Berry Branches

Posted: December 11, 2023 | Author: Heather | Filed under: a berry branch, Penny Black | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks | 10 Comments

It’s another old favourite, maybe I say that a lot but when it comes to Penny Black brushstroke foliage stamps need I say more? This one is called ‘a berry branch‘ and I’ve featured it once a few years back on two different cards. How is that possible? I know it did turn up in classes a few years back and it was definitely part of this years ‘Painting with Stamps’ in-person class. Some of my previous posts have shown first and second generation prints from the same ‘inking’ and the two cards above are another example.

I keep the stamp in the stamp positioner and after stamping one panel I place another one in the same corner, spritz the still inky stamp and then stamp a paler more diluted impression. Often the second one ends up being my favourite. I used distress inks which work so well with added water.

When using this technique you can’t always control where the colours will blend into each other but I don’t let that worry me. I quite like the areas where green blends into brown into red.

Some of the panels got the splatter treatment, all were embossed with the canvas embossing folder and I added small PB sentiments either to the panel or just underneath it. Just one stamp but definitely a pretty one! Today’s post features affiliate links to The Foiled Fox. If you buy through these links I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Holly & Mistletoe

Posted: November 23, 2018 | Author: Heather | Filed under: a berry branch | Tags: Penny Black stamps | 6 Comments

This festive foliage features ‘berry branch’ from Penny Black. I chose a soft muted colour palette and after looking up the colour of mistletoe I kept my mistletoe berries looking white rather than make them red and popping!

First I inked all the mistletoe leaves with distress markers, half iced spruce and half forest moss. I spritzed the stamp lightly and stamped on cold pressed watercolour paper. I blended the leaves with water then inked the holly leaves with a peeled paint distress marker and stamped. To add some blue tones to the holly I pressed the pine needles ink pad on my glass mat, diluted the ink then blended the holly leaves with diluted pine needles ink.

To create my ‘white’ berries I inked them with an old paper distress marker, then diluted the ink with water. While the berry was wet I added a little more old paper ink to make a shadow. I tucked a sentiment into a space that looked like I planned it (unlikely) and added some hemp twine to one side of the panel. I gave the panel two mats, one a simple kraft layer, the other a fancy shmancy textured shimmery green layer. This is quite a big card, 6″x 6″.

I decided to try one with red berries too, so used ‘candied apple’ distress marker instead of ‘old paper’. I had a wee bit of red gingham ribbon and a red mat to tie it all together. I know the red pops but the white berries are my favourite this time.

Supplies

Stamps: a berry branch, peaceful season, sweetest moments

Inks: iced spruce, peeled paint, forest moss, pine needles, old paper, candied apple distress markers, nocturne & shady lane versafine clair inks