Watercolor HB Card

This is a card for an aunt who is celebrating a birthday this week.

I trimmed the watercolor panel to align with the left and right hand side of the SU Marina Mist card base. Placed the ripped edge at the bottom and the clean edge along the top.

I added an SU Old Olive grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the card front and knotted it.

Watercolor Card - Congrats on Grad

This card is for my grand neice who graduated from high school.

The ceremony was June 8th which 4 days after I took possession of this place that needed so much work that I could not get away.

We are celebrating this weekend as they are in town.

The card is SU Elegant Eggplant.  The seam binding is SU Marina Mist.  I layered the 3 pieces of watercolor over and below the ribbon which was wrapped around and knotted to the front of the card.  Added a SU Word window greeting.

They are headed to college soon.

Card - Flowers - Thank You

I made this card for my real estate agent who helped my purchase my next home.

She as been amazing. I paired it with a yellow flower potted plant and dropped it off at her office today.

Card base A7 in Stampin Up Crushed Curry.  I cut a layer of striped designer paper to leave a small border. I used a leftover scrap of card stock to put a band across the top third of the card.  

I used Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die to cut a Not Quite Navy flower, a Marina Mist medium and a Crushed Curry small one. Adhered together with a blue mini brad then adhered to the card front with double sided tape.

A white single insert and a yellow envelope and it's ready to go.

Sewing Project - Wine Bottle Bag - Beau Chateau

This fabric was designed and sold through Stampin Up years ago.  This design is called Beau Chateau and the colors are Very Vanilla and Marina Mist.

This time I decided my accent ahead of time. I dug through my Stampin Up card making supplies and found some scallop edge ribbon in Maria Mist.  The wide grosgrain ribbon is ivory and was in my stash.

I laid the narrow blue ribbon on top of the ivory and ran a line of wavy decorative stitching across the width of the fabric with ivory thread.  This was my first line of stitching to quilt the flannel to the outer fabric. Then added 2 more lines of the same stitch above the ribbon running width wise.  I then ran 4 lines of the same stitching vertically going from the ivory ribbon to the base of the fabric. With that I had quilted the outer fabric.

I chose a thin ivory polyester fabric for the lining of this bag. Had to take it easy with the hot iron.

While the slit was still open in the lining I added the white button.  I tried to find a blue one that would match with no luck.

For information on "My Bag" line:

Card - Retirement and Moving

 

I made a card for my friend who is moving away to be close to her daughter. She has had health challenges in the last few years.  Her husband has now retired and they are looking forward to a new life in this new chapter.  

I found a landscape graphic on line and a drew this composition from it.  I wanted to have a road into the distance with a prairie landscape as they move one province to the east.  They will be close to grandchildren and family. 

I drafted the composition with pencil and I used my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  I started with a light wash of light blue all over the piece of paper. I then painted the horizon line of trees. I laid a light layer of Always Artichoke. Of course, I needed it to have a yellow field which can be wheat, canola, barley, etc. I created a brown color for the road and painted it.  I had to be patient and used my heat gun to dry the layers before I moved to add dark elements to the sky, trees, road and yellow field. I love the pink flowers along the edge of the field.  Here in Alberta they would be roses but they don't bloom when the fields are yellow but it's my picture so I put them in.  It needed to have a gorgeous sun and a blue sky. 

Once I had my painting I scored a sheet of Baja Breeze card stock into a half sheet card.  I trimmed the edges to make sure it fit into my envelope.  It needed an anchor so I chose a length of Taken with Teal velvet ribbon and a wrapped on the inside of the card and brought the ends to the card front and taped them down.  I adhered the painting with 3D foam tape to allow space for the ribbon.  I pressed the card under heavy books for a few hours.  I added a white half sheet insert onto which I wished them both a happy new chapter in their lives.

Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor - Doves

I created watercolor backgrounds with the intention of using these dove brads for this set of cards. The watercolor has a bit of salt technique.

The doves come in right and left facing styles. I used a Sakura GellyRoll Stardust - Clear Star gel marker for the olive branch.

The circle behind the dove is a 13/8 inch circle punchie.

The greeting is a color printed double flag end banner I designed.

This card is Stampin Up Elegant Eggplant which is a deep rich purple color.  This card is in the landscape orientation.

On this card I used Stampin Up Primose Petal for the card base as I did not have any Rose Red card stock.

The circle is Rose Red.

The greeting is also Rose Red and I chose Peace on Earth in various fonts.

You can see the Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust - Clear Star gel marker on the image on the right. 

