Fruity

 I have another project using Pigment Craft Co. today, with a set that I bought last year (!?) and am only pulling out just now...  This is Fruity and Fruity Sentiment die, using my 3 new Pigment inks: Juniper, Ficus & Himalayan - and I am loving them.  The coverplate is the Eyelet Background.

I don't typically use a lot of white on my cards, and am enjoying trying to use it a little more.  I layered a second die cut under the word wonderful to give it a little extra dimension, and popped the peach up with some thin 3D foam tape.

Playing with Pigment

 I had my partner in crafting crime with me this week... my niece Allie was here, and brought along some of her Pigment Craft Co. stamps and inks!  So excited to finally try out their iconic ink colours.  I put together a couple of cards using Wish Upon a Dandelion stamp:

It's hard to tell, but the "lovely" and card base are a pretty, deep teal-green colour.  These inks stamp beautifully!  I die cut the sentiment, and popped it up with some 3D foam adhesive, and made one of them with a little bling.

Cape Cod Scene

 Hello Ai Watercolour fans!

I've combined a couple of the newly released sets in my slimline project today.  I began by stamping one of the 5524 - WC Cape Cod Houses to the right of my scene using Tombow #565/969 onto some Canson XL Watercolour paper.  I used a pencil to sketch out where my horizon would be, and then placed the two shoreline stamps from 5523 - WC Bait Shop on either side, using the same markers.

I picked one of the medium sized images in the 5466 - WC Lighthouse Set and placed it on the shoreline behind the house, and added 5415 - WC Rocks Set to the foreground.  With my scene set, I started to add colour, picking it up off my palette.  A wash of #158 was added to all the grassy slopes, and shades of #992/969/N57/565 coloured in the shoreline and rocks, with deeper tones in all the crevices and shadowed areas.  I used #569 for the house, keeping the left side brighter, and the right more shadowed, and added #N57 to the roofs.  I created a weathered red shade by mixing #856/969 and added the red touches to the lighthouse, chimneys, door and boat.  I used a Navy Twintone marker to draw in the window panes and darken the lighthouse windows.  #593 was painted in the sky, leaving some white to suggest clouds, and it was painted in as the water as well.  I used the trees, grass and foliage from 5372 - WC Mini Foliage to add a few shrubs and trees.  

I always finish up by adding more shadows to the buildings, rocks and lighthouse, as well as some darker shades to the clouds.  A last minute addition (after the card was assembled!) was to add the 5473 - WC Seagull Set image in #N57.  I cut out the image with the 5463 Slimline Dies, and used the two largest dies to cut a thin grey frame to adhere on top.  I glued it all down to a red card base.  Be sure to check out the Art Impressions blog this Saturday to see what Dot & Tricia have to share.

New Ai Simple Scene

Time for another Watercolour Weekend on the Art Impressions blog.  

Today I was inspired by all of the beautiful canyons in photos I've seen of Utah, where the rivers run through the striking scenery.  Here is the new 5525 - WC SW Simple Scene:

I stamped all of my images in N57 (Warm Grey 5) onto my Canson XL Watercolor paper.  Starting with the simple scene, and then using my Stamp Positioner, I added a mountain from 5198 - WC Mountain Set, the cacti from 5520 - WC SW Village and 5196 - WC Desert Set, then added rocks to the foreground from 5414 - WC Small Rocks Set.  I added layers of colour to the rocks and ground using #947/992/969, and added shadows using #569/565.  The sky and water were painted with #493, and the river was shaded with #565.  I used #098/126/565 on the cacti, and finally added touches of #493 and a little #703 to brighten things up a little.  The sentiment is from 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2.  I used the 5062 Rounded Rectangle dies, and mounted it to my base with some 3D foam adhesive, and added a few sparkly jems.

Be sure to check out the Ai blog this Saturday to see what Dot & Tricia have to share for the Watercolour Weekend.

Home & Heart

 Here's my second card made with the sweet Simon Says Stamp Exclusive set from Art Impressions, called 5546 - Home & Heart Set:

I used my Copic Markers to colour this sweet image, mounted it on some patterned papers that have been in my stash for awhile, and added a few enamel dots.

Only available on the SSS website, while supplies last.

Ai Simon Says Stamp Exclusive

 You should head on over to the Simon Says Stamp store to get your hands on the latest Art Impressions exclusive stamp set called 5546 - Home & Heart Set.  It is only available through SSS for a limited time, while supplies last.  There are a bunch of adorable images, perfect for a whole bunch of occasions.  I chose the sweet bunny image:

I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and coloured her with Copic markers.  I used papers and embellishments from my stash, and created a 5 1/2" square card.

Check out the Ai blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has created - and there's sure to be some great inspiration on the SSS blog today, too.