Harvest Moon
Posted: October 16, 2014 Filed under: Etched Branches, Nature's Gifts, No Card Left Behind, Stamped Landscapes, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 17 Comments
The lovely foliage stamps in the new Penny Black release are perfect for creating stamped landscapes. There are some new transparent sets as well as a couple of slapstick cling stamps that I will use winter, spring, summer and fall. Both these cards are very simple in design using only one foliage stamp to suggest the landscape.
The card above was a “no card left behind” project as it didn’t go quite as planned. I decided to paint a watercolour moon inside a negative mask cut from frisket film. The aperture was wider than the moon you see above. After I had painted the moon in golden orange distress stains I dried it completely (or so I thought). I swapped the negative mask covering the moon for the circle mask which left the rest of the sky to be painted in darker tones. When I started painting the darker distress stains onto the paper the colours seeped in under the mask. They didn’t spread over the whole moon just around the edges. When I removed the mask it did not look like a realistic moon any more. To save my scene I cut a smaller moon mask, stuck that over the watermarked moon then sponged a darker sky around it to cover the seepage. I finished the scene by stamping the branches from “Nature’s Gifts” several times across the bottom and tying on a little tag.
Having learnt from experience I placed the mask on dry unpainted watercolour paper for the panel below. I painted the sky with distress stains and there was no seepage. (I will do more experimenting with the frisket film and let you know what I discover) When I removed the mask the moon was too white and flat so I painted and sponged some pale yellow and brown ink around it until it looked more realistic. I stamped the gorgeous etched branches across the base in black to complete my scene.
Both cards are around 5 inches square so I have been having fun with a friend’s envelope maker making custom envelopes out of pretty designer paper in my stash from long ago.
These cards make me think of one of my favourite songs, Helpless, by Neil Young. It’s the line, Yellow moon on the rise that keeps popping into my head. I have liked that song for many years. Little did I know as a teenager back in Australia I would one day live in Ontario (also mentioned in the song) and see Neil Young in concert twice. Do you ever get inspired by songs or performers? I know Ardyth has a thing for David Bowie but I’m definitely more of a Neil Young girl!
Supplies
Stamps: Natures Gifts, Etched Branches, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Ripe Persimmon, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard seed, Vintage Photo, Antique Linen distress stains & Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo, Black Soot distress inks(Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White 110lb, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, rust cardstock
Walking Home
Posted: September 16, 2014 Filed under: On the Town, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks 38 Comments
I have been wanting to create a little scene ever since I received the transparent set “On the Town” from Penny Black. I took a break from stamping in autumn colours so I could pull out the masking fluid and create a snowy stroll. After masking a rectangle on my watercolour block, I flicked masking fluid onto my watercolour paper and let it dry completely. I then stamped the lamp post and the three trees in grey and black inks. I spritzed the stamp and the paper with water so the colour bled immediately into the surrounding area. I waited a short while before I added distress stains to the background and sky area. I didn’t want the stamped images completely dry so that the blend between trees and sky would be soft. I used two blue stains and a yellow for the sky/background area. (colours are listed below) I inked the stamp of the people in both grey and black ink so the right side would look more in shadow. I added some shadows to the snowy path with a paintbrush in both blue and grey.
To finish I rubbed off all the masking fluid flecks, matted the panel in navy cardstock and popped it up over a navy satin ribbon.
Thanks for dropping in today.
Supplies:
Stamps: On the Town (PB)
Inks: Chipped Sapphire, Broken China, Mustard Seed distress stains & Black Soot distress ink (Ranger) Memento London Fog ink (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Natural White 110lb cardstock
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid, Navy satin ribbon
Simply Leaves
Posted: September 8, 2014 Filed under: CAS, Lush & Lavish, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 4 Comments
I was working with new leaf stamps from Penny Black today; they are from the Fall 2014 release being featured on the PB blog all week. The panel I was making was more vibrant and bold than the one above (you will see it on the blog next week) but the images on the scrap paper beside me were muted and watery like these. I was using distress stain and stamping several impressions without reinking because the pigment is strong and a little spritz of water makes it go further. Before changing colour I stamped off on the scrap paper to clean the stamp. I decided to recreate the pretty pale leaf images on a card instead of a scrap.
For each leaf I applied a little distress stain to one side of the leaf image, spritzed with water and stamped on watercolour paper. The stain and water blended but not evenly. I didn’t clean the stamp between colours; that’s why there is a bit of yellow in each leaf. The little specks of colour you see on the panel were splats made as I lifted the wet stamp from the paper. Basically this prettiness just happened; I had very little to do with it. I was so happy with the simplicity of the three leaves I didn’t even add a sentiment. If I want one I can add it inside.
