Advanced Class

A few days ago I shared my beginner's watercolour class using the Art Impressions line of stamps, so here is the advanced class that I'll be teaching at the Papercrafter's Workshop in Stouffville on Oct 15th & 20th:

The class is centered around the WC Fir Tree set (which you get in the class), and we will be using it to create two holiday cards featuring a wreath and a festive urn:

The stamp set comes with two tree trunks and six differently shaped branches... and while it's supposed to be for trees, it makes excellent greenery just like you would decorate with for the holidays!

And as a bonus project, we will be using the stamps as they were intended, to create a scene with several fir trees in it.  We'll also be talking about scene building with your stamps, drawing in backgrounds and a lot of discussion about shading & shadows!

The class is being held on the evening of Oct. 15th, or on Sunday afternoon - Oct. 20th, so that you can take the beginner class in the morning, and then the advanced class that afternoon if you like!  You can get all the details here on the Papercrafter's Workshop website (look around and shop while you're there!).  Hope you can join us.

Set of Ai Mini Critter Cards

I am sharing the 5th card that completes the set that I made using the Art Impressions WC Mini Critter Set.  I've put the little curled up fox next to the log from the WC Sitting Places Set:

 All of my cards used Tombow markers, coloured directly onto the stamps, and then the images were painted from scribbling the markers onto my palette.

 Here's a photo of the five cards that I've shown over the past few days all together.  I began by simply painting the images out of the Critter set, decided to pair them each with an object, and sprinkled flowers around them.  It was only when I searched for papers to make them into cards that I decided to create a set, each cut out in a different die shape.

All the items I've used can be found over on the Art Impressions website. (Stay tuned this week for a new release of Ai Watercolour stamps!)

Window Watercolour

I have been prepping for an upcoming watercolour class that I'm teaching on windows, and this is one of the samples that I've made to show.  It's not what we're creating, but a variation on the theme.  Here is WC Window Set #5014 from Art Impressions:

 Also used are WC Foliage Set 4, WC Mini Critter Set, WC Wishing Well Mini Set, WC Harvest Set, WC Mini Flower Set and Foliage Set 1.  All markers are Tombow Dual Brush Pens.

Whimsical Ai Watercolours

I really love the direction that Bonnie Krebs is going with her Watercolour Stamp line for Art Impressions.  When she first introduced the Fairy Doors and Hobbit Door sets, it really sparked something in me creative-wise, and her newest WC Elves Set is no exception:

 I was going to try doing these just using Sepia, for a monochromatic effect, but a few weeks ago I tried a scene using mostly Sepia & African Violet... and really loved the look.  In addition to Sepia, there is a brown tone here, but you get the idea.  The limited palette was wonderful to work with.

 On this card, I drew in my own version of the Fairy Doors (mainly so that I didn't have to mask!), and added in the stepping stones from the Cobblestone Set.  I worked really hard on my shadows in this one, and trying to achieve more of a depth of colour.  Stay tuned, as I hope to do a few more scenes around this theme.

If you are in Canada, you can order the Art Impressions Watercolour stamp line from The Crafter's Workshop... AND if you're in the Greater Toronto Area, you can join us this Saturday, March 2nd at The Crafter's Workshop for an "Open Studio" day - come and bring your own projects and supplies, whether it's watercolours or Copics to colour, I will be there working on my own creations, but will be happy to demo or help anyone who wants it.  Sheri & Alexis will be on hand for colouring tips and inspiration as well - sign up is here to reserve your table space.  Hope to see you there!

Diecut Watercolour Card

If you scroll down to yesterday's post, you'll see the LOVE card that I made using Art Impressions Watercolour stamps and their Block Letter Dies... which of course, left me with the diecut letters themselves.  So another card just had to be made!  Here's what I came up with:

Pretty busy compared to yesterday's CAS version, but I purposefully wanted to show how different two cards from the same source can look.  I even had all of these greenery die cuts sitting in my stash, and found some old flowers/brads that happened to match, so it came together pretty quickly.  This is about max for me as far as embellishments go!

Stamp sets are WC Foliage Set 2 and WC Flower Set 2 both are Art Impressions (you can find them here at the Crafter's Workshop!)

