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Stamping & Stencilling: Andy Skinner's Believe in Yourself Stamp Tutorial

Discover a bold new way to use Andy Skinner’s Believe in Yourself red rubber stamp with his signature 'moving ink' technique, creating a lively image bursting with colour!

In this step-by-step video tutorial, Andy shows how to flood watercolour card with vibrant Cosmic Shimmer Water-Based Inks, then add texture with spattered bleach to create stunning marbled effects.

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Layer over the colourful background with the Binary Stencil and soft chalk paint to apply a patterned background, before stamping the inspirational design and sentiment in crisp black.

The result is a striking piece of art that’s perfect for card making, journaling, or mixed media projects. Watch Andy's video and get playful with inks, stamps and stencilling!

WATCH: Stamping & Stencilling

Prepare your materials
You’ll need the Believe in Yourself red rubber stamp.
Also have ready the Binary 8x8 Mixed Media Stencil by Andy Skinner, which features a pattern of numbers.
For inks, use Cosmic Shimmer Water-Based Inks. In this tutorial, Andy uses: Marigold (from the Origins set, which also includes Cobalt Blue Hue and Firecracker Red) and Hot Magenta and Turquoise Blue (from the Art Pop set, which also includes Golden Green).
Decant inks into mister bottles, diluted 50% ink and 50% water, and label them.

Flood the card with water
Place a sheet of watercolour card (or heavy mixed media card) onto your workspace.
With a soft brush, soak the surface thoroughly with clean water.
Mist lightly on the reverse of the card too – this helps prevent warping.

Apply the moving ink
Mist the card with Marigold Ink first.
Next, spray Hot Magenta, then Turquoise Blue. These three colours blend beautifully without muddying.
Continue until you’re happy with the coverage, aiming to eliminate most of the white areas.
While the card is still very wet, spatter lightly with thin bleach. As it dries, this creates marbled textures and subtle movement in the inks.
Allow the card to air dry naturally for best results.

Flatten the card
Once dry, sandwich the card between sheets of parchment paper and gently press with an iron (with a silicone mat beneath).
This flattens the surface, making it easier to stencil and stamp.

Stencil the background
Secure the Binary stencil over the card using a stamping platform and magnets (or tape if you prefer).
Load a domed stencil brush with Warm White Cosmic Shimmer Matt Chalk Paint, then offload excess onto a paper towel.
Lightly tap through the stencil, covering the card from bottom to top. Aim for stronger coverage at the base, fading towards the top for a graduated look.
Wash your brush and stencil immediately after use.

Stamp the design
Place the card in your stamping platform and position the Believe in Yourself Stamp centrally, with the sentiment below.
Ink the stamp with the VersaFine Ink Pad in Onyx or Versafine Ink Pad in Nocturne.
Stamp firmly, then repeat if needed for a solid, crisp impression.
Remove the magnets carefully and lift the finished piece.

Optional variation
Instead of using chalk paint through the stencil, you can spritz diluted ink (e.g. Turquoise Blue) through it for a different effect.

This 'moving ink' technique combines flowing backgrounds, layered stencilling and bold feature stamping to create an eye-catching mixed media piece.