It just adds mostly sparkle with little colors so it works well in many situations.

 

These watercolor backgrounds were created with the Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons which makes it easy to match to the card stock.  

This card had lots of salt action on the color.

The card base, the circle punchie and greeting are all Marina Mist on the left and Always Artichoke on the right.

Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor - Ornaments

Another set of watercolor Christmas Cards. 

I wanted a branch with an ornament.  I put a wash of Old Olive green in the top right hand corner blended softly to the center and left hand side to suggested more tree.  

Once that was completely dry I drew my line for the branch with a pencil.  I worked with Always Artichoke, Old Olive and More Mustard. It was really hard to be loose and let the needles go willy nilly but it worked. 

Then, when the branch was dry I drew the ornament by hand with a pencil. I filled the ornament with Tempting Turquoise and Night of Navy. Card is Marina Mist. I added another layer of wash on the right hand side to suggest light from the left. 

I did the hanger with a very thin brush and Payne's Gray also lining the outside of the ornament.

On this card I used Elegant Eggplant purple color on the ornament with the same general steps for the branch.

I ended up with a harder high light spot on the left hand side which works better.  The darker side on the right hand side does not seem to be as dark as I intended.  Watercolor is sometimes hard to judge as it dries lighter.

I have used the color of the ornament to add spatter to the layer.

The card stock used for these ornaments is the back side of the Foil Joy cards I did last month.  It was a textured linen card stock.  I think it worked with the watercolor pretty well.

On this card I used Rich Razzleberry pinky purple for the ornament.

The pieces of card stock were trimmed to 3.75 x 5 inches before I started painting. They warped a little so needed to be steamed and pressed to flatten.

The ornament layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape in the corners and a bit in the center.

I did add my signature on the original art after I photographed them for blogging.

Seasonal inserts and white envelopes have been added to the mix and they are sitting in the box for December 1st.

The color is Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder crayons and coordinating SU card stock.

Christmas Card Challenge - Watercolor - Aug - Salt Backgrounds

I created a watercolor background for my large Christmas greetings for this month's challenge.

I started with 140lb Arches watercolor paper I purchased from my sister. It had been rolled up so I spritzed it with water and let it relax itself to flatish.

I cut a strip about 6 inches tall and the width of the sheet.  I taped that down to my waterproof work surface.  I used my small watercolor palette I created the other day.  You can follow this link to the post which contains the details. 

I soaked the paper with my spray bottle then I just worked with the greens and blues in my palette. As I moved across I switched from the blues to adding red to create purples. Once I was happy with the colors I misted it again to ensure the whole surface was wet then just added some table salt to the surface.  It then dried for several hours.

I believe this is rough water color paper but is softer than the sheets have I have been using. I was very happy with the pattern produced by the salt.  Once completely dry, I cut it into 4.00 x 5.25 inch sheets.  These will leave a small border of the card base showing.  Since I was not using Stampin Up watercolors it took a bit of evaluation to see which card colors to use.

While the paper dried and searched the internet for some free large greetings I could use. The card above features the one I liked best.  The greetings were sized to be smaller than the watercolor background and printed grey on vellum.  They were then heat embossed with gold powder.  I ripped the edges to provide a more natural edge.

On the right I created some portrait (tall) cards with vellum greetings which also included images. This one is a Christmas tree. For most of  these cards, the vellum is adhered to the watercolor background with tiny gold brads. Then the watercolor layer is adhered to the card base with 3D foam tape squares.

The greeting on the card on the left has been around for a very long time.  It is very classic fonts and makes a great greeting.

The card base on this card is Marina Mist. The brads used on this one are larger sparkly gold star brads. 

I added some vellum adhesive in the opposite corners to keep the vellum close to the watercolor.

 The watercolor background features the transition from green to blue in my original painting.

This watercolor background was the toughest to match to card stock.  I tried Chocolate Chip, Perfect Plum, Sahara Sand and eventually settled on Soft Suede. 

That is the challenge - when I was painting I did not measure the width of the colors so this piece ended up with some muddier colors with the n bright blue on the right hand side.  

This is the other portrait (tall) card where I combined an image and a greeting.

Again, I was not thinking of images at all when I was painting.  I had to trust I could work it out once the watercolor background was dry.

I think this worked out well.

This card features Bermuda Bay for the card base.  Another landscape (wide) layout.

This time tiny gold star brads in all four corners.

I will be adding quarter sheet inserts with a seasonal sentiment to each of these and pairing them with a white A2 envelope.

