Started with Block Stamping

 

Here are some birthday cards I made:
Two Z fold cards, continuing to use up flower photos.
The map and boat card was not my idea. I CASE'd it from Lynette.

Experimented with "block stamping" by dabbing ink pads onto an acrylic block then spritzing with water. Inspiration from Cathy at Maine Mountain Stamper. She used markers to "color" the acrylic block. I used distress inkpads because I liked those colors.

The green card base is 4-1/4 by 11 inches, scored at 5-1/2 inches and 8-1/4 inches. I cut 3 pieces of white cardstock, 2-1/4 by 3-3/4 inches.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Marvelous Morning Glory.    Using ballet blue ink, I stamped off  for the first impression for the fuller part of the flower. Then used ballet blue again  "full strength" for the detailed part of the flower. Same idea for the leaves using wild wasabi ink.  I stamped some tiny irregular dots in the center of the panel of flowers with SU's old Itty Bitty Background stamp. Used SU's Simple Sketches Happy Birthday stamp in ballet blue and added the little bird from SU's Feathered Hope.

Stamps: SU's Beautiful Friendship and Watercolor Minis using SU's wild wasabi and distress worn lipstick and dried marigold.  Not sure which SU set the "happy day" stamp is from?

Here is the guy card I CASED from Lynette's card. 

Stamps: Prima #572594 Seashore (a very tiny little clear acrylic stamp set), Sentiment from Tim Holtz cling set: Saying Stuff, SU Old World Map, that I embossed with Zing white opaque finish embossing powder.

Here are the block stamping cards. I used off  white cardstock from my stash. It has a laid finish. It's a little thicker than the Georgia Pacific 110 lb. that I use. I may try this technique with watercolor paper or a watercolor layer because the card front warped a little. I used 3 colors on this  card: distress spiced marmalade, fossilized amber and salty ocean.  It was difficult trying to tap ink in the middle. I put a piece of paper down on the bottom third of the block to keep that part clean. The very bottom of the color block did not seem to get enough water. One does not know what the result will be...keeping it kind of fun. 

Stamps: SU's Petal Prints (flower) and Denami Designs (sentiment) stamped in Versafine onyx black.

Here I switched to just 2 colors of ink, Salty ocean and crushed olive. Much easier to do. I would like to try and make a scene card with these colors...sky above and green grass below.

I probably did not add enough water for this block stamping? Instead of throwing it out, I thought little houses, trees and clouds from SU's Good Neighbor's set would be fun and funky? What do you think?

Thank you for visiting! I hope you have a wonderful day! Stay safe from covid!