Simple Watercoloring with Stunning Results

Have you ever thought you'd like to try watercoloring on your cards?  I will show you how to do watercolor using your ink pads and Water Painters - it's a simple technique that will give you stunning results.  The key to making it simple is starting with an embossed outline image.  Watch the Simple Watercoloring video and then give it a try!

Gather your supplies:

• Cardstock:  Crumb Cake base; Basic Black 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"; Whisper White 3-3/4" x 5"; Granny Apple Green 1-1/2" x 5"; Watercolor paper 1-3/4" x 5" plus a scrap 
• Ink:  Memento Black, Versamark, Granny Apple Green, Garden Green, Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze and Cherry Cobbler
• Stamp/Die Bundle: Quite Curvy
• Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder
• Adhesive and Tools

Using your Stamparatus, stamp the leaf spray with black ink on watercolor paper, then clean off the stamp and ink again with Versamark ink.  Apply clear embossing powder and use the heat tool to set.  Repeat with the bird image.  The embossed images will act as a barrier when you apply water, making it much easier to get a great watercolored element for your card.

Take your acrylic block and pick up some Granny Apple Green ink directly from the ink pad.  Use your Water Painter to add some water to the block - just make a puddle on one portion of the ink.  This can be used to apply a light wash over all of the leaves.  You want to get the image wet so that when we apply more color, it will "move" with the water.  Then add more green (both Granny Apple and Garden) to the leaves and you will get wonderful shading in the leaves.  If the leaves get too wet, just add a bit more water.  That's why it is imperative to use watercolor paper - it is meant to hold water and won't pill.  Do the same process with the bird - I started with the Crumb Cake for the bird's head and breast, then did Cajun Craze for the back and tail feathers, darkening it up with Cherry Cobbler.  You will find that you can get amazing color blending with watercoloring!  And don't be afraid to leave some white space - it just adds interest to your images.

I like to allow my watercolor images to dry on their own, but if you just can't wait, use your heat tool on low setting to dry them.  Cut out the images with the dies and now we are ready to assemble.  Add the Granny Apple Green rectangle to the white panel.  Place this in your Stamparatus and position (but don't adhere) the leaves.  Then place your sentiment where you want it to fall just above the leaves.  Because these are photopolymer stamps, you can bend them to just the perfect curve.  Stamp the sentiment in black.  Finish assembling the card by popping up the leaves and bird, then the entire panel onto the card base.  

The more you practice, the easier watercoloring will become.  You can have as watery a look as you want - here is a card where it doesn't look watery at all!  I just took my time, adding layers and layers of color until I got the look I wanted. I'd like to hear how you like this technique!  You can share your results on our group Facebook page.  

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Etsy Shop: The Power of a Card

https://karensliwinski.stampinup.net 

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®

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Product List

Quite Curvy Bundle (English)

[156228]

$41.25

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[120953]

$8.75

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[121045]

$8.75

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

$8.75

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[100730]

$9.75

Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad

[132708]

$6.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

[147095]

$7.50

Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad

[147089]

$7.50

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[147116]

$7.50

Cajun Craze Classic Stampin' Pad

[147085]

$7.50

Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad

[147083]

$7.50

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper

[149612]

$9.00

Versamark Pad

[102283]

$9.50

Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder

[109130]

$6.00

Heat Tool (Us And Canada)

[129053]

$30.00

Water Painters

[151298]

$12.00

Bone Folder

[102300]

$7.00

Stamparatus

[146276]

$49.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$4.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.00

Paper Snips

[103579]

$10.00

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$25.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$120.00

Christmas Wreath - Sponged Background Technique

I love making Christmas cards and there are so many gorgeous sets in our catalog this year - it's hard to choose which one to use first! This card features the Wreath Builder dies and some non traditional colors and I think it's just fabulous! In my video (watch here:  Christmas Wreath, I show you how to use a sponge wedge to add ink to a background stamp to produce a much softer look.  Let's get started!

Gather your supplies:

• Cardstock:  Pretty Peacock base and a 3-3/4" square; Just Jade 3-7/8" x 5-1/8"; Whisper White 3-3/4" x 5" and 2-3/4" x 4", Forever Greenery Designer Paper (DSP) 3-3/4" square (I chose a pattern with many shades of greens in a variety of leaf styles)
• Ink:  Pretty Peacock and Mint Macaron
• Stamp Sets: Tag Buffet and Dry Brush 
• Dies: Wreath Builder and Stitched Rectangles
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Just Jade 1/4" ribbon (11")
• Adhesive and Tools

Start by die cutting your pieces:  From the center of your Just Jade layer, cut the 3rd largest stitched rectangle, and from the smaller white piece, cut the 4th largest rectangle.  Cut the two wreath pieces from the Pretty Peacock square and DSP (I did the frillier wreath out of DSP).  

