Different mediums to colour sweet pea stamps

As promised last week I'm going to show you a couple of different ways to colour sweet pea stamps that are quick and effective and can be done within 10 minutes each. I've chosen Faraway Moon which is available at Crafts and Me.

First up we're going to use distress inks. Now you don't have to use distress you can use all kinds of ink but make sure its a dye ink not pigment as pigment is thick and will cover your stamping.


First off stamp your image in a waterproof ink such as stazon then take a light colour inkpad (I've used Spun Sugar distress ink.) Swipe the inkpad right over the image building up a good coverage of colour.

When you've built up a good coverage of colour give it a rub with some kitchen towel to even it out and dry it off.

TIP!!! If you want to have some sparkle in your colouring then use an aqua brush or have a little pot of clean water then use the artquest stargazers watercolour paints you'll find here. Drop some water into one of the pale colours like white or yellow until its at the brim and give it a quick stir so that the mica floats into the water then suck it up into your aqua brush or use a pippette and drop this into your small pot of water which will now sparkle. Try not to disturb the actual paint cake as you'll pick up too much of the pigment rather than the mica.

Take a darker distress inkpad and water colour in the hair (I used Victorian Velvet) and use a pink colour such as tattered rose for the flesh. Simply dab your inkpad down onto a non porous surface like a craft mat or piece of acetate and pick up the colour with your brush.

If an area seems too dark then wipe the brush clean of ink and just use water (or sparkly water!) to wash out areas you want lighter or highlighted. I also dab quickly with a piece of kitchen roll to remove excess water and colour.

You should now be looking something like below, see the sparkle from the water :D

Continue colouring your image, I've used the stargazers paints to colour in the moon.

Next I've used a blue distress ink (chipped sapphire) dabbed onto a blending tool and starting OFF the paper start bringing the colour inwards towards the image with a small circular motion.

Let everything dry and trim down to suit (Mine is ATC size) I've also edged the image with a gold dabber paint which I've also dabbed lightly onto the flowers.

Next one is using just the stargazers watercolor palette to colour in the image. They work on light and dark card for different effects. The palette does cost around £20 but I've had mine since 2004, used often and not even a third of the way used! There is also a little mixing well in the centre and this set has all the primaries with black and white so a huge range of colour is available from one set. I'll also show you a little trick with it in a few days when I'm less manic lol!

For this one I've stamped onto black card and embossed with a white embossing powder. I actually think this looks quite good as it is for monotone cards!

Ive then used the stargazers watercolours to colour in the image. It doesn't photograph too well but when you turn the card all the colours flash up like the pink for the skin (there is a red and white in the palette, add a touch of bronze and you have a skin tone) The white on the moon is dazzling and everything sparkles :) :) :) :)

Add a little bit of embellishment and bling bling and you have another topper ready for a card or made into an ATC in 10 minutes flat!

Hope these have been of some use to you and shown you alternatives to marker pens :)