embossing powder. With another panel (4-1/8" x 5-3/8"), I "high" centered the oval die to make a frame. The stamp panel (3-1/4" x 5") was centered underneath the oval opening and taped to it. The entire "framed" panel was adhered to the A2 (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") top-fold card base.

The sentiment was stamped onto white card stock and cut with the tag die. The tag was adhered to the card front at an angle with adhesive only on each end. Sequins were randomly placed.

Penny Black "Bouquets" Clear Stamp Set 30-213

Serendipity Stamps "Aged to Perfection"

Die-namics Steel Dies Inside/Out Stitch Oval MFT-846

Lawn Fawn Everyday Sentiment Banners LF1139

Kuretake Zig Clean Color Real Brush water-based brush markers

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black (bouquet stamp)

IMAGINE Crafts' featuring Tsukineko's VersaFine in Onyx Black (sentiment) and VersaMark

Ranger's Fine Detail Embossing Powder in Queen's Gold

Strathmore 140 lb. cold press watercolor card stock (smooth side) (stamp panel)

Conqueror 118# Cover Card Stock in Diamond White for base card, die-cut frame, and sentiment tag

Webster's Pages Sequin package

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you're enjoying the beautiful summer weather that covers western Washington State right now. I hope you'll check back tomorrow for the second "bouquet".

#PennyBlackStamps #SerendipityStamps #DienamicsSteelDies #LawnFawn #KuretakeZigCleanColorRealBrushMarkers #Ranger #IMAGINECrafts #Tsukineko #Strathmore #WebstersPages