Watercolor Card - Landscape

I whipped up some waterolor paper this morning.  I used 140lb cold press paper measuring 11x15 inches.  Fortunately, I unpacked my glass shelf and a couple of plastic craft work sheet and taped the paper down.

I decided to use some Stampin Up reinker in water based dye ink which works the same as watercolor but will match the card stock I have.  I chose Always Artichoke, Only Orange, Baroque Burgundy. 

I used regular salt on one sheet, coarse salt on another and cling wrap on other.

I trimmed the watercolor paper after I decided what my bottom layers were going to be. I chose deep green card stock, deep red card stock and More Mustard card stock.  Ripped the top edges and layered them front to back and then taped the back with clear tape. I trimmed the watercolor paper to fit just below the top edge of the accent. I adhered it to a More Mustard card base in the A7 size. I adhered the ripped paper accent to the bottom of the card. With the scrap of green I cut a Sizzix Pine Small which I inked the edges with Always Artichoke ink pad. I then glued it in place ont the right hand side. I punched a 1 inch circle from Summer Sun card stock and adhered it on the left hand side. I then used the watercolor I had used this morning and painted with like colors to help it blend in the sky. I added 3 birds with my black Micron marker.

I put it to press for several hours. I gave it a white insert and a warm yellow envelope. I will see her tomorrow! Yeah!

Sympathy Watercolor

I did this watercolor as a sympathy card for a cousin who loss her Dad recently.  He passed away fairly quickly so it will be an adjustment to life without him.

I reused some watercolor paper that had art on the other side.

A simple landscape with a river, trees, hills and birds in the sky.

I used a small Winsor and Newton set I picked up at the ReUse Center recently.

I added definition with a Micron black marker.

Mounted on SU True Thyme A2 card base.

Headed out of town for the funeral today.

Tree Scent Ornaments - Silver Plated Frames

 My tree scent ornaments sold well at the Christmas Store in the Allied Arts Council Gallery this year so I am starting to make more for next year.

I found 3 very cute silver plated cat frames while shopping at the thrift store with my niece this weekend.  The price was right so I took them home.

I decided to embroider small felties to put in them as the diffusers. I enjoy my slow stitching.

This one features a cat sitting in the sun with flowers growing in the garden.  The flowers mirror the potted flowers on the windowsill and the sun is warm and wonderful

A variety of greens for the garden in the beyond the window.

I mostly kept the pieces intact except the easel back which would not work for ornaments.

I added some fusible pelon to the back of the stitched work to hide the stitching and add some depth. I added a piece of white card stock to which I affixed the silver plated sticker.

I added a color coordinated 1/8" satin ribbon as a hanger which has been hand stitched to the embroidery piece itstelf.

I returned the glass for a spacer and allows the frame to be returned to that purpose if so desired.

The screws on the tabs needed to be tightened and I was done.

I created the night time scene with the full moon in the sky accompanied with silver stars stitched with silver metallic thread onto navy felt.

The moon is grey thread and the outline stitch.

I created a span of water below showing the reflection of the moon in it.  A few ripples in the water were added with a few grey stitches.

The cat is gazing out from its windowsill into the night.

I added a navy satin ribbon hanger and reassembled the layers into the frame and it was done.

I added a distant landscape outside the window with a beautiful warm sun.

The sky features a white cloud and a black bird.

The landscape is created with a variety of green threads with the outline stitch.  The are very closely stitched side by side to hide the blue felt sky.

The cat sits on the sill while enjoying the scene outside.

Slow Stitching - Extra Squares

Another Extra Square for my slow stitching project.

I decided on a landscape composition.  I invisilbe stitched my white layer to my foundation layer.

I added a couple of pieces of blue for the sky with a yellow sun.

Two grey mountains and a green layer of trees.

A deeper blue layer at the bottom of lake and a brown piece for land.

Mostly running stitches on these pieces. A bit of seed stitching. 

I did triangles on the green for trees but it is not very visible.

Inktober 2024 - 08 Desert

Inktober 2024 Challenge

08 Desert

Black Marker & Watercolor

A landscape for today in the form of a desert.

A tall cactus is great for the desert.  A few rises in elevation. To top it off a little bird sitting on the top.

 

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.

Watercolor - Sail Boat

I needed a birthday card for my aunt.  I was to join a party on Thursday but was called out to be with my Mom who was very ill and needed full time care for a few days.  She is doing better after a visit to ER.

This card will be late but such is life.  

I created the background a while back and I added the scene this morning.  The boat and sun have a white gouache base with watercolor on top. I created a custom greeting.  It was punched with the Stampin Up Artisan punch and mounted with 3D foam tape. It will be off in the mail on Monday. 

Juried Show Submissions - Postponed

We were to have deliver our pieces for the Juried Member Show today to see which pieces would go into the show but the COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted our plans.  The building has been closed for 3 days and the show is currently postponed. We will learn more on Tuesday.