Ai Watercolour LOVE card

This is the third card that we are making at my Ai Watercolour Beginner class this week... and it's perfect for a valentine, wedding card, mother's day card or for anyone you love.

I used my Art Impressions Block Letters Die Set to spell out the word "LOVE" and placed them upside down on some Washi tape to secure them, and using a ruler to keep them even.

Our class is using WC Foliage Set 2 and WC Flower Set 2, so using a selection of stamps from each, I stamped them in clusters, starting with the flowers, and filling in around them with greenery, until I got the effect I was looking for.  I placed my alphabet dies on top of the floral background, securing them in place with the Washi tape, and ran it through my die cutting machine.

                            

Here are all three of the cards that we'll be making in the class, and if you visit my blog again tomorrow, I'll show you what I did with the leftover "LOVE" pieces.  You can find all of the Art Impressions products used in my projects at the Crafter's Workhop - they have a wonderful new online store that's up and running this week!

Ai Watercolour Class Cards

I am teaching my first of two beginner classes tomorrow, using the Art Impressions Watercolour stamps, so I thought I'd share two of the cards we're making.  The class is focusing on using WC Foliage Set 2 and WC Flower Set 2, so we are doing two different floral pots:

 Both cards are using pots from the WC Ornate Container Set.  I've used a selection of markers from both Tombow & Marvy

 There are still spots left in my Tuesday evening class - click here if you're in the GTA and are interested in having a crafty evening!  *And... did you know that the Crafter's Workshop has an online store open for business?  Check them out!

Happy stamping!

Ai Little Boy Watercolour cards

Two more cards using the sweet Art Impressions "WC Little Boys Set" watercolour stamps.  I posted one a week ago, which was my very first effort using the Little Boys... and I wanted to do a simplified version of the same scene:

 Even though painting the scene was fun, I love this version.  With painted cards, I usually keep the card itself pretty simple.

 Here's another attempt at the scene from last week.  No kite, a few more trees, and I tried for a bit more depth of colour everywhere.

 I'll be back with another post tomorrow, sharing some of the cards from my weekend class.

Stamp sets used: WC Little Boys Set; WC Sitting Places Set; WC Tree Set 1; WC Dogs Set; WC Flowers Set 2; Foliage Set - all from Art Impressions.  Tombo and Marvy markers.

Fishin' Watercolour Card

This is pretty much a CASE of a Watercolour Wednesday scene, but I wanted to try doing some Art Impressions watercolours, using a limited palette.  So with brown, a little grey and shades of African Violet markers, here's what I came up with:

 I'm quite happy with how this turned out!  I'm just getting started with the Little Boys & Girls sets, so I'm learning what colours/methods work best. 

Lots more watercolours to come this week!  Oh, and if you're in the Greater Toronto area, and want to take an Ai watercolour painting class... I'm teaching at The Crafter's Workshop next week - there are still some Tuesday spots available!
Stamp sets used are: WC Little Boys set; WC Dogs set; WC Boat set; Marvy & Tombow markers; Paper and cardstock is Close To My Heart.

Little Girl Painted Scene

I have another sweet card to share as a result of my painting frenzy last weekend.  I had a great time using the Little Girls and Little Boys sets from the Art Impressions Watercolor line.  I'll keep posting them as I get them made up into cards, but today I have the Little Girl set:

 She's a little more vibrant than she appears in the photo!  I used my Marvy and Tombow markers and a damp paintbrush to colour my scene

Stamp sets used are WC Little Girls Set; WC Boat Set; WC Sitting Places Set; WC Fall Set.  Markers are Marvy & Tombow; Cardstock and paper is Close To My Heart.

Allie's Birthday Card

It's my crafty niece's birthday today!  And like me, she is a creative soul.  We both love the Art Impressions watercolour line... and I used a couple of sets for the first time to make up Allie's birthday card.  Ai came out with a sweet little boy set, along with benches/logs/wharves to put them on, so that's what I used, since she has a little munchkin of her own.

