Slimline Gazebo

I ended up painting two of the same cards for the this week's Watercolour Weekend on the Art Impressions blog.  I started on Ranger watercolour paper, as I wanted the bright white base, and wasn't happy with how the colour was bleeding when I added water.  So I switched over to Canson XL Watercolour paper and began again.  I persevered with both paintings - and ended up being quite happy with each of them!

I stamped the 5362 - WC Gazebo Set image in the new #N79, and then die cut the coordinating die from masking paper - which I placed over the image.  Using the tiny foliage from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set and #249, I stamped in the foliage behind the railings.  Then with the lavendar stamp and #565, I added the flowers on top.  To create the hillsides, I used the bushes from 55372 - WC Mini Foliage in #177, stamping them over the mask, and then pulled out the colour with a damp brush.  I painted in the suggestion of a sky with #493, and then removed the mask.

The roses from 5258 - WC Flower Set 4 were stamped on either side using #676.  Greenery from 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 in #249 was stamped around them, and the vines from the same set were stamped up and around one of the posts, and spilling over the roof line.  The tiny flowers from 5009 were added to create little clusters of flowers along the vine in #606.  I used the 5018 - WC Cobblestone Set to add the stones out front in #N79.  Shades of #969 were painted on the roof, and as the wood floor, and I used a fine marker to suggest wood shakes and planks.  #565 was painted around the interior of the gazebo to add the shadows, and under all the eaves and woodwork.  The tiny grass from 5372 was stamped in #177 around the gazebo and stones, and then the colour was used as a wash to paint in the grass.  I added some N79 to the white areas of the sky to add some shape to the clouds.  The images were die cut using the 5463 Slimline Dies, and the sentiment is from the Exclusive Hydrangea set.  I added a little bling to finish them off!

Be sure to check out the Ai blog on Saturday, to see what Dot & Tricia have to share.

Reason to Party

 I've had these wonderful One Canoe Two papers for several years, and have wanted to get using them more!  I've paired them with dies/sentiments from Photoplay's Say it With Stamps line and a fun Taylored Expressions glasses die.

Happy Pride!

 Wishing a very Happy Pride to all those who are celebrating today.  I love that rainbow cards are such a popular trend right now.  Thanks to Gina K for her wonderful partial stencil/ink blending idea!  I may make a few more of these:

Father's Day

 A couple of Father's Day cards to share today.  One was quick and easy, as I can't pass up a pun with our last name when I see one... for my husband.  The second card is one I stamped when my niece let me borrow her Reflections stamp set from The Greetery.  Love this!  Luckily I stamped a few of them, so I'll be able to put together a few more cards just like it:

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there :-)

A Little Something Tropical

I came across a fun, brightly coloured illustration that inspired today's card (scroll down to see my inspiration)  It took me out of my comfort zone, using more orange and purple in today's card than I normally would.

I coloured my image from 5121 - WC Garden Shed Set in #969/565 and stamped it in the middle of my Canson XL Watercolor Paper.  Using my stamp positioner, I added the small boat from5057 - WC Boat Set and the trunk of the tree from 5120 - WC Palm Tree Set coloured in #623.  I sketched in the shoreline with #992, and used the small sprig in 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set to add the shrubbery in #126/177/993.  A wash of #443 was added to the sky, and painted in as the water.  Using all of the fronds in the Palm Tree set, I coloured them in #993/126/177, then used a damp brush to blend the colours.  I used my #933 marker directly on the paper to add the oranges that suggest coconuts, and darkened it further with my Chocolate Twintone marker.  #373 was painted on the hut, with #993/933 for the trim.  Flowering shrubs were added around the hut in #623/676/725, and $565 was painted on the boat and added as shadows throughout the scene.  I darkened up the water and sand with several colours, and used the grass from5372 - WC Mini Foliage in #177

The sentiment is from the Exclusive Daisy Set.  I used my sewing machine to stitch the panel to some contrasting cardstock, and mounted it onto my blue base with 3D foam adhesive.  The finished card is 5 1/2" square.  Be sure to check out the Ai blog on Saturday to see what Dot & Tricia have created!

Lawn Fawn Fun

 My niece and sister invited me to craft along with Jenn Shurkus & Kelly Marie Alvarez tonight in their Lawn Fawn Create-Along-With-Us online class!  Such amazingly cute cards!  Here's what we put together:

A Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow

 I am playing along with the Pinkfresh Studio June Challenge today - the monthly theme is 'Rainbow'.  A perfect theme for Pride Month.  Mine aren't classic rainbow, but I think my first one qualifies, as I did a blend of Copic markers in a rainbow pattern to colour the Charming Floral Border stamp:

My other two versions were ink blended using the coordinating stencil, and my Pinkfresh Studio inks.  The Stitched Rectangle Coverplate provided the backdrop, and I gold embossed the Perfect Sentiments stamps.

I stitched across the top of each card with some metallic gold thread, and added some gold pearls to complete them.