Springtime Sigh

The Penny Black stamp featured on the above card is called ‘springtime sigh’. I think I can admit to a few springtime sighs lately, mostly appreciative sighs I might add. The days are warmer, the snow is disappearing and I saw the promise of a daffodil, a star flower and a tulip out in the garden yesterday.

To achieve the layout above I stamped springtime sigh twice on hot pressed watercolour paper then coloured with Arteza real brush pens and blended with water. I didn’t note down the names of the different pens I used but I kept the number small. Rather than add an orange to the mix I added red to the yellow poppy petals and I blended from dark to light with one red pen on the red blooms. After colouring I matted with a co-ordinating colour and added a two part sentiment from PB ‘million thanks’ set. If you have been wondering whether some Arteza real brush pens should come and live at your house make sure you use the coupon code they provided so my readers could have a 10% discount HeatherTelford1 (here are affiliate links for the Arteza US store and EU store.) I did a review of the pens on YouTube; you can see me try some of my favourite techniques

The flower arrangement above is from the PB transparent set ‘wings & vases’. Once again I stamped with versafine clair nocturne then coloured with Arteza real brush pens. I love the variation of colour from  the gray markers when diluted. I used a gray (sorry not sure which one) marker for the vase and added a little blush red at the top. To ground the vase I created background line by drawing a single line in gray or black which I then diluted with water and again dropped in a little red as if it was reflecting the blooms.

I finished the card with a co-ordinating mat and sentiment, this time from ‘blooming sentiments’.

Now before you go, Penny Black is hosting a big giveaway and to cheer and encourage. Head over to the Penny Black blog to see how to enter to win a $100 shopping spree!

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