Tweet Wishes

Posted: June 30, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: CAS, Tweet Wishes, Watercolour | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps | 8 Comments

It has been a while since I pulled out my watercolour pencils so it was fun to colour a simple outline image today. I stamped the branch from ‘Tweet Wishes’ in Versafine Onyx Black ink then painted the image using a waterbrush to pick up colour from my watercolour pencils. I splattered a little colour around and painted a rough border of blue. To finish it off I added some natural cotton lace and a narrow blue ribbon.

Thank you very much for your kind comments about my daughter and her prom dress. We were both very pleased with how it turned out and very touched by your lovely words. It has now turned rather hot here so it was wonderful to spend yesterday relaxing with friends by a lake where there was a breeze and of course the water to keep us cool. I’ll be back tomorrow with a brand new One Layer Simplicity Challenge.

Supplies:

Stamps: Tweet Wishes (PB)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils Apple Green 170, Pine Green 267, Rose Carmine 124, Prussian Blue 151, Gold Ochre 183, Blue Violet 137, Lemon 107, Light Carmine 127, Light Blue 147 (Faber-Castell)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 25% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth
Also: narrow grosgrain ribbon, natural cotton lace

The reason why

Posted: June 26, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: After Glow, Bamboo Branch | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Radiant Neon inks | 21 Comments

June has been a busy month for our family leaving very little time for stamping and cardmaking. Today I finally made it back to my craft table and found a watercoloured panel from a class I taught a few weeks ago. To create the panel I taped a piece of watercolour paper down and wet the whole panel. I then painted distress stains onto the wet surface and tilted the panel to let the colours run and blend. While it was still wet I sprinkled salt over the panel resulting in the patterns you see below. For the class we stamped over the patterns but I decided this leftover panel would be perfect for the little lanterns from the “After Glow” die cut set.

I used Radiant Neon Electric Blue ink to create the background below. My intention was to create an abstract sky so I used a wavy mask cut from masking paper and sponged over it numerous times. When I started arranging the lanterns I changed my mind about the sky and turned the blue panel on its side and added bamboo as a side border.

I added strings for the lanterns with Pitt Artist Pens and popped up the lanterns with dimensional tape. I found a sentiment I wanted to add but there was no room on the front so I will add it inside.

Supplies:

Stamps: Bamboo Branch (PB)
Dies: After Glow (PB)
Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Radiant Neon Electric Blue (Tsukineko) Barn Door, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seeds Distress stains (Ranger)
Markers: Pitt Artist Pen (Faber Castell)
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White 110lb smooth , Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Even though I have not been making cards over the last week or so I have been busy creating. My daughter went to her prom last night in a dress I made for her. The bodice is a pale pink textured brocade and the skirt is four layers of tulle over satin. I did enjoy sewing again but perhaps I should allow a little more than 12 days next time I take on a formal gown!

Stamp & Doodle

Posted: May 28, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Floral Tapestry, Tutorial | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tutorial | 16 Comments

I created this card from a stamped panel that was sitting around on my work table waiting for inspiration. I stamped the “Floral Tapestry” background stamp in Distress stains on watercolour paper. After stamping once I spritzed the stamp and stamped again on another piece of paper, then did it again so I had several panels sitting around, each one a little paler than the previous one. I think this one was the palest panel but it still had plenty of colour and the negative images of the flowers and leaves were clear enough to doodle around. If you watch the video you will see my doodling process. I did not have a plan; I just defined the flower shapes and added leaves, twirls and squiggles in and around them. When I was almost finished I decided a few gold highlights would be nice so I added them with a Wink of Stella pen.

I trimmed the floral panel and criss-crossed some gold cord over it. I added two gold half pearls in each place where the cord crossed and stuck the cord down with glossy accents. The cord did not want to stay in place but with a little pressure on top it finally did! After die-cutting the banner I decided to trim the dark brown mat and cardbase to co-ordinate.

Supplies:

Stamps: Floral Tapestry, Amazing! (PB)
Dies: Triple Banner (PB)
Inks: Versafine Vintage Sepia (Tsukineko) Vintage Photo, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seeds Distress stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White 110lb smooth , Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Lookin’ Good

Posted: May 20, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Above Par, Watercolour | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps | 2 Comments

To colour this little golfer I stamped first in Memento Desert Sand ink to give myself a pale outline I could easily paint over. I then picked up colour from my watercolour pencils with a waterbrush and painted the golfer, the greens and the sky. I added a few little details with a 0.05mm fine line marker before I matted the panel in green and added a sentiment.

