Lilac

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing an experiment. :)  I seem to say that just about every post. :)

I watched a video tutorial on a "new-to-me" technique and then gave it a try.  I'm happy how my lilac turned out.  Believe it or not, this is done with Q-Tips.  Fun, right??!!  :)

I started by watercolouring a green stem, just to get the basic length and size for my flower.  I diluted three colours of Stampin' Up! re-inkers by about half with water ...maybe a little more water than that.  Then I bundled up five q-tips, securing them with an elastic in the center, made a second bundle of three q-tips ... again securing with elastic, and then had a single q-tip.

I added colour to the flower, starting with the larger bundle and darkest purple ink (blackberry bliss).  As I moved up the flower, I used the smaller bundle with the medium purple (elegant eggplant) and then the lightest purple (wisteria wonder) more near the top.  I used the single q-tip to add a bit of variation through the whole flower.

I then hand painted the two leaves and shaded using different colours of Gansai Tambi watercolour paints.  To finish, I splattered both the green and dark purple over the card front and stamped the sentiment in the dark purple.  I used a waterbrush to move the ink of the sentiment to give it a more watercoloured look.

Here's the link to the video that I watched.

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps:  Sentiment - The big, the bold, the happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Re-inkers:  Blackberry Bliss, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder (Stampin' Up!); Gansai Tambi watercolour paints
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brush, Q-tips

Colour Card Stock Watercolouring - Take Two

Hi everyone.  This is my second try watercolouring on coloured card stock.  I'm really happy with how this one has turned out.  You might remember me mentioning that I ended up fussy-cutting my first try HERE ... so you didn't end up seeing that I actually watercoloured on pink card stock. :)

I was inspired to try after seeing this beautiful card by Ishani.  Thanks for the inspiration Ishani!

I learned a few things trying this technique.  This is just my experience, but if you give this a try, I hope my hints will help.

- use light coloured card stock
- use card stock that is the same colour as the main part of your image
- heat embossing makes it easier to control the flow of water
- use a medium amount of water --- not too much, not too little - practice to learn the right amount for you
- wet a small area at a time and then float in some ink, moving the colour with a clean (no colour) wet brush to create shading
- one layer of ink is best.  Adding a second layer after the first is dry may result in the card stock pilling.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope to do more of this ... in-between all the other techniques I want to try. :)  I have a LOT of coloured card stock that sits and collects dust.  Maybe I can use some of it up (at least the lighter colours) with watered images. :)

Hope you'll give this a try!

Stamps:  Best Thoughts (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Bashful Blue (SU! - retired)
Ink:  Versamark:  Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder, Heat tool, paint brush

Winter Sky

Hi everyone.  Playing along with January Rudolph Days - Anything Goes.  The challenge is open every month between the 25th and end of month.  Hope you'll join in!

Made another cling wrap card. :)  This time I used Brushos with spray starch and cling wrap on cold press watercolour paper.  I find that the deeper colours work best with the w/c paper and Brushos.  This is a mixture of turquoise and ultra marine.  You can just make out some of the creases in the background.  Many are behind the "snow fall" of splattered white acrylic paint. :)

I die-cut a simple stand of trees from white card stock and stamped a sentiment at the bottom in Delicata silver ink.

Since I have snow on my Christmas card, I'm also entering the gallery at Merry Monday #274 - Crate a Christmas card with snow

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Stamps:  Snowglobe Sentiments (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  Watercolour paper:  Arches 140 lb. cold press; White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Brushos:  Turquoise, Ultra Marine; Delicata silver ink (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  spray starch, cling wrap, Alpine Trees die (Memory Box), paint brush for splattering, white acrylic paint

Challenges:
January Rudolph Days - Anything Goes
Merry Monday #274

Smile

Hi everyone.  I've been way behind on my visiting of blogs I follow.  Life gets in the way sometimes.  Today I visited my friends Ina, Carol, and Bobby and saw the beautiful cards they made as Design Team members of Just Us Girls.  Ina is the host and she picked the colour challenge this week which is AWESOME!  I HAD to play along.  Thankfully the challenge is still open for another day! ;)

I started by die-cutting my poppies from hot press watercolour paper.  I watercoloured them with distress inks.  I combined Mustard Seed with just a little Peacock Feathers to create the green for the stems.  Then watercoloured the poppies, first with a layer of Mustard Seed with highlights of Spiced Marmalade.  I used an orange w/c pencil to add a bit of definition to the blooms.