Supplies
Stamps: Lush & Lavish (PB)
Inks: Mustard Seed, Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo distress stains & Wild Honey(Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White 110lb, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Fall Festival mix & match papers (PB)
Leaves and watercolour
Posted: August 22, 2014 Filed under: Hot Rod, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 6 Comments
Same stamp as yesterday but a totally different look. I built this panel in layers starting with the background canvas stamp in antique linen. After stamping that four times across the panel I inked the letter background stamp with spiced marmalade, spritzed with water and stamped on the left hand side. I stamped the leaf stamp, Wondrous, several times in vintage photo distress stain which bled nicely into the canvas stamping. For painting inside the leaves I used distress stains, barn door and spiced marmalade, varying the intensity by diluting the with water. As this point I was fairly happy with the panel but realised that a bit of contrasting colour would lift the design so I added some blue shadow to the side of some of the leaves. I trimmed the panel and picked out some paper to create a border then had to decide how to add a sentiment. The cute little note page stamp from Life’s Journals in the same broken china stain that I had used for shadowing fitted on the corner and provided a background for the ‘Thanks’ stamp in vintage photo ink.
So there you are, two very different looks with the same “Wondrous” stamp. Thanks for dropping by.
Supplies:
Stamps: Wondrous, Letter Background, Life’s Journals, Textures, Hot Rod (PB)
Inks: Antique Linen, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo distress inks & Barn Door, Broken China, Spiced Marmalade, Vintage Photo Distess stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Natural White 110lb, PB Fall Festival mix & match paper, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper
Watercolour with a stencil
Posted: August 17, 2014 Filed under: Charming, Flower Dance, Tutorial, Watercolour | Tags: Penny Black stamps, Penny Black stencils, Ranger Distress stains, Tutorial 17 Comments
In creating today’s card I used a co-ordinating stamp and stencil from Penny Black. By applying ink to the Flower Dance stencil and pressing it onto my watercolour paper I was able to create background pattern and colour all around the flower image I later stamped and watercoloured. I have a video tutorial showing how I did it below.
This is the kind of technique that will never produce the same results twice. I’ve tried it already using another stencil with quite different results which I will share once I’ve completed the card.
Supplies:
Stamps: Charming, Friendship, Letter Background (PB)
Stencil: Flower Dance (PB)
Inks: Tumbled Glass, Milled Lavender, Evergreen Bough distress stains and Peacock Feather, Dusty Concord distress inks (Ranger)
Markers: Wink of Stella Gold pen
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White 110lb smooth , Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Penny Black Mix & Match Blue Lagoon paper
Also: Teal grosgrain ribbon, gold cord
Most Wonderful
Posted: August 15, 2014 Filed under: Most Wonderful, Prancers, Stamped Landscapes, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks 14 Comments
I was very excited to see some new tree stamps in the new “Season’s Greetings” release from Penny Black. I am always happy to have more tree stamps to create stamped scenes with. I will be using the new trees from “Prancers” to create winter scenes but I will probably keep stamping with them all year long. I used them as the main feature of the scene above and a shadowy suggestion of forest in the scene below.
Both scenes were done on watercolour paper but with different approaches and inks. For the scene above I started with a masking fluid flecked panel and positioned a circle mask for the sky. I then painted the sky in Memento Nautical Blue and Paris Dusk ink taking care to dilute the colour around the moon. I used the same two blues to paint the snow banks after I had stamped the trees in Memento Northern Pine.
On the card below I created a three coloured panel with Chipped Sapphire, Evergreen Bough and Tumbled Glass distress stains. I applied the stains to the watercolour paper then spritzed the panel with my homemade Pearl-ex sprays. When it was all dry I embossed the snowflake and sentiment stamps with Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink and embossed with white powder. I added trees at the bottom with Chipped Sapphire distress ink and then splattered white gesso over the whole panel with a splatter brush. Both panels are framed by very narrow frames and attached to white card bases.
We had quite unseasonably cold weather yesterday, not quite the snowy scenes you see here but definitely chilly enough to sit by the fire in the cottage where I was visiting friends for the day.
Supplies:
Stamps: Most Wonderful, Prancers, Beauty of the Season (PB)
Inks: Chipped Sapphire, Evergreen Bough, Tumbled Glass distress stains (Ranger) Memento Nautical Blue, Paris Dusk, Northern Pink inks & Memento Luxe Wedding Dress ink (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid, White embossing powder, White Gesso, Three separated Pearl-ex sprays comprised of water mixed with Interference Gold, Interference Blue and Interference Green.
Berry Merry Christmas
Posted: August 13, 2014 Filed under: Berry Merry Christmas, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Ranger Distress stains 10 Comments
I think these berries might be one of my favourite stamps from the new “Season’s Greetings” release from Penny Black. I opted once again for a watercolour design when creating this card starting with a piece of hotpressed watercolour paper splattered with masking fluid. I inked the stamp with barn door distress stain on the berries and vintage photo distress stain on the stems. I spritzed the inked stamp and stamped it twice on the panel. Using brush and some water I added fired brick ink to some of the berries to give them a bit more dimension. I added water here and there to blend and spread the colours. I added some peeled paint in the background but decided to primarily use broken china stain to paint the sky. I painted around the images with water and broken china stain letting some of the berries and stems bleed into the blue. When it was almost dry I added some yellow highlights with a watercolour pencil and splattered some undiluted broken china distress stain over the sky areas.
