Holiday Swap Card

This is one of the cards that I recently made for an Angel Company swap. I can't wait to see the ones that I receive! I watercolored the stocking image (from the "Christmas Joy" TAC stamp set). It is a matchbook style card.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Toot Tut(orial)

Thanks to everyone that has sent me great feedback on my watercolor tutorial!!

Now, I would LOVE to see your results!!!

Come on!!

Watercolor Crayon Tutorial

OK - Here it is - my Watercolor Crayon Tutorial.

Let me know if it makes sense!!

First - It is very important to stamp your image with an ink that will not end up bleeding when water hits it. Palette pads are great for this. If you're not sure if yours will work, just test a stamped image first by wetting it a bit and seeing if it bleeds. Also, using watercolor paper is ideal - but heavy cardstock will work fine as well.

Next: I am using watercolor crayons from The Angel Company. I have found that I really like using the crayons versus the wc pencils. Much easier to blend without leaving a hard line on the paper. The Gerbera Daisy stamp is also from The Angel Company. (Did I mention that I was a demonstrator for them?) :)

Pick 2 colors - a light and dark - for your flower. Also, a light and dark for the stem and leaves. Using colors from the same family will work great.

Start by applying the darker of the flower colors to the center of the petals. Don't be too careful - just scribble in. :) Apply the lighter color to the ends of the petals. Do the same with the leaves and stem. Keep the darker color to where the deeper veins and shaded areas are. As you can see in the flower at right - I added a touch of the flower color to the leaves.

Now we're ready for the fun!

I used a 1/2 inch round watercolor brush. Starting on the petals: wet your brush - you want a wet, but not soppy brush. Start in the center white area of a petal. Using small circular motion head toward the end of your petal. When you hit color it should bleed back onto the wet white are you were just in. Go around doing the same with the other petals.

Now, reverse what you just did - but work from the center of petal toward the center of the flower - working to blend in the darker crayon color. Add the same petal colors to the center of the flower and work those in as well.

Blend in the leaf and stem parts using the same technique.

TIPS: Make sure you use a light hand when blending in the crayons - make sure that you leave lighter (or even white) areas. Don't blend too much or you may end up with a muddy flower!!! Use darker colors in shaded areas.

Below is a blue version using the same technique.

Gerbera, Gerbera, Gerbera...

Try saying that five times fast!!

I've been playing with watercolor crayons and loving them! Here are a couple of cards that I may use for a workshop. I used the Angel Company gerbera daisy stamp. Stamped with noire Palette ink - then used 2 compatible watercolor crayons on each flower. Two greens on the leaves as well. Use the darker of the 2 colors you choose on the shaded parts of your image, and always try to keep white areas when using any watercolor technique!

Also, using the Palette stamp pads are great because they are a hybrid ink - "blending the best of dye and pigment into one ink pad" - they will not bleed when using watercolors over them!

The blue card has bazzill papers - It's hard to see, but I used VersaMark on the background with the same gerbera daisy stamp. The orangish gerbera has a delicious background paper from the country cottage designer paper collection - TAC.

Have a great weekend!!!

Hooray!!!

I'm back! And the sale was a success!! I sold two thirds of what I brought!

I had a fabulous time visiting with friends that I hadn't seen for 20 years!

I had a few minutes to sit down and make these "hooray" froggy cards. They're mini's - only about 3"x4". The frogs are from an Angel stamp set - "Hoppy Frogs". The papers are from the "Pop Rockz" soar with it collection. Delicious papers!!

Have a great Monday!!

Off to the Races

I think I have everything finished for the sale... I hope!! Here are my 2 last projects. They're not spectacular - but usable!! I put a chalk board finish on both!

I'm off for a few days to go to the sale... wish me luck!!! TTFN

Tagged

First up are the tags that I promised to show. I stayed up late working with a set of stamps that I borrowed so that I could enter a Christmas card swap using Angel stamps. I tried many different techniques, and decided that instead of throwing them away, to use the scraps for tags! I used watercolors on these.

These are some simple cards that I made to send out to my friends to let him know that I am now an Angel Company consultant. I used the Impress markers to watercolor with - color out onto a plate or other non porous surface, then use brushes and water to pick up the color and use just like you're water coloring! The background paper is from a delicious line from TAC, "Uptown Girl". The flower stamp is from the set "Friendship Flowers". Fyi is stamped from the "Classic Alphabet" set.

I had such a fun time yesterday cutting out all of my new stamp sets! My fingers are a bit sore, but what's a little discomfort compared to all of the fun I'm having!!

Beautiful Fall

I just love fall! The brilliant colors, and the crisp coolness in the air is just delicious!
I made this birthday card for my dear SIL Barb. Chipboard "B", a variety of cardstocks, a leaf sticker, and a green silk ribbon were used.
Today I'm in the Christmas mood... they had the "Santa Clause" movie on last night - I am so ready for the holidays!! I'll be working on Christmas tags today - I'll post a photo tomorrow!