Card - Birthday - Watercolor and Flowers

This card is for my aunt who celebrates her birthday soon.  

I chose a SU Crushed Curry textured A2 card base. 

I cut a piece of water color paper left over from the paper I made for these pieces.  I adhered it to the card front.

I wrapped a length of Crushed Curry grosgrain ribbon along the left hand side and knotted it a the top. 

I added 3 handmade paper flowers on the right and held them in place with coordinating mini brads.

I added a SU Modern Label greeting in the bottom right hand corner with 3D foam tape.

I added a quarter sheet insert and envelope.  It is ready to go.
 

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.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 7 - God in the Manger

Today, we focus of the babe in the manger.  Jesus is born. 

The suggestion was made that we make thank you cards.  Some are still working on advent calendars so I changed my plans and made simple thank you cards.  I used the cards available at the local arts and crafts store.  I then selected some Christmas and non Christmas frame images to surround the greeting at the center of the card.  I made 2 of each design.  The images were selected from Clker and Graphics Fairy.  

We started with gratitude and we end with gratitude.  God comes quiet... The victory is won.  All of conquered heaven and grateful earth echo and throb tonight with the heart cry of the God-Child. I did it for love.

The greatest Gift laid into our empty hands...  Grace is weightless.

We have had a very good class.  I have learned a lot and I believe the ladies enjoyed it as well.

Have a stress free Christmas season.  Today was the first snow for us so it's starting to look a lot like Christmas.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.  I handed out this freebie from Ann's website.  You don't have to work for Christmas.

Watercolor Images

I made these cards for my card exchange group.

I started with Adorn It - Art Play Paintables - Be Awesome by Lindsay Ostrom.  This is sold in a 12x12 page with 12 images. These are images printed on watercolor paper and ready to be painted. I used a water brush and pan watercolor to add some color to these images.  I chose to leave the girls face white because I thought I would screw up a flesh color. Sunflower are my favorites. Once painted I let them dry then pressed them flat.  I chose a blue card for the first one to match with the bee wings and trails.  I added a layer of vellum to the card front then I added the green polka dot designer paper.  I mounted the watercolor piece with 3D foam tape.  On the right card I omitted the vellum and cut the designer paper into a strip and triangles and adhered them as shown.  The watercolor piece is mounted with 3D foam tape.

Card - Spring Colors

Many of us are so waiting for spring.  This card has yellow and green which hopefully bring on the flowers and green grass.
I chose a dill green textured card stock.  I put a strip of yellow striped washi tape on an angle from top left to bottom right.  Putting it directly on the green paper toned it down a bit. I sponged watercolor paper with Chrome Yellow and Sap Green liquid acrylic color. I ripped the paper to have rough edges on all sides.  I stamped a flower in Versafine Onyx with a small clear stamp.  I added the words with the same ink on the block of textured yellow card stock.
I am submitting this card to the Less is More Challenge 214 Yellow and Green.

Card - Watercolor Mini Art

This piece of art was created on watercolor paper.  I placed painters tape on a large piece of watercolor paper creating small squares for art.  I applied liquid watercolor with a foam brush across the large piece. Once it was dry I pulled the tape off leaving the large white borders around this little piece of art.  I added a bit of metallic paint with a brush.

This mini art was then mounted onto a black card allowing it to pop!

Guest Book

I was asked to design a guest book for an upcoming special 10th anniversary event.  She wanted something nicer than one you can purchase at a retail store, one where photos of the anniversary could be placed and one with a place for a photo on the cover.
After a bit of research I decided on a 8x8" scrapbook.  I found a black leather look one. She selected a black and white stripped ribbon which would add a bit of a focal point to the front cover. I diecut a red ribbon slider with a Spellbinder die.  To it, I added a white paper flower and a metal medallion and held it all in place with a tiny black brad. Once it was strung onto the ribbon I just knotted the ribbon onto the album placing the knot to the inside.
Then I went looking for paper for the pages.  I tested the weight of many sheets of paper.  I looked at drawing paper, watercolor paper, and sketch paper.  I needed 10 sheets for the actual signatures and greetings then a few pages in the front for "then and now" photos.  I settled on a pad of white 90lb watercolor paper with 15 pages.  I determined that the sheets should be 8"Tx9.25"W based on the page protectors I had removed from the album. I cut the paper down to 8.5 x 11 so I could put them through my printer.  Then I designed the pages on the computer and printed them in black.  The sheets were then was cut down to the correct size.  I punched the holes in the pages on the left hand side based on the spacer that came with the album. She had asked to have a bit of accent added to the pages.  Based on the red on the front I stamped a small flower on the left hand corner of the pages and added a small swirl on the bottom right hand side in Real Red.  The album has a sleeve at the back for a CD so that photos from the event can be stored for history's sake.  She will find a photo which is just right for the front cover.