Butterfly Border
Posted: March 14, 2017 Filed under: Butterfly garden | Tags: Darkroom Door stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Versafine inks, WOW embossing powders 10 Comments
I have a couple of cards today featuring the border stamp ‘Butterfly Garden’ from Darkroom Door. The stamp is quite large, as it was designed with scrapbooks and art journals in mind. It is such a lovely stamp I wanted to feature it on cards also. I used an emboss resist technique on both cards, stamping in black ink then embossing in clear powder. The embossing resists liquid when I add it over the top making it possible to paint and blend over the image to create a colourful background.
To create the warm toned card above I stamped the butterfly garden stamp in spiced marmalade ink beside the embossed image then added distress stains over and around the stamping. I left soft blends in most places but added extra stain inside the butterflies. Once the background was dry I splattered some water drops to create a few watermarks.
On this second card I wanted to feature as much of the large stamp as I could so I designed a wide card that would fit in a business envelope. I once again added distress stains over the embossed image trapping colour inside the butterflies and amongst the fern fronds. I die cut the panel into three squares then framed with before adding them to a natural coloured card base.
Supplies
Stamps: butterfly garden, happy birthday (Darkroom Door)
Cardstock: hot pressed watercolour paper, pale green, black and rust cardstock
Ink: versafine onyx black ink (Tsukineko), Spiced Marmalade distress ink & Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw, Aged Mahogany, Broken China, Seedless Preserves, Salty Ocean, Peeled Paint distress stains(Ranger)
Also: clear embossing powder, gold cord
A Sweet Friendship
Posted: March 5, 2017 Filed under: CAS, first blush | Tags: Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Versafine inks 12 Comments
I hesitate to call this a ‘no line watercolour card because I can see the outline stamping quite clearly in most places. The technique is one I regularly use where I stamp with either distress stains or distress inks then blend colour out of the stamped image with a damp paint brush to fill the interior shapes, in this case petals and leaves.
I stamped the ‘first blush’ outline stamp from Penny Black in wild honey ink on cold pressed watercolour paper then stamped it on masking paper also. Believe it or not I cut a fiddly mask adequately enough to mask my first stamped image so I could stamp another overlapping the first. That is how I managed blossoms behind blossoms. With all the stamping done I picked up a small round watercolour brush (probably a size 2 or 3) and started painting worn lipstick stain into the petals. The pink stain blended with the wild honey stamped ink to make a coral colour. While the petals were still damp I dropped some spiced marmalade distress stain into the petals to give me light and dark areas. I filled the stems and leaves with forest moss stain then, when all was dry, drew some centres in the blossoms with a spiced marmalade distress marker.
To finish the card I stamped the scripture sentiment about friendship in versafine ink and coloured in the word ‘sweet’ to make it solid like the rest. I have a simpler design with this same sweet blossom stamp to share another day. I’m joining in with Kathy Racoosin’s 30 day colouring challenge again as I imagine many of you are too.
Supplies:
Stamps: first blush, faith (PB)
Cardstock: cold pressed watercolour paper, olive green cardstock
Ink: versafine olympia green & vintage sepia (Tsukineko) forest moss, worn lipstick, spiced marmalade distress stains, wild honey distress ink (Ranger)
Little Secret
Posted: February 27, 2017 Filed under: a little secret, CAS | Tags: Fabriano Watercolour Paper, Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Versafine inks 14 Comments
I’m playing with layers in today’s card, both layers of stamping and layers of painting. I used a couple of colours of distress stain to create the background on hot pressed watercolour paper. I painted with both chipped sapphire and stormy sky, keeping the colour dark on the left and pale on the right. After I had done one layer I dried it then painted another layer. While the second layer was still wet I stamped the ‘a little secret’ stamp in chipped sapphire ink, taking care as I inked it to leave the birds uninked. I let that dry and stamped again in chipped sapphire to get an image which didn’t soften and bleed. With the panel dry I dropped some water droplets onto the painted background then after a minute or so dried them with paper towel. The watermark left behind looks like light or a moon in the distance. To finish I stamped the full stamp in versafine onyx black ink.
You can see the deckled edge in the close up above. I buy quite a bit of hot pressed watercolour paper in large sheets and each sheet has two deckled edges which occasionally I incorporate into my projects. I mounted the panel on a white card base and left it without a sentiment.
Thanks for dropping by.