My first piece was taken last March on my morning walk in the river valley. 

It is features a very moody atmosphere.

It leaves one wondering. What lies ahead? Where does that faint staircase on the right lead to?  Kind of symbolic for the current health crisis in our world.

Title:  "Foggy Morning"

Size: 15 x 12 inches

This is another result from my oil on water photography.

I decided to take advantage of the color separation between blue and green.  I lightened the bubble in the top right hand corner to create a "Moon".  Another moody photo which creates an interesting landscape.

Title: "Moon Rising"

Size: 14 x 14 inches

I took this photo earlier this year at the Antique Market.  This sculpture was quite small measuring around 6 inches tall.  I don't really know what the circular structure is but it was being held by a monkey above his head.  I decided the wood circle was the best feature so that is what I made the focus.  I placed it on the floor so that I would have the natural wood boards as a background. 

Worked out really well.

Title: Wooden Sculpture

Size: 14 x 12 inches

Exchange Cards - Alchohol Ink background with black accents

I made this cards for my card exchange buddies.

I started with 4x6 photo paper.

I applied drops liquid acrylic color to my glass plate surface and spritzed with water.

I pressed the paper into the color and pull back.

These were allowed to dry completely.

I just love making these backgrounds.  They needed focal points so I moved to black paint.

I then used black liquid acrylic to make marks on the colored surface.  The circles were made with a plastic lid dipped in the black. The spots were dropped with a eye dropper. 






Again, these were left to dry completely.

Once dry I adhered them to heavy card stock in the A7 size.

I hope they enjoy the cards.

Son in Law Card Order

I had a friend ask for a birthday card for her son in law.

I recycled a landscape element from a commercial card.  I trimmed it close to the border.

I printed a custom greeting layer on a piece of textured card stock.  I chose a green color to match the textured card base.

These were layered then adhered to the card front.

I added a gold star sequin in the bottom left hand corner held in place with a gold tiny brad.

Photo Calendar - Landscapes and Flowers

I received an order for a 2018 Photo Calendar - Ready2Give Half Sheet with flower and landscape photos.

With a sale at the end of the week I will make a few more. 


I created the calendar and then printed it 2 sheets at a time on a letter sized piece of white card stock.  Each calendar page is 5.5 W x 8.5 T inches with the calendar on the bottom with a 3.5 x 5.00 inch photo at the top. 

I punched a hole at the top of the calendar with my Crod-a-dile which easily allowed me to do all 12 sheets at one time to ensure they were all aligned.

This allows hanging on a nail, straight pin or push pin.  A binder clip could also be added to hang it with a magnet.

I selected photos from my collection to fit the bill.  The front photo is a country lane in winter.  The flowers include dahlia, wild geranium, AB rose, sunflower, poppy, and poinsettia. The landscapes are a barn in winter, Rocky Mountains in Canmore, field of hay bales, rows of canola, and dock at Pigeon Lake.

Note Card & Encouragement Card Gift Sets

I made a couple of Note Card and Encouragement Card Gift sets today.

I created some new encouragement cards in the portrait orientation with some great art from Pixabay.  The hummingbird and mushroom ones are posted below.

These cards were included in these 2 gift sets along with some made with a landscape image from Maria (see image below) and some I designed a while back.

One of these will be given to a couple who is starting new roles. 

This landscape was created by Maria S.  I used the image in black as well as I converted the image into sepia, artichoke, and navy.

"Winter Glory" Card Set

These Christmas cards were created with laser printed panel cards of this winter landscape which I was given. They needed to be refurbished and re-purposed to be appreciated.  I decided to make them into cards for the Christmas season.  I cut down the panels leaving all the edges straight. Once I had the dimensions I create a grey rectangle leaving a small border from the edge of the image.  I added a greeting in the bottom right hand corner. This was printed on white card stock.  Once printed, the image was adhered to the card front.  An insert was added inside with the sentiment.  I think they turned out really nice.

Again, these are packaged in a clear box in a set of 20. They will be donated to the auction in the fall.

Nifty Notes - Landscape Drawing

This is a set of note cards I made as a donation to an event I am attending this summer.
This is a collaboration because the drawing was done by my aunt Maria. You can find her work here.  She did the drawing as a donation to our fund raiser and I thought it would be nice to have her art available in a different way.  Just used my standard template for Nifty Notes and it was done in a flash.  I made three sets.

R2G Card Kits - 6 Blocks DSP

I started with a Stampin Up Green Galore card for the left one.  I used the Rainbow Sherbert DSP and cut it into 1.25" squares with my rotary cutter as it gives me more control.  I sorted out the squares into those with no Apricot Appeal and placed those on the green card and placed the others on the apricot card (right).  The greeting was color printed to match the elements then I flagged the right hand end and added buttons to the card front.  You will see that the kit offers different orientation of cards.