Another great set of cards for my box.  Ready to give come December st!

These worked out well and the background is worth considering again.

Watercolor Cards - All Occasion

I needed a  few cards for upcoming birthdays so I decided to follow the trend of my Christmas cards and make them with watercolor.

I searched the internet for simple floral images - bouquets so that I could see how the stems interacted, etc.

I trimmed my 140lb water color paper to 3.5 x 3.5 inch squares.  Loosely following the compositions I found on line I drew flowers with a pencil.  Once I was happy with it I traced the pencil lines with black permanent marker again making adjustments if needed.

Once the ink was allowed to dry a bit I erased the pencil lines and was left with the black lines.  I used my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons to match my card bases.

I chose flowers which were non specific so I could paint them any color, rather than recognizing the flower and saying that must be pink or whatever.  I also added some spatter of each color to tone down the white of the paper.

For the first card the flowers are a pale version of Rich Razzleberry and Garden Green for the leaves on a Pixie Pink card base.

Card number 2 is Elegant Eggplant card base with Old Olive for the stems.

Card number 3 is Marina Mist card base with Always Artichoke leaves and foliage.

I chose Mellow Moss grosgrain ribbon wrapped around the front of the card with the ends taped under the watercolor accent.

The floral watercolor is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape. 

I decided to go with no greeting so I can use it for any occasion. 

Quarter sheet insert on the inside with A2 white envelope and 3 more cards ready to give.  One for my aunt, one for my sister and one for Mom.  I still have a couple of sisters who have birthdays this summer.  Another session to follow soon.

Mom's Day Card

I painted a blue daisy flower for my Mom's mother's day card.

Her favorite color is blue.

I used a piece of 140lb rough water color paper measuring approximately 4.25 x 5.5 inches.  I sketched it lightly with a pencil and then painted it with my Stampin Up Wonder Watercolor  Crayons.  Using Marina Mist as the main color with some Night of Navy and some Not Quite Navy.   The leaf colors were Always Artichoke and More Mustard.  The center is More Mustard.

Once completely dry I traced around the flower and leaves with a black permanent marker. 

I mounted the flower onto a half sheet card of Marina Mist card stock.   I added white and medium blue seam binding below the flower by punching a slit in the fold then wrapping them around the card front and knotting in the front.

A white insert was added to the inside.

Watercolor on Handmade Paper

More reusing supplies from old card kits.  I just loved these small white handmade paper sheets and could not just give them away.  I have painted daisies on these in the past but I wanted to create new art on these.

I am using my Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder crayons in rich regals and brights color families.

This one is an abstract flower in the blue green color family.

I had to trim the handmade paper because the other flowers were not great.  This required an additional layer so i chose some Old Olive on some Not Quite Navy card base.

I always adhere handmade paper to cards with hot glue.  It works the best but you have to be fast before it cools.

This card features a multitude of pinky orange abstract flowers again.  Regal Rose and Old Olive are the colors used.

I did try to put a background of subtle color which did not really work great.

Mounted on a Regal Rose card base.

Each card gets a white blank insert on the inside.

I signed each one as well.

I started with abstract shapes on this piece of handmade paper.  

The colors used are Tango Tangerine and Marina Mist.

I dug through my bling box and found these butterfly confetti sequins which were the right blue color.  I then added them to the handmade paper sheet with orange tiny brads.

I like the fact that there are 2 different designs of butterfly.

Makes me think Santa Fe coloring.

Mounted to the a Marina Mist card base.

This card features Bravo Burgundy as the color in several shades for the flowers.  I was thinking of roses when I painted but I am not sure I succeeded.

Always Artichoke for the stem and leaves with a bit of mixed brown thrown in for good measure.

A bit of spattering in the main colors to lessen the white background.

Mounted to a Bravo Burgundy card base and a white insert.

I tried following the design of the small deep teal handmade paper flowers I had selected as inspiration.  

I had to remind myself - Stick to the 5 petals and make them rounder than usual.  Always Artichoke for the stem and long open leaves.

I mounted the small pale yellow flower then the bit larger teal one onto the watercolored on with a tiny white brad.

Mounted to a deep teal card base of textured card stock.

A bit of spattering to tone down the white background.

I painted the flower with More Mustard and a bit of Daffodil Delight with a lot of long slender petals. I think I should have overlapped some of them.

I really needed Summer Sun to match the card base but I did not get the yellow mix quite as good as I hoped.

A mix of greens and blues for the closed long leaves.

I mounted a small yellow handmade paepr flower in the center of the watercolored one, held in place with a tiny white brad.

