Inspiration: Coloring to Stretch your Stamps

Changing up the coloring scheme of your stamp sets is an excellent way to “stretch your stamps” and get greater utility from them.

There is a set of stamps from Paper Smooches that I like. It’s called Chubby Chum Pals. Little did I know when I bought it that I would use it so much! My original intention was for Christmas cards; it’s something I enjoy doing every year. I thought the little guys in this set would be perfect for spreading some holiday cheer.

But, I found myself stamping this bird for several occasions and coloring it to suit my project. I think it’s meant to be a cardinal, but with a little blue and green it makes a pretty good parakeet or budgie (or even a lovebird?). 

The background started out with a little Butter Bar ink, which I worked in from the edges. Then, I stamped the lighter green leaves. Next, I added the darker green leaves to give the background a little more of a layered look. And I pulled out a Signo pen in white to add the lines and dots. It helped to tie the sentiment and die cuts together.

For my birdie, I used Zig Clean Color brush markers to lay down a little color around the edges (where I would want shadows). Then, I blended it in toward the center with a water brush. A Copic marker that matched my paint colors worked well to add a few speckles. I also used a silver Gellyroll pen to add a little sparkle to his speckles. Everything needs a bit of glittery something, don’t you think? :)

I didn’t have the dies for the Chubby Chum Pals set so after stamping the bird and water coloring him, I fussy cut him out. The leaves are cut with the coordinating dies, and I used those to give my little birdie a place to sit with a few foam squares. To complete the leaves, I decorated them with my white pen.

Finally, to make the string stay in place, I notched the edges of my panel where I wanted it to be with a 1/16″ hole punch. After tying the twine, I popped my panel on a coordinating card base with foam tape, and my card was complete!

Thanks for stopping in to see how to stretch your stamps with a little coloring finesse! What do you like to color? Leave a comment below and let me know your favorite mediums!