Stamped wreath & swag
Posted: December 6, 2015 Filed under: Nature's Gifts, Winter moments | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Sakura Koi watercolour paints 15 Comments 
Last Sunday afternoon while sitting at the walk-in clinic waiting for my son to be seen I sketched a wreath and practised some lettering in a sketchbook. (He is fine, the doctor got him sorted and he was well enough to play basketball on Monday which of course was the real concern!) Once I returned home I was inspired to stamp a wreath and a swag using stamps from a couple of sets. I do own wreath stamps but wanted to see what I could come up with myself. For the wreath all the stamps came from the Nature’s Gifts set. To stamp the swag below I substituted smaller pinecones from the Winter Moments set.
I began by splattering masking fluid on one large panel still in my cold pressed watercolour block. Next I painted the background blue for both designs (plus 2 more) using the Sakura Koi watercolor travel set. I just wanted soft edges on the blue so I added plenty of water and also removed some colour with a brush or paper towel. While the background was still wet I stamped some pine needles and let them bleed into the damp paper to create a very soft look. Then I walked away while it dried. Once it was almost dry I stamped the rest of the elements adding a little water here and there with a paintbrush to blend colours and soften the images. I added little red dots on the swag as berries then let it all dry before rubbing off the masking fluid. I decided against any sentiment but added red ribbon and mats to bring out the colour of the berries.
After finishing these two stamped panels I created another swag and wreath which I will share tomorrow. My method was similar but I painted them instead of stamping.
Thank you so much for your kind and enthusiastic response to my ‘Stamping the Stories’ collection. I really enjoyed creating each card and was thrilled to see you enjoyed them too.
Supplies:
Stamps: Nature’s Gifts, Winter Moments (PB)
Inks: Memento Espresso Truffle, Love letter, Rhubarb Stalk, Lady Bug, Northern Pine, Potter’s Clay, Northern Pine, Tuxedo Black ink pads and markers (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton cold pressed watercolour paper,
Also: Sakura Koi watercolours, Winsor & Newton masking fluid, red ribbon
Heather Telford 
Why do I gasp when I see a new card you have put up? because they are breathtaking!! the beauty speaks right to my heart!!! thank you so so much
Simply gorgeous! 🙂
I just love it! It is adorable! C’est trop beau!
Beautiful nature Christmas cards!
You are so good at painting the beauty of nature onto cards for all to enjoy. And I love how you take advantage of every minute, like wait time at a clinic, to work on art!
Both cards are terrific! Nice work with the pines and cones. I especially like the deeper tones of the swag with the ice blue bkgrd. 🙂
These look real! And real like I’d like on my door! Perfect! Love how you did the light blue background first. I’ll be keeping that idea. Thanks, Heather, for sharing these. I learn something new from you always. Can’t wait to try this.
Two beautiful cards using winter foliage Heather and your artwork is always so stylish and pretty. x
Absolutely beautiful!!
you are so talented!! gorgeous
Both are just beautiful, Heather!
Heather, these two cars are breathtaking. You are really inspiring me to play more with my watercolors. I can’t wait to see you the hand painted cards tomorrow.
These are both lovely!
I do like how you mention that you walk away as your panel dries. That is such an important step, isn’t it? These two cards are both beautiful — perfectly designed wreath and swag.
Yes I learnt the hard way!