These no greeting cards could go into the cards for seniors box but I am not sure yet.

Love the painting.

Sympathy Cards

I made a few sympathy cards to include in a set of cards for my Mom's birthday.

I chose Whisper White layer trimmed to leave a small border. I stamped the Berry Branch from the Simply Sketched stamp set with black permanent ink so I could watercolor the images.

The greeting is from the same set. 

I chose Old Olive and a bit of Always Artichoke for the leaves and Marina Mist for the berries.  My sister shared from her stash of Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons a set of the bright colors.  Thanks so much. 

I adhered the layer to the front of an Old Olive card base.  

Spattered a bit of green watercolor by flicking my brush just to soften the wide open white space.

For this card I switched up the orientation to landscape and used 2 stamps from the Simply Sketched set. The Poppy and the sentiment.

I used Real Red and some Regal Rose for the poppy.

Again, a bit of spattering with a flick of my brush.  Trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches to leave a small border.

The card base is Pink Pirouette.

These have had white inserts with appropriate sentiments added to the inside of the card.

The Perched Bird from the Simply Sketched set with the sympathy sentiment.

I chose to make a brown with red and green and added a breast of More Mustard.  The reeds are Always Artichoke.  I added some water below with Marina Mist.

This was cut to 2.75 x 4.25 inches.  I layered it onto a piece of brown card stock and then onto a textured card base in Ballet Blue.

Again, a bit of spattering with my brush.

I am adding these to a variety of others cards to make a set of 10 cards.  Mom who is in her eighties still makes cards but it's nice to a stash ready when she is not up to making a card.

I am looking forward to seeing her.

Cards - Teal Paisley

I chose this paisley designer paper featuring some cool colors.  It has some pink, fucshia, teal, green, and mustard.  I chose a deep teal card base.

I added a piece of designer paper leaving a small border on the card front.

I added a strip of vellum on the left hand side and it is held in place with a dark pink, light pink flowers with a teal brad in the top left hand side.

I added a Stampin Up Decorative Label stamped with a birthday greeting from the SU Sincere Salutations in Marina Mist ink.  The punchie is mounted with 3D foam tape.

I added another handmade paper flowers combo in the bottom right hand corner.

This card has no greeting.  I have added a grey Knitting Ribbon in a bow at the top third of the card.

I added a ripped piece of vellum on left side.

An accent of handmade paper flowers held in place with a teal brad.

I ripped the designer paper leaving a strip of the card base showing.

I added a blank card insert.

R2Go Christmas Card Kit - Red Felt Ornaments

I created a Ready2Go Christmas Stack kit today.  I started with the felt ornaments.  I selected the snowflake, the reindeer and the tree. 

I then selected warm designer paper with red in the pattern.  Then coordinating card base was selected. I adhered the designer paper to the card front leaving a small border.

I added some 1/8" gold metallic ribbon in the ornament hanger. A glitter star brad holds the ornament to the card front. I cut some gold moire paper with the 2.75 inch Spellbinder Nestabilities in smooth circles. Then I aligned that gold layer between the red ornament and the designer paper then glued it down.

I designed a greeting for the Stampin Up Artisan Label punch.  The greetings are coordinated with the card base color.  Adhered with 3D foam tape.


The card above details are as follows:

• Snowflake Red Felt Ornament
• Blue Fern Studios - Paisley & Vine - Bohemian Designer Paper
• Warm blue card base
• Greeting in Marina Mist

The card on the right as follows:

• Reindeer Red Felt Ornament
• Authentique - Tradition - Customary Designer Paper
• Bright warm green card base
• Greeting in Kiwi Kiss 

The card on the right as follows:

• Tree Red Felt Ornament
• Designer Paper by Anna Griffin
• Pinecone cardstock by Bazzill
• Greeting in Early Espresso

The kit has been added to the R2Go Stack Kit page.

I have several stack card classes coming up so that will provide the participants with a choice of kits.

Countdown Calendar - Christmas Cheer DSP

I made another Countdown Calendar this evening as I sold a couple this afternoon.

This is a 6x8 black wood frame which is wide enough to just stand on it's own.  I used Stampin Up Christmas Cheer designer paper on this side.  I added snowflakes cut with the Snow Flurry die. The large in Very Vanilla, medium in warm white pearl and small in black to repeat the color in the frame.  I cut 3 more small ones from Very Vanilla. I printed the sentiment in black on a Very Vanilla strip 2" by 6 inches wide. I placed the large snowflake accent near the bottom left hand corner.

