Saturday, September 01, 2018

CAS Mix Up September Challenge

Hi everyone.  It's September 1st and time for the latest CAS Mix Up challenge.  This month is being hosted by the super talented, Bonnie, and she chose ...


This is such a great idea to stretch the use of our markers.  For today's card I started by sponging a small panel of cold press watercolour paper with distress inks.  Blue near the top, green at the bottom, and soft yellow in the middle.  I took a wide, wet paint brush and went back and forth across the watercolour paper to activate the ink and blend the colours.  This creates a watercolour wash background.  I blotted here and there with a paper towel to lighten the colour a little before drying the panel with my heat tool.

I placed my tree image and background in my Misti and inked up the trunk and branches with a medium brown zig.  I spritzed a few times with water and stamped onto cold press watercolour paper.  Held it for a few second and then opened up my misti.  I spritzed more water as I thought the ink was a bit dry looking and then stamped again.  I cleaned off the stamp and next inked the leaves with two shades of green (bright and dark) zigs.  Spritzed with water, stamped again, and then took the piece out to dry.

I adhered the watercoloured panel to my card base and then popped up a white frame with a stamped sentiment on top.

Here's a close-up ...

I hope you'll check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards from the rest of our Designers, along with our Guest Designer this month, Chrissie (Simply One of a Kind).  I know you'll be inspired.

Then come join us.  We'd love to see you in our gallery!

Stamps:  Winter Trees (Deep Red); Happy Snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, Squeezed Lemonade:  Zig Markers
Accessories & Tools:  sponges, water brush, water mister, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up September Challenge - Ink with Markers

34 comments:

nancy littrell said...

Such a pretty not too bright watercolor wash background for your coloring your stamp with markers technique, Loll. TFS your steps for both techniques. I love the light and dark shades of green on your trees. Very realistic shading. TFS my friend. Hugs...

Barb Ghig said...

I love how you created the watercolor wash for your background, Loll...you added a glow to your design and set the stage for these gorgeous trees! Great idea to use your Zig markers, too...I don't use mine nearly enough, but I will for this challenge :) Thanks so much for your inspiration...I can't wait to play along again!

Julia Aston said...

Love the colors in your background Loll - and that wonderful tree stamp! SO pretty with the two greens in the leafage! And what a great sentiment! it can be used for so many occasions! Julia xx

BożenA said...

Oh Loll, this card is so magical !!! This is one of the most beautiful of your cards! It has such an amazing atmosphere, color and misty atmosphere. WOW! I can not stop looking at her!
Hugs,
BożenA

Bonnie said...

I have been admiring your trees, Loll, and I love them even more seeing a close up! Love the background with the varying shades and how adding water makes it a masterpiece! Love these trees too! Just what just hopped in my basket? LOL!

Nstiz said...

This one jumped off the page at me. Love the idea of sponging on watercolor paper and wetting that for such a perfect gradient. I've never seen a tree stamp I didn't have to have and this is no exception. I have a strong suspicion I'll be hunting that one tonight. LOVE this!

Brenda said...

Wow Loll, this is stunning! I love those trees, so pretty they are but it is your background that makes them pop so. I've never knew you could sponge the distress inks like that, but makes sense! This scene looks so real, that I think I can feel the sunshine shinning down and the shade giving cool relief. lol Love, love this one! Hugs, Brenda

Quillish said...

Wow..Loll! This is gorgeous! Other than the trees I love the slinging. Those colours look so great together. I must remember this combination :)

Quillish said...

I meant sponging* I should have paused before pressing ENTER!

aussie aNNie said...

i AM ABSOLUTELY loving everyone's work...it's a beautiful background Loll and inspiring as I have said to the other ladies, I love this technique and learn so much from you all. Love this card it's stunning...x

Julie B said...

Love the fresh look of these trees Loll, like your tip about creating the background too. :)

Jeanne said...

A beautiful and serene little grove of trees, Loll. Wonderful background, soft and soothing and beautiful trees. The technique creates a lovely scene. Thank you so much for sharing!

Susan said...

Beautiful background and even more beautiful grove of trees - your marker colouring in the two shades of green gave them real dimension. Such a lovely card!

Sue said...

Gorgeous background and the shading on your trees is lovely. Loll. Such a beautiful scene.

Brenda in IN said...

That background wash is so beautiful. The trees against that background are lovely. I'm going to try this and see what happens. May surprise myself! The sample cards for the challenge are awesome.

Mac Mable said...

This is such a fun technique producing unique and wonderful effects. Your card looks wonderful Loll with such a pretty wash on the background and those trees looks fabulous and so artsy X

Karen Dunbrook said...

beautiful card...I really want to try and play too.
xx Karen

MaryH said...

Your sponged sky looks wonderful as a background to the trio of trees. What a super job you did on the trees too. I like the look that you've achieved at the mid-point with the sort of yellow-green area...it created such a nice glow of sunshine coming through the tree-trunks. And the scene looks so pretty framed like you've done! TFS & Hugs too!

Chrissie said...

Your cards are always stunning skill and this is no exception, it’s a dramatic use of colour within a limited palette!
Just lovely!
It’s great to be joining you this time!
Chrissie x

Jo said...

Such a zen place to be. You used a restricted palette of colours which gave such a beautiful dramatic scene. You are one talented lady. Love the crispy wide frame, it carries us into this magical forest. Beautiful xx

Trina P. said...

Beautiful, Loll! Looks like a painting and should be framed! Awesome blending on the watercolour wash background. Amazing dimensions on your trees. xx

Papercraft Boutique said...

Beautiful and smooth background wash, Loll! And the watercolor-look trees are amazing! I love the way you added the dark green. I don't know what exactly makes me feel this way, but this card is very ethereal! Hideko xx

Christine Alexander said...

your background is gorgeous Loll, such soft colour and your tree just pops off the page :)

kiwimeskreations said...

Stunning card Loll - love how the image has stamped so well over the water colour wash.
Blessings
Maxine

Linda said...

This looks lovely. Great blending on the background and your trees look fab xx

Susanne Vargas said...

This technique is a bit tricky - you want enough water but not too much! Your trees came out beautifully! and look fantastic on the sponged background!

Darnell said...

Beautiful card, Lolly! I love the easy instructions for that stunning background and the image you marked and spritzed is fabulous!! Hugs, Dolly

Anita in France said...

What a gorgeous scene, Loll ... a lovely, soft sponged/washed background ... and just the perfect finish on those spritzed trees! Looks as though the heat is shimmering around them ... they're fabulous! Need to try this again ... my attempts always end up a washy mess (with or without too much spritzing!!). Hugs, Anita :)

Sue - said...

Gorgeous Loll. I really must try this technique again, last time I just ended up with a mess!

My Paper Epiphany said...

Stunning! I love the framed scene!

Ina G said...

A beeeeeeeeeeeautiful crop of trees here Loll. That background is stunning!

Pat said...

Another fabulous tree image Loll and the background looks flawless in those beautiful bright colours. x

Bobby said...

Those trees came out perfect with the technique, Loll. I played around with it today using Zigs and it was a disaster. I may not have time to get another one done. :(

Aileen said...

I love how you have done this card Loll, those trees look magical and that background colouring just perfect. Wonderful design.