Weeping Willow

This morning my latest on-line stamp purchase was delivered ... I was sooooo excited!!  This is the first time ordering Rubber-Art Stamps.  They are beautiful!  Couldn't wait to try them out, but had to wait until late this afternoon as Jer was doing homework on the computer (in the art studio), so didn't want to disturb him.

It took me a lot of tries to get the look I wanted with the below card.  This stamp is a weeping tree and I wanted it to look like a weeping willow ... airy and feathery :)  I thought the Watercolor Spritz technique would work beautifully to achieve that effect, but unfortunately, after about five tries that went into the garbage, I knew I had to come up with some other way to get the look I wanted.  I started by adding a pale yellow wash to the watercolor paper.  I quickly inked my stamp using Stampin' Write markers and stamped the image while the background was still wet.  Voila!!!  Sixth time is a charm, I guess :)

Here's a picture and the details of the card  - finished size is the standard 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  Hope you like.  (Don't be fooled by the picture - it's actually in focus ... you can tell by the sentiment ... I wanted the tree to have a "mystical" look to it.)

"Weeping Willow"

 

 

Stamps:  Rubber-Art Stamps:  Tree, Thoughts of you

Paper:  Early Espresso, Autumn Traditions Designer Series (SU!); Arches 140 lb. cold press "Natural White" watercolor paper

Ink:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede; Stampin' Write markers:  So Saffron, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Always Artichoke

Accessories & Tools:  Aqua Painter, sponge, 1/4" Early Espresso grosgrain ribbon (approx. 14"), sticky strips and dimensionals

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I created a wash on the watercolor paper with So Saffron Stampin' Write marker and an Aqua Painter.  I quickly inked the stamp with Stampin' Write markers:  Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Old Olive, and Always Artichoke and stamped the image onto the watercolor paper while it was still wet.  I used my heat tool to dry the paper.  I then ripped the image to size and used the extra to make my sentiment which was stamped in Soft Suede ink.  I sponged Soft Suede ink around the edges of the watercolor pieces and the Autumn Traditions Designer paper.

I cut out pieces of Early Espresso cardstock 1/4" larger that the main image and the sentiment.  I sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink and then framed the two stamped pieces.

I mounted all the pieces as per the picture above, adding the ribbon in behind the main image and tying a knot at the side.  The main image is popped up with dimensionals to add depth.
 

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One more picture to share with you from our family gathering last Sunday.  Here's a picture of my kids at Deas Regional Park, sitting on bench dedicated to my brother.

Jeremy, Evan, Nikki