Best Wishes Sparkle Watercolor

A few days left in the Sparkle Challenge at A Blog Named Hero.

I embossed the floral background using Hero Arts gold embossing powder.  The background stamp I used is retired but the Flowers For Coloring background stamp would be fun for this too.

I used a glitter Spectrum Noir pen to add watercolors to the flowers and leaves.  The photo doesn't show but the glitter on the card is very pretty. I then water colored with black around the images. 

I hope you join in on our sparkle challenge.

Hello There Tag

Hey there!  Here with my tag for Challenge #88 , "Spring Flowers", at Tag You're It!

I stamped the images from Hero Arts on watercolor cardstock.  To add color to the images I used watercolor paints.  Once dry I fussy cut the images.  The tag was diecut from smooth bristol using a tag die from Reverse Confetti.  

I added green Distress ink with a blending tool and splattered some black ink on the tag.  I adhered the fussy cut images using foam tape behind a couple of the pink flowers.  I finished off the tag with the sentiment and some gold glitter Nuvo drops.

I hope you share your work at the current challenge.

Just For You Tag

Time for a new Tag You're It! Challenge.   Selective Coloring is the theme.  

I used a tag die for the area to color.  I started by heat embossing a background image from Hero Arts on a piece of watercolor paper.  I used Wow! embossing powder in "Zeuss", its a purple embossing powder with gold sparkle.  I diecut a tag shape from the embossed paper.  I used watercolors to color the tag.  

I adhered it all together to a piece of black card stock for a contrasting layer.

I hope you join this fun challenge.

Loved

Hello I'm here today with my second card using the theme for the challenge at A Blog Named Hero.

It is both a theme and a color palette.  I stamped and heat embossed the Hero Arts flowers from"Marianne's Flowers".  I first stamped on masking paper then fussy cut the images out to create masks.  I used the masks to layer the blossoms.

Once I finished stamping and heat embossing the images on watercolor paper I used Peerless paints to add color to the images.

When the painting was dry I stamped the sentiment ( Hero Arts Stamps "You Are Loved Messages"), added some Wink of Stella to the centers of the flowers.  I also added some glitter to the sentiment with a Jelly Roll pen then topped it off with clear Nuvo Drops.

I hope you have some time to share your work at the current challenge, there are a couple prizes to be won.  Challenge runs until March 10 th.

So Many Books

I have been motivated to read lately, I joined a facebook reading group and it has got me back into it. I decided to make myself a colorful bookmard.  Right now the challenge at A Blog Named Hero is:

I diecut a circle from masking paper, adhered it to watercolor paper.  I heat embossed the bookshelf background stamp and added color with watercolours.  I hope to see your work at A Blog Named Hero.

Hero Arts Supplies (Affiliate Links used at no extra cost to you):

Bookcase Stamp

White Embossing Powder

Heat Tool

In The Study Stamp Set

  

Watercolored Rose

The current challenge at A Blog Named Hero is:

I watercolored the rose and added some Nuvo Glitter Drops to the center.  The Wonderful sentiment diecut the wonderful sentiment five times and glued the diecuts together.  I also added the Nuvo Glitter Drops to the top of the wonderful sentiment.

I hope to see your creative work at the current challenge.

Hero Arts Products Used (affiliate links used at no extra cost to you):

Antique Rose Stem

Wonderful Stamp and Cut

Postage Stamps Infinity Dies

Poodles having a Great Day

I have a few stamp sets that I need to get inky.  This set is "Poodle Around" from Clearly Besotted.  I stamped and embossed the poodles on water color paper and watercolored the images.  Once the paint dried I added some gloss to the dog noses using a black Glaze pen.

The design from this card came from the Fusion Card Challenge sketch.  I didn't want to cover more of the watercoloring so I added the hearts to the square instead of a circle like the sketch.

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Cheer

I'm here with my card for the December Happy Little Stampers Challenge.

I stamped the poinsettia (retired image from Stampin' Up) and heat embossed it on water colour paper.  I masked off the flower, stamped and heat embossed the leaves.  I then masked off the leaves and applied blue distress oxide ink through a stencil (Diagonal Lines from My Favorite Things) using a stencil brush.

I splattered some water on the blue ink and blotted it with paper towel.  I then removed the stencil and masks and used Distress Inks to water colour the images.  To use the inks for watercoloring I smoosed the ink pads on a palette (I use a large acrylic block) and pick up the ink with a damp watercolor brush.  I love how the Pistachio Ink on the leaves dries in blues in greens.  I masked off the flower again and splattered the background with the inks and spritzed on shimmer spray for some subtle sparkle.

I really have enjoyed being on the Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Design Team, it has been awesome to see work from card makers all over the world.  I have decided not to continue on the team to have time to try something new.

Challenge Me a Christmas Card with Michelle

I was very happy to accept Michelle's request to participate in her Christmas card challenge.

I know Michelle from being on the A Blog Named Hero Design team with her.  I chose to challenge her with the theme "Sparkle".  You can find her card here.

I used Avery Elle's Retro Ornaments clear stamps and Starry Scene diecuts for this card.  I stamped and embossed the images in white.  I then watercoloured using Zig Real Brush Pens.  For some  glimmer I used a Wink of Stella brush to watercolor the background instead of water.  

