Spring Watercolor

Aloha dear ones,

Art Impressions is having a challenge to Watercolor!

Well, I messed one up pretty good last week. There was no saving it and no "2nd side" for that poor little thing, so into the garbage it went. I don't have many AI floral stamps but I have some with the "big butts" that you stick to the wobbler thingeys.  I just couldn't see watercoloring a butt and having it wobble in someone's face. But I have a few sprigs of flower and twigs and gave it another try.

If you use a teensy wet paint brush, you know - squeeze the water out and use a damp brush on the painted images - well, I got away with using GKD 80# cardstock! Yes, really! It didn't swell or pill. I also stamped the stamp, then dabbed water onto the stamp prior to stamping - sort of like spritzing with water before stamping. That way you don't need much water other than to spread the color around once it is stamped.

The two little birds are just sketched in with color pencils, which is TOO intense. I have to try and remember to use a lighter hand when using Derwent "Inktense" pencils. I also might look for a StazOn in much lighter shade for watercoloring because the basket stands out too much.


Stamp Sets: Art Impressions "Spring Basket" and "Blooming Birdhouse;" Sentiiment by Sweet 'n Sassy "Celebrating Milestones"
Cardstock: GKD 80# ivory for the image; 120# ivory for card; Passionate Pink for frame
Inks: StazOn Black (basket), Memento Ink Lilac Posies for flowers and sentiment; Distress Inks for twigs and Memento London Fog for the basket and shadow
Derwent Watercolor Pencils (for the birds)
Dies: Gina Marie Inverted Scallop Rectangle Frames
Wink of Stella Clear (over the birds)
Nuvo Clear Crystal Drops (well, we can't see those but they're on the ivory background LOL)

Mahalo for stopping by & for leaving your encouragement!

With aloha ♥

Snowflake Kisses from Hawai'i

Aloha everyone,

We do get snow here in Hawai'i, at least on this island. We have two mountains that are almost 14,000 feet. Two nights ago the winds were up to and over 90 mph up there, blowing snow and roads closed. Down here (1400 feet) it's chilly at nights and especially early in the mornings as the wind blows over that snow and down the slopes into our house. Ok, it only gets to the low 60s but the wind chill must be in the mid 50s, right? It warms up to the upper 70s to mid 80s during our winter days so our temps vary in a 24 hr period and we need goose down comforters, sweaters and socks. I'm sure you feel sorry for us LOL.

During the break I took from blogging and Facebook I continued to color. It rejuvenated me inside to make cards for as many as I could. Here is a sampling as no two were identical.

Stamp Sets: Sweet 'n Sassy "Winter Girls," "Snowflake Flourish," and "Snow Glad We're Friends (snowman card)

Cardstock and paper: GKD Pure Luxury White 120# for card bases, Bazzill and Stampin' Up for color layers, GKD pattern papers, Neenah Solar White for die cut snowflakes, Recycled Metallic Chipboard from packaging material for metallic snowflakes

Inks: Memento various colors, Brilliance Silver, SU various colors, VersaMark and Ranger Platinum Embossing Powder (sentiments), Copic markers (all the coloring)

Embellishments: Cheery Lynn Snowflake Dies Snowflakes #2, #3, Martha Stewart snowflake punches, Various Spellbinder Label and Tag dies, Crop-a-dile Corner Rounder, SU Dazzling Diamond glitter, Liquid Applique (ear muffs and fur trims), SU snow burst embossing folder, Sizzix big dot embossing folder, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls embossing folder, Silver metal snowflake brads by Creative Impression, Color epoxy round stickers, ribbons and lace trim, rhinestones, pearls, holographic twine

Other: UTEE, Scor Tape, Glue dots, Tombow tape runner, Aileen's Clear Glue, 3D Crystal Lacquer, Diamond Stickles, Signo White gel pen (and probably some other things I can't remember right now).

I made 20 different cards and tried to enclose a pink and a blue UTEE snowflake inside each. The insides of the cards are stamped and decorated. The envelopes are stamped and lined with pattern paper that was edged with Marta Stewart doily edge punch.

ASK ME IF THIS WAS A FULFILLING AND FUN FUN FUN PROJECT!!!!!!! eeeeeYESsssss!!!!

Thank you for stopping by and appreciate your comments ♥

Snowflake kisses!