Spring Is Here

Hi Creative Friends,

I don’t know about you but we are finally seeing signs of Spring. What better way to usher in the season than a sweet bird in the cherry blossom branch featured in the Penny Black Spring Is Here stamp?

I took a page out of Mimi Jourdain‘s book and created a simple scene with just a strip of color.

I started with a 5×7″ cold-pressed watercolor panel, stamp positioner, and the Spring Is Here stamp from Penny Black. Using a waterproof ink like Versafine Black Onyx (my fave!), I stamped the image on my panel, then let the ink dry before adding a strip of removable tape (I use ScotchBlue Delicate Surfaces tape (see supply list) for this.

Once the tape was applied, I prepared a watery mixture of Blueprint Sketch paint using the concentrated ink from the Blueprint Sketch distress re-inker and carefully painted the background, not getting any paint on the branch or bird.

When the background was done and dry, I carefully peeled off the tape and continued to paint the branches, flowers, and the bird. I used a few distress reinker for this like Blueprint Sketch and Black Soot for the bird, Picked Raspberry and Peeled Paint for the flowers and leaves, and a few Tombow brown brush pens for the branch – it is so much easier to reach those tight areas with the brush pen.

I must confess, I also used a #2 Pigma Micron pen to extend the branch a little at the bottom, then colored it in with the Tombow pens.

Once the painting was done, I mounted the sentiment from the Penny Black Thinking of You stamp set in my stamp positioner, inked it with Versafine Black Onyx ink, and stamped it.

With the panel done, I mounted it on a light cream Alabaster cardstock card base to complete the card!

I always find it so satisfying to use one of Penny Black’s nature stamps. It has such a calming effect – give it a whirl and see if it does the same for you! ♥

Goodies Used: