Thomas Kinkade

Warning....this is a VERY long post but I think it's worth your time!

Today the Cornish Heritage Farms team is focusing our bi-weekly challenge on the Thomas Kinkade stamps.  This is a card that I made a couple of weeks ago for the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge.

The fabulous Thomas Kinkade stamps are beautiful when colored but many of you have told me that they are very intimidating and you do not feel that your coloring skills are not good enough to tackle these images.  

I hope to share some step by step coloring tutorials on my blog in the next few weeks but until then you can check out the one I did for Spectrum Noir Markers HERE.

Still not ready to try it????  I have a solution....don't color them!!!

Thanks right, I said DON'T color the image.  The Thomas Kinkade Stamps are so detailed that they look fabulous even when not colored.

I have a few tips for you when using the Thomas Kinkade images so that you will get the best results.  I have found that I get the best results with Versafine or Memento ink by Tsukineko.  

I use Neenah, Mohawk, or other smooth white paper.

For best inking results I use a brayer to roll the ink on evenly.

After inking up the stamp I lay the paper on top of the image and rub across the paper surface.

Carefully lift the paper and allow the image to dry.

Here's the card I made with The Night Before Christmas and Versafine Deep Lagoon ink.

I made this one with Skater's Pond and Versafine Sepia ink.

I made this one with It Doesn't Get Much Better and Versafine Olympia Green ink.

And here's my final card using Foxglove Cottage and Versafine Smokey Gray ink.

I hope these examples have shown you some of the possibilities with these stamps.  

I love mine and I think you'll love them too!

You can see more Thomas Kinkade inspiration on these blogs today:

• Anne Harmon
• Cindy Haffner
• Frances Byrne
• Kristine Reynolds (U R Here)
• Michele L
• Steph Ackerman