Gift from a Dear Friend

Hi everyone.  Today I was working on organizing my studio.  I bought a couple of containers from Ikea and thought I'd spend the day getting things more organized.

Then late this afternoon the mail came ... there was a package for me - yay! :)  My dear friend Nancy sent me an old SU! stamp set that I have been wanting for years.  It retired just as I started getting into stamping and I couldn't get it anywhere.  I was so excited when I open the package and there it was.  So, of course, I had to ink it up! :)  Thanks so much Nancy! :)

I watercoloured the background by just pressing some distress ink onto my craft mat and spritzing with water, and then pouncing my watercolour paper into the diluted ink.  By pouncing, I end up with lots of drops and splotches that gives the background some visual texture.  Once dry, I inked up the tree, spritzed the stamp with a little water and stamped onto the watercolour paper.  Then I did the same for the foliage of the tree, using different autumn colours of distress inks.  So fun! :)

Watercolouring is my favourite technique right now ... I just can't get enough of it.  :)

Since this is a CAS Watercoloured card, I'm going to add it to the growing gallery at Happy Little Stampers January CAS Challenge. :)

And by coincidence, it also follows Happy Little Stampers January Sketch Challenge - bonus!! :)

Stamps:  Branch Out (SU!); A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade, Ripe Persimmon (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, heat tool, water brush