Splattered Maple Leaf

Hi everyone.  A few weeks back I did some experimenting with water color paper.  I had so much fun!!!  The one consistent thing about water color paper is that it's not consistent!! :)  The results can vary so much.  I wanted to see if I could find a more consistent way to color ... and I think I have, but it may just be with these colors because I have yet to try it with others.

I die cut my maple leaf using my favorite water color paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press - Natural White).  Then I took sponge daubers and randomly sponged the dry water color paper with Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red (heavier with the first two colors and less with the red).  Then I misted the leaf with water until the ink became wet and ran into each other a bit ... but not soaking wet.  I let it dry and then splattered with watered down Early Espresso ink, using a toothbrush.  LOVE how it turned out.  Will try it with other colors to see if I can get more good results.  I'll keep you posted!

Here's a close-up:

I added a strip of woodgrain embossing white card stock under the leaf and then stamped a simple sentiment.  Lots of white space so that the leaf is the star of this card.

Stamps:  Elements of Style (SU!)
Paper:  White, Watercolor
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, Early Espresso (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Large Leaves #2 die (Cheery Lynn), Woodgrain embossing folder (Sizzix), sponge daubers, water mister, toothbrush, sticky strips, adhesives and dimensionals

I'm entering this card into the Paper Players #172 - CAS Leaves challenge.

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Here's a picture of Evan at our family birthday dinner on Sunday.  He wanted a Black Forest Cake for his birthday cake - yum!!  Sorry it's so dark, but my dining room is dark orange, so all pictures seem dark ... and the one with the flash wasn't as nice ...