I used a combo of my Tombow & Marvy markers to stamp the little boy, then masked him & added the bench & puppy.  Then I had to create a scene behind him.  Since they live on the edge of the Rockies, I wanted to make something similar to their backyard, so I sketched in the mountains and hillsides directly with my markers and paintbrush.  He's looking off in the distance at something, so I grabbed the kite from the Cottage by the Beach set, making it look like someone was flying it just over the hill.

Stamp sets used are: Foliage Set 1, WC Dogs Set, Cottage By the Beach, WC Mini Flowers Set, WC Sitting Places Set, WC Little Boys Set, WC Tree Set 1 - All Art Impressions;  Canson Watercolour Paper; Cardstock is Tulip, and patterned paper are both Close To My Heart; Maya Road Twine; Marvy and Tombow markers.

Open Window

Today I'm using one of the original Art Impressions Watercolor Mini sets: #4608 Open Window.  It's such a great little scene to paint, and it made up quickly into a card:

Patterned papers are Jenn Hadfield & Lawn Fawn; Wonky Stitched Square die, My Favorite Things; Stamp set is Open Window from Art Impressions; Tombow & Marvy markers;  Sentiment is Close To My Heart.

Fusion Card Challenge

I pulled out my Art Impressions watercolour stamps today to play along with the current Fusion Card Challenge.  Funny, but it seems that everyone saw the photo and thought "cacti"... but I saw the photo and thought "door!".  I knew that I had this fabulous door image from Ai that I have been dying to use, so I went with a more faded version of the blues & turquoises in the photo and put a couple of cards together:

Stamp sets are WC Door Set, WC Wall Texture Set, Foliage & Flower sets - all Art Impressions.  Marvy & Tombow markers; Patterned papers are Pebbles & Carta Bella.  May Arts twine, Gumdrops and Your Next Stamp.

Holiday Watercolour Cards

 I have several different cards to share today using a variety of the Art Impressions Watercolor stamp sets.  I was so excited when the WC Fir Trees Set (Sku #4960) debuted in the summer, and was very keen to try using it for Christmas greenery. I really love the results! 

 I started out with my watercolour paper and Marvy markers, and used the No. 4 paintbrush that is available in the Ai store.  For the urn, I used WC Ornate Container Set (Sku #4890) and my Brownish Grey Marvy marker.  I intentionally didn't colour the top edge of the container, as I knew that I wanted the foliage to be spilling over the edge.  Using my Jungle Green Marvy marker, I inked up four of the branch stamps, stamping the lower branches first, and filling in upwards.  I left a space in the center, and inked up one of the branches from WC Branches Set (Sku #4964) with my English Red Marvy marker (these are Red Dogwood branches!!).  I then used the brush end of my Marvy marker to hand draw in the pinecones by using a dabbing motion in a pinecone shape.  I used the fine end of the marker to add some shadows to the twigs:

 I used just two stamps from the set to make my wreath, and you can either draw a faint circle with a pencil to use as a guide, or do what I did, and stamp a branch on the top, bottom and on each side - forming a square shape.  Then continue stamping in between, shaping it into a circle.  I occasionally double stamped without re-inking, which gives a bit of depth to the wreath, by having some lighter toned sprigs.  I didn't fill in every white area, as that left me with spots to add in berries that I drew in directly with my red marker.  I also hand drew the bow in before there were too many sprigs around it.  I use a very light touch with my damp paintbrush, as I like to see some of the definition of the pine needles.

I was so happy with how these turned out, that I've made multiples to send as my Christmas cards.

Spooktacular

 I am using another one of the Art Impressions 2017 Halloween sets today - Spooktacular Set (Sku #4941).  This is about as scary as I get for Halloween!  Not very!

 I stamped and coloured three of the mummies with my Copic markers, then pulled out my Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolours to make some festive backgrounds.  I mounted my image with pop dots, added one of the sentiments that comes in the set, and stitched 1/4" in from the edge with some black thread (always a little nerve wracking, one slip and it's toast!).  Here's a slightly different version:

I can't escape the fact that I'm a patterned paper fan... so with my last image I did the busier version:

 I hope you're enjoying some Halloween crafting time!  Be sure to join our current challenge on the blog "Create a Scene".  Happy stamping!
Copics used: C3, C1, YR18, YR16, YR15, YR12, Y35, Y11, G43, G40