Supplies
Stamps: a little secret (PB)
Inks: chipped sapphire, stormy sky distress stains and inks(Ranger), versafine onyx black (Tsukineko)
Paper: Fabriano hot pressed watercolour paper
Shining lights
Posted: February 10, 2017 Filed under: African Trees, Hand lettered, Tribal | Tags: Darkroom Door stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Tsukineko Versafine inks 10 Comments
I’m still having fun with the African stamps from Darkroom Door, this time combining a loose watercoloured background with a sharp silhouetted tree in the foreground. I stamped the ‘tribal’ background first on watercolour paper in several colours of distress ink. Once the whole pattern was stamped I painted over it with water and the colours blended from into each other.
I let the background dry completely before dropping some water strategically here and there. When water comes in contact with distress ink it reacts and dilutes the ink. By letting the water sit for a minute then dabbing it up with a paper towel I was able to create light patches which look a bit like lights in an already abstract sky.
I stamped the tree over the ‘sky’ once it dried then painted the ground with black soot distress stain. My sentiment, inspired by the ‘watermark lights’ was handwritten in McCaffery’s Penmans black ink.
Supplies:
Stamps: Tribal, African Trees (Darkroom Door)
Inks: Distress wild honey, spiced marmalade, fired brick inks, black soot distress stain (Ranger) versafine onyx black (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: neenah natural white cardstock, neenah epic black cardstock, fabriano hot pressed watercolour paper
Writing ink: Mc Caffery’s Penman’s ink black
Nib holder: Exclusive handmade from Foiled Fox
Love you still
Posted: January 19, 2017 Filed under: Penny Black, Red blush | Tags: Penny Black stamps, Ranger Distress inks, Ranger Distress stains, Tsukineko Versafine inks 4 Comments
Today I am featuring another new stamp from the ‘Follow your Heart’ release, this rose stamp is called ‘red blush’ something I did not realise when I designed my yellow and orange card!
I used a stamp positioner for this card so I could create a watery image initially but still be able to add some definition over the top once the first stamping had dried. I began by spritzing water down the left hand side of the panel. I inked the rose with wild honey, peeled paint and forest moss distress stain then stamped it and let the colour blend into damp area of paper. Where the stamp had hit dry paper I used a paint brush to blend colour into the petals, stem and leaves. I let the panel dry before inking and stamping the right hand side of the rose again to add definition. I stamped the sentiment next in vintage sepia ink.
At this point in my creative process I decided to add script background around the rose and sentiment so I masked both with post-it notes and stamped the stamped in wild honey distress ink and lightly spritzed a couple of places. I also sponged wild honey distress ink around the edges then matted the panel in olive green and added some cotton thread wrapped around the bottom of the panel and secured with a bow.
Thank you for stopping by to see my ‘Follow your heart‘ projects. You might have noticed that my projects this week were not strictly Valentine cards more cards that could be given to loved ones any time. Do you make and give Valentine cards?
Supplies
Stamps: Red blush, Forever & Always , Script(PB)
Ink: forest moss, wild honey, peeled paint distress stains, wild honey distress ink (Ranger) versafine vintage sepia ink (Tsukineko)
Also: cotton thread
Paper: hotpressed 100% cotton watercolour paper, olive green cardstock
Mid winter sky
Posted: January 12, 2017 Filed under: Color Burst, Into the sky | Tags: color burst, liquid metals, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Versafine inks 13 Comments
The sky has been very pretty around dusk lately, not the deep colours in today’s card but a soft apricot glow on the horizon along with yellows, pinks and blues. I used Colorburst powders to create this sky and the shadows between the snow banks. First I positioned a torn post-it mask across the watercolour panel and stamped the ‘into the sky’ branches over the mask. I removed the mask and repositioned it lower down and stamped some more branches on the right then finally placed the mask even further down the panel and stamped the tips of the branches on the left, all in versafine black ink.
Once the ink was dry I painted the sky in the top portion of the panel making sure I kept the paint above the bottoms of the branches. I tilted the panel to let the pinks and blues mix into patterns and new shades. I did the same behind the remaining branches but did not paint right up to the top of the snow bank above.
I mixed the paint powders in a palette and added platinum liquid metal for a little shimmer and sparkle. I hope the beauty around you inspires you today.
Supplies:
Stamps: Into the sky, Amazing (PB)
Paints: Alizarin Crimson, Indigo & Ultramarine Blue Colorburst powders (Ken Oliver)
Inks: Versafine onyx black ink (Tsukineko)
Cardstock: hot pressed watercolour paper, neenah epic black cardstock
Also: Platinum Liquid Metal (Ken Oliver)
New Year Landscape
Posted: December 31, 2016 Filed under: Skyward, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Peerless Transparent Watercolors, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Versafine inks 15 Comments
The scene on today’s card is not unlike what I see around Ottawa. Sometimes the sky is bright blue; it usually means the temperature is very cold. The landscape is covered in white but the trees tend to be a mix of black, grey and sometimes brown, the deciduous ones that is. I splattered masking fluid over a piece of watercolour paper to create the look of falling snow; if the sky had been darker it could have looked like either snow or stars. I then used Peerless watercolours to add colour. I began by painting a line of water across my panel; that line became the edge of the background snowbank. I picked up grey paint and added it to the water then brown so the colours spread and feathered. I added more water above the grey and brown then started painting blue from the top of the panel slowly pulling it down and diluting it with water. I didn’t want the blue to mix with the grey and brown so I kept the edge of both colours diluted with water and tipped my panel towards the top so colour would move upward not down.
