Category: cardmaking

Just Cut Tulips

I’ve been watercoloring with Distress Inks a lot lately – stamped images, die cuts, whatever I can find that will take the ink.

IOTulips

You have to give a little visual leeway with this card in terms of whether the tulips are really in the watering can (that right-hand tulip leaf is sticking out!). I got to this design the long way round. At first, I planned to put the watering can, which is cut from Strathmore 140 lb cold-press watercolor paper and colored with Broken China and Vintage Photo, directly on top of the stamped and colored tulips. But when I watercolored the cast shadow, it was a mess. (I’ve subsequently practiced painting cast shadow bases!)

The dry-embossed card base, with the circle cutout, is my design fix for the poorly painted cast shadow. By the way, the Bazzill 100 lb. cardstock is becoming my go-to supply – even dry-embossed and holding the watercolor panels, it’s standing strong.

Supplies:

Penny Black Sunshiny Hello

Today I’m sharing a card created with two new Penny Black Stamp Sets – Sunny Hello [#30-230] and Petal Power [#30-225]. It’s pouring here in the Pacific Northwest, but I’m imagining a sunny summer day!

SunnyFlowers

I stamped the flower and stem from Petal Power after coloring them with Distress Ink markers and lightly spritzing the surface. I began in the lower right corner, masking my stamping as I went, next to the flower on the left, and then to the flower on the top right. I finished the panel with Distress Ink applied with a sponge dauber. I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment from Sunny Hello – there are some wonderful sentiments in this set!

Paper Smooches: Welcome Spring

Today, I’m sharing a card based on a photo I recently took of the view outside. It was a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest – the birds were chirping, the sun was out, and the trees were  in bloom (they still are although this tree’s blooms were battered down by some recent rain).

PaperSmoochesSpring

Although I’ve recently been doing a lot of watercoloring, for this card, I stamped and heat embossed patterned paper to capture the spring colors. I stamped the tree pieces and butterflies on a variety of papers until deciding on these colors and patterns.

I dry-embossed the hill, which was cut with the Border die out of Easter Grass cardstock, using the Sizzix Plaid embossing folder to introduce some texture. The Blueprints set has a stitched die with which I cut the blue paper and the green hill at the same time to give a clean finish to the edge.

I’m linking this card up to the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Challenge – “Anything Goes.”

OCC Watercolor Class Giveaway Winner

I’m popping in to share the winner of the giveaway of the Watercolor for Cardmakers class at Online Card Classes. The winner is:

#27 Sharon Underwood who said: “Oh, wow! Thanks for the chance to win a spot! I know this class will be good, as I’ve learned a lot in some of the others I’ve tried. Being there for this one would be super!”

Congrats Sharon!

 

Watercolor for Cardmakers: GIVEAWAY!

Comments are now closed.

I’m delighted to be a Guest Artist in the upcoming Watercolor for Cardmakers class at Online Card Classes. And I’ve got a seat to giveaway!

Here’s some info about the class:

You don’t have to be an Impressionist painter to create watercolor masterpieces! Explore the many different (and easy!) ways to create beautiful watercolor effects in Online Card Classes’ Watercolor for Cardmakers.

Join Kristina Werner, Jennifer McGuire, Jennifer Rsaza, and friends (including me!) for a fun-filled, all-video, two-week course packed with inspiring, approachable techniques. Starting with easy soft sky washes and progressing to darling hand-painted images, this class is tailor-made for the both the aspiring artist and the cardmaker who wants to add to her go-to collection of on-trend techniques. 

Class includes over 30 videos and even more card ideas from top artists with a variety of styles. Visit Online Card Classes to sign up for Watercolor for Cardmakers today, and discover for yourself the fantastic looks you can create with watercolors! (Class begins May 5 but you will have lifetime access to the content.)

I am giving away one spot in Watercolor for Cardmakers! For your chance, leave a comment here by 11:50 pm EST on  4/18/14. If you win but have already purchased a spot, you’ll be refunded.