5/14/2009

Featuring Wonderful Watercolors!!

The blog tour is now over & links have been removed, but my samples are still below!

I am featuring the Wonderful Watercolors set (p. 85 IBC). I received this recently as a free set for SAB sales but hadn't had a chance to play with it. What better motivation!! & what fun I had!

Before we get to the goodies let me say that this is a set that BEGS to be used with the Stamp-a-ma-jig. For two reasons. First, the images are two-step, meaning there are separate outline & solid (inside) images. Second, it is a double mounted set. I find that my mounting isn't very accurate on double mounted sets because I don't have the full size label as my guide.

And a hint to make it easier each time you use this set (or any other 2-step set!). Grab a few sheets of vellum or vellum cardstock, sized to fit the images and the stamp box. I used vellum cardstock just so it would hold up longer & I have 3 pieces for this set. Use the Stamp-a-ma-jig & stamp each image on a corner. Now each time you pull this set out, just find your Stamp-a-ma-jig handle & you're ready to go!! On to the goodies...


First was this Lavender Lace creation. I stamped the Thinking of You & flower outline in Basic Gray on Whisper White. For the main image, I used markers in Lavender Lace & Certainly Celery on the solid image and lined up with the Stamp-a-ma-jig. I added a yellow center to the flowers with my Barely Banana marker. The background was done by stamping off the outline floral image and stamping lightly around the edge. I also used the splatter stamp from Itty Bitty Backgrounds (also stamped off) in Certainly Celery. The larger of the two small flowers was also used, some at regular ink, some stamped off. Finally, sponge the edge of the background & flower image with Lavender Lace. The wide Celery Grosgrain ribbon was put through the Styled Silver ribbon slide (gently-it frays easily!). Layered behind the main flower is Basic Gray. Lastly, I added Crystal Effects to the flower & leaves. It's difficult to see in the scan, but it gives it just a little something extra in person!

Next is this Cone flower inspired card! Card base is Pixie Pink with a layer of Chocolate Chip & Shimmery White for the images. The Chocolate Chip was edged with the Eyelet Border Punch. For this one, I stamped the outline flower images in Chocolate Chip across the card alternating their direction a little, and leaving a space for ribbon. I then used my Stamp-a-ma-jig to add the stems in Chocolate Chip, the inside of the flower with Pixie Pink, and the color to the stem & leaves with Always Artichoke. The center of the flower was colored with a Blender Pen & Chocolate Chip ink. The 1" Chocolate Chip Double-Stitched Grosgrain was tied around and all layered together!


Next is a Black-Eyed Susan inspired one. It's also the color of Sunflowers (imagine that!!). For this one I did basic watercolor, no 2-step. I stamped the flower outline first, then lined up the stem on Watercolor Paper. I used my Watercolor Crayons in Summer Sun, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip & Bordering Blue with an Aqua Painter. I will admit that I tried it first with ink & the color went everywhere! I have better luck with blender pens with ink, or crayons with the Aqua Painter. Card base is Summer Sun, background Chocolate Chip dotted paper is from the Bella Rose DSP pack. Wide Old Olive grosgrain. From the heart is in the Holidays & Wishes set.



Last, but not least. It might actually be my favorite! I decided to do one more and use DSP as the background. This is the first pack of paper I came across, the Sweet Slumber set. If you haven't seen this in person-it is Textured, cover-weight cardstock. LOVE IT!! These two prints (small dots & Baha plaid) are actually reverse sides of the same paper. Colors are Ruby Red, Sahara Sand, So Saffron & Baha Breeze. For the flower on this one, I stamped the outline flower, then lined up the stem. But when I inked the stem, I removed the ink from the little bud. I replaced that with a second flower. I stamped the inside of the flower with Ruby Red & colored the center with my So Saffron marker. The stem color was added with Sahara Sand. Of course I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig on all this! Next I repeated the flowers on a separate piece of paper and cut them out. Layer over the others with a dimensional, flicking the edges just a little with your finger to curl them up. The saying is from the Oval All set in the Occasions mini and was stamped twice, once on the Naturals White & punched with the Scallop Oval, then again on So Saffron and the center punched with the large oval.

Questions on any of these? Shoot me an email. Please leave a comment and let me know you were here! Subscribe to my feed, add me to your reader, or bookmark my site but please come by again! Thanks for stopping by & I hope you come back soon!

18 comments:

Sharon Field / Inky A*Muse-ment said...

Wow, heartfelt thanks lives again! You've inspired me to pull this stamp set off the shelf!! I'm especially fond of the sample with the blue/white checked dsp! Hope you have time to stop by my blog too.. I'm stop #20!

Sue said...

This used to be my favourite set when I joined SU! and it's still going! You've done an excellent job with your cards. TFS

TABray said...

Your cards are great! What pretty colors. I LOVE the tip about the velum and the 2 step stamps. I'll get mine out this afternoon and do just that!!!

Lucia Kaiser said...

These are all very beautiful. You did a wonderful job. Thanks for contributing to the blog tour.

Kelli Waters said...

Very nice cards! I especially like the dimensional aspect of them.

Judy said...

Love your cards! Heartfelt Thanks is my first and still favorite set! I search each new catalog to make sure it's still there. Love your designs!

Teri said...

Those certainly were wonderful waercolors!!! Thanks for sharing. you are very talented.

Liz said...

Beautiful cards!

Unknown said...

Such pretty cards! Thanks for the inspiration!

Marti said...

wow - love these cards. My favorite is the last one with plaid (slimply because I love plaid). They are all beautiful

Unknown said...

Beautiful job, I enjoyed the trip to your blog!

Blythe Klipple said...

You win my heart with your sunflowers! And I love the set you used and your samples, especially the last one--or the one with the blue and white DSP. So soft and touchable. ~Blythe

Elaine said...

Very nice cards. Thanks for the tips

lisa808 said...

Lovely cards.

Nancy Legate said...

LOVE IT! Thanks so much for sharing and for being on this Tour :)

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your ideas. I also do the vellum card stock pieces with the stamp-a-ma-jig on my sets that need it - alphabets and words too. The last card of yours is my favorite out of the bunch. I still haven't bought that DSP yet.
Happy Stampin'!
Monika

Heather Wright-Porto said...

Very, very cute cards!!!! Thanks for sharing!

Diane McVey said...

Great creations! I missed the blog hop, but I'm glad I got to see the cards anyway! You did a great job, and everyone loved it! YIPPEE!!! Thanks for the great cards! :D