Good Monday morning! Well just a few more days, and Jeanne and I head off for Stampfest Orlando. I’ve been frantically trying to catch up on stamping projects and the fog is finally lifting. I’ll be taking along some things to work on while I’m gone – Hey, I’m gonna be in Kittie’s stamp room for a few days! Wonder if she’ll let me stamp or make me organize before I can?

It’s my pleasure to host the Try a New Technique Challenge on Splitcoaststampers today, SC174 – Hittin’ the Bottle. With almost everyone coloring with Copic Markers (myself included) these days, there have been many conversations about alternatives to water coloring, for those that don’t have the Copics. I know myself that I have stepped away from the basics that I used to enjoy. It’s just that those darn Copics are right there in front of me and just so darn handy and quick. I’ve reached for my Prismacolor pencils a few times, but always end up putting them back. I’ve also seen some conversations about watercolor crayons, and honestly, I don’t like mine. So, to challenge myself and to fill a gap in the conversations, I challenged everyone to color with reinkers.

Here’s my sample card made for the challenge.

I stamped the image in Ranger Archival Jet Black on Canson Watercolor Paper, and then taking a water brush, I added water to the areas that I wanted to color first. I let it setup with the paper for a few minutes and then added my colors using Distress Ink reinkers. I kept working in small areas using the same technique until I had the image painted. The background panel is stamped very lightly with the diamond background in a coordinating color.

• Stamps: KK Originals Flowers #2 Collection Iris SKU:30-10 KK and Stamp Oasis Backgrounds Collection Diamond Background SKU:1340 SO from Rubbernecker Stamp Company
• Paper: Canson Watercolor; Prism Spring Willow Medium and Dark, Majestic Purple Medium
• Ink: Ranger Archival Jet Black, Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord and Faded Jeans Distress Inks
• Accessories: Ribbon; Mounting Tape; Tsukineko Sponge Dauber; Water Brush; Pallette

Before I leave you today, there is a little surprise I want to share. I’m gonna have a big announcement on Wednesday and you are definitely going to want to come back then. Lots of big things happening at Rubbernecker, and one of them will be announced on Wednesday! WOO HOO!

Have a great day!