There will be inspiration for masculine cards all week on the Penny Black blog. (Make sure you check yesterday’s post; Cathy’s Potting Shed card is superb) If you are like me you probably don’t make enough masculine cards; I really need to build up my supply. This one won’t work for me as my Dad does not play golf; my husband doesn’t either so my children won’t be needing to grab it. They can get creative themselves for Father’s Day in Canada; I have until September to create something for Father’s Day in Australia.

Supplies:

Stamps: Above Par, …Lost Without You (PB)
Inks: Memento Desert Sand,(Tsukineko) Black Soot Distress ink ( Ranger) Prismacolour Fine Line Marker
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils (Faber Castell)
Paper: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb smooth, PB Mix & Match Spring Meadow Paper

Ten Tulips

Posted: May 18, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Promise Me, Triple Banner, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, May Arts ribbon, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 8 Comments

The Tulip Festival finishes tomorrow so I am glad I can slip one more tulip card in before the end. I worked on this one latish last night and all did not go according to plan. I stamped the tulips first on watercolour paper and they were fine. It was in the finishing off that I had problems. But I will go back to the beginning and explain my process.

I began by inking just the flower heads in Memento Dandelion and Cantaloupe using markers. I spritzed before stamping them at the top of the panel. I stamped just the tulip heads twice, one set under the other and the third time inked the stems and leaves as well. I was happy with the whole panel even the bit that is now covered by a large sentiment banner. I matted with Olive card stock and decided to attach the three strips of lace; I am still not sure if I like the lace there but I decided to stick with it. The panel is long and thin as you can see so it was difficult to work out where to put a sentiment on a 4.25×5.5 inch card base. I tried a sideways sentiment or a small sentiment beside the lace but neither looked right. Anyway, to make a long story a little shorter I stamped the sentiment on the tulips, messed it up and had to either cover the mess or crop the panel. I decided to cover it with a die cut banner and make a very narrow card so the points of the banner could go over the edge.

“Over the Edge” just happens to be the current challenge at Addicted to CAS and it’s a birthday card featuring May Flowers so I will join in at Seize the Birthday as well.

This morning we were down town having a coffee before church and I snapped these tulips in the sunshine.

Supplies:

Stamps: Promise Me, Tweet Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Bamboo Leaves & Olive Grove markers (Tsukineko)
Creative Dies: Triple Banner
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White 110lb smooth, Penny Black Olive Grove Mix & Match Papers
Also: Crochet Trim ribbon (May Arts Ribbon)

Four Tulips

Posted: May 14, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Blooming Garden, CAS, Watercolour | Tags: CAS, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 4 Comments

The tulip festival continues in Ottawa and here on my blog. I pulled out all my PB tulip stamps and have them on my desk waiting for inspiration. I can’t promise I will use them all during the festival but I will have a few more for you.

To create this little scene I stamped the tulips from the transparent set Blooming Garden twice in Memento Angel Pink. I then painted the petals with colour from a couple of watercolour pencils (listed below). I inked some of the detail lines on the stamp with a Memento Rose Bud marker and stamped over the painted petals to finish off the flower heads before painting the stems in green. I used the same green to fill in the lower background and a blue watercolour pencil for the sky. I then dabbed some pink watercolour ‘paint’ into both the green and the blue to suggest more tulips in the background.

The taped edge of the panel framed the picture which I popped up on dimensional tape over a strip of ribbon.

Supplies:

Stamps: Blooming Garden, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Angel Pink, Northern Pine , Rose Bud marker (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth
Also: Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils True Blue 148, Pink Madder Lake, 129, Pine Green 267 (Faber-Castell)

Six Tulips

Posted: May 12, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: CAS, Efflorescence, Watercolour | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 9 Comments

I am continuing with my Tulip Festival theme, an idea inspired by a regular visitor to Bits & Pieces. (Thanks, Karen) On this card I have a watery array of tulips stamped with distress stains on watercolour paper. Distress inks are designed to react with water and each other which makes them great for blending on flowers, patterns, backgrounds etc. I inked the tulips on the stamp with Victorian Velvet first then added a touch of Barn Door at the base of each bloom. I inked the buds and stems with Crushed Olive and stamped on watercolour paper. I then used a waterbrush to blend the two colours together. To frame the panel I diluted some Tumbled Glass distress stain and painted around the edges pulling the colour into the centre and diluting it further to fade it out. Finally I flicked red and green inks over the panel, attached it to the card base and added a sentiment.

