Christmas Blush
Posted: October 27, 2021 Filed under: Christmas blush, Penny Black | Tags: Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Tsukineko Versafine inks 7 Comments
This pretty rose surrounded by leaves and needles is called ‘Christmas Blush’ and is another beauty from the Penny Black ‘Keeping Spirits Bright’ release. Even though it is part of a Christmas release I think I will use it year round. It’s quite a large stamp so I have made a 6¼” x 4½” card.
I used a technique similar to a favourite from a few years ago when I would ink my rubber stamps with distress stains. The distress stains first came in daubers which made it possible to ink a stamp with a very juicy amount of ink. To replicate that I inked with a stamp pad then spritzed generously before stamping.
I inked the rose first in wild honey and kitsch flamingo, cleaned off the surrounding area then inked the foliage with rustic wilderness and iced spruce. Next I spritzed the stamp with water and stamped in the stamp positioner. There was enough ink still on the stamp to spritz it again and stamp it on the other end of the watercolour paper panel. While the ink was still wet on the paper I blended with a wet paintbrush, adding extra ink where necessary. I often watercolour outline stamps this way, the difference this time being how wet the ink was hitting the paper. I was looking for excess ink so the painting would be loose rather than precise.
After blending ink inside all the leaves and petals I dried the image and used blending brushes to add both green inks around the edges of the card and a little wild honey in the centre. I splattered water over the panel several times before dabbing it off with a paper towel to leave watermarks in both the blended and stamped areas. I added some green splatter and a sentiment from the PB ‘Christmas feeling’ set stamped in morning mist versafine clair ink.
I like this loose watercolour look and also the fact that it didn’t take anywhere near the time a more precise no-line watercolouring approach would take. I’m sure I will take more time over this stamp another day with another colour scheme; it’s too pretty not to.
Supplies
(Compensated affiliate links used when possible)
Heather Telford 
I’ve always loved seeing you use this technique. Your color scheme stole my attention! How striking this is. The use of iced spruce with rustic wilderness is such a fantastic combination! Love the loose watercoloring, something I still have not been able to do. Thanks for the inspiration!
Really beautiful Christmas Roses Heather and as usual a very striking colour combination in your fabulous watercolour style. I would love the new colours of DI’s but am hoping they will come out eventually in a set or two of cubes as my space is limited for large pads. x
I love this technique and have missed your doing it! It tickles me how you get Kitsch Flamingo to turn into shades I am awed with. Gosh, I am glad you work so hard to share your work! Thanks for the inspiration!
I was surprised how well kitsch flamingo worked. It’s not my favourite pink but I like it paired with wild honey.
Thanks for kind message.😊
Just beautiful !
Beautiful, the flowers have a glow to them!
[…] Christmas Blush → […]