February Watercolour Weekend

 Hello Ai Watercolour fans!

My first card today is intended to be for any occasion, but would work perfectly as a Valentine if you wanted it to!

I stamped the largest bike from the 5124 - WC Bicycle Set onto my Canson XL Watercolour Paper using #N55, then added the heart balloon from 5722 - Birthday Journal Set above it.  I mixed together #565/249 to make an aqua shade that was painted onto the bike, and shades of N55 & black were painted onto the tires and handlebar.  A wash of #126/177 was added in to create the grassy ground, and using the bullet tip of #177, I hand drew in some longer blades of grass around the tires.  I picked up #443 from my palette, and added it as a wash to the sky.  The large floral from 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 was stamped with #565 to fill in the square basket, then softened with a damp brush to pull out the colour.  For the front basket, I used the heart circles from 4868, in #743 and the Daisy Bunch from Flower Set - 4052 in #676 to create the floral clusters, then filled around them with the tiny sprig from 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2 in #126 and #177.  My favourite stamp - the Mini Foxglove from 4052 - was stamped repeatedly in #565 to create the two taller flower stalks.  After softening everything with a damp brush, the small twig from 4964 - WC Branches Set was added several times with #969.  I painted shades of #743/676 onto the balloon, being careful to keep some areas lighter to suggest a rounded shape.  I used a grey Twintone marker to draw in the string of the balloon.  Layers of #992/969 were added to the baskets for a natural look.  I used the single stem from 4868 in #743/177 to place some flowers around the tires, and used the markers directly on the paper to suggest some tiny flowers.

My scene was die cut using the 5062 - Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies, and the sentiment from 5734 - Friend Sentiments Set was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I added a 1/16" dark grey mat, and adhered everything on an angle with 3D foam tape, to the background paper from 5955 - Encouragement PP.

I have been wanting to create a window card for a while, so my second card is a scene that I painted onto my Canson XL Watercolour Paper, starting with the 5577 - Stone Bridge Simple Scene In #N55, then added 3 of the 5789 - Hot Air Balloon Set images in various sizes so they would look like they were floating away into the distance.

Since I knew I'd be using a window, I kept my scene tall and narrow, and used the window die as a guide.  I painted in #443 as the sky, being sure to leave some fluffy white spaces above the hills as a bank of clouds, and then also painted the blue into the stream, keeping the center of it lighter.  The clouds had streaks of grey added to them to create some texture, and the stream had #565 added to the edges to darken it even further.  #177 was washed in on all the hillsides, getting a little stronger in tone in the foreground, with some #126 added in.  The pathway and banks of the stream were painted with #992/947, and tones of N55/565 were painted around the bridge and rocks along the stream.  I stamped the tree & foliage from 5372 - WC Mini Foliage using #969/177/126, and added the clump of shrubs along one of the hills using #177.  The balloons were painted with #565/533/743/993/991/126/443 with 992 on the baskets.  I added darker shades of each colour where the lines of each balloon were, to indicate the shape of each one.

This is what my painting looked like before it went behind the window.

There is definitely a bit of planning involved in a window card!  I cut three layers of the window from 5543 - Journal Template Die Set, and glued them together, as I wanted the frame to be sturdy, and stand out from the wall.  I cut a piece of gingham paper from 5955 - Encouragement PP to 4" x 5 1/4", then cut a rectangle with just enough overlap to be able to glue the 1/8" wide window onto it.  To create my embellishments, I cut out the three flowers from 5588 - Journal Oval Frames from watercolour paper, along with the leafy sprig from 5591 - Journal Rectangle Frames, then painted all of my pieces using the same Tombow colours as my painting.  I used tweezers and some liquid glue to attach everything to the background.

The painting was adhered to a piece of tan cardstock, by holding it behind the window to ensure it was placed correctly.  I added 3D foam adhesive to the back of my window panel, as I wanted the dimension it would give to have my scene appear far away.  As I said - lots of planning!  But I think the end result was worth it.  There is room on the lower right panel for a sentiment - I almost stamped one, but thought I would jinx my finished piece... but a word or phrase could be easily added.  My sentiment will go on the inside.  See you next month!

Cupcake Kisses

Cupcake Kisses was the December Betterpress Society plate set.  I started off in a whole other colour direction, but settled on this pink combo after trial and error.

I pressed two different colours of pink ink on two different shades of pink cardstock, then cut them in half and switched them - to create two different cards, then did the same with the swoosh image on the backgrounds.  The set includes a die to easily cut out the cupcake, and comes with three different sentiments.  I also cut the cupcake and the sentiment out in brushed silver Treasured cardstock from Spellbinders for a little shimmer.  I used a decorative rectangle die from The Greetery to create the pretty border, then adhered it to my black card base.

