Ink Drip Stamp Project with Andy Skinner

Step into a dreamlike, mixed media fairy tale with the Dance Stamp Set by Andy Skinner from the Imagination series. This beautifully detailed design has been brought to life in stamp form, capturing every fine detail of Andy’s illustration – from the delicate wings and tutu to the expressive pose of the dancer.

Paired with Andy’s layered drip technique using water-based inks, bleach highlights and subtle spatters, the stamp becomes the centrepiece of an ethereal card where colour appears to flow around the image, creating a soft, magical atmosphere with very little brushwork required.

Watch the full tutorial

Stamp and Drip the First Layer
Place the stamp in the centre of a panel of mixed media card face down and 'pick up' the stamp with the stamping platform. Make sure you are happy with the positioning. Lightly mist the card with water – just enough to dampen the surface, not soak it. Ink the stamp generously with Black Distress Oxide ink (or similar). Lightly spritz the stamp with water so the ink begins to loosen. Bring the platform down onto the card to stamp the image. Tilt the card to around 45 degrees and mist the surface again so the black ink runs downward. As the ink pools at the bottom, use a damp soft brush to gently mop away excess so the drips end in soft, controlled puddles rather than harsh blobs. Leave the card to dry, keeping an eye out for any areas that need lightly mopping while still wet. Note: It is essential to use a stamp platform for this technique. If you don't already own one, we recommend the investment as they open so many more stamping techniques.

Add a Second Drip Layer with Blue Ink
Mix Cobalt Blue Hue water-based ink with water (about 50% ink / 50% water) in a mister bottle. Lightly mist the card surface again with clean water. Mist the stamp with the blue ink mixture. Stamp in exactly the same position using the platform. Tilt the card, spray a little more water, and allow the blue ink to run over and between the existing black drips. Mop up the pooling at the bottom edge with a soft brush as before and prop the piece up at an angle while it dries. The blue and black start to combine into rich petrol tones, especially where they mix along the drip lines.

Third Layer
For extra depth and subtle colour mixing, a warm neutral colour is layered over the top. Mix Buff, French Mustard and Mushroom inks in roughly equal parts, then dilute with 50% water in a mister bottle. This creates a soft, vintage paper tone. Dampen the card again with a light mist of water. Spritz the stamp with the neutral mix. Stamp again in the same place, then tilt the card to let this layer run. If a richer colour is desired, apply a second light mist of the neutral ink mix and repeat the drip. Mop away the puddle at the base and allow the piece to dry completely. Where this warm mix flows into the blue, subtle greenish tones appear, giving the background a complex, layered look.

Bleach Back the Highlights
Once all the inky layers are completely dry, the image is ready for bleaching. Use a think household bleach for this step. Safety note: Always use bleach with care – work in a well-ventilated area, wear old clothes and dedicate a brush just for bleach. Keeping the card on the platform so the stamp position is preserved, use a liner brush dipped in diluted bleach to dot small highlights into the hair and skirt and lightly touch areas of the face, arms and legs. You can also add scattered tiny dots around the figure to break up the background. The aim is not to remove all the colour, but to soften and lift it in key areas so the figure will stand out against the drips. Allow the bleach to work and then dry the piece – ideally air dry or use a heat tool if needed. On mixed media cardstock, this creates a softer, more ethereal effect than on standard smooth card, with bleached areas fading gently.

Re-Stamp for Sharp Detail
With the dreamy background in place, the fairy image is ready to be stamped one more time. Make sure the card is fully dry and still aligned in the stamping platform. Ink the Dance stamp with black archival ink, ensuring good coverage. Stamp over the top of your background. If any area looks a little light, re-ink that portion and stamp again – the platform ensures perfect realignment. The crisp black outline now sits over the soft, dripped colour, bringing the fairy sharply into focus.

Add Ink & Chalk Spatters
To further integrate the figure with the background and add more movement place a little charcoal black water-based ink on a palette and load a liner brush and test on scrap card until the spatters are fine. Gently tap or flick the brush to create small black spatters rising from the base of the figure and partway up the dress. Repeat using white chalk paint, thinning slightly with water so the spatters are soft. The underlying inks will bleed through the chalk paint a little, so the dots dry to a subtle off-white rather than stark spots. This combination of dark and light spatters enhances the drip effect and helps balance the composition.

Trim, Add Sentiment and Mount
Trim the panel to neaten the edges and refine the framing around the fairy as required. Stamp the sentiment, included with this stamp, vertically or along the bottom edge of the figure. Mount the panel onto black cardstock, leaving a narrow border for contrast. Adhere the finished piece to a card blank. The result is a striking, gallery-style card with a soft, inky background, ethereal wings and a strong sense of motion.

Colour Variations & Ideas
The same drip technique works beautifully with other colour combinations such as the Hot Magenta version featured in this video. Incorporate pixie powders or mica-infused inks into one of the layers for a gentle shimmer that catches the light without overpowering the stamp. Whether kept soft and neutral or pushed into bold jewel tones, this drip technique is a versatile way to showcase detailed figure stamps and create dreamy, expressive backgrounds with very little brushwork.