The Flower Challenge #60 Reminder

Hi everyone.  A reminder card about this month's The Flower Challenge #60 - Colour Turquoise.  

I do love hydrangeas (Best Thoughts stamp set - SU! - retired) and they look amazing in turquoise.  Watercoloured using Bermuda Bay (SU!) ink ... just the one colour, using a second layer to add more depth of colour for shading.  Fussy-cut the two hydrangeas and popped them up over top of a white woodgrain background (gift from a friend).  Added little white dots to the flower stamens using my white Posca pen and finished by adding a pre-printed sentiment strip (Reverse Happy Sentiment Strips - CZ Designs).

Close-up ...

Please check out the challenge blog to see the amazing cards by the Designers.  Then come join us.  There's still ten days left before the challenge closes.

Stamps:  Best Thoughts, Birthday Blooms (both retired - Stampin' Up!)

Paper:   Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb.); White Woodgrain paper (gift from a friend)
Ink:   Black (Memento); Bermuda Bay (SU!); Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories:   Clear embossing powder, heat tool, waterbrush (Sadoku); White Posca pen, All Thngs Happy Sentiment Strip (Simon Says Stamp)

Challenges:

The Flower Challenge #60 - Colour Turquoise

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

Fun with Markers

Hi everyone.  A while back, my friend Brenda (Friends Craftin' with Friends) did a tutorial on her blog for a beautiful card she made.  Click HERE to see Brenda's card and written tutorial.  I just had to try out her technique.

I'm really happy with how this turned out.  I used my Misti to stamp my flower, heat embossed, and then die-cut out a rectangle from the center.  I coloured the flower on the cut-out panel and then decided I needed to add a butterfly for balance.

After all my colouring was done, I  tried to stamp my sentiment.  I decided I was going to stamp it at the bottom on the background piece just below the cut out, using a fairly large sentiment.  I lined it up on my misti, stamped in versamark, and poured the embossing powder over top.  It was crooked.  I removed the powder right away and hoped that the sentiment wouldn't show ... but it did.  Darn!

I didn't want to have to start all over since my cut out panel was all coloured.  So I played around until I had it basically in the same place, stamped a new background and heat embossed.  I actually like it better because I didn't have to cut out the panel so you don't see the cut lines.  I just popped up the original cut-out panel over the new background.  Next time I do this technique, I will stamp two backgrounds so I have options. :)  I stamped a smaller sentiment in the cut-out panel to finish the card.

Another CAS Mix Up card with stamping, die-cut, heat embossing and watercolouring with zigs.  Reminder the challenge is open until June 24th.

Thanks for coming by for a visit!


Stamps:  Best Thoughts (Stampin' Up!); Sentiment - Where Your Heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. - 400 Series)
Ink:  Versamark; Zigs
Accessories & Tools:  Liquid Platinum embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, paint brush,  Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Die-cuts

Colouring with Zig Markers

Hi everyone.  It's the start of the Happy Little Stampers September CAS Challenge. I think you're going to love this month's challenge!! :)

This challenge is sponsored by

I have to admit that I rarely make cards that involve masking, but after last month's Masking challenge at Happy Little Stampers, I have a whole new appreciation for this technique.  I used it on today's card, stamping my first flower on my card front, masking it with a post-it-note, and then stamping my second flower higher and to the left.  I removed my mask and voila!  It's magical. :)

I coloured my hydrangeas in two different shades of purple, adding a few layers of ink to shade and darken the centers of the flowers.  I used two shades of green for the leaves and then finished off the image by adding some dots with my white gel pen.  A simple stamped sentiment and rounded top right corner finished the card.  I always forget about my corner round.  I've had it for probably a year and used it once. :)  I remembered to pulled it out ... it adds just a little difference to my card today.

I hope you'll join us for this fun challenge.  We have a wonderfully talented Guest Designer, Riti (A Lil Piece of Heaven) joining us this month.  Stop by the challenge blog and see her beautiful coloured card along with the amazing cards from the Design Team.  I know you'll be inspired to play along.

Hope to see you in the gallery!

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Stamps:  Best Thoughts (SU!); Butterfly Birthday sentiment (Happy Little Stampers)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Archival Black (Ranger); Zig Clean Colour Real Brush Watercolour markers; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  water brush, white gel pen, 1/2" corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers), post-it note for masking

Challenges:

HLS Sept. CAS Challenge - Colouring

New Zig Clear Color Real Brush Pens

Hi everyone.  Playing with my new Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens that I got from hubby for my birthday. :)  They are so easy to use and blend beautifully.  And I love the brightness of the colours.

I stamped this image in waterproof black ink onto Mixed Media Paper and then watercoloured using three shades of blue and two shades of green.  I had this image done in about 15 minutes, which is really fast for me. :)  Love this new stamp set from Stampin' Up! ... and know I'll get a lot of use from the four stamps, especially this sentiment stamp.

Simple, one layer card, which is pretty rare for me. :)

This was inspired by the Happy Little Stampers Sketch challenge that went live just a week ago ...

Also entering this card into Virginia's View #16 - 100% Stamping (my second entry), ATS&M #151 - Anything Goes, and Paper Players #252 - The Great Outdoors ... haven't played along there for ages, so happy to be joining in this week!

Have not been feeling well for the past week, so doing a little colouring was very therapeutic and took my mind off things.  :)

____________________

I don't know if this happens to you, but I have bought stamping supplies several times and when the order arrives, it turns out I already have it. :)  I'm getting so much (fun) STUFF that I'm having trouble keeping track. :)

I recently got an order from Joann's with two sets of two Penny Black Stamps.  I didn't order one, but two of both --- how the heck did that happen??!!  :)

I have decided to give them away to my loyal followers.  If you're interested, leave a message on this post saying which one you'd like (or both), and then I will do a random draw.  The draw will be one week from today.


Here are the stamp sets:

                   Nature's Gifts                                     Etched Branches

Thanks for taking the time to visit, and thanks to those that leave me comments ... most appreciated!

Stamps:  Best Thoughts (SU!)

Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Zig Clear Color Brush Pens
Accessories & Tools:  white gel pen

Challenges:

HLS July Sketch
Virginia's View #16 - 100% Stamping
ATS&M #151 - Anything Goes
Paper Players #252 - The Great Outdoors