The background is a dot stencil, randomly coloured with Peacock Feathers ink using a clarity brush.  I love the softness the brush adds to the stenciling.  Used a stylus and mat to shape the poppy blossoms and then adhered them over top of the stenciling, using pop dots behind some of the flowers to give them extra dimension.  Stamped a sentiment in more Peacock Feathers ink to finish the card.

Here's a close-up ...

I think these colours would make anyone smile.  It feels like spring is not far away. :)  Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Beautiful (AliExpress)
Paper:  Watercolour paper (Arches 140 lb. hot press); White card base (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  paint brush, Mini Tiny Circles stencil (The Crafter's Workshop), Clarity Brush, Derwent Watercolour Pencils

Challenges:
Just Us Girls #424 - Teal, Mustard, Orange

Special Birthday Card

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a birthday card I made for my sweet Mom.  Her birthday is in a couple of weeks and she'll be turning 89.  All of my family is planning on heading to her place for a special birthday dinner. :)

This is also a saved card.  I wanted to share a little about how this design came about.  Recently I saw Ishani watercolour on coloured card stock.  Beautiful, right??!!  I had never tried that so I decided to give it a go and heat embossed the flower image in silver onto pink card stock.  I happily coloured away until I noticed that some of the silver embossing had made a bit of a mess at the tip of one of the flowers.  I couldn't let it go to waste, so fussy-cut the image.  It's a shame that you can't see the soft pink background, but it looked good before I cut it all away. :)

Coloured with zigs and very little water.  Cut the frame and heat embossed the sentiment.  Then attached the fussy-cut flowers to the inside of the frame, taping down the stem and the one flowers that overlaps the outside of the frame.  Added pop dots to the backs of the rest of the flower and a few leaves.  Dry embossed a sweet criss-cross pattern (folder was a gift from my dear friend Bonnie), and then popped the frame and flower on top.  Love how it turned out ... and I know my mom will love it too.

Here's a close-up so hopefully you can see the dry embossed background behind the frame ...

Since this is a watercoloured birthday card, I'm adding to the CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday.  Still a few days left to play along.  Challenge closes on Jan. 24th at midnight (PST).

Edited to add:  Just checked out the new Time Out (#101) challenge and see that this card is perfect. :)  Adding it to the gallery!

Stamps:  full of glee (Penny Black); Sentiment - Cosmos (Technique Tuesday)
Paper:  Pin Pirouette card stock (SU!); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Zigs, Delicata Silver (Tsuikineko)
Accessories & Tools:  Silver embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush, Cross Stitch embossing folder (Taylored expressions)

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday
Time Out #101

Framed Rose x 2

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a zig watercoloured image x 2.  I made these a few months back, but haven't had time to share them on my blog until now.

This is a beautiful stamp from STAMPlorations.  I heat embossed the image in gold, watercoloured the rose and left the text background white.  I fussy-cut around the frame and popped up the image panel for added dimension.  The rose really pops off the background.

I made a second card using the same image.  This time heat embossing in liquid platinum and watercolouring the rose in shades of red.  My set of 48 zigs doesn't have a real red colour.  The two red markers come out pink when water is added, so I watercoloured the rose first in the red (pink) and then added a layer of brown on top and I really like the colour it ended up being.  I filled in the background this time with a medium brown which gives the card a vintage feel.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Framed Rose (STAMPlorations); Lots of Thanks (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); Mixed Media for image panel (Strathmore 140 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Gold embossing powder (card 1), Liquid Platinum embossing powder (card 2), heat tool, water brush

Fun with Magicals

Hi everyone.  Another card for the CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Cling Wrap.  There's five more days left before the challenge closes.

I started out by playing with my new Lindy Magicals that I got for Christmas.  Hubby got me quite a few things on my wish list.  This was on it because of Mac Mable (The Sweetest of Peas).  She has done some AMAZING colouring with these little pots of powder.  Thanks for enabling me Mac!!

Since I've used something new to me, I'm sharing this card at AAA Challenge #106 - Quote  - my second entry.

I used two colours for the background - tibetan poppy teal and ponderosa pines olive.  I sprinkled just a little powder, spritzed with water and then covered it with a piece of cling wrap.  I used my hands to move the colour around and scrunch up the cling wrap.  Once dry, I removed the plastic and a very subtle but pretty design was left where the colours pooled around the creases.