To finish off the card I removed the masking fluid then added the sentiment in walnut stain distress ink and matted with blue before attaching to a deep red card base.
Supplies:
Stamps: Berry Merry Christmas, Festive Wishes (PB)
Inks: Barn Door, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Broken China, Walnut Stain distress stains and inks (Ranger)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils Lemon 107 (Faber Castell)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid
Poinsettias
Posted: August 11, 2014 Filed under: Exultation, Festive Florals, Red Star, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains 8 Comments
Are you ready for a week of Christmas designs? Penny Black’s new “Season’s Greetings” release is available today so I will be featuring some of the new stamps here on Bits & Pieces during the week and the PB blog and Facebook will be full of projects made with the new stamps, dies and stencils too.
I have two poinsettia cards for you today. Poinsettias pop up at least five times in the new catalog on stamps and dies. I have watercoloured both these cards but my methods were different for each one. The top stamp, Red Star, is a slapstick cling stamp with textured petals so I inked the whole stamp with distress stains and spritzed both the stamp and the watercolour paper. The pigment in distress stains is quite intense so I spritzed with water after the first impression, then stamped again to achieve a slightly paler image. The panel is splattered with gold “Wink of Stella”, distress stains and masking fluid. The masking fluid was of course splattered on the panel before I started stamping and removed when all the ink was dry.
Supplies:
Stamps: Red Star (PB)
Inks: Victorian Velvet, Pine Needles, Crushed Olive, Mustard Seed, Barn Door Distress Stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Olive Grove mix & match papers, Neenah Avon Brilliant White 110lb card stock
Creative Dies: Exultations (PB)
Also: Gold Wink of Stella pen, Winsor & Newton masking fluid
The second poinsettia image is also a slapstick cling stamp but a line art image from the set Festive Florals. I inked the components of the design separately in distress inks and stamped on dry watercolour paper. I painted diluted distress stains onto the image and used a couple of watercolour pencils for the berries and stems. Again I added splatter and started with masking fluid splatter. The background is a pale wash of Memento summer sky and rich cocoa inks.
Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Florals, Peace on Earth (PB)
Inks: Memento Summer Sky, Rich Cocoa (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko) Barn Door, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo distress stains and inks (Ranger)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils Dark Red 225, VanDyke Brown 176 (Faber Castell)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Sticks & Stones mix & match papers, Neenah Avon Brilliant White 110lb card stock
Also: Winsor & Newton masking fluid
Sun Catcher
Posted: August 2, 2014 Filed under: Sun Catcher, Watercolour | Tags: Penny Black stencils, Ranger Distress stains 9 Comments
Today is our older daughter’s birthday; she has left her teens behind. For ten months we had three teens in the house. For her card I decided to try something I have been thinking about for a while. For a change I used cold pressed watercolour paper; it has more texture than the hot pressed. I taped it to a cutting mat and then swiped distress stains across it. I spritzed with water and my pearl-ex spray (pearl-ex interference gold mixed with water) to blend the colours, then let it dry.The blended stains dried with the ‘S’ shaped watermark so I lined up the edge of the petals on the stencil with the watermark to make the most of the ‘sunburst’ look. Really does look like a ‘sun catcher’. I taped down the stencil and dabbed at the poppy image with a baby wipe. It took a while to dilute the colour but it worked and it paid not to rub the paper as that causes pilling. The stems were trickier; you can see they look a little rough.
I stamped the sentiment in gold first but it was a little pale so I stamped over the top with sepia and the effect is a muted gold edge to the text.
Supplies:
Stamps: Flourish Birthday (PB)
Stencils: Suncatcher (PB)
Inks: Versafine Vintage Sepia & Encore Gold (Imagine Craft/Tsukineko)
Stains: Barn Door, Bundled Sage, Mustard Seed Distress Stains (Ranger)
Paper: Cold pressed watercolour paper Neenah Natural White 110lb
Also: Pearl Ex spray Interference Gold
A Fresh Bunch of Flowers
Posted: July 20, 2014 Filed under: Watercolour | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps 25 Comments
This watercolour has been sitting in the block for months; I had forgotten about it until I opened the block to use it for a new project. Some of my watercolour cards involve splashes of colour and loose blending in and outside the stamped lines. This is not one of those but a more controlled watercolour. I stamped the image in Memento Desert Sand ink using a post-it note mask to overlap the flowers. I then worked with watercolour pencils and a waterbrush to fill each flower with graduated colour. I drew stems and leaves to make a bunch, cropped the design, matted it and added a die cut sentiment.
Supplies:
Stamps: To You, (Penny Black)
Creative Dies: Celebrations
Inks: Memento Desert Sand (Tsukineko)
Also: Faber-Castell watercolour pencils dark orange 115, olive green 179, brown ochre 182, raw umber 180 and a water brush
Heather Telford 