May Arts Creative Collaboration

Posted: March 14, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Chat Bubbles, Hollyhocks, Love Expressions, Poppy Pattern, Promise Me, Tagged | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, May Arts ribbon, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks | 15 Comments

Penny Black and May Arts have been collaborating all week and today is my turn to show how easy it is to pair ribbons with stamping. I decided to make a few tags but if you are looking for more ideas check out both the Penny Black blog and the May Arts blog for all sorts of creative projects. (Instead of listing the supplies at the end of the post I have linked to them in the descriptions)

On both the tulip tag above and the poppy tag below I stamped Memento inks onto wet watercolour paper causing the colours to bleed and blend. When the paper dried a little I added foreground tulips or in the case of the poppies centre details and a blue distress stain background. As watercolour paper is rarely pure white I dyed the white cotton lace ribbon from May Arts in tea to give it a natural off white colour. The tulip tag features luxurious velvet ribbon from May Arts tied with a bow of crochet trim ribbon . The stamps are Promise Me and Special Wishes.

I used a different crochet trim ribbon to tie the versatile Faux Burlap Wired Ribbon on the poppy tag. I left the wire in the edges of the ribbon at the top of the tag so I could shape wavy edges then cut a little mat for my sentiment out of the burlap. The stamps used are Poppy Pattern and Special Wishes.

To create the Hollyhocks tag below I stamped, coloured the tiny tag and dyed the crochet trim with Victorian Velvet distress stain. I used the Hollyhocks stamp as my main image, a little bit of a sentiment from the Eloquence set on the tiny tag and the Hugs diecut from the Love Expressions set. I cut both the tiny tag and the lower rectangle using dies from the Chat Bubbles set. All large tags were cut using the large tag die from the Tagged set

Pansy Bouquet

Posted: February 24, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Pansy Bouquet, Twirls, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 15 Comments

Today I am featuring yet another beautiful botanical stamp from the new Happy Everything collection. To create this panel I stamped the leafy border stamp from the Twirls set as background. I inked the pansy bouquet with markers, stamped it, then spritzed with water. Using a waterbrush and memento inks stamped on an acrylic block as a palette I filled in the pansies and leaves. When the panel was almost dry I added yellow centres with a marker. I splattered some light blue and green colour from watercolour pencils to complete the panel.

Readers in the Ottawa area might be interested to know I am offering some classes in March. You can view the projects and register on my new Classes page.

Supplies:

Stamps: Pansy Bouquet, Special Wishes, Twirls (PB)
Inks: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Cottage Ivy, Elderberry, Summer Sky (Tsukineko)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils Moss green 168, Light Blue 147 (Faber-Castell)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Penny Black mix & match Spring Meadows paper

Watercolouring the Lily

Posted: February 20, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Every Happiness, First Dance, Twirls, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks | 10 Comments

All this week on the Penny Black blog you can check out the designers’ favourites from the new Happy Everything collection. It will come as no surprise that I chose a brushstroke stamp that lends itself to the watercolour technique.

To create the pink card below I inked the ‘First Dance’ lily with a combination of distress ink and memento markers then stamped onto dry watercolour paper. I created a mask to cover the centre lily then stamped another lily on either side. With three lilies in a row I spritzed the panel with water and let the dark and light pinks blend a little. I used memento markers to draw over the stamen and stems and to redo the dots on the petals. To finish I picked up with a paintbrush a little diluted pink ink to paint around the top edges of the panel and some green around the bottom.

Supplies:

Stamps: First Dance, Every Happiness (PB)
Inks: Memento Bamboo Leaves, Lilac Posies, Angel Pink, Potter’s Clay, Pear Tart (Tsukineko) Worn Lipstcik Distress Ink (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Penny Black mix & match Fuschia Fantasies paper

The yellow and green lily below was created using the wet into wet technique. It is most apparent where the ink has bled from the stem and leaves. It also bled from the petals (Memento Dandelion) making them quite pale so I used Mustard Seed distress stain to paint over them and intensify their colour. The background panel is stamped with one of the new ‘Twirls’ border stamps.

