Poppin’ Pastels With The Brownies

I'm writing this on Thursday morning, and later this afternoon I'll be stamping with a couple of my nieces at the first Brownie troop meeting I've attended in nearly three decades!  I'm very excited to be sharing my love of stamping with them as we create a beautiful, hand-stamped card for their moms for Mother's Day! 

For their project, I chose to do a simpler version of an old workshop card I did a few years ago (some of you likely made it with me).  It features the Garden Whimsy stamp set and the poppin' pastels technique, which I think they will love!  

Poppin' Pastels Technique

This was the first stamping technique I ever learned, way back in 2003 when my friend and co-worker, Michelle Aschliman, invited me to my first Stampin' Up! workshop.  Along with holding a special place in my heart, it is a real "wow" technique, especially for first-time stampers. 

First, stamp your images with the clear VersaMark ink.  Then, use a Sponge Dauber, Sponge, or cotton ball to dab Stampin' Pastels onto the VersaMark areas and your images will colorfully appear!  I used the Orchid Opulence, Elegant Eggplant and Garden Green colors on the tulips. 

TIP: It's important to dab, not rub, the pastels onto your images at first to avoid smearing the stamped designs.  Once all of the VersaMark is completely covered in a light layer of pastels, you can rub over the images to bring out the depth of color and stamp details.  

Also note, the harder you rub, the more the pastels will stick to the non-VersaMark areas.  You'll actually get an aura of color surrounding your pasteled images, and that's OK…it's part of the effect.  If you want a completely clean background, you can use the eraser that comes in the Stampin' Pastels set to clean it up.  Or, you can create a blended pastel background, like I did on this project.  After the images were colored, I rubbed over the entire piece with Summer Sun and Regal Rose colors.  

I just read in the latest Weekly Inkling Email Newsletter (from Splitcoast Stampers) a question about what you should use to seal your pastel artwork.  Here was the answer given by Beate Johns, who writes their tutorials:

If you use VersaMark first for a technique like Poppin' Pastels, you don't necessarily have to seal your image.  The chalk will rub off a bit, but not that much.  You can always use a clear matte acrylic sealer to prevent the chalk from coming off your card stock.

Other Card Details: I used Orchid Opulence, Elegant Eggplant, Garden Green and Very Vanilla card stock. The speckled textured background is from the Speckled wheel (retired) inked in Orchid Opulence (this color will be retiring soon).  The greeting is from Warm Words and it's finished off with an Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon.

Here are a couple versions of my original card from 2007.  I like the Eggplant base better, but I'm trying to use up my Orchid card stock before the color retires.  The green on these cards is actually Wild Wasabi, which will be making a comeback in July…Color Renovation…woohoo!

I have a little more detail on these cards…I've added some Color Spritzing with a Garden Green Marker and sponged the edges with More Mustard Classic Ink. I took the second card even further by adding a couple of Slot Punches to thread the ribbon through, and popping up the greeting on a Word Window Punch.  The "Happy Birthday" sentiment is from Warm Regards (retired), and the "Friendship" is from Celebrate Everything.  The purple butterfly in the lower right corner is from the Priceless set.  I couldn't leave him out (he has trouble making friends).

Looking forward to my Stamp Club on Friday night.  We are making the Scallop Circle Pansy Purse with Mini Notecards. 

Update: Just got home from the event…the girls loved the card and had a great time making them!  They are all so creative and did a fantastic job!  We may have to do another stamped card workshop with them next school year! 

Angie