This is the back side of the same paper.  I used the banner from the Eventful Year - Embellishment digi set and used the colors Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist and Always Artichoke.  I printed it on vellum and clear embossed it.  Again, I printed the sentiment on Very Vanilla in black letters on a strip 2 x 6 inches wide.

I used the word celebrate this time which can lend itself to other occasions like countdown to an anniversary party, a wedding, or other special occasion.  This design as well is a little more mature in design.

Star Trio Birthday

I started with a Stampin Up Marina Mist card.
I created my own background with a sponge, a MM ink pad and a piece of photo paper.  I intentionally left the top part white so the happy would contrast with the card color.
Once dry, I cut it with the Memory Box Grand Happy Birthday thin die.  I trimmed to sides down to 5.25 inches and adhered it to the card front.
I cut the stars with the Sizzix Stars #2 Originals Die using Basic Gray and Real Red card stock.  They are held in place with a tiny white star brad.

Sharing with Stampin Up Color Q challenge #349.

Card Exchange Group Cards

I started with the ink background. This is done with by placing a variety of ink onto an acrylic plate and pressing a piece of card stock onto it to capture the ink. The ink can be stamp pad re-inkers, liquid acrylic, or any other dye based ink. I stamped the SU Print Pattern Background stamp onto it with Ballet Blue craft ink in hopes to be able to emboss it.  The powder did not stick well. I chose a Stampin Up Apricot Appeal card which coordinated well.  I cut a set of flowers with the Flower Fair Thinlit set. The large flower is Marina Mist as I did not have Ballet Blue which was embossed with the Polka Dot Folder, then the medium is a repeat of Apricot Appeal, then the center is Starfruit card stock. The leaves were cut from Starfruit as well. The greeting is stamped with the Little Birthday Cheer Stamp set with Kiwi Kiss ink onto Apricot Appeal and punched with the Modern Label punch. It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 I chose my ink background to coordinate with Stampin Up Apricot Appeal again. This time I stamped the Triple Treat Flower Stamp Set onto the vellum with Garden Green craft ink and clear embossed it.  The greeting from the Sweet Essentials Stamp set is handled the same way.  I stamped the flower again on Apricot Appeal and punched it out with the Five Petal punch.  It is adhered over the vellum flower with 3D foam tape.  I ripped the edges of the vellum with a deckle edge ruler but it was not as effective as I had hoped.  The vellum ends are folded to the inside of the card and taped down. 
These cards are headed to the girls in my Card Exchange Group.

R2G Card Kits - SU - Letters to Santa

Another set of Ready2Go Card Kits.  I started with one of the designs from the Letters to Santa double sided designer paper.  I cut the 12 x 12 inch sheets down into 2" strips giving me 12 per sheet.  I designed the greeting with the Ornament Keepsake stamp set in Marina Mist with Early Espresso on the outline and the greeting.  It is cut to 2.75 inches square.  The accent layers are Early Espresso card stock - strip is .5 inch and the square is 3 inches.  The DSP stripe is adhered to the left then the EE card stock strip.  The greeting layer is adhered with 3D foam tape.

I made some ornaments Riding Hood Red and others Old Olive with cards to match.

Blue Bird HB

I started with a Stampin Up Marina Mist card.  I stamped the You're Amazing - Happy Birthday stamp in the same color on a piece of white.  I then stamped the bird from the Punch Potpourri in MM and punched it out with the coordinating punch.  I punched a wing from the same blue. I punched the branch from Certainly Celery card stock.  I glued the branch above the greeting then adhered the bird sitting on the branch with 3D foam tape.  The white layer was then adhered to the card front.






Submitting this card to the following challenge(s):
TGIF Challenge 13 - Clean and Simple

Bird on Crumb Cake

I started with a Stampin Up Marina Mist card.  I added texture to it with one of the Itty Bitty Background stamps in MM ink.  I created the background bands with narrow strips of Season of Style DSP left over from this project.  I adhered them so they would fall behind the central element.  I repeated Crumb Cake in the central rectangle which I layered onto a piece of Whisper White.  I stamped the bird from the Punch Potpourri in MM on white and punched him out.  I punched the wing and the branch from MM card stock.  I glued the branch, then the bird then the wing in the bottom left hand corner.  I was tempted to add more MM on the Crumb Cake but resisted.



Can you tell I've been shopping at SU Retired Sales?  I have been looking for this stamp set for a while and found it on the weekend. Yippee!

Submitting this to the following challenges:
TGIF 07 Sketch