Supplies:

Stamps: First Dance, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Dandelion, Potter’s Clay, Espresso Truffle, Pear Tart, Bamboo leaves (Tsukineko)
Distress Stains: Mustard Seed(Ranger)
Creative Dies: Feather & Frames
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, Penny Black mix & match Olive Grove

Soft Whisper

Posted: February 11, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Soft Whisper, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 19 Comments

I was very happy to see this beautiful big branches stamp in the new collection as I love trees stamps. I continued with the watercolour theme beginning by masking a moon and creating a blended blue sky. I then used post-it notes masks to create some sponged hills before adding the large “Soft Whispers” stamp. I inked the stamp in green and blue, spritzed it then pressed it on the panel. I used a stamp positioner so I could stamp again adding more emphasis to the edge of the main branch. To finish I sponged around the edges with nautical blue ink to frame the panel.

I am looking forward to pulling this stamp out again for both backgrounds and feature panels.

Supplies:

Stamps: Soft Whisper, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Nautical Blue, Cottage Ivy, Summer Sky & Versafine Majestic Blue (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Negative space rose

Posted: February 9, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Love Chapter, Rose | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 17 Comments

I found this rose panel under a pile of scraps a few days ago. I had created it back when I was making this card. When die cutting a negative rose mask out of masking paper to sponge through I naturally ended up with a rose out of masking paper too. I stuck that on the watercolour block and used some Memento pink and green inks that were open on my table. I painted diluted ink over the mask which did make the masking paper a little waterlogged but I let it dry completely before I peeled it off. I used the 1 Corinthians text stamp to add background interest and sponged a little Sweet Plum in the corner before adding a fading green sentiment.

Have a lovely week.

Supplies:

Stamps:   Letter background, Love Chapter
Creative Dies: Rose
Inks:  Memento Sweet Plum, Angel Pink, Bamboo Leaves (Tsukineko)
Cardstock:  Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Promise me tulips

Posted: February 7, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: CAS, Promise Me, Watercolour | Tags: CAS, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 7 Comments

This lovely tulip stamp is just one of the six new ‘brush stroke’ stamps in the new Happy Everything catalogue. Surprise, surprise I chose to watercolour with it. This time I used the ‘wet into wet’ technique described in my recent butterfly tutorial. I inked the stamp in green and plum then pressed it onto wet watercolour paper. All the colour in the background of the panel was created this way right at the beginning. When the paper was almost dry I re-inked the stamp and stamped it again this time achieving the more defined flower heads and leaves. I picked up some green and some plum ink on a paintbrush and flicked it onto the panel when totally dry.

The festivities continue today on the Penny Black blog: more inspiration, giveaways and a contest

Supplies:

Stamps: Promise Me, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Sweet Plum, Cottage Ivy (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

More from the Garden

Posted: February 5, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Garden Letter, Hollyhocks, Interlocking, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Memento inks | 3 Comments

This is my second post for today. I’m posting some of the same cards featured on the Penny Black blog today with a little explanation of my techniques. If you haven’t visited the PB blog yet this week make sure you do as there are giveaways and a new contest. All the new ‘Happy Everything’ release is available in the online store today.

Both the Hollyhock and Garden Letter cards were made using some watercolour techniques but not the same way I made the poppy cards in the previous poppies post. To create the Garden Letter collage card above I wet the paper first then stamped first in Memento Pistachio ink which bled enough to lose most of its definition but not so much that I couldn’t see where the images were. I used a paintbrush, Memento inks and Ranger Distress stains to add colour to the bird, butterfly and flowers. To finish I re-inked the stamp selectively in Memento Rich Cocoa and re-stamped the design.

Supplies:

Stamps: Garden Letter, Special Wishes (PB)
Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa, Pistachio, Pear Tart (Tsukineko)
Distress Stains: Victorian Velvet, Crushed Olive (Ranger)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

I used a similar technique to create the Hollyhocks panel, inking the stamp with green and pink markers and stamping it on watercolour paper. I spritzed the image taking card to direct the spray from left to right so the image did not bleed everywhere. I used a paintbrush to spread and direct the ink where I wanted it then re-inked parts of the stamp with markers then re-stamped to give the flowers and stems more definition. I coloured the flower centres with a watercolour pencil. The panel is popped up on a diecut mat cut with the new Interlocking die.