I used a harlequin stencil to add a bit of glass bead gel on the right hand side of the background.  I die-cut the white daisy and sponged the tips and center with Peacock Feathers distress ink.  I was inspired by Izzy's beautiful card.  I added a colourful rain stone to the center for a pop of colour.  The sentiment is stamped in silver Delicata  ink.

I've already sent this off to a friend who had major surgery at the beginning of January.  My hope is that it brought her some joy. :)

My CAS design has magical powders used with cling wrap technique, stenciling with glass bead gel, die-cut, sponging and stamping.

Still lots of time to play along at CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Cling Wrap!

Stamps:  A Little Sentimental (Clearly Besotted)
Paper:  Coated card stock (gifted from a friend), White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Lindy Magicals (tibetan poppy teal, ponderosa pines olive); Peacock Feathers Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Delicata silver (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, cling wrap, harlequin stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), glass bead gel (Golden), palette knife, Daisy die (AliExpress), sponge

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Cling Wrap
AAA Challenge #106 - Quote (second entry)

Red and Turquoise for Merry Monday

Hi everyone.  Today I'm playing along with Merry Monday #273 - Red and Turquoise.  The challenge this week is hosted by my sweet friend Marcia (Marcia's Stampin' Pad).

I have another snowman card for you.  I didn't have any snowman stamps until just before Christmas, then I bought three!. :)  I love this little happy guy ... brings a smile to my face! :)

I stamped the snowman on mixed media paper in Black ink and heat embossed in clear (actually made two of these - one to donate).  I fussy-cut before watercolouring.  Used distress inks to give him a little colour ... pale blue for shadows, red (candy red, aged mahogany) for his hat, and scarf, and just a pale bit of candy apple for his nose and cheeks.

The background is regular white card stock, sponged with Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon near the top only, and then again with Peacock Feathers, making sure to leave the bottom free of colour as my "snow hill".  Once dry, I splattered with diluted white acrylic paint.

To finish, I stamped the sentiment in pigment white ink and heat embossed in white.  I've started using my pigment white ink more often now.  Not sure why I haven't been doing this all along.  Makes a nice base for the white heat embossing on top.  Popped the snowman up in the bottom corner and the card was finished.

Here's a close-up.

I hope you'll check out the challenge to see the fantastic cards by the Design Team, and then come and play.  The challenge at Merry Monday is open until Sunday noon (PST).

Since I've used something new to me, I'm sharing this card at AAA Challenge #106 - Quote ...

Stamps:  Snowy (Penny Black); Big Scripty Greetings Holiday (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Black (Memento); Distress Inks:  Candy Apple, Aged Mahogany, Peacock Feathers, Mermaid Lagoon (Tim Holtz); White Pigment Ink (Hero Arts)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush, sponges, white acrylic paint, paint brush for splattering, white embossing powder

Challenges:
Merry Monday #273 - Red and Turquoise
AAA Challenge #106 - Quote

Colourful Birthday Flowers

Hi everyone.  A reminder that we are already half way through the CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday.  There's still just over a week left to play before it closes.

I decided to try one of my favourite flower stamps, watercolouring in different colours.  The image is from Stampendous and these are actually Cosmos.  I doctored the stamp by cutting off a label that was near the top that said "cosmos".  I like the image much better with just the flowers and leaves. :)

I used distress inks to watercolour all four of the cards I'm sharing with you today. Wink of Stella was added to the center of the flowers for a little sparkle, but doesn't show in photos.

Here's close-ups of all four ... the first (same as above) is my favourite colour combination (abandoned coral topped with barn door).

Then I wanted to try purples (dusty concord topped with wilted violet).

Next up is the flowers in pinks (festive berries topped with picked raspberry).

And last, but not least, yellow and orange (squeezed lemonade, abandoned coral).

Please check out the challenge reminder post HERE to see more inspiration from our wonderful Design Team and Guest Designer, Birgit.

Stamps:  Cosmos (Stampendous); Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU! - retired)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Abandoned Coral, Barn Door, Dusty Concord, Wilted Violet, Festive Berries, Squeezed Lemonade (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, clear Wink of Stella

Challenges:
CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday

More Faux Mother-of-Pearl

Hi everyone.  Just a reminder that we are already have way through January.  That means there's just over a week to play along with our CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Cling Wrap, being hosted by our talented Design Team member, Nancy Littrell.

