A Sketchy Dilemma.....But I have a Plan B

Dilemma!

Dilemma!

I've got a dilemma.

I ordered this sketch style stamp...

and a nice amount of other sketch style stamps.

I like them...

and

I look(ed) forward to using them.

I chose this image (the swan/lily pad/frog)

from the collection of sketch stamps that I have ...

and decided to make it the first one that I would try.

The plan was to use my Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils to water color the image.

I stamped out the image

and that's when the trouble began!

and..

That's when I learned something.

and...

that new tid bit of knowledge is....

Sketch style images (might) tend to look blurry and sloppy when stamped onto water color card stock...
(which is usually not smooth)

and...

that does not sit right with me...

the Felix Unger of the card making world....(aka...me)

Me...the person who has a deep and genuine  love of creating ultra clean & very crisp looking cards.

But...

I figured...

it was stamped out...

so...I gave it a try.

*By the way....I should note...

I have not given up on the sketch style stamps that I have...
I have a PLAN B!

I am going to stamp this image out again...

on ultra smooth card stock...

and see how it looks.

(less sloppy and blurry I hope)

and then...

I'll color it with Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers...
or something...
maybe bendable pencils(?)
I'm not sure...

(Wish me luck!)

Anyway...

here's the image..

on water color card stock...

colored with Spectrum Noir AquaBlend Pencils

I do have to say...

as I began to add color...

the blurry detail (frog..flower...lily pad) seemed to become a bit more defined.

Still...

for me...

it's too messy looking.

So here ya go...

what do you think?

(I'm NOT pleased with the speckled frog...at all)

See?

Do you see what I'm talking about?

The areas of the stamp that have sketch shading are too muddy looking..

not crisp

not clear

and...above all....
not me.

(on a positive note..the flower petal tips are highlighted with clear Wink of Stella..

and that looks nice (in person...even though it doesn't show well in the photos)

But oh...that frog!

He needs help.
Big time.

So keep your fingers crossed for me...

and wish me luck...

I'm going to forego water coloring the sketch style stamps...

and try something else.

That's a shame, though...

because I've got some beautiful sketchy light houses that would have been nice to water color.

Oh well.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this "dilemma"

so please feel free to comment below.

Thanks for visiting...

and have a great day!

Michelle

Card making friends...Supply info is simple....most of which has been noted above...

The stamp is by Impression Obsession....card stock (solids) are LCI and PTI....print is DCWV