Watercolored With Love

Hello there!  Today I have a watercolored card for you:

I took a piece of Arches watercolor paper, prepped it with my anti-static powder bag, then inked up the largest image from the Fine Line Florals set and stamped in my MISTI several times, reinking each time to make sure the ink really got into all the nooks and crannies of the paper.  I then heat embossed the image with Hero Arts detail white embossing powder.

I used blue painter's tape to stick my paper down to an old wooden cutting board to keep it flat while I watercolored.  Then I used a bunch of different Daniel Smith watercolor paints to color my image.  I added some paint spatters then dried the whole thing with my heat tool.  I die cut the panel using a Your Next Stamp stitched rectangle die and also die cut the the WITH LOVE from the panel.

I adhered the panel to a card base of Teal cardstock and then used my glue sponge to add the letters back in because  I wanted a really subtle look with the sentiment.  Finally I added some sequins from Lucy's Little Things.

I hope you like my card and thanks for stopping by my blog today! ~Maureen

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Heart of Gold

Hi all!  Today I have a card made for a few challenges:

The heart was stamped with Versamark ink and embossed with Detail Gold EP.  I then watercolored in the little triangles with my Finetec palette in shades of Silver Pearl, Shining Pink, and Green Pearl. I fussy cut it out and mounted it over some gold thread with foam tape.  Then I embossed the sentiment with the same Detail Gold powder and cut the ends into fishtails.

This is for the following challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches - sketch
• SSS Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart
• Little Tangles - Watercolor

I hope you like it and TFL!

Neat and Tangled HEART OF GOLD Clear Stamp Set

Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD Watermark VM-001

Finetec MICA WATERCOLOR PEARL Paint 12 Set M1200

DMC Metallic GOLD Embroidery Thread 284ZA

3M Scotch DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE Permanent

InLinkz.com

Shinhan Watercolors and a Palette Tip

Hi all! Today I have a post about some watercolor paints I bought a while back - Shinhan Watercolors.  I just took the Online Card Classes Intermediate Watercoloring class and had a lot of fun playing with these paints!  Here's a pic of the box:

And the paint tubes:

They are 7.5 ml each.  I've seen most other tube paints come in 15 ml or 5 ml, so this is an in-between size.  Initially I thought the tubes were a little small, but once I saw how little paint I needed, I realized that there's actually a pretty good amount of paint here.

I bought a Folding Palette with 28 paint wells in it and was able to fit all 30 colors, except for the black and white, which I don't use much anyway.  Here's what it looks like closed:

And open:

You can see that I've labeled each well with the color name so I'll know which paint goes where.  It was really simple with my label maker and 6 mm label tape.  The tape is laminated, so it resists the water and paint that goes over the labels.  I haven't had any problems yet with the tape lifting or getting messed up.

So anyway, I'm no watercolor artist, but I'm really liking these paints - very nice saturated color and they mix and paint very nicely (sorry I don't know more artistic terms!).  Here are a couple cards I made using these paints and techniques from the watercolor class:

The card above uses a pear image from Your Next Stamp and the card below uses stamps from Create A Smile.

That's all for now.  I hope to share more watercolored cards with you in the future.  BTW, I'm also using these paints for my brush lettering practice.  I know that I can use cheaper paints (meaning not artist quality), but I feel like it's more enjoyable with supplies I really like!

TFL and have a great day! ~Maureen

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YNS Challenges

Hi all!  It's time for new challenges over at the Your Next Stamp blog.  For the next 2 weeks we have this sketch:

And this color challenge:

I decided to go with the color challenge and came up with this:

I used the YNS set Cats and Dogs stamp set and its matching die set as well as the Stitched Rectangle die set.  I used Brusho powders on watercolor paper to make the blue background.  Then I used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment in Versafine ink.  I stamped the cat on white cardstock, colored with Copics, and cut out with the coordinating die.

We hope you'll play along with us!  All the details can be found on the YNS Blog.  TFL!

Joy

Hi all!  I have a fun shaker card for you today:

Just a note: it looks like the card is wrinkled, but that's actually the plastic pocket it's in.  And it's not actually wrinkled, just wavy.

I printed the image Christmas Tree Time on watercolor paper and colored with my Gansai Tambi watercolors.  The Joy sentiment is from Papertrey Ink and the sequins are from Lucy.

I took a half-size page protector and cut that in half to make an A2 sized pocket.  I used my wood burning tool to seal the edges and cut off the holes and perforated seal lines from the original pocket.

This is for the following challenges:

• CAS-ual Fridays - Snowflakes (hopefully you can see the snowflakes in the shaker mix)
• My Time to Craft - Christmas Animals 
• CAS-ology - Tree
• CRAFT Challenge - Christmas
• Addicted to CAS - Joy

I hope you like it and TFL!

Lily with Snow Sisters

Hi all!  I have a Ppinky card for a few challenges today:

The image is called Lily with Snow Sisters.  I printed the image with my Epson printer and watercolored the whole thing, except for the hair which I did with a black colored pencil.  I added some embossing paste through a snow stencil, careful to not put any on the snow sisters or Lily (except for that one bit on her hat).  Finally I added a gold embossed sentiment from Jingle Greetings.

This is for the following challenges:

• ABC Challenges – W is for Wishes (add a sentiment)
• SSS Wednesday Challenge – Let It Snow
• Pile It On – Anything Christmas/Winter
• SSS Monday Challenge – Holly Jolly Stamping (Christmas themed)

I hope you like it and TFL!

Coneflowers

Hi all!  I took advantage of some… ok, MANY Black Friday sales and Power Poppy was one of them.  I got several new images including this Easy Breezy Coneflowers set (it comes with 2 matching sentiments, but I chose not to use them this time).

I printed it on watercolor paper and watercolored with my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolors.  I added some Lucy sequin mix and a sentiment tag from Mama Elephant.

This is for the following challenges:

• Power Poppy – Embellishments
• SSS Monday Challenge – Thanks/Thanksgiving
• SSS Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes

I hope you like it and TFL!

YNS Feature Day

Hi all!  It’s YNS Feature Day and this month our theme is Christmas.  Here’s what I came up with:

I wanted to show a Christmas use for a non-Christmas set - Woodland Cuties.  I simply put a Santa hat on the cute little fox.  The hat is from Silly Monsters Incognito Three. 

BTW, I stamped the fox on watercolor paper and embossed with clear powder.  Then I watercolored him and cut him out with the Woodland Cuties die set.  I did the same with the hat, except I fussy cut it out and added it to his head.  The sentiment is from Cozy Christmas Jessica. 

And check out this sweet sale:

This is also for the following challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches – sketch
• SSS Wednesday Challenge – Christmas
• Curtain Call – Foxy

I hope you like my card and you can go over to the YNS Blog to see all the inspiration from the DT and leave a comment for a chance to win the stamp set of your choice!  ~Maureen

Hello Friend

Hi all! Here’s a card for today:

I used Altenew’s Halftone Hello.  I stamped with Versamark and embossed with detail white EP then watercolored over it.  I stamped the “friend” with my MISTI using Versafine and cut out the panel with a Stitched Rectangle die.

I used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch.  I hope you like it and TFL!

Too Much Happy

Hi all!  As usual, I have a card for several challenges:

I used LJD Scribble Roses,  Scribble Roses Overlay Die-Namics, and a sentiment sticker from Small Talk. 

I got a scrap of watercolor paper, sprayed it with water and added some Distress Inks to it.  I cut it out with the Scribble Roses die.  I cut the Overlay out of toner cardstock that I printed and foiled it with gold foil.  Finally I watercolored another scrap of watercolor paper with green Distress Inks and stamped and embossed the leaves in gold.

The stitched rectangle and circle are from Blueprints sets and the sequins are from Lucy’s Cards.

This is for the following challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches – sketch
• SSS Monday Challenge – So Glossy (the rose overlay was heat foiled)
• CAS-usal Fridays – Precious Metals

I hope you like it and TFL!

Best Day Ever

Hi all!  I have a card for a few challenges today:

I stamped Best Day with Versamark ink and embossed with clear powder.  I taped the piece down to a board and watercolored with coral and green dye inks smushed on my craft sheet and mixed with some water.  I heated it until it was dry and die cut with a Stitched Rectangle die.  I finished the card off with some MFT patterned paper and gold sequins.

This is for the following challenges:

• Sketch Saturday – pick any sketch #215 – 375.  I picked #258 which is this one:
• Color Throwdown – gold, coral, and green
• Share Handmade Kindness – I’m sending this to a friend of mine.  Hope she likes it!

I also hope you like it and TFL!

Reindeer Games

Hi all!  Today I have a card for a few challenges:

I used Mama Elephant’s Reindeer Games and Mini Messages.  The reindeer were stamped on watercolor paper, colored, and cut out with my ScanNCut2.  I cut 3 squares with the Stitched Square die set,  added just a little watercolor, and foam mounted the reindeer on each square.  I gold embossed the tiny sentiment on the pink panel that was cut with the Sew Fancy die.

This is for the following challenges:

• Freshly Made Sketches – sketch
• Allsorts – Christmas
• Crazy 4 Challenges – Christmas
• Time Out Challenges – Christmas with optional twist of using pink and/or purple

I hope you like it and TFL!

Inspiration Pic

Hi all!  Yesterday I got a Brighton catalog in the mail and was immediately drawn to this large handbag:

I was so inspired, I decided to make a card based on it.  Here’s what I came up with:

I used The Ton’s Large Peony 1 and Fresh Cut Dahlias (sentiment), the Folk Art Medallion set from WMS, and also the Circular Lattice stencil from Prima.  I sponged white pigment ink through the stencil to make a guide for my stamping.  I then stamped 2 different little motifs from the Medallion set to make up the background.

I stamped the peony on watercolor paper and watercolored with Distress Inks (Festive Berries and Black Soot), then cut it out with my ScanNCut2.  I added the sentiment on a fishtail banner, then popped up the peony with foam tape.

This is for SSS Work It Wednesday – Thank you cards and Shopping Our Stash – no patterned paper.  I hope you like it and TFL!

