Watercolour Stamping

Hi everyone.  Day 3 of the watercolor course and we have three new techniques to try today.  I didn't get any of the techniques done from Day 2, but wanted to move on to the Day 3 lessons.  This time I chose to start with the Watercolor Stamping technique.

I have used these images a few times on card stock, stamping with ink and using second and third generation stamping to create a layered look.  This is my first time stamping onto w/c paper and using water to blend.  Love the look.

I actually made three of these images as I went along.  As Kristina mentioned in her video instruction, she learned things each time she made a card, so I tried making three as I went along, hopefully improving each time :)  This image was my third and the best of the group.  I still have a lot to learn, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

Here's a close-up so you can see more details.

I only had a short time to work on the images above as Hubby and I had a field trip this afternoon, heading to Steveston for lunch and a walk along the wharf.  Beautiful sunny and warm day and it was so wonderful to look out at the water.

We had planned this a while back as I knew that after sitting for many hours in my studio for Day 1 an 2 of the class, I would need to get moving.  It was the perfect break. :)

Might be back with another card depending on how my time goes in the studio.  It's almost 5pm here, so not a lot of time left for me to play before starting dinner.

I'm entering this into the following challenges:  ATS&M #94 - CAS, and Simon Says - Spring Flowers.

Stamps:  Master #1 - Kittie Kits (Rubbernecker Stamps); Flower Pot (Rubber-Art Stamps); Where your Heart is sentiment (Simon Says)
Paper:  Watercolor (Arches 140lb. cold press)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Bashful Blue, Baked Brown Sugar, Cameo Coral, Calypso Coral (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  paint bush, masking fluid

Challenges:
ATS&M #94 - CAS
Simon Says - Spring Flowers

Rescued Background

Hi everyone.  Second post for today! :)  I mentioned earlier that I had dug through my discarded watercolor pieces from yesterday.  One of the pieces was an embossed resist watercolored background, using the large En Francais stamp from SU! (love this stamp!).  I stamped and embossed in clear and then added my watercoloring.  Because of the texture on watercolor paper, sometimes it's hard to get a clean stamped image and that's what happened to my full-size background ... there was a big gap in the middle where the script didn't stamp or emboss.  So I decided to look at it again today, and used only a portion, cutting off the mistake.  I sponged a little of the baked brown sugar ink around the edges and then took a wet brush to blend it into the watercolored background.  I actually surprised myself with how this turned out.  I LOVE everything about this card.  This has a vintage feel, but is still in my CAS style.

I was planning on giving the card I posted early today (Happy Mother's Day) to Nikki to celebrate her first year as a mom ... but now I'm thinking I might give her this one instead. :)

I'm entering this card into ATS&M #94 - CAS and Simon Says - Anything Goes challenges.

Stamps:  En Francais (SU!); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  Watercolor (Arches); 110 lb. white (Neenah); Baked Brown Sugar, Real Red (SU!)
Ink:  watercolor paints (pink, med. brown, dark brown, coral); baked brown sugar (SU!); versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Lavish Branch die (Memory Box), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), clear embossing powder, heat tool, watercolor brushes, sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, mini bronze pearls

Challenges:
ATS&M #94 - CAS
Simon Says Anything Goes

Watercolor Class Day 1 (cont'd)

Hi everyone.  Today's card is more from Day 1 of my class (yesterday).  We were shown three different techniques for watercolored backgrounds and I only managed to get one done that I was happy enough to post.  So even though there are three more techniques for w/c backgrounds in today's class, I'm still working on Day 1.  Already falling behind! :)

I tried this technique yesterday without any success.  Today it worked ... not sure why, but I'll take it! :)  This is a background technique shown by Laura Bassen and I love the vibrant colors.  I wanted the background to be the star, so added a die-cut "happy mother's day" and frame and that was it.  No other embellishments for this CAS card.

As I mentioned before, I didn't have good outcomes yesterday and many pieces ended up in the garbage.  This morning, when I looked through my garbage bin (yes ... I have no shame and went digging through my garbage this morning to take another look at my discarded w/c pieces) :) ... I did salvage one piece using the third technique and even though there are parts that didn't work, I might be able to cut it down and use it as a smaller piece.  Hopefully I'll be able to turn this rescued piece into a card. :)

I'm entering this into the following challenges:  Paper Players #194 - Mother; ATS&M #94 - CAS, and Simon Says Anything Goes.

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On another note, I know that many of you may have heard of the huge problems with Feedburner.  I have lost several of my subscribers over the past several weeks ... Feedburner has dropped the ball!  I'm sorry if you haven't been receiving my updates regularly and I'm looking into changing my subscription service and hope to have that done shortly.  I'm not sure of the procedure, but there may be some overlap and wanted to warn you in case you end up receiving a double post at some point.  Thanks for sticking with me! :)

Paper:  Watercolor (Arches), 110 lb. White (Neenah)
Ink:  Real Red, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango, Crushed Currey
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Square Nestability (Spellbinders), Silhouette America, Happy Mother's Day cut file, acrylic block, water mister

Challenges:
Paper Players #194
ATS&M #94
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Watercolor Class - Day 1

Hi everyone.  Day 1 of the on-line watercolor class had three different watercolored background techniques for us to try.  I have to say that I failed miserably at all of them.  Everything from my first four hours went into the garbage and saying I was disappointed was an understatement.  I know that watercoloring is an extremely difficult art form.  I believe it takes a lot of practice to understand how the water and paints react to the watercolor paper.  I have only had limited interaction with this medium, and I have always used inks, not watercolor paints, so I decided that after many failures, I would try to replicate the techniques shown, but used inks and came up with my own procedure.  This is the first background, and I'm relatively happy with how it turned out once I switched to inks.  The colors are more vibrant ... but I couldn't get the stencil to show as much as I'd like - it's a work in progress.  I will keep experimenting.  And I will also try the technique as shown in class today - I'll keep practicing and hope that I get the hang of watercolor paints.

I'm entering this card into the Simon Says - Anything Goes challenge.

Stamps:  Happy (Simon Says)
Paper:  Watercolor (Arches 140 lb. Cold press Natural White)
Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizzazz (SU!); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Paint brushes, lattice stencil, Happy die (Simon Says), Stamp-a-ma-jig, sequins