I diecut the circle from glitter paper to frame the focal point.  For some more sparkle I added some Distress Rock Candy glitter and Clear Sparkle sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  I adhered a piece of fun foam between the watercoloured piece and the glitter frame.  

The picture below was taken in darker light to try to capture some of the glitter.  This card is very sparkly.  I really enjoyed being challenged by Michelle.  Check out her blog to inspire your Christmas Card making.

Get Well Flowers

The November Challenge has started at the Happy Little Stampers Watercolour Challenge.

Check out all the details HERE.

I stamped and heat embossed the flowers (From Winnie and Walter) on water colour paper.  I cut a mask from masking paper and masked off the roses before stamping and embossing the leaves.  I used some colours I felt were good for the fall season to color the flowers.  The card was painted with Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint, Aged Mahogany and Fossilized Amber Distress Ink.  The sentiment was stamped and diecut using a set from Hero Arts.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I look forward to seeing your work at Happy Little Stampers.

Fall Birthday Wishes

The October Watercolour Challenge at Happy Little Stampers is Anything Goes with a optional twist; gold.  I got out some fall shades of watercolor for this card.  I started out by using painters tapeto tape down a piece of watercolor card to a wooden cutting board.  I did this because I was planning to use the wet on wet technique and wanted to minimize the paper warping.  I added orange, red purple and yellow Peerless Watercolors.  Peerless watercolors are vivid translucent paints that come on dry sheets.  I found the background a bit too colorful it was a bit garish.   So I embossed the leaves and sentiment on velum to soften the card.  

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

IF YOU USE STAMPS BY HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS AND YOU ARE OUR RANDOM WINNER, YOUR PRIZE WILL BE DOUBLED!

Belated Birthday

For me no line watercoloring took some practice.  My eyes are middle aged so now I need to pull out some reading glasses to attempt to see the light colored ink I use to stamp the images.  My kids think seeing me in reading glasses is hilarious.  But once I get into the painting I could do it for hours.  I put on an audio book or some music and enjoy the time working on it, its stress relieving for me.  The My Favorite Things Superstar Challenge is happening.  I love seeing all the fantastic work shared at for this challenge.  I am entering this card in the Coloring Virtuoso category.

To start off my card I painted the Sloth image first.  I stamped on a piece of watercolor cardstock with a light colored ink intended for no line coloring.  As I said I struggle to see the light colored image so as well as using glasses and a bright desk light I refer to the image on the backing for the stamp.  While the sloth was drying I worked on the floral background.  I stamp the flower images in groups of three in triangle patterns until I'm happy with how they fill the space.

Once all the watercoloring was dry I assembled the card.  I used fun foam adhered to the back of the sloth to add dimension.  I also added a bit of sparkle with some Wink of Stella on the Clouds.  To frame the focal point I added a diecut square of patterned paper.  The sentiment was stamped in black and heat embossed in clear to help it pop.   And finally added some translucent yellow Nuvo drops to the centers of the flowers.

MFT Products used (all retired)

Stamps:  Sweet Sloths

Dies: In&Out Diagnol Stitched Square Stax

Patterned Paper:  Trail Mix

Thank You Rose

Hello!  The theme for the current A Blog Named Hero challenge is "Sparkle and Shine".  I stamped the rose on watercolor paper in black and heat embossed with a clear embossing powder.  I then watercolored using shiny watercolor paints.  I fussy cut the rose when dry, adhered it to black fun foam and fussy cut the foam so the rose would have dimension.  I spritzed white spray through a stencil then splattered with a gold spray.  The sentiment is heat embossed in white on a strip of black cardstock.  For a finishing touch of sparkle I used some Wink of Stella on the flower and some gold glitter Nuvo drops.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hero Arts Products Used (the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase):
Hero Arts Heat Gun
Hero Arts Clear Embossing Powder
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
Antique Rose
Every Which Way Stencil
Hand Drawn Everyday Messages

Hello Butterfly

I always have fun making my watercolor cards for the Happy Little Stampers challenge.  Septembers optional theme is Butterflies (which I love).  I used dies from Concord and 9th to cut out the flower and butterfly from white cardstock.  I coated them with embossing ink by pressing the pad onto the diecuts.  I then heat embossed them with a chunky gold and glitter embossing powder from Wow.  For the colorful background I worked with layers of color.  I spritzed a piece of watercolor paper with water then sprinkled on turquoise Brusho powder.  I moved the color around by tilting the color,  taking some away with a paper towel or adding water or more color as needed.  When I was happy I used my heat gun to dry the turquoise layer then did the crimson layer.  I kept adding color this way until I liked the result.  The paper was very warped so I put it under some heavy flat objects overnight.  The next day I diecut the watercolored layer with a stitched rectangle die which also helped smooth it out.  I adhered a piece of fun foam behind the watercorlored layer for some dimension.

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

IF YOU USE STAMPS BY HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS AND YOU ARE OUR RANDOM WINNER, YOUR PRIZE WILL BE DOUBLED!

Thank you for stopping by I hope you share your work at Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge.