Creative Inking Blog Hop: Goodbye Forever!

I have TWO fun cards to share with you today! Both are using some gorgeous stamps that are headed for a life of retirement, hopefully you have already added these beauties to your collection!

I was having so much fun creating that I had to try this card in two colors – which one do you prefer? Soft Sea Foam on the left or the Pool Party on the right?

The gorgeous background is made with the Marbled background stamp – so simple to add a stunning background on your card! This is your LAST CHANCE to purchase this set before it leaves forever!

The other images on the card coming from the Humming Along stamp set and the matching Hummingbird Dies, which include this beautiful label die – I have used this pretty die on so many cards! It is the perfect size for many greetings and adds a pretty, finished look to any card.

The stamp set and dies can be purchased together as a bundle for a discounted price, then you will have all of the matching pieces (and that cute label die) when you need them.

I stamped the hummingbird in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored the image with the Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Soft Sea Foam, and light Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends. I recommend that you stamp the image and then let it dry for 5-10 minutes before you start coloring. I was too impatient to wait (I love coloring), and as a result, my black ink was not quite dry and it bled a bit causing a fuzzy edge in a few spots. I need to learn patience – lol!

For the Pool Party version of the card I switched to a white card base and used the beautiful Pool Party 3/8" Shimmer Ribbon. This beautiful ribbon is also retiring so make sure you stock up before it sells out!

To color the Hummingbird I tried a different technique with the Stampin' Blends. First I colored some of the feathers in Light Pool Party and Light Mint Macaron, then I went over them with the light Smoky Slate. One of the things I love about the Stampin' Blends alcohol markers is that you can blend completely different colors together to create beautiful effects like this – I was trying to replicate some of the shimmery colors that birds have mixed with gray. I added some shading with the dark Smoky Slate marker, colored the breast and head with the light and dark Pool Party Blends, and the beak with the light Pumpkin Pie.

And one more product that is leaving forever – the Everything Is Rosy Product Medley! The biggest benefit of the product medley is that everything coordinates and comes all together in one box! Just add a pack of Night of Navy or Melon Mambo card stock and you are ready to create beautiful cards! Click here for details on this Crossover Gatefold Card.