{Spotlight Project} Maria Does Random Stamping. Again.

For DAY ONE of the January Stamp Release Hop, click here.
For DAY TWO of the January Stamp Release Hop, click here.

Howdy. You may have seen this spotlight project where I shared my not-so-random-random-stamping process with you. I am revisiting that technique again today cuz it's a great way to get a set of four cards in one sitting using different sized stamps from one stamp set.

This time I've used the sloppy watercoloring method to add some color to my stamped page, since I thought it fit the artsy feel of the artistic images. Here's my process again. Why not give it a try yourself and link up in the players' Spotlight Project Showcase?

STEP 1

I gathered my supplies - the Country Rustic set and Memento black ink since I was going to be using Zig clean color pens as watercolors. I also pulled out Winged Things for a medium and small-sized stamp to use as fillers. Peruse your stamp sets. You've probably got oodles of little filler stamps at your fingertips if your set of larger images doesn't include any.

STEP 2

I started with a letter-sized piece of Neenah white cardstock and the two largest images and stamped the images in a rough triangle which is pleasing to the eye. Some of the images are stamped off the edge, creating interest.

STEP 3

Then I stamped the outhouse image, trying to keep the images grouped together to ensure that there was still a good amount of white space available to fill in next with the medium sized stamps. TIP: This "snuggling" is the most important thing. If you just stamp the next size image in the middle of the available white space, you end up having room for only small images. Oh, and I rotated the stamp while stamping.

STEP 4

The next photo shows how I filled in those white areas (marked with the arrows) with the mailbox and birdhouse images, again "snuggling" them close to the other images to maximize remaining white space. Then I stamped the larger of the two butterflies too.

STEP 5

I finished with the smallest filler images - the small butterfly and then even two of the solid hearts from Balloons and Banners cuz those small solid images add some pizzazz to the final product!

STEP 6

Then I picked my color palette from my Zigs and decided which parts of which images to add color to. I started with red, knowing it would be the strongest color. Decided to color the flowers in the window boxes. After I had dabbed the marker to some flowers, I went over them with a damp paint brush to get the "sloppy" part. TIP: Test your colors. Some react and spread well with water (like the red), while others barely react. I had to force the other colors a bit ;)

STEP 7

Here you can see the "sloppy" watercolor effect, although in hindsight, Distress Inks would probably have yielded an even "sloppier" result. However, since I wasn't using watercolor paper I didn't want to use too much water.

STEP 8

Next I cut the finished panel into four pieces. I opted for a card design with a split panel and a sentiment heat embossed onto woodgrain PP (so happy to find this PP with some aqua paint on it!).

You saw the set up above. Here is a close-up of one of the cards.

So if my random stamped Christmas cards had a "playful" feel, I think this set definitely has a more "rustic" feel thanks to the wood theme and the sloppy watercoloring.

I hope you will pick up a stamp set and give random stamping a try. Just work from largest to smallest image, stamp your larger images in a rough triangle, "snuggle" the images as you stamp, rotate your images and remember to stamp off the edge too.

And don't forget to enter your project to our Spotlight Project Showcase for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate (random drawing) OR your choice of 5x7 stamp set + a Spotlight Project guest designer spot (randomly drawn from the Top 3 picks).

Tschüss,
Maria

Products Maria used in today's project:

     

Country Rustic (December 2015/January 2016) is one of several premium 5x7 sets offered in the STAMPlorations stamp club! We've got lots of perks, including free worldwide shipping, a free 4" by 6" stamp set sent every 3rd shipment (or immediately after signing up for the semi-annual subscription), 2 personal discount coupon codes, and choice of ARTplorations stencils ($10 value) in every stamp club package mailed out to subscribers! For more info and to sign up, click here.