You can get a subscription to the Betterpress Society from The Papercrafter's Workshop.

Vintage Vixens

This is a real oldie from Art Impressions that I had stamped off many years ago, and just pulled it out to colour this week.  I've had these Graphic 45 papers in my stash for ages as well, so it was a great excuse to use up a bunch of product, and I got to make a card for a special friend.

Gathering Stitches

I received the Gathering Stitches dies from Spellbinders as a Christmas gift, and decided to make a card (one).  Well, since the rainbow cuts out all the pieces in one colour at once... I ended up with a ton of rainbow pieces, so had to keep going - and ended up with five cards.

The best part, was after choosing and die cutting all of my pieces in this pastel colourway, I looked in my stash to find papers that matched - and immediately found Farmhouse by October Afternoon.  Even though the colours worked, I realized that there were several stitching themed papers in the pack, which made them even more perfect.

Once I saw these button themed papers, I knew I'd be adding buttons to my cards, which I haven't done in forever!  And of course, I have quite a stash of buttons.  I added some dark yellow thread to each of the buttons, to make them look as though they were sewn down to the cards.

I haven't added any sentiments to my cards, I'm going to wait and see how I want to use them, and I'm also waiting on the Needlework Tools die set, which I may add to my cards as well - but I didn't want to wait to post them.  Stay tuned!

Rose Tapestry

Here are two more cards using the Rose Tapestry stencils from The Greetery, along with their Embroidered Blooms dies.  One card has the Starshine Background die from Spellbinders applied to it, as it gives the look of embroidery cloth.  

I used the Gathering Stitches die from Spellbinders to create the embroidery hoop, and then created my floral groupings from all the die cuts.

At this point the sentiments are not adhered, just placed on for photos... and I probably won't use the 'I'm So Sorry' sentiment, as this is too cheery of a card for a sympathy card.  The sentiments that I've used, are Everyday Sentiments for Betterpress, from Spellbinders.

The gold pearls are by Pinkfresh Studio.

Stitching themed cards

I created six stenciled panels last fall, using the Rose Tapestry stencil set from The Greetery - this is just one colourway, the rest will come later! Everything Betsy does is just perfection, and these stencils were great to work with.

I recently got the Gathered Stitches die set from Spellbinders as a gift, and wanted to give it a try with my stenciled panels.  I got the Starshine Background coverplate die, thinking it would make a great addition to my stitching themed products, and used it on the stenciled panels as it looks like embroidery cloth.  I did the same with a piece of kraft cardstock.

I cut out the circle centers of the embroidery hoop in each of the papers and switched them up.  Then I reached for my  dies from The Greetery, and cut out multiple pieces in coordinating cardstock.  I assembled my cards, added some Betterpress greetings and a few gold pearls from Pinkfresh Studio.

Looking forward to doing all kinds of stitching themed cards!

Masculine Birthday

 It's my husband's birthday!  I put together a card using a couple of foliage stamp sets from Pigment Craft Co., arranging them in a sprig on some old Photoplay plaid paper (intended for Christmas, but I think it works fine for a winter birthday).  The sentiment is from the Serenade Sentiments die set from Spellbinders - which I am so happy with!  It's my first time using them, but won't be the last.  I love using old & new product together.

Valentines for Veterans

This is the third year that I've been able to support a great cause in just a very small way.  The Government of Canada supports a program called Valentines for Veterans, which encourages individuals (children, schools, anyone!) to create generic cards that will be handed out to Veterans in care homes around the country.  They ask you to sign the card (first names only!), and write a brief message thanking them for their service.  I make mine simple, but pretty - and like to dig into my stash of patterned papers.  I make multiples, but switch it up every once in a while.  

I made nine of the pastel patterned ones earlier this year, and twenty of the darker butterfly paper cards.  I would've loved to make more, but given how slow the postal service is in Canada after the strike, I want to make sure these get to their distribution center, in time to be redistributed to care homes.

*If you would like to contribute hand made cards to the organization - just Google "Valentines for Veterans" if you are in Canada, and all of the details are given there.  Many other countries have similar initiatives, so be sure to do some research if you're not based here.

Gifts Christmas Card Shaker

This was my second card using the November Betterpress Society plates from Spellbinders, 'Gifts'.  They work for birthdays or Christmas, so I pressed them using Festive Berries and Lucky Clover Distress Oxide Inks on regular cardstock - and made it into a shaker card.

I used Concord & 9th cardstock and some ancient CTMH patterned paper from my stash.  The Spellbinders Essential Arches dies were used to cut the shaker, and the Holiday Blooms die cuts were added as a little embellishment.  I had a package of shaker bits from Sizzix that I used as my filler, along with some tiny glass beads.  The Foilable Sentiment is from Pink & Main.

