Monday, March 16, 2015

Sponged Watercolouring


Hi everyone.  This is a reminder that we're into our third week of the Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge.  Lots of beautiful entries already in the gallery! :)





Today's card is sponged watercolouring.  Not sure if that's a good name for it, but it's something that I have done a few times before and it works beautifully.  I just sponged distress inks onto watercolour paper to create my background grass and sky.  Then I sprayed it with water until the inks started to flow.  Once dry, I used the Watercolour Spritz technique to add the flowers (ink stamp with markers, spritz with a little water and then stamp onto dry watercolour paper).  I love my spring garden with a mix of coloured tulips! :)  I used a water brush and some Pear Pizzazz ink to add the strokes of grass at the bottom, and added a soft gray stamped sentiment.  I like the subtle colour of the sentiment as it doesn't take away from the beautiful blue sky.

I experimented with the sponged watercolour background on three different types of watercolour paper and they all turned out differently.  I like this version the best, so would recommend Arches 140 lb. cold press w/c paper for this technique.  I know it's a little more expensive that other w/c papers, but so worth it, in my opinion. :) Dick Blick has a sale on right now, so I just stocked up (sale ends today). :)

I was inspired by the Happy Little Stampers March Sketch Challenge to make this card ...










Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!); Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (card base - Neenah); Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper
Ink:  Distress inks: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz); Pear Pizzazz, Summer Sun, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, water brush

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I'm again sharing a couple of cards I made while on the Design Team for the Dirty Dozen at Splitcoaststampers.  These cards have not been posted on my blog before, so thought I'd share a few more that use sponging.  Both cards have sponging around the outside edges of die-cuts to add interest and dimension.






Have a Sunny Day
Stamps:  Sweet Summer Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neehan); Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Large Stitched Sunshine die (Lil' Inkers), Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box), sponges

Birthday Wishes
Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride (SU!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Breezy Wreath die (Poppy Stamps), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), white gel pen, stylus and mat, sponges

Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
HLS March Sketch Challenge

20 comments:

Marianne said...

This is really pretty, Loll. So many great techniques to try and so little time...

Lee-Anne said...

Love how the colors meld with this technique! A real beauty, Loll!

Brenda said...

I love your sponged watercolor card Loll, the sky and grass are just beautiful and I love, love the beautiful tulips. I've always been a sucker for flowers of all kinds, but once when I was in 5th grade my class went to DC in the spring. Oh my goodness, the tulips were so pretty, there were oodles of them and that is when I fell in love with tulips. Your tulip garden on this card makes me think of when I went to DC on that class trip. Just beautiful. I love your other two cards too, you are such a great card maker. Hugs, Brenda

Linda said...

I love your little spring garden Loll .... the background is sponged beautifully and those tiny blooms are just gorgeous! Linda xx

Bonnie said...

The Pocket Silhouettes is one of my all time favorite stamp sets and I LOVE what you did with it here. I have been enjoying the Arches watercolor paper. It doesn't seem to buckle as bad. I'm definitely going to try this sponging technique. It was fun seeing the 2 DD cards again.

Anonymous said...

Love the card.........paper is very expensive! Yikes! Makes a beautiful card though, for sure.

judy said...

I love your bright and happy spring garden card!

Susan said...

The sponged background for your lovely flower garden is perfect - great blend of colours! Love the cheery flowers and the muted sentiment. And it's nice to see your two Dirty Dozen cards again - both are great examples of sponging around die cuts.

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Fabulous cards as ever Loll . . . you never disappoint! I especially like the top one, terrific sponging technique! Hazel xx

nancy littrell said...

Gorgeous sponged and spritzed watercolor scene Loll. So soft and pretty. Perfect for Kylie's Sketch and your CAS Sponging Challenges :-) TFS your DD cards too my friend. Hugs, Nancy

Shylaashree said...

gorgeous cards as usual dear, i admire your works

Elaine said...

Really pretty cards. I really love your tulip design, so pretty! Elaine x

Julie B said...

Such pretty cards Loll. :)

Becky said...

Awesome CAS cards!

Chriss Blagrave said...

Amazing cards Loll! I especially like the DD cards! Thanks for sharing!

Barb Ghig said...

I love how you sponged the background on your first card, and the blooms are so sweet! Thanks for sharing the cards you created from Dirty Dozen...both are really gorgeous!!!

Cathy said...

Gorgeous sponged cards Loll, Cathy x

Deepti said...

Beautiful cards, I so love the spring field on ur first card :)

Pat said...

These are all so pretty and show lots of different sponging techniques Loll. The first is such a gorgeous garden of flowers, and then the bright yellow stitched sun and I adore the blue sponging round the edge of the clouds, and then the beautiful ring of flowers is sponged perfectly so the there is shading in the petals, just adorable. x

cm said...

Your lpretty garden, sunny sky and blossomed wreath: all capture the beauty of Spring in the most lovely ways. Gorgeous!!
Hugs~c