#TGIFC392 — Inspiration Challenge

Welcome to a new TGIF Challenge. This week, our challenge is “What would you do without black ink?” Ha, that’s easy for me!!! I rarely use black ink unless I’m coloring with Stampin’ Blends or watercoloring a detail image. Typically, I use lots of color and love embossing in white, gold or silver.

My card today is a SUPER special one for my hubby. Our 32nd anniversary is coming up in November. We got married in Yosemite National Park, in a little church in the valley with a picturesque view of Yosemite Falls. I knew the Waterfall Canyon stamp set was going to be PERFECT! I had also purchased the coordinating limited-edition Waterfall Dies during September, when they were available.

I started out by embossing the waterfall in white on Shimmery White Cardstock and lightly watercoloring it with Night of Navy and Balmy Blue ink. I love how this made the waterfall look like it was roaring and misty. (I realize this more accurately depicts a Spring flow, but hey, artistic license, right?)

Afterwards, I stamped the rocks with Gray Granite and watercolored the blank areas with Crumb Cake ink. I also watercolored the sky with a very light mix of Night of Navy ink. Those pretty blends and watermarks just happened. I’m not even sure if I could duplicate it if I tried. But, I was so pleased!

To fill in the rest of the foliage, I used a variety of stamping and watercoloring techniques on Shimmery White and Pear Pizzazz Cardstock. For the stamped images, I inked up the image, used a Sponge Dauber to add a second color, and then lightly spritzed the stamp with water before stamping. For the die-cuts, I pre-painted Shimmery White. For the plants in the foreground, I cut the dies out first and then watercolored them. See the list of ink colors in the Product List below.

I also added some die-cuts from plain cardstock for visual breaks. And, I added lots of rocks and “granite” to make it look like Yosemite Falls. I seriously love how this turned out!

To complete the card, I add a Fabulous Frame die-cut and a sentiment from the Seasons of Chic stamp set. (I don’t have any current stamps with a Happy Anniversary sentiment, can you believe it?)

Be sure to click over to the TGIF Challenges Blog to see the other designers’ projects this week . Then, create one of your own and join our challenge!

Have a wonderful and creative day!

Purchase products from my online store to qualify to receive free exclusive project tutorials. This month’s PDF includes 12 tutorials designed by my demonstrator friends and I that are sure to inspire your paper crafting hobby! The projects feature products from the 2025 Annual Catalog, Online Exclusives, and January-April Mini Catalog. Enjoy!

Product List