After almost four and a half years and 225 different stamp sets, today is a sad day as we say goodbye to the What Will You Stamp? Challenge. I’ve been a member of the WWYS Design Team since September 2016 and have loved every minute of it. Using stamp sets that weren’t necessarily my style has really pushed me creatively, and I will be forever grateful for the friendships I have made. So for the final What Will You Stamp challenge we chose WWYS225 – Good Morning Magnolia.
NEW WATERCOLOR PAPER
I really couldn’t decide what to make for my final Design Team project and so just started with the large magnolia image.
I mounted the stamp onto my Stamparatus platform to that I could stamp it onto the new Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper from Stampin’ Up! This new watercolor paper feels thinner than the retired watercolor paper, but perhaps that’s because it has a smoother texture. I love this feature as it makes it so much easier to get a good stamped image.
I started by wiping the paper with an Embossing Buddy to remove any oils and static, and stamped the large magnolia using VersaMark ink. Then I reinked the stamp and stamped again just to be sure I had a good image.
I sprinkled the sticky ink with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder and tapped off the excess. Then I removed a few strays specks of powder before melting the rest with my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).
On a separate strip of the Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper I stamped and embossed the “Thanks” sentiment from Good Morning Magnolia. Once again I used my Stamparatus to ensure I was able to get a really good image on the textured surface.
PATIENT PAINTING
With the stamping complete, my next task was to paint the image. I decided to use a very limited range of colours and build it up in layers, letting it dry naturally between each application.
The colours I chose were Petal Pink and Daffodil Delight for the bloom. Then there was Soft Suede for the stem and Pear Pizzazz for the leaves. Once the image was completely dry I painted the background using Coastal Cabana ink.
To paint the image I used one Water Painter to add a little bubble of clean water into a section bordered by the embossing. Then I pressed onto the lid of a closed ink pad to transfer some of the ink to the inside. When the lid was opened I had a pool of ink I could pick up with a second Water Painter. I think I painted the petals and leaves 4 times in all to get the effect I wanted.
Once the bloom was dry I painted all around the image with clean water, thoroughly wetting the unpainted area of the paper. Then I simply went over the whole background with Coastal Cabana ink in one go. I thought the slightly patchy coverage was quite lovely so decided not to add a second layer of colour.
What I did do though was cut out a piece of clean scrap paper using the large die from the coordinating Magnolia Memory Dies. I laid this paper on top of the painted flower as a mask and then flicked droplets of clean water over the piece.
A little while later I went back to the panel, and with the paper mask still in place, flicked droplets from a Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush over the background. Finally I was happy with the panel and set it aside to dry thoroughly.
Some hours later I went back and placed the finished panel between some clean white paper under a stack of books to press it flat.
BIG BROWN BAG
By now I’d decided to use the painted panel to decorate a Kraft paper bag I had handy. So I began by tying two pieces of Petal Pink 5/8″ Organdy Striped Ribbon in a bow around one of the raffia handles.
Next I attached the watercoloured panel to a layer of Gold Glimmer Paper with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Then I fixed the layered piece to the front of the bag using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).
That just left the embossed sentiment to cut out.
For this I used the #C1 die from the Stitched Rectangles Dies (the smallest from the set of 8 nesting dies in the set). Then I used Stampin’ Dimensionals to add it to the bottom of the painted panel and my final WWYS design was done.
WHAT WILL YOU STAMP?
As this is the last What Will You Stamp? challenge we’d love to see what you can create with the Good Morning Magnolia Stamp Set.
Once you’ve completed your new project using at least on stamp from the set, simply upload it to the challenge gallery for #WWYS225 – Good Morning Magnolia.
That’s also where you’ll find projects from other members of the WWYS Design Team.
If you’d like more inspiration for using this set check out a couple of my earlier blog posts:
PRODUCT LIST
As an alternative to pressing on my ink pads, I could simply have squeezed a few drops of reinker into the lid (or onto a non-porous plate) and used that instead. So I’ve included links to the reinkers as well as the ink pads in my product list in case this interests you.
UPDATE 2020: Sadly the following products have retired and are now no longer available from Stampin’ Up!
- Gold Glimmer Paper
- Embossing Buddy
Just happened to hop on here in a hurry this morning, nice and early and LOVE what you’ve done, Tracy! You like the new w/c paper then? I’ve not had a chance to try it yet myself and won’t for some while. What a beautiful presentation you’ve made here. Sorry you’re going to miss the WWYS Design Team though and congratulations on the 4 1/2 years and ALL those designs you’re leaving behind. Have a super summer!
Thank you Geraldine. Yes I like the new Fluid 100 Paper very much so far. At 5″ x 7″ the sheets are a little smaller than the old watercolor paper Stampin’ Up! used to stock, but these ones fit inside a stamp case! There’s also 10 sheets to a pack instead of the 5 we used to get. I like the feel of the paper too. It’s described as 100% archival cotton paper, acid free and is a natural white.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful craft bag featuring the Magnolia stamp set. Love it. You’ve enc ouraged me to try the new watercolour paper. I like the fact that it fits into a case. Beautiful design and colouring.
Thank you Penny