Bikes, old & new
Posted: July 11, 2024 Filed under: AALL & Create, city bike, Echidna Studios | Tags: AALL & Create, Echidna Studios, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, sennelier watercolours 8 Comments
The green bike above is a new digital bike stamp designed by my daughter. As with many of her digital designs, she snapped a photo, then turned it into a ‘storybook style’ outline drawing. It’s called City Bike and is available in the Echidna Studios etsy store as a digital stamp (not cutting file).
I printed the bike in two sizes on hot pressed watercolour paper so I could paint it and turn it into two cards, one landscape orientation and the second, a portrait-oriented close up of the front of the bike.
I did some of the painting with Sennelier watercolour paints but I also used a silver gel pen for the spokes and rims, metallic brush markers for the blue bike and a very fine tip black marker to go over some of the little details.
I just so happen to have a new bike of my own which means bikes are on my mind. I picked it up a few days ago and it’s definitely more modern than the one of the cards. I am pretty excited; it’s been a while since I’ve had a bike of my own and I’ve never had a new one. I have to tell you the colour is ‘sea sparkle’ which made me smile, sounds like an ink pad colour!
Back to the cards – I cut both panels with WaffleFlower A2 layering dies then added an extra panel of thick cardstock underneath to lift the picture panel a bit. I added the Penny Black ‘cool one’ sentiment and the beautiful day sentiment from the AALL & Create set ‘Everyday Sentiments’. You’ll be seeing more of the AALL & Create sentiments as they are a quirky typewriter font which I love.
Are you a bike rider? Let me know what your favourite outdoor activity is. As you may have guessed this post includes affiliate links from Foiled Fox. If you buy through these links I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Click over to the Echidna Studios store to see more delightful designs like this sweet bike.
Heather Telford 
Hi Heather,
My family did not have much, so I never had a bike until I married. I was never keen on bike riding because of a late start but my kids had bikes. Now I am 82 with 6 artificial joints and my only “riding” is on a mobility scooter twice a week at the grocery. The color of your new bike is lovely. But I am curious about why a boys bike with the bar across from the handle bars to the seat? Here in the US that is considered a boys bike. Maybe Canada is different. Please add some flowers for me the next time you do the bike on a card. That empty basket is calling for something…flowers, packages, a puppy, a bottle of wine! You might have to draw it in or stamp and paper piece it. Always love your style of cards, whether clean and simple or your beautiful alcohol inks on plastic paper, or paint on the gelli pad with stencils. You are a true artist.
Have a blessed day, Martha Gunckel in Apple Valley, MN
Martha Gunckel [email protected]
So nice to hear from you Martha.
Although it looks like a boys bike it is actually a brand designed for women and sized accordingly. I could have got one with a step through style (lower bar) but I have long legs and can handle this one fine! Compared to my friends I learned to ride a bike late too, I was 10 years old. One of my school friends rode to my house and helped me learn. Enjoy the scooter rides!
As far as the flowers in the basket of the stamped card; I love that idea and will definitely add them next time. Thank you for your kind words.
Oh my gosh I may have to have that bike image! How refreshing to NOT see a basket of flowers on the front. This is just super and your coloring is fantastic on this. Kudos to your daughter for a fabulous image!
So glad you like this image, Nancy, I love the style of my daughter’s designs. The beauty of the empty basket is that I can put whatever I like in it!
As a cycle tourist it got frustrating to find a bike without a basket of flowers. I’ve never seen anyone ride with them. This though is perfect with the handlebar bag for touring. I may have to get it!
Fantastic cards! I haven’t ridden a bike for years!
I love both your cards with this wonderful bike image Heather and love the added detailing with the silver gel pen and the fine detail black marker. Whether you use watercolour or brush markers you always handle each medium so well..like Martha said on a comment above you are a true artist! x
Beautiful cards! I love both! Your daughter is a wonderful artist! Your new bike is very pretty! My husband was a bicycle racer and general enthusiast. When we were married, we bought a sweet little bike for me. After 3 ‘fender benders’, he decided we should sell it and just take long walks!☺ Happy Adventuring!♥