Place your background stamp on your work surface.  Using a wedge of sponge (I cut my sponge into sixths), apply Mint Macaron ink to the surface of the background stamp.  It's hard to tell you're adding color because it's a red rubber stamp, but keep blotting on ink until you think you have a nice light coating.  Place the larger white layer on top of the stamp and cover with a scrap piece of copy paper.  Press over the entire surface, being careful not to move the white piece.  I find that an acrylic block works well for this.  When you lift off the paper, you will see a soft background image - much more suited to my card design than if I had inked the stamp directly with my ink pad.  Stamp the sentiment Merry Christmas to the bottom of the panel with Pretty Peacock.

              

Fold your card base in half and burnish the crease with your bone folder.   Adhere the white layer to the Just Jade layer (with the hole in the middle!) and pop this up with Dimensionals onto the front of the card. Stamp the inside sentiment on the white stitched rectangle and add it to the Just Jade rectangle.  Adhere this to the inside of the card.

Now you're ready to work on the wreath.  Add tiny amounts of glue on the back of the DPS wreath, but only along the center ring.  Lay this on top of the Pretty Peacock wreath and hold in place until the glue sets.  Now play with the leaves, moving some behind and some in front until your wreath is more intertwined.  Adhere it to the front of the card.

Tie a bow with the Just Jade ribbon and adhere to the bottom of the wreath with a Mini Glue Dot.  Use the Take Your Pick tool to add rhinestones all around the wreath.

I hope you like this card - it is one of my favorite designs this year!  But I know some people still prefer traditional colors for their Christmas cards, so I did one using Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz and the Heartwarming Hugs DSP.  Which one is your favorite?

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Etsy Shop: The Power of a Card

https://karensliwinski.stampinup.net 

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®

My current host code is: G4D4QWWA  Please use this for orders less than $150 

and you’ll get a special treat from me.  For order over $150, you will

qualify for host rewards from Stampin’ Up! (plus a treat from me!).

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152599

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100730

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150083

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104430

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103579

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144107

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152392

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Christmas in the Evergreens - Adding Shimmer Technique

Everyone loves a handmade Christmas Card and this one is sure to be adored!  The great thing about this card is that it is perfect for mass production while being both simple and elegant!  Watch the video:   Christmas in the Evergreens

Gather your supplies:

• Cardstock:  Just Jade base plus 2-1/2" x 3-1/2"; Whisper White two 4" x 5-1/4" and a scrap for the tree
• Ink: Just Jade
• Cherish the Season stamp set
• Dies: Pine Woods and Stitched Shapes
• Evergreen Forest 3D Embossing Folder
• Frost White Shimmer Paint and Stampin' Spritzer
• Adhesive and Tools

Start by embossing one of the white panels with the Evergreen Forest embossing folder.  (Look at the close up of the card and you can see the stunning details of this embossing folder!)  At the top left of this panel, stamp Merry Christmas with Just Jade ink.  Adhere this to the front of your card.

Die cut the largest stitched oval from Just Jade and the evergreen tree from Whisper White.  

To add shimmer, take your Frost White Shimmer Paint and give it a good shake (the ball bearing inside will provide a good mix!).  Add about a pea sized amount into a Stampin' Spritzer and fill to about a half inch from the top with 70% rubbing alcohol.  Do NOT use 91% - it will clog up the nozzle (I learned this the hard way - lol).  Spritz from about 12 - 15" away.  Protect your surface like I did in the video, or create a shimmer box like I normally use.  I took a close up photo of the tree, but unfortunately, the shimmer is hard to see (but it is there when you look at it real life!).

Adhere the tree to the oval and add the oval with Dimensionals to the right side of your card.  Tie a bow with the gingham ribbon from the Flowers for Every Season Combo ribbon pack.  Attach to the base of the tree with a Mini Glue Dot.                                                   

My Shimmering Station!

For the inside, I stamped the sentiment in Just Jade and added another strip of the ribbon to the left side.  This time, I used Seal adhesive on the back to hold my ribbon - it is an excellent choice for attaching ribbon because it's super strong.  Adhere the panel and you're done!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

Etsy Shop: The Power of a Card

https://karensliwinski.stampinup.net 

Images Copyright Stampin’ Up!®

My current host code is: ZRSUNW7W  Please use this for orders less than $150 

and you’ll get a special treat from me.  For order over $150, you will

qualify for host rewards from Stampin’ Up! (plus a treat from me!).

Product List

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$8.75

100730

$9.75

153576

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153563

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103683

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104430

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102300

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103579

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149653

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