Before running my plates through my die cut machine, I flicked water onto the inked up plates, as I wanted to see what the effect would be like with the Betterpress - and was not disappointed!  It created a kind of bokeh effect.

You can get a subscription to the Betterpress Society through the Papercrafter's Workshop.

Fairy Houses and a Snowman

I am on the Art Impressions blog today, for the Watercolour Weekend post!

I'm kicking off the 2025 Watercolour Weekends with a wintry valentine card - or just a generic winter birthday card if you like.  Here in Canada, it's still snowy way past Valentine's Day, so I decided to use 5060 - WC Snowman Set for my scene:

I stamped him in #N55 grey, as I didn't want a brownish cast at all, but since his twig arms are separate, I stamped them using #969, then pulled out the colour with a damp brush.  I used a pencil to sketch in the heart dangling from his arm, and added a bow & string.  I picked up some #847 that was on my palette to added layers of colour to the heart, keeping the center area lightest - and did the same on the small heart that I drew on his hatband.  Layers of #N55 and #N25 were painted on his hat and coal buttons to suggest that they are shiny and black.  #407 and #126 were painted onto his scarf and hatband for a bright pop of colour.  I used my #933 marker directly on his nose, just colouring the underside, and softened it with a damp brush.  To finish, I added a wash of #565 as the sky, and used it to add shadows to the snow and his body.  I like to echo a few of the colours used, so there are faint areas of #847 painted onto the snowman's side nearest the heart.

I used the 5064 - Circle Double Stitched Dies to cut him, out and matted him on a larger dark grey circle.  5734 - Friend Sentiments Set provided the sentiment, and was cut out with the small tag from 5132 Tag Stitched Dies.  A tiny heart from 5721 - Nested Heart Dies was added to the corner.  The background paper is from 5853 - Christmas Magic PP, and the finished card size is 5 1/4" square.

My second card was a little more involved!  Whimsical doesn't come naturally to me - I'm more of a realist when I paint, so I typed "Magical Fairy Houses" into Google images to get some inspiration.  I wanted a warm colourful scene - and I think I achieved it!  

I used two houses from the 5916 - Woodland Castle set, positioning them both on my block using the carrier sheet for 5377 - WC Fenced Scene to determine placement, and stamped them with #N55, then created masks of both houses.  With the masks in place, I stamped the Scene overtop, colouring the hills in #158, and the fence in #969.  I added two rocks from 5414 - WC Small Rocks Set around the houses in #N55.  The stump from 5413 - WC Weathered Stumps was added in #969 in the foreground, then toadstools from 5788 - Whimsical Mushrooms were added near the house, and behind the stump.

Before adding any colour to my scene, I created my sunrise sky by adding a fair bit of water as a base, then dropped in #991/885/565 while it was still wet, so that the colours blended together seemlessly.  With my mask still in place, I added the two eucalyptus sprigs from 5920 - Long Stem Foliage Set in #407 behind the larger house, and painted in the leaves using 407.  A sprig from 4963 - WC Fall Set was added behind the smaller house with #245.  I'm just going to list all of the marker colours used in the scene - not each location, so if you need any more info, just leave me a note in the comments.

Yellows: 993/991 Orange: 933 Blues: 565/403 Greens: 126/245 Browns: 947/969 Pink: 725 Purple: 676 Grey: N55.

I used two of the fairies from the 5345 - Fairy Cubbies Set, and stamped them with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on my Canson XL Watercolour paper.  I used Copic markers to do their skin and hair, due to the fine nature of the areas I needed to colour in.  They were cut out with their matching dies, and adhered to the scene with thin 3D foam adhesive.  Oh - and a little Wink of Stella was added to their wings for some glimmer!  The sentiment is from 5935 - Fairytale Houses Set, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.

The scene was a little too large for an A2 card, so I matted in on black, and then used 3D foam adhesive to attach it to a 5 1/4" piece of paper from the 5873 - Mini Birthday PP. *I realized after photos were edited, that I forgot to add in the doorknobs!  So just imagine they're dark grey...  Happy painting!

Pop up Gifts card

 Gifts was the November Betterpress Society plate set, and I used it to create a pop up card.

I started by figuring out my card front, and wanted to use some patterned paper from my stash, so pulled out this scrap of a rainbow stripe, and paired it with the Giant Happy Birthday die from Lawn Fawn.  I picked two Pinkfresh Studio inks that coordinated with the paper, and pressed the gift image on regular cardstock - then fussy cut it out.

I created my inner pop up mechanism and attached the fussy cut image to it.  I added a few die cut stars to both the card front, and around my pop up image to give it a little something extra.

You can get a Betterpress Society subscription through the Papercrafter's Workshop.