Autumn Branches
Posted: November 5, 2014 Filed under: Etched Branches, Watercolour, Words of Gratitude | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks, Tsukineko Radiant Neon inks 12 Comments
The etched branches stamp is once again the star of an autumn card; I have yet to use it on a winter scene. Using loose watercolouring I tried to recreate the colours I have been seeing against bright blue skies lately. We have had some beautiful clear autumn days and it has been a great year for gorgeous colours.
I began by dabbing Ranger Archival jet black ink onto “Etched Branches” stamp leaving some places un-inked. I then stamped onto watercolour paper and placed a stamp positioner next to the stamp before removing it to mark the position for subsequent impressions. As I was making several impressions it helped to tape the stamp positioner to the panel with painter’s tape. I inked small sections of the “Etched Branches” stamp with Mustard Seed distress stain and stamped onto panel using the stamp positioner to guide the stamp into the same place then repeated the same steps with other distress stains inking different sections of the stamp each time. With all the colour stamped I spritzed the panel with water to make the colours bleed into each other and the surrounding area. Next I splattered the same distress stains over the panel and let all the ink dry.
Before removing the stamp positioner I re-inked a few sections of the stamp with black marker to give some branches more definition. To colour the sky I sponged Radiant Neon Electric blue ink, for the foreground Memento Luxe Pear Tart ink and to finish Vintage Photo distress ink around border. I matted the panel with brown cardstock and stacked three diecuts of the word “Thankful” for my sentiment.
For more Thanksgiving inspired projects visit the Penny Black blog this week
Stamps: Etched Branches (PB)
Creative Dies: Words of Gratitude (PB)
Inks: Archival Black ink, Barn door, Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, Crushed Olive, Spiced Marmalade distress stains, Vintage Photo distress ink (Ranger) Radiant Neon Electric Blue ink, Memento Luxe Pear Tart ink, Memento Tuxedo Black marker(Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Natural white cardstock, brown cardstock
Heather Telford 
This is beautiful! And thank you so very much for actually sharing the process! I will try it out and experience. Lovely to be inspired!
Gorgeous effect making a stunning card! xxx
this is gorgeous. those colors are stunning
Gorgeous and magnifique!
A splendid fall card. You’ve captured the blaze of autumn color most magnificently. I love this stamp and it created a beautiful card. TFS
Heather, how I love your touch with distress inks. I’m a recent convert, both to your site and to distress, and am so inspired by you. You’ve got me stretching my game. Thanks!!!!!
I have been admiring your work on the Penny Black FB page and am thrilled to have found your blog. Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring artwork and the descriptions of your process. So helpful!
Gorgeous card with the watercolouring glory, Heather! I just bought this stamp and wonder if you have any suggestion to turn it into a christmas card!
Hi Lai-Yoke,
Thanks for your encouraging comment. I haven’t used this one for a winter scene yet but I am sure to very soon. I have a couple of winter cards using similar stamps that might give you inspiration.
This is gorgeous, Heather! Thanks so much for sharing! Love the way you stamped the branches “un-inked” for a wonderful look!
Bright blue skies… I’m glad you’ve been seeing them, haven’t here. Blue is definitely a better backdrop for the beautiful branches than dark grey would be…
[…] this scene look familiar? I posted an autumn branches card last week which involved inking the ‘Etched Branches’ stamp multiple times with distress […]