Supplies:

Stamps: Hollyhocks, Special Wishes (PB)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils (Faber-Castell)
Inks: Memento Rosebud, Bamboo leaves, Olive Grove (Tsukineko)
Creative Dies: Interlocking (PB)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Poppies Galore

Posted: February 5, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Field of Dreams, Poppy Patch, Poppy Pattern, Watercolour | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 10 Comments

All this week on the Penny Black blog you can see projects made using the products from the new Happy Everything collection. The blog is featuring designs from several members of the design team and you will find plenty of inspiration when you pop over there. You will also find the details of a new contest and give away.

All the new products go on sale today in the online store. ( I have included links in my supplies sections)

The card above was made using the “Poppy Parade” stamp and the new poppy die “Field of Dreams”. If you know me you will probably have guessed that this card is features three tiles because my full design didn’t work out! I inked the stamp in green and orange with markers, spritzed it and stamped on damp watercolour paper. It bled a little then I began adding more colour with Memento inks and watercolour pencils. I continued the poppy theme using the diecut ‘Field of Dreams’ as a base for the sentiment.

Supplies:

Stamps: Poppy Parade, Special Wishes (PB)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils (Faber-Castell)
Inks: Memento Tangelo, Bamboo leaves, Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Creative Dies: Field of Dreams (PB)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Poppies feature several times in the new ‘Happy Everything’ collection including in this large background sized brush-stroke stamp. I inked the stamp with markers and stamped it onto watercolour paper then spritzed the paper to encourage the colours to bleed a little. I then created palette of Memento Rhubarb stalk ink by impressing the stamp pad onto an acrylic block. I picked up ink from the palette and painted it on as well as using watercolour pencils to add colour especially to the centres of the flowers. I painted a pale blue background around the flowers. The sentiment is one of eight new die cut sentiments.

Supplies:

Stamps: Poppy Pattern(PB)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils (Faber-Castell)
Inks: Memento Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo leaves, Tuxedo Black, Dandelion (Tsukineko)
Creative Dies: Celebrations (PB)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper

Butterfly Chapter

Posted: February 4, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: Butterfly Chapter, Watercolour, Wishes | Tags: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black creative dies, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Memento inks | 9 Comments

Penny Black is revealing designs and projects from the new ‘Happy Everything’ catalog all week and I have another card featuring a new stamp and die cut today. Check out the PB blog today to see Elizabeth’s wonderful creations and find out about the new contest also.

To create the picture panel for today’s card I stamped on watercolour paper with Memento Teal Zeal ink. I then added all my colour with watercolour pencils. As the Memento ink is a water-based dye ink it blended with the watercolour pencils as I coloured. I used a waterbrush to pick up colour from the lead of the pencil then painted it onto the panel blending with more water when a paler colour was desired. The mat is Purple Mountain Mix & Match paper stamped with the letter background stamp. The word die is new from the ‘Wishes’ set. Gluing those little cut outs from inside the letter loops was downright finicky. Any suggestions will be gratefully received!

I expect you will see more of this stamp from me; it is so delicate and pretty.

Supplies:

Stamps: Butterfly Chapter (PB)
Pencils: Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils Night Green 155, Blue Violet 137, Ochre 184, Light Orange 113 (Faber-Castell)
Inks: Memento Teal Zeal (Tsukineko)
Creative Dies: Wishes (PB)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, PB Mix & match Purple Mountain

Pretty in Pink

Posted: January 27, 2014 | Author: Heather | Filed under: CAS, Hand drawn, Watercolour | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps | 16 Comments

It is my hope to draw and paint more this year so I played around in my sketch book last night then painted these three toned pink flowers today. I couldn’t tell you what kind of flowers they are but I think the little purple ones look like violets. I painted the large oval of pale pink first with a water pen picking up colour from an Inktense pencil. I then painted a smaller oval in a slightly darker pink and finally a small darker centre. When the flowers had dried a little I added the centre dots and painted the little violets and leaves. I splattered a little ink here and there before adding the sentiment and removing the painter’s tape from the edges.

Supplies:

Stamps: From the Heart (PB)
Pencils: Derwent Inktense pencils 530, 410, 600, 1730, 1530, 760, 230
Inks: Versafine Imperial Purple (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: Fabriano 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper