Purple Flowers...

Do you sometimes get stuck reaching for the same color combinations? I seem to be in the mood to use purple and green lately.

On watercolor paper, I stamped the flowers with Versamark, sprinkled them with white embossing powder and heat set them. I wet the flowers with water and used Zig markers to color in the leaves and flowers.

After the image was dry, I used a die to create the stitching around the edges. The panel is adhered to the same watercolor paper card base. I tied sheer ribbon around the card and decided not to put a sentiment on the front.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  Altenew Peony Bouquet
• Paper:  Canson 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  Versamark
• Dies:  MFT Wonky Stitched Rectangles
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zig Marker Light Green [#041], Violet [#080]; Embossing Powder; Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

If You Can Read The Last Line...

I made another card using the technique from the MIM a few weeks ago ➔ Make It Monday #283: Watercolor Wash Backgrounds

With a brush, I wet watercolor paper and brushed on Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio and Shabby Shutters distress inks in the bottom left corner. No specific design in mind.

Once dry, I stamped the sentiment in Versafine ink, stamping it a few times using the Misti to make sure it was dark and fully covered. This is another fun sentiment from Offbeat Birthday!

I splattered black ink over it - splatters really add something extra to the card. The panel was adhered to a Hawaiian Shores cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Offbeat Birthday
• Paper:  PTI Hawaiian Shores; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Peacock Feathers, Cracked Pistachio, Shabby Shutters; Versafine Onyx Black
• Other:  Crayola Black Watercolor Paint
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Mother's Day...

I was in the mood to do a little embossing and watercoloring and made a few cards. I wish I would do this more often because I really like the look of these two techniques together.

On watercolor paper, I stamped the flower images with Versafine ink, sprinkled them with white embossing powder and heat set it. I used my Zig Watercolor Pens (red, purple, blue, pink) to fill in the flowers and outlined them with a grey pen. For the leaves, I used Spring Moss ink and applied it with a paintbrush. I flicked some paint splatters on the panels with the coordinating paint colors.

The sentiment is stamped in Smokey Shadow ink. I adhered the stitched panel to a Kraft cardstock card base, die-cut with the Noted: A2 Scalloped die. A little white crochet thread completed the cards.

I was really happy with the way these turned out!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Splits: Love, Tucked In: Mother
• Paper:  PTI Kraft; Canson 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Smokey Shadow, Spring Moss; Versafine
• Dies:  PTI Noted: Scalloped A2 
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zig Watercolor Pens Carmine Red [022], Violet [080], Cobalt Blue [031], Pink [025], Light Grey [091]; Crochet Thread; White Embossing Powder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5" 

Watercolor Wash Backgrounds (MIM #283)...

The timing of this week's challenge, Make It Monday #283: Watercolor Wash Backgrounds couldn't come at a better time. Watercolor is still very popular with card makers and I'd like to do it more often, but I'm not very good at it. In the video, Laurie Schmidlin makes it look easy with her excellent instructions, but when I try it, well, let's just say I need practice, practice and more practice!😕

I started with a piece of white watercolor paper, wet the lower portion with clear water and added three paint colors (green/teal/yellow) from my [inexpensive] Crayola watercolor set. I'd like to buy the same set Laurie used (Kuretake Gansai Tambi), but until I can perfect my technique, I'll continue to use the cheaper paint.😄 For anyone experienced at watercolor, would better quality paint really help with this technique or is it more skill based?

The flowers and leaves are die-cut in white cardstock and stamped with Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, black and New Leaf inks. I stamped the sentiment in black ink and added splatters of watered down black ink. Those black splatters really make a difference!

I arranged the flowers, placing one on foam tape for dimension. I need to watch Laurie's video again and practice some more. This card sure is bright and colorful looking - a little out of my comfort zone - but it does remind me of summer.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Some Like It Hot, Birthday Classics: June
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, Pure Poppy, Lemon Tart, New Leaf; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Some Like It Hot
• Other:  Crayola Watercolor Paint; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stenciled Watercolor Backgrounds (MIM #282)...

I couldn't wait to try this week's Make It Monday because it involved watercolor - I keep seeing so many watercolor cards that I want to try and make! Betsy Veldman hosts this week's challenge where she shows us how to create pretty backgrounds using stencils and ink. You can watch the video here ⇢ Make It Monday #282: Stenciled Watercolor Backgrounds.

It took me a while to choose a stencil, not that I have that many, I wanted to find the right one. After trying several different ones, I chose one from PTI's Modern Backgrounds.

On a piece of watercolor paper, I placed the stencil over the paper, using a Cricut mat like Betsy suggested to help hold it in place. Next I lightly applied Mint Julep, Lemon Tart and Lovely Lady inks with a brush and water. I set it aside to dry.

I die-cut the flowers and leaves in white cardstock and used the same ink colors as above for the first layer of stamping. To add the details, I used Berry Sorbet and Bright Buttercup inks on the flowers and New Leaf ink on the leaves. The sentiment is stamped in black ink and the two flowers are on foam tape for dimension.

The panel is adhered to a Lovely Lady cardstock card base with white crochet thread around the top. I hate to brag,😎 but I love the way this turned out! And this is a new favorite Spring-like color combination for me.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Rosie Posie, Rosie Posie Step 2, Brushed Blooms
• Paper:  PTI Lovely Lady, White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Lovely Lady, Lemon Tart, Mint Julep, New Leaf, Berry Sorbet, Bright Buttercup; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Rosie Posie
• Other:  PTI Modern Backgrounds Stencil; Crochet Thread; Brush; Water; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thinking Of You...

This is a quick card I made a while ago and for some reason it missed getting posted.

I used gelatos on this, rubbing them on a clear block with a little bit of water and applying it to watercolor paper using the "smooshing" method. Once it was dry, I stamped the birds in black ink and added the sentiment in Enchanted Evening ink.

I rounded the corners and placed the panel on an Enchanted Evening cardstock card base. Crochet thread completed the card.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Botanical Silhouettes; Stampin' Up World of Dreams
• Paper:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Bristol Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Enchanted Evening; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Tools:  Corner Rounder
• Other:  Metallic Mint, Blueberry Gelatos; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Let Your Faith...

I pulled out my Don't Forget To Write kit and scalloped note card die for this card. Very happy with both of these items!

On watercolor paper, die-cut with a stitched rectangle, I brushed Hibiscus Burst ink diagonally across the paper and added some splatters with Pure Poppy ink. I set it aside to dry.

I die-cut the flower image in white cardstock and stamped the main flowers in Hibiscus Burst and Pure Poppy inks, the leaves in Mint Julep ink and the other flowers in Ocean Tides and Aqua Mist inks. I placed the flowers on foam tape for dimension.

Faith is die-cut three times in white cardstock and stacked together. I added the sentiment in black ink and placed the panel on a Hibiscus Burst cardstock card base, die-cut with a scalloped die.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Don't Forget To Write, Inspired: Faith
• Paper:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst, Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Mint Julep; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Don't Forget To Write, Noted: Scalloped A2
• Other:  Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

May Your Birthday...

Several months ago, I tried to make something with watercolor paper and didn't like the way it turned out. Instead of throwing my "mistake" away, I decided to keep it because I was hoping I could use it in the future. This is what I did with it.

On watercolor paper I applied Tumbled Glass ink with a paintbrush and water, just brushing the ink across the paper in no particular pattern. After it dried, I stamped the sentiment swirl with black ink and placed the panel on a True Black cardstock card base. 

A few clear sequins and the card was completed. I think my "mistake" turned out okay after all! lol

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Script Swirls: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI True Black; 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass Distress; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Stamp-A-Faire: Remix

There isn't a Make It Monday this week. In it's place is "SAF Remix", where we're asked to redo a card we weren't happy with on SAF day. I actually was very happy with the cards I made but wanted to try the "Watercolor Like A Master" technique again.

For SAF, I made my card using Tropical Teal and Aqua Mist inks. I love this color combination but I also love the color combination Kay used in her video. So for this challenge I'm redoing my card with her color selections.