I used the Faux Mother-of-Pearl technique again today.  Check out my video tutorial HERE.

This time I used it with a stencil.  Taped my stencil over my regular card stock, added the frost paint with a piece of scrunched cling wrap and then let it dry.  I washed off my stencil and once everything was dry, I placed it back over top and sponged on distress inks.  Starting off with the lightest colour on the outside of the flower I used Spiced Marmalade, overlapping slightly with Abandoned Coral as I moved towards the center.  I carried the Coral to the very center because I used Picked Raspberry over top and I didn't want the center to be completely pink ... I wanted a bit of orange tone as well.

Heated embossed a black sentiment banner with white and attached it to the bottom of my panel.

Here's a close-up of the card and close-up of the faux mother-of-pearl effect ...

I made a second card with the same technique.  This time making a small green faux mother-of-pearl panel for the background and watercolouring a rose (NBUS stamp), which is fussy cut and popped on top.  The Faux Mother-of-Pearl finish doesn't show on the full size card photo, so I have included a close-up as well.

The flower spray is heat embossed in silver and then watercoloured with distress inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, and Abandoned Coral.

You can see the shimmer from the frost paint in the photo below.

The front of the card above says "dear friend" and inside it says "Happiest of Birthdays to You".  So since it's a birthday card and has watercolouring with the flowers and leaves, I'm also adding this to CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday.

I hope you'll come play along with us at CAS Mix Up.  Check out the challenge blog to see the reminder cards from our wonderful Guest Designer Christine, and the rest of the Design Team.

There's a few techniques that you can use with cling wrap that are so fun.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Card 1:
Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Large Flower stencil (Hero Arts), white frost acrylic paint (Tsukineko), cling wrap, sponges, white embossing powder, heat tool

Card 2:
Stamps: Birthday Blooms (Stampin' Up!)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black card stock (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Abandoned Coral, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  white frost acrylic paint (Tsukineko), cling wrap, sponge, silver embossing embossing powder, heat tool, paint brush


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Cling Wrap
CAS Watercolour January Challenge - Birthday

Cold and Frosty Colours

I made two cards today ... they are both the same with the exception of the colours.  I'm entering them into Stamping Sensations Challenge.  My very talented friend Viv is on the design team and this is the first time for me to play along!  Make sure to check out the challenge.  Amazing cards by the Design Team that are sure to inspire you!

The challenge this month is ...

********Cold and Frosty Colours********

I just got this stamp from Penny Black, even though it's been around for quite a while.  This snow family is so adorable.  I stamped the image in black and clear heat embossed.  Then I watercoloured with distress inks and fussy-cut.  For the card above, I combined Peacock Feathers and Pine Needles to create a deep teal colour for the hats and scarves --- LOVE IT!  I added some shading with soft gray zigs.  The background is embossing paste through a falling snow stencil.  I left the bottom inch or so without any embossing paste so I had a place to stamp my sentiment.  I sprinkled with iridescent embossing powder while the embossing paste was still wet.  Once dry, I heat set.  Unfortunately, you can't see the sparkle ... but it's really pretty in real life. :)

I also added several details to the snow family.  The hats and scarves are Winked with Stella for a bit of shimmer, and glossy accents are on the noses.  I also added subtle cheeks with pale lavender ink.

To finish, I popped the snow family on top of the embossing paste background and stamped the sentiment with Delicata silver ink ... this is fast becoming my go-to ink for Christmas cards. :)

Here's the second card.  Everything is the same except for the colours used for watercolouring hats, scarves, and shading (Wilted Violet, Tumbled Glass distress inks).

I'm also adding this card to two other challenges:  Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes, and Penny Black & More Challenge - Something New.  My snowy family stamp is new.

Edited to add:  Adding to the Less Is More #362 - Purples challenge.  So happy the challenge has been extended to two weeks long - hopefully I'll be able to play along more often! :)

Stamps:  snowy family (Penny Black)
Paper:  Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Pine Needles, Milled Lavender, Wilted Violet, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz); Zig (soft gray); Delicata Silver (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, clear embossing powder, heat tool, glossy accents, Clear Wink of Stella, White embossing paste (Dreamweaver), palette knife, iridescent embossing powder (SU!)

Challenges:
Stamping Sensations Challenge - Cold & Frosty Colours
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny Black & More Challenge - Something New
Less is More #362 - Purples