Hey there Arties! What a great time we had creating a sympathy card last night on Del & Artie Live. So many of you requested Colorado Craft Company and Catherine Pooler, so I used CCC stamps and CP ink. I have some great tips below — let me know what you think in the comments section.

I have used affiliate links throughout this post. When you use them to shop, I will receive a small percentage of the total price at no additional cost to you. Thank you for always remembering to use my links.

I have a new glass mat y’all were asking about last night. It’s from Glassboard Studio, a company venturing into the crafty world. You can use code DEL20 to save 20% off your purchase of the mat. These have a magnetic option and come in different sizes.

Supplies for Creating this Project

1. Hummingbird Hibiscus Stamp & Dies

2. Picket Fence Hybrid Black Ink

3. Catherine Pooler Bellini Ink

4. Copic Markers from Violeta Ink (tell them Daniel West sent you)
   I listed all the markers in the supplies grid below.

5. X-Press It Card

6. Accent White Cardstock

7. Foam Tape

8. Boiled Sugar Jelly Hearts

9. Bearly Art Glue

10. White Gel Pen

11. Acrylic Block

12. Versafine Black Onyx Ink

13. Paper Trimmer

14. Scor-Buddy

15. Wide Mint Tape

16. Ergonomic Blending Brush

17. Die Cutting Machine

18. MISTI Stamping Tool

19. Magic Mat

20. Bone Folder

21. Glassboard Mat

You can watch how I created this card on my YouTube channel. I start creating at about 20 minutes in.

1. Limit Your Color Palette
   When you craft on the fly, not knowing exactly what you’ll make, choose a limited color palette to help you advance. In this LIVE session, I chose to use RV, YR, Y, and YG Copics for my palette and matched a Catherine Pooler Ink Pad — Bellini — to the YR color. After choosing the palette, I don’t need to search for matching colors outside that grouping. I know these will work well together and look beautiful.

2. Use a Familiar Coloring Method
   If you’re crafting on the fly, you should probably limit your methods to something familiar. It’s not the time to learn a new kind of brush markers or watercolor technique when you only have an hour. Grab the colors, markers, paints you have the most practice with. Save a new technique for when you have more flexibility in your schedule.

3. Know Your Black Ink’s Compatibility
   Before you stamp down the image you want to color, make sure the black ink you use works well with the markers, colors, or paints you have chosen. For Copic markers or other alcohol inks, you’ll need to check the label for what you can use that particular ink with. I love to use Picket Fence Black Hybrid Ink, or Hero Arts Intense Black Ink because you can use them with alcohol markers, watercolor markers, watercolors, colored pencils, dye-based ink or pigment ink.

4. Have Backups Handy for Your Markers
   In the middle of my project, in this video, my RV69 Copic marker needed a nib replacement. Instead of substituting a different color, I grabbed a new nib that arrived this week from Ellen Hutson, and I switched it out. I also refilled the marker with a refill. Having these backups on hand kept me moving forward without changing up my color palette.

Thank you for spending some time with me on the blog today! You will find a list of all the items I used for this project below.

Have a wonderful week.

Daniel