People often ask me what the difference is between Stampin' Write Markers and Stampin' Blends. The simple answer is that Stampin' Write Markers are water-based markers and Stampin' Blends are alcohol markers, but that doesn't really tell you what you want to know. So, today I'm comparing coloring with these two types of markers.

Last Thursday, I shared this unique pointillism coloring technique. If you missed it, go back and check out that post to learn exactly how to do it or watch the video. I just couldn't stop the dots! Here is another card design featuring the To a Wild Rose stamp set and the 'Tis the Season 6" x 6" patterned paper. So, on y go! Let's get stamping.

to start, I swiped my Cherry Cobbler ink pad along the edges of my cardstock and patterned paper to created a slightly distressed edge. 

I stamped the images using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. Then, I used the pointillism coloring technique to color the rose using the Poppy Parade and Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends alcohol markers. For the leaves, I used Granny Apple Green and Old Olive alcohol markers. I love the way this technique really shows up on the larger flower image! 

I grabbed a greeting from the All Things Fabulous stamp set, embossed it with white embossing powder on a strip of Basic Black cardstock. I trimmed the silver edge from a piece of Silver Metallic Ribbon and pulled the fine silver threads to add behind the rose by twisting them in a circle and taping them with a little piece of tape. A few rhinestone basic jewels finished the card with a little sparkle!

Thank you so much for stopping by the website today. If you have any questions or need help with anything, please leave a comment or send an email (stampin_heidi@yahoo.com). I would love to hear from you!

Usually when I color with the Stampin' Blends, I use Whisper White or Very Vanilla cardstock, but today, I'm coloring on Sahara Sand cardstock which gives it a more rustic feel. The wonderful thing about the Stampin' Blends is that the color shows up even on the slightly carker cardstock. When you first color the image, it looks very brown, but as the alcohol evaporates, the color begins to pop. It's so much fun to watch!

Inks:

• Tuxedo Black Memento
• Soft Suede
• Old Olive

Accessories:

• Petal Pink Stampin' Blends light & dark
• Old Olive Stampin' Blends light & dark
• Linen thread
• Share What You Love Artisan Pearls (retired)
• Wink of Stella
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
• Mini Glue dots to hold the ribbon in place.
• Wild Rose dies

Notes:

• Don't worry if your flower looks brown when you begin to color it. As the ink dries and the alcohol evaporates, it will turn pink.
• I used mini Stampin' Dimensionals under the "hello." However, these still aren't small enough and I had to cut a couple of them in half.

Accessories:

• Poppy Parade Stampin' Blends light & dark
• Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends light & dark
• Granny Apple Green Stampin' Blends light & dark
• Linen Thread
• Metallic pearls
• Mini glue dots to adhere the linen thread

Notes:

• For the orange poppies, I colored them with light and dark Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends. Then, I used the light Poppy Parade Stampin' Blend and added a little red in the darker areas. I colored over the whole thing with the light Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blend to blend the colors together.

Today, I have four adorable cards to show you using the Birds of a Feather stamp set. This set is in the 2019 Holiday Catalog by Stampin' Up! and is a 4-season set as it has four different birds - a duck, a chick, a turkey, and a hen - for four different holidays - Halloween, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Valentine's Day. I used my Stampin' Blends on the cards for some quick and easy coloring and the Brights 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper. So easy and so fun!

Coloring these images with the Stampin' Blends is so easy! The Blends are available in a light and a dark version of each color. I simply colored the image with the light version, then went around the outside and where there should be shadows with the dark version. Then I switched back to the light version again to smooth out the lines. 

It's hard to see in the photo, but I used the light Crumb Cake Stampin' Blend around the outside edges of the image. This gives it a slight shadow all around and helps it pop out from the page.