Season’s Greetings

Hi all!  Today I have a card for the last Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge which is a sketch:

And here’s what I came up with:

I used a few different Paper Smooches sets: Warm Hearts (trees),  Freezy Fellas (snowmen), Winter Groves (bird and present), and Swanky Snowdudes (sentiment).  To get the stitched grid, I first used the largest of the Stitched Rectangle die set, then added in the inner stitch lines with the Stitched Line Die.

All images were stamped in Sno Cone dye ink and watercolored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers.  I added in the eyes and mouths, legs on the bird, and arms on the snowmen with a brown Tombow brush marker.  I drew in ground lines with a Zig marker and covered them with white glitter.  Then I masked off the 2 small portions and applied glitter paste through a snow stencil for a sparkly snowfall.

This is also for Winter Wonderland Challenge – Anything Goes (Christmas cards only) and SSS Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes.  I hope you like it and TFL!

Hello Friend

Hi all!  Today I have a card made for the Power Poppy Challenge – Bits and Pieces (use just part of an image).  Here’s what I came up with:

I used just a part of the Sunflower Power image, cropped in Photoshop Elements to make a clear card. I printed it out twice on watercolor paper and watercolored with Distress Inks.  Then I cut out the leaves and part of the flower with a combination of my ScanNCut2 and scissors.  I layered the pieces on top with foam tape.  I added glitter paste through the Falling Stars Stencil to the front of the clear card and adhered my pieces (image on the front and black mat on the back to hide the adhesive)  Finally I added a little tag with a sentiment from Mini Messages and just a bit of watercoloring.

Here’s what the inside looks like:

And here’s an angled shot so you can see the dimension:

This is also for Cute Card Thursday – Sparkles (the stars are glittered).  I hope you like it and TFL!

I Dare You

Hi all!  Today I have a card for The Greeting Farm’s challenge – black, orange, and purple:

The picture looks a tad funny because this is actually a clear card!  Here’s a shot of the front of the card when it’s open:

I used the (retired) Glitter Bean from TGF.  She was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink 2 times (using the MISTI) on watercolor paper and embossed with Detailed Clear embossing powder.  I then watercolored her with Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers and a waterbrush.  I cut out the main panel with the Stitched Rectangle Die Set, stuck it to the front of the clear card, and stuck a mat piece of black cardstock to the inside front of the card. 

Here’s how I finished off the inside:

I created the plaid background with the Candy Stripes Background Builder and some MFT dye inks and the MISTI.  I added a white panel the same size as the front panel and a black mat over the plaid to write a message.

This is also for ABC Challenge – T is for Two (I used 2 colors besides black and white) and Cute Card Thursday – Anything Goes.  I hope you like it and TFL!

YNS Feature Day

Hi all!  It’s time for another Your Next Stamp Feature Day where we showcase YNS products new and old, according to a theme.  This month our theme is Fall and here’s my card:

I used Sandy Squirrel - Autumn Greetings stamp set and the matching dies, theStitched Square die set, the Stitched Rectangle die set, and the Give Thanks for Sparkle Gumdrops.

Sandy was stamped with Versafine ink and clear embossed, then watercolored.  She was cut out with the matching die and foam mounted on a patterned paper square, which was also stamped and embossed with a sentiment from the set.  Finally, I added the gumdrops and mounted everything on a cream card base.

This is also for Sketch Saturday - sketch.

You can see all the other interpretations of the DT for Feature Day over at the YNS Blog.  While you’re there, be sure to comment for a chance to win the stamp set of your choice!  TFL!

May You Sparkle

Hi all!  Here’s my second card for WCMD:

I used the set Heart Diamonds from The Ton and watercolored with Picked Raspberry Distress Reinker.  The heart diamonds were all embossed in gold, as was the sentiment.

This is for the following challenges:

• Sketch Saturday – sketch
• The Ton – WCMD: use stamp from The Ton
• Winnie & Walter – WCMD: Use Gold/Metallic
• Less Is More – Jewel Colors

I hope you like it and TFL!

YNS Challenges #24

Hi all!  I’m here with the new challenges over at the YNS Blog. 

And here’s what I came up with:

As you can see, I went with both the color and sketch challenges this time.  I watercolored a panel with 2 shades of purple paint then cut it out with a Stitched Rectangle die.  I added 2 diecuts from the Spooky Halloween Scene die set, and a stamped bat from the Halloween Phoebe stamp set.  I added a white panel that was also cut with the Stitched Rectangle die set tied with some black twine and a little star charm.  Finally all that was mounted on a black card base.

This is also for SSS Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes and Curtain Call – Going Batty. 

We hope you’ll join in our challenges.  Please visit the YNS Blog for all the details.  TFL!

Thanks

Hi all!  I have a card for a couple of challenges today:

I used one of my new sets from Uniko Studio called Nature's Treasures II and an older Paper Smooches sentiment set called Many Thanks.  I used the sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch.  This is also for Uniko Studio – Autumn/Fall with the optional twist of thanks and SSS Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes.  I hope you like it and TFL!