Silver Elephant Craftique: Blank Page Muse Art Rubber Stamps: Be a Mermaid in a Sea of Fish

Mermaid stamps are one of my favorite type of stamps to color. I love using multiple bright colors for their hair and making colorful inky card backgrounds for the sea. Today, I used the mermaid stamp from Blank Page Muse called The Femmes Mermaid Ocean Scene to create this 6x6 card.

Supplies:

Blank Page Muse Art Rubber Stamp: The Femmes Mermaid Ocean Scene
White cardstock 4"W x 4-1/2"H to stamp image
White cardstock to mat the colored stamped image 3-1/4"W x 3-7/8"H
White cardstock card base for 6" x 6" card (cardstock 12" x 6" folded in half)
Turquoise cardstock mat 5-7/8" x 5-7/8"
Black cardstock mat 5-3/4" x 5-3/4"
Watercolor paper 5-5/8" x 5-5/8"
Black stamp pad with stamping block or stamp positioner
Favorite coloring medium. I used Copic markers (colors listed below).
Distress inks: Seedless preserves, Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick, Salty Ocean, Black soot
Distress spray stain: Brushed pewter, Broken china, Picket fence
Press 'n Seal, craft mat, or wax paper (for ink smooshing)
Water in a spray bottle
Heat gun
Your favorite mermaid sentiment or any sentiment of choice
Optional embellishments - jelly dots, enamel dots, rhinestones, or sequins
Your favorite adhesive

Instructions:

Stamp image on white cardstock and color with your favorite medium. I used Copic markers.

Copic Markers Used:

Skin: E13, E11, E21, E00, E000

Hair: Purple-V17, V15, V12, RV000

Pink-RV04, RV02, RV13, RV00

Cheeks: R20, R30

Fish & Starfish: YR16, YR15, Y13

Seashells: B02, B01, B000

Seaweed: YG17, YG13, YG03

Water: B01

Bubbles: B01, B0000, RV00, V01, BV000

Cut out the stamp on the black outline border. Adhere the stamped image on the 3-1/4"W x 3-7/8"H piece of white cardstock and cut around it to form the mat.
Ink the edges of the mat with Distress ink in Black Soot. Set aside.

Time to ink smoosh!

Protect the work surface by using Press 'n Seal, a craft mat, or wax paper. I use Press 'n Seal for easy clean up.

Apply ink onto your work surface with Distress ink pads in Seedless preserves, Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick, and Salty Ocean
Spritz the ink with water

Using the watercolor paper, smoosh the paper over the ink. It will take several layers of ink smooshing to achieve an ocean/sea look. Add more ink and water when needed. Use a heat gun to dry each layer before smooshing again. Repeat until satisfied with the look.

Using a new piece of Press 'n Seal, ink smoosh with the Distress Spray Stain in Brushed Pewter. This will give it some shine. Dry using the heat gun.

Using the Distress Spray Stain in Broken China and Picket Fence, add droplets onto the ink smooshing using the tube from the sprayer as shown. Dry using the heat gun.