On watercolor paper I inked up the mum stamps in Berry Sorbet and Summer Sunrise inks. I added the leaves in Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks. Using a brush with water, I applied the water to the edges of the flowers and leaves to soften them up a bit. It really gives it a "watercolor" look. The splatters, added by flicking ink off of a brush are in Berry Sorbet and Spring Moss inks.

Prayer is die-cut in Berry Sorbet three times, stacked and glued together. I added the other parts of the sentiment in black ink. I rounded the bottom right corner and placed the panel on a Berry Sorbet cardstock card base with the left showing. I really like how both of these turned out!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Mum's The Word, Inspired: Prayer
• Paper:  PTI Berry Sorbet; Ranger Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise, Spring Moss, Simply Chartreuse; Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Inspired: Prayer
• Tools: Corner Rounder
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Gradient Watercolor Die-Cuts (MIM #251)...

Wow, it's June!! Are the weeks going by faster and faster or is it just me? Here we are with a brand new Make It Monday #251: Gradient Watercolor Die-Cuts hosted by Dawn McVey. Dawn shows us how to create gradient watercoloring on die-cuts.

I used Zig markers to create this look and struggled to color and blend the colors with a water brush like Dawn did...she made it look so easy! Maybe she used a better watercolor paper or has practiced more?? You know that DT is so darn talented with everything!

I picked out 5 Zig markers and scribbled each one on an acetate block, mixing it with a little water. I picked up the color with a brush and swabbed it across the paper, making 5 rows of colors and slightly overlapping them.

I ran the design through the Cuttlebug with my Cover Plate: Horizontal Stripes die. Each stripe was first adhered to a strip of white cardstock and then placed on a white cardstock card base. I stamped the sentiment in black ink.

Too, too plain looking.....so I added a trio of clear sequins to help make it a little more festive. This card looks much better in person - I can't get the lighting right for some reason today!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Keep It Simple: Birthday
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; 90# Watercolor
• Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
• Dies:  PTI Cover Plate: Horizontal Stripes
• Other:  Zig Markers #41 Light Green, # 40 Green, # 31 Cobalt Blue, #30 Blue, #80 Violet; Pretty Pink Posh Sequins
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Papertrey May 2016 Blog Hop Challenge...

Another month gone by and it's the 25th and time for PTI's Blog Hop. This month's challenge didn't require too much thinking for me - as soon as I saw the Popsicles I knew I was going to pull out my Summer Sweetness stamp set. That made me happy because I haven't used it for quite some time!

The first row of Popsicles in the inspiration photo is what I based my card on. I inked up my stamps, spritzed them with a bit of water and stamped them on Bristol paper. I was going to use watercolor paper but decided to go with a smoother texture. The Popsicles are stamped in Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist and Hawaiian Shores ink, with the sticks in Kraft ink.

The splatters were made with the same inks mixed with a bit of water and flicked onto the card with a paint brush. I just received the new Colorful Words stamp set and thought it was perfect to use on the card as it looks very similar to the font in the picture. I stamped the sentiment in a grey ink and decided against coloring it in.

Instead of centering the panel, I placed it to the left and bottom of a Limeade Ice cardstock card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Summer Sweetness, Colorful Words
• Paper:  PTI Limeade Ice; Strathmore Bristol
• Ink:  PTI Limeade Ice, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Kraft; Amuse Seattle
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Watercolored Card Sets: MIM #247...

Melissa is the host for this week's Make It Monday #247: Watercolored Card Sets. She shows us how to sponge ink on a design and apply water to give it a watercolor effect. I originally made one card for this but then saw Nichole mentions to make a watercolor card set. So it was back to the drawing board for me.

I pulled out my Year Of Flowers: Violets stamp set again for this challenge. On watercolor paper, I stamped two overlapping violets and leaves created with masking. I started to rub the ink on the violets but wasn't having much luck getting good blending coverage and ended up applying the ink with a waterbrush. 

The violets were done in two ink shades: Lemon Tart/Orange Zest, Aqua Mist/Hawaiian Shores and Berry Sorbet/Pure Poppy with the flower centers in Harvest Gold. The leaves were done in Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse inks. I rubbed a little bit of ink with a dauber around the images which helped soften them up a bit.

I did a little splattering with Spring Moss ink and added a strip of striped paper at the top. I stamped the sentiment and adhered the panels to a coordinating cardstock card base. I wasn't too happy with the way these looked until I put them all together. Now they look "okay" to me and look much better in person than in the photos. 

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Year Of Flowers: Violets, Think Big Favorites #3 & #5, Birthday Bash Sentiments
• Paper:  PTI Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist, Berry Sorbet, Orange Zest Stripes, Hawaiian Shores Stripes, Spring Moss Stripes; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Lemon Tart, Orange Zest, Harvest Gold, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Spring Moss; Versafine Onyx Black
• Other:  Waterbrush
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Faith Will See You Through...

I'm in love with the new Green Parakeet color from PTI - I thought Spring Moss would always be my favorite green but I think Parakeet is now number one!

I've been seeing so many watercolor cards recently and decided to make one. I wet the watercolor paper with water and applied Green Parakeet ink with just a touch of New Leaf ink to create the background.

Faith is die-cut 3 times in white cardstock and stacked together. I stamped "will see you through" on black cardstock, sprinkled it with white embossing powder and heat set it. It's on fun foam for additional dimension.

The butterfly is from the new Color Pop Butterflies kit - it's from the pattern paper included in the set. I really like this pink and green combo! The panel is adhered to a Green Parakeet card base.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Inspired: Faith
• Paper:  PTI Green Parakeet, True Black, White Stampers Select, Color Pop Butterflies; Tim Holtz Watercolor
• Ink:  PTI Green Parakeet, New Leaf; Versamark
• Dies:  PTI Color Pop Butterflies, Inspired: Faith, Building Blocks
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Zing Embossing Powder; Fun Foam
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Watercolor Resist (MIM #240)

Lexi is the host for this week's MIM #240: Watercolor Resist, using rubber cement to create a watercolor resist effect. I didn't have any rubber cement so ran to the store yesterday to purchase it.

I drizzled the rubber cement on a piece of watercolor paper and let it dry. I wet the paper with water and brushed Spiced Marmalade ink over the panel, seeing the watercolor resist happen right before my eyes! I was surprised the ink turned out to look more yellow than orange, but that was okay. But now, what to do with this panel???

I'm trying to use some of my older stamps and dies that have been neglected and pulled out my Beautiful Beads die. I die-cut the panel and placed the strips diagonally across a piece of white cardstock, leaving a space in the middle for the sentiment.

Thanks is die-cut once in gold foil paper and twice in white cardstock, stacked and glued together for dimension. Once I had the card completed, I was happy with the way it looked. However, the embellisher in me wanted to add something else. I tried a butterfly and thought - you know, it looks good just the way it is. Walk away....walk away....walk away!  lol

Card Details:

• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; Tim Holtz Watercolor; Gold Foil
• Ink:  Tim Holtz Spiced Marmalade Distress
• Dies:  PTI Wet Paint, Beautiful Beads
• Other:  Rubber Cement
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Baby Shower

It's been a while since I made a baby card. Again, for this card I was just fooling around with watercoloring. I need to get better at it since it seems like this trend is going to be around for a while yet.

On watercolor paper, I wet the paper and brushed on watered down Picked Rasperry ink. After it dried, I cut the circle with a stitched circle die. On white cardstock, I added a layer of Soft Stone stripes pattern paper. Baby is die-cut in Soft Stone cardstock three times, stacked and glued together. I rubbed glue on the top of the word and dipped it in glitter.

On a piece of black cardstock I stamped "shower", sprinked it with white embossing powder and heat set it. I really like the look of the white on black! I placed the word on foam tape for dimension. The card was really empty looking so I added the clear sequins.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Wonderful Words: Baby
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Soft Stone, Soft Stone Stripes, True Black; Watercolor 140#
• Ink:  Versamark; Tim Holtz Distress Picked Raspberry
• Dies:  PTI Wonderful Words: Baby; Lil Inker Designs: Stitched Mats: Circles
• Tools:  Heat Tool
• Other:  Embossing Powder; Glitter; Sequins; Foam Tape
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

With Sympathy

I was just playing around with some inks on white cardstock and it didn't look too bad so I decided to make it into a card.

On white cardstock, I used Tim Holtz Distress inks - Picked Raspberry and Spiced Marmalade to create the background. I wet the paper just a bit and with a brush, pushed the inks around to create the look I wanted.

After it dried, I stamped the flowers, dragonflies and sentiment in black ink. I placed the watercolor panel on a layer of black cardstock and onto a Raspberry Fizz cardstock card base. I tied white crochet twine around the spine as the last step.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Places Please, Keep It Simple: Sympathy; Stampin' Up World Of Dreams
• Paper:  PTI Raspberry Fizz, True Black, White Stampers Select
• Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade; Memento Tuxedo Black
• Other:  Crochet Twine
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy Birthday To You!

For this card, I decided to use the "Bokeh" technique I see on a lot of cards. Bokeh is supposed to give a blurred effect.

On watercolor paper, I wet the paper with water and used purple and blue paints to fill in the entire panel. After it dried, I placed a circle stencil over the top and randomly filled in some of the circles with white ink. It's really hard to see them in the photo, but if you look close enough, you'll see them! I like how the blue and purple blended together so nicely.

Once it was dried, I stamped the sentiment in the center in black ink. I placed the panel on a white cardstock card base and added light purple ribbon.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPus9 Strictly Sentiments 5
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select; 140# Watercolor
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Colorbox Frost White
• Tools:  Colorbox Rounded Stencil
• Other:  Crayola Watercolor Paint; Ribbon
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Happy October Birthday

And here we are with a new month! The rest of the year will go by faster than the beginning.

I thought I'd start off October with an October card. I stamped the leaves on white cardstock, inking up the stamps and spritzing them with a bit of water to give them a watercolor look. The veins on the bigger leaves are stamped in Kraft ink, and the green leaves have Spring Moss ink. I was really happy with the selection of ink colors for this. 

October is die-cut in Terracotta Tile cardstock four times, stacked and glued together and placed on a slight angle. I stamped happy and birthday in Kraft ink. The panel is adhered to a Summer Sunrise cardstock card base. To finish the card, I tied jute around the spine. A nice autumn like card!

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Leave It Be, Birthday Classics: October
• Paper:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Terracotta Tile, White Stampers Select
• Ink:  PTI Summer Sunrise, Harvest Gold, Kraft, New Leaf, Spring Moss; Memento Morocco
• Dies:  PTI Monthly Moments: October
• Other:  Jute
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Thank You

And here I am again using the watercolor and embossing folder technique.

Using the geometric rings embossing folder, I inked it up with Scattered Straw and Wild Honey distress paint and spritzed it with water. I placed a piece of white cardstock on top and ran it through the Cuttlebug.

After it dried, I stamped the thank you in black ink and adhered it to a Harvest Gold cardstock card base. I tied white crochet thread around the card to complete it. I don't normally use a lot of yellow in card making but I like the way this turned out.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  WPlus9 Hand Lettered Thanks 
• Paper:  PTI White Stampers Select, Harvest Gold
• Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Tim Holtz Scattered Straw, Wild Honey Distress Paint
• Other:  Cuttlebug Geometric Rings Embossing Folder; Crochet Thread
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"

Sending Get Well Wishes

I bought Zig markers a few months ago and really haven't played around with them much so I'm using them on this card.

On watercolor paper, I wet the paper using a brush and water. I dabbed Pink and Light Green markers onto the wet paper and let the ink run and got this really nice effect. I placed the panel on a white cardstock card base.

Sending is die-cut in watercolor paper, wet and colored with the same Pink marker I used for the background, giving it an ombre look. For the rest of the sentiment, I cut a strip of black paper, stamped it with Versamark, sprinkled it with white Zing embossing powder and melted it. The strip is on foam tape. 

I rounded the bottom corners for my final step.

Card Details:

• Stamps:  PTI Phrase Play #6
• Paper:  PTI True Black, White Stampers Select; Watercolor 140#
• Ink:  Versamark
• Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Sending
• Tools:  Corner Rounder; Heat Tool
• Other:  Zig Real Brush Markers; Foam Tape; Zing Embossing Powder 
• Size:  4.25" x 5.5"