Songbird by Linda Ledbetter

Hi everyone! I'm Linda Ledbetter from Studio L3, and I'm so excited and honored to join The Artistic Stamper team as their guest designer for August! 

When lovely Emma invited me to browse the stamp collection and choose a few favorites for my projects this month, this exotically gorgeous lady (Donna's Songbird 2 stamp) was the first image to catch my eye. I just love her! 

I stamped our pretty Songbird onto Ranger Specialty Stamping Paper using Jet Black Archival Ink. This is my favorite ink to use when I'm going to be watercoloring with Distress Ink, as it's oil-based and won't run.

Once the image was dry, I placed dabs of Vintage Photo, Crushed Olive and Scattered Straw Distress Stain onto my Non-Stick Craft Mat, and used a Wide Tip Water Brush to randomly swipe the colors across the paper. I didn't blend the colors together, as I wanted the brush strokes to show. I love this simple technique for creating some visual texture!

Once the background was dry, I used a Fine Detail Water Brush with Distress Markers to color in the details on the image. The lady's complexion is tinted with Tattered Rose and Spun Sugar, and her eyeshadow color is Broken China. Her headband is colored with Ripe Persimmon, Worn Lipstick and Festive Berries, and I used Picket Fence to add some highlights to her hair. 

Next, I again used the Jet Black Archival Ink, this time with this awesome, bold image from the Borders A5 #2 set. To complete the front panel of the card, I edged it with Tarnished Brass Distress Paint. 

The background panel of the card is a deep teal page from the Ranger Distress Core'dinations Paper Stack. I again used the Tarnished Brass Distress Paint, this time with the little circles stamp from the same Borders A5 #2 set, to add a fun pattern to the paper.

Finally, I cut one of the fabric roses from a piece of Idea-ology Trimmings, dabbed it with Ripe Persimmon Distress Stain, and attached it to the lady's headband using Glossy Accents adhesive. I added a piece of scrap ribbon to complete her summery look. 

I had so much fun creating this simple card, and am in love with the images I got to play with from The Artistic Stamper! Thanks so much to Jennie, Emma and the team for welcoming me, and to you for taking the time to read my post. I'll be back later in August with another project to share. 

Have a fantastically wonderful day!

--Linda