July | 2020 | Dot Dot Stamping Designs

Sponging on Stamp technique Dot Dot Stamping

Today I am sharing an easy technique that can really change the look of your stamped image, without needing too many extra tools.
I have used the gorgeous Blossoms in Bloom stamp set from the Annual Catalogue, which is perfect for this technique.
Sponging on Stamp technique card Blossoms in Bloom Stampin' Up! 2020 Christina Barnes Dot Dot Stamping I have started out by completely inking up the entire large flower image with Blushing Bride ink, making sure that there is a good even spread of ink over the image. Then using a sponge dauber (you could use a small piece of ordinary sponge if you don’t have daubers – I just find the daubers work best for this technique), apply some Rococco Rose ink by gently dabbing the dauber in the centre of the flowers, and then slightly angling the dauber and dabbing some ink onto the edge of the flowers as well.
I have also done this with the leaves, I used Pear Pizzazz and then sponged with some Old Olive.
Make sure that you ink with your lightest colour first, and sponge the darker colour on after.
This is such a fun but easy technique to have a go at, but leave me a comment if you have any questions.
Happy stamping!
Chris
xx

Summer Days Masculine Card Colouring July 2020

It sure has been a crazy busy few weeks, and I will share more about that later in my post. I have had time to think and ponder during those few weeks though, and I thought it was time to add a little structure to my creating, and so this is the start of that, Mondays are going to be for my masculine cards. (That’s Monday Australian time!)
Here’s hoping that I can maintain it and that things don’t get too crazy busy again anytime soon.

I made some time to create a card for brother’s birthday though, using the Host stamp set from the Annual Catalogue, called Summer Days.
Summer Days Masculine Card July 2020
In the background is some of the paper from the In Good Taste Designer Series Paper, and the image stamped in Early Espresso ink, before being coloured with Watercolour Pencils, and then gently painted over with an aqua painter.

I had to go with a wood theme for this card after the last few weeks. My incredible 14 year old son decided late last year that he wanted to have a go at woodturning. He had been doing some woodwork classes for a few years but had never tried woodturning.
He took to it straight away and started making beautiful things and learning and growing every day. He just loves it and spends as much time as he can in front of his lathe.
A few weeks ago, he was asked to make 100 Spatulas for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and they wanted them as quickly as possible.
I’m sure you can imagine that this was an amazing opportunity for him, not just to get paid to woodturn but also to get his name out as a talented woodturner.
So here is a photo of my boy, with the 100 spatulas before they were delivered to the Department. His Spatulas are to be used as gifts for special guests at public diplomacy and cultural programs overseas.
Jamie with 100 Spatulas