I haven’t visited any of the tulip beds yet but I did drive by the canal yesterday and saw there were plenty in bloom. Are they blooming where you are?

Supplies:

Stamps: Efflorescence, Amazing (PB)
Inks: Versafine Spanish Moss (Tsukineko) Barn Door, Crushed Olive, Victorian Velvet, Tumbled Glass Distress stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Avon Brilliant White 110lb smooth, Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

One Layer Poppy

Posted: May 3, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: One-Layer Simplicity challenge, Poppy Time, Sun Catcher | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Penny Black stencils, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks | 20 Comments

The new One Layer Simplicity Challenge is to make a card with flowers on it. There is already a gorgeous array of floral inspiration on the blog and you have until May 24th to add yours. The current Mod Squad challenge is to make a one-layer card so my poppy card meets the criteria there also.

To create this watery poppy I positioned the ‘Sun Catcher Stencil’ then painted the flower head in water. While it was very wet I added both Mustard Seed and Victorian Velvet Distress stains to the water and blended them with a paintbrush. I used the co-ordinating ‘Poppy Time’ stamp to stamp the stems, bud and seed head then used a paintbrush to immediately fill them with distress stains. By this stage the poppy head had dried a bit so I inked some of the stamp with ink to add a few veins to define the petals. I added the verses from 1 Corinthians in a mix of Memento ink and distress stain allowing some to blur and some to bleed. The piece of watercolour paper already had two ink drops on it so I carefully added a few more rather than going overboard with the flicking technique I have been using lately.

Thanks for dropping by. I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Edited to add: If you are interested in an “Introduction to Stamping” class there are a few spaces left in the class I am teaching at “Crop-A-While” in Orleans on Thursday May 8th. Please click on the store link for more details and contact the store to register.

Supplies:

Stamps: Poppy Time, Love Chapter (PB)
Stencil: Sun Catcher
Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko) Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, Victorian Velvet, Peeled Paint Distress Stains & Wild Honey, Peeled Paint Distress inks (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Charming in blue

Posted: April 30, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Charming | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 7 Comments

I made this card quite a while ago so I am not able to tell you which watercolour pencils I used but I can outline my process for you. I inked the “Charming” stamp using memento markers which make it easy to ink the flowers, leaves and stems in different colours. I used a blue, a green and a yellow watercolour pencil to colour in the leaves and flowers blending afterward with a waterbrush . I ran the blue pencil around the perimeter of the panel and blended the colour in to create a spft edge. I also picked up colour from a pale blue pencil to fill in the background. Some of the pale blue blended with the the stamped ink which created little water colour bleeds that I quite like. I sponged a bit of yellow ink in the top corner to suggest sunlight and added the sentiment and mat.

Thank you for all your encouraging comments; I enjoy reading them all and try to respond to the questions as soon as I can. I have also been taking note of requests for tutorials, so hopefully there will be a new one soon!

Take care.

Supplies:

Stamps: Charming, Truly Great (PB)
Inks: Memento Paris Dusk, Cottage Ivy, Dandelion (Tsukineko)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils (Faber Castell)
Paper: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110lb smooth, PB Mix & Match Periwinkle Paper

Sapphire Tapestry

Posted: April 26, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: CAS, Floral Tapestry | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains | 17 Comments

When I recently created these two cards I was so taken with Chipped Sapphire distress stain and the Floral Tapestry stamp I kept it out on my work table and kept playing with it for several days. The panel above was created by inking the stamp with distress stain then spritzing it with water that had pearl ex mixed into it. The water reacted with the stain and the pearl ex created a lovely sheen that is unfortunately not apparent in the photo. The sheen has a gold tint so I matted with dark blue and gold cardstock. (a little hint for those who are all about the ‘matchy-matchy’ like I am: if you do not have the exact colour cardstock to pair with your stamping you can apply the ink you are trying to match to a similar coloured cardstock or even white cardstock)

When I stamped this image in the spritzed distress stain the first impression was much darker and some of the flowers were getting lost in all the stain. This panel was made from the second impression. I find that I can often do two or three impressions when I have inked a stamp with distress stain because a little spray of water spreads and dilutes the stain left on the stamp.

Do you have a favourite ink colour at present? Blue happens to be my favourite colour anyway but at different times and in different seasons I reach for other colour favourites in my artistic endeavours.

Supplies:

Stamps: Floral Tapestry, Gratitude (PB)
Inks: Memento Paris Dusk (Tsukineko) Chipped Sapphire Distress Stains (Ranger)
Cardstock: Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 110lb smooth , Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, PB Periwinkle mix & match paper, gold card