4 cards - 1 stamp set - Simon Says Stamp One With Nature

Another week has gone by, crafty chums, and now we're into the end of September. As is always the way, the weather in the UK has been quite sunny - with showers in between. My tomatoes have started to ripen finally and the apples are rosy-ing up on the trees. Almost jam time!

I got a bit carried away with one of my new stamp sets from Simon Says Stamp - One With Nature. I started out by using my inks to make just one card, but then decided I'd try out different inks and watercolour media. In the process it reminded me why I like some of the things I have more than others.

This is quite a long post with lots of pictures, so sit back and put your feet up :)

1. The Original Card Concept - Ranger Dye Ink

I love these stamps - they feel a bit retro, so I went with what I think are '70s colours (I was born in the 70s and don't remember much until the early 80s, so please forgive me!) - and stamped the background before offsetting the outline image. I then simply stamped the sentiment in the middle with Black Tie ink. It's so simple it hurts!

I did a little blog post way back in April about my wondering which inks to buy and I plumped for Ranger Dye Inks. I still really love them as they give great coverage and can be purchased for a reasonable price in the UK. I have found though that the colours are quite limited, so I'm hoping they may release some more in the future.

2. The Original Card Concept with Memento Inks

Here it is again, but this time with my Memento Inks, which I had purchased very early on, but have never really got on with. I'm learning that not all inks are the same and these I find don't give as good coverage. I have worked out, however, that instead of dabbing the ink pad onto the solid stamp, if I smear it, it doesn't come out so splotchy on the card. 

3. The Watercolour Version - Inktense Pencils

Ahhh, my beloved Inktense Pencils. I've been watching lots of Julia Altermann's (of Just-One-More-Card) videos on YouTube. She is full of great advice on using coloured pencils, including Inktense, and I have found that her tip of light layers works well. It does take time to colour with these, but I think the results are worth it.

I've used Tim Holtz Water Colour Card stock and Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink for this one.

4. The Watercolour Version - Spectrum Aquas

Again using TH Watercolour Cardstock and Jet Black Archival Ink. This time I'm using my Spectrum Aquas. I love these too, and they take less time to colour with than my Inktense. They also do washes beautifully. I like to use them by scribbling them first onto an acrylic block then picking them up with a wet brush.

Here they all are together. I simply rounded the corners and adhered them to a Kraft card base, also with rounded corners, with some fun foam.

[Supplies: Simon Says Stamp - One with Nature; Neenah Classic Crest 110b cardstock; Hobbycraft Premium White Cardstock 300gsm; Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock; Ranger Dye Ink (Cheese Puff and Lily Pad); Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink; Memento Dye Inks (Cottage Ivy and Tangelo); Derwent Inktense Pencils (0240 Sienna Gold, 0250 Cadmium Orange, 0260 Burnt Orange, 0300 Tangerine, 1400 Apple Green, 1500 Field Green, 1510 Beech Green, 1520 Hooker's Green, 1530 Felt Green, 1550 Spring Green); Spectrum Aquas Floral, Primary, Essentials (Lime, Bud Green, Leaf Green, Meadow, Moss, Olive, Terracotta, Marigold, Orange); Fun Foam; Dovecraft Kraft card 5x7; double sided tape]  

You'll notice I haven't used my coloured pencils - didn't have time; or my Zig Clean Color Real brush markers - still not liking them; or my Copics - because I didn't have enough in the right colours! So last night I bought some more Copics and I am planning to start my Online Card Class for Copics during the upcoming 30 Day Colouring Challenge (more information on Kathy Racoosin's blog in due course). I'm not doing it alone - I will be doing it with Aileen from Colour and Sparkle - it's so nice to have a crafty friend to learn it with, and with the wonders of the internet, the fact we're on opposite sides of the globe doesn't matter! We'll be posting as we go :) 

I thought I'd also link my first card up to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - No Designer Paper - haven't entered a challenge for a while!

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you've enjoyed it and found it helpful. Thank you too for your kind comments. They do really make my day. Wishing you all a fabulous weekend :)