I positioned a mask lowered down the panel then stamped the bare branches in versafine onyx black. Once the ink was dry I removed the mask and painted colour behind the stamping extending to the right hand edge to look like another snow bank. To finish I removed the masking fluid, added a sentiment, matted the panel and attached it to a card base.
I wish you all a happy new year and look forward to sharing with you here in 2017. Thank you so much for dropping in to see what I’ve been creating.
Supplies
Stamps: Skyward, Holiday Snippets (PB)
Ink: Versafine onyx black ink (Tsukineko)
Paper: hot pressed watercolour paper, brown cardstock
Paint: cobalt blue, neutral tint, mahogany brown (Peerless watercolours)
The Yellow House
Posted: December 28, 2016 Filed under: Brusho, Victorian home | Tags: Brusho, Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolour pencils, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Versafine inks 3 Comments
I painted the yellow house a while ago using brusho watercolour powders for both the background and the house. In the background I let the brusho do what it does so well, blend from colour to colour. The house I was more finicky about. I stamped the house in vintage sepia versafine ink, a pigment ink that would not bleed when I started adding watercolour paints over it. I used a small paintbrush and brusho in a palette to paint the house in yellow and grey. After it dried I used watercolour pencils to add shading to columns, steps, roof tiles and bricks. I let that dry before adding a circle mask in the top right corner to create the moon in the blended blue sky. By dampening the paper before adding colour I was able to blend softly from blue to green to grey.
I matted in yellow and grey just like I might if framing a painting . The stamp is long and thin so the card is too. When I was making this panel a friend of mine was making one too. She didn’t end up with such a tall thin card because she added a car beside the house which looked very cute!
Supplies:
Stamps: Victorian Home (PB)
Ink: vintage sepia versafine ink (Tsukineko)
Paper: 100% cotton hot pressed watercolour paper, co-ordinating cardstock for mats
Paint: brusho ultramarine, lemon, emerald green, black (Colourcraft)
Pencils: sepia, pine green, cold greyIV Albrecht Durer watercolour pencils (Faber Castell)
Winter Cheer
Posted: December 23, 2016 Filed under: Nature's Silhouettes, Stamped Landscapes | Tags: Kuretake Zig clean color real brush markers, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Versafine inks, WOW embossing powders 4 Comments
I used the versatile birch trunk stamps from the ‘Nature’s Silhouettes’ set for this card stamping them over a hill shaped mask at the bottom and bending them this way and that so no two trees looked the same. After stamping them I positioned a circle mask for the moon and painted masking fluid over all the tree trunks. I used zig clean colour real brush markers for the blue sky and green foliage in the background; I rarely use the zig markers but whenever I do I resolve to get them out more often. The colours are so vibrant and the blending so easy. Once the sky was completed I removed all the masks and added grey to the trunks.
I wanted shadows in the snow but with paler tones than the background so scribbled some colour on a palette and diluted it to paint a shadow for each tree. There is a little line of sparkly embossing along the snow banks to make them glisten. The sentiment may or may not be positioned where it is to hide something; I’ll let you draw your own conclusions!
Enjoy Christmas Eve.
Supplies:
Stamps: Nature’s Silhouettes, Yuletide wishes (PB)
Markers: Zig clean color real brush markers green, blue, light gray (Kuretake), Versamarker
Inks: Versafine onyx black ink, Majestic blue(Tsukineko)
Cardstock: hot pressed watercolour paper
Also: clear sparkle embossing powder
Lake Reflections
Posted: December 18, 2016 Filed under: On the lake | Tags: Kuretake Gansai Tambi watercolour paints, Penny Black stamps, Tsukineko Versafine inks 7 Comments
The stamp ‘On the Lake’ is a such a lovely stamp, a whole scene in itself. I featured it with a sunset behind it here keeping the stamped image all black. Once again I stamped in black on today’s card but used a limited blue palette to create a moonlit sky with reflections in the lake.
I began by using the MISTI to stamp the ‘on the lake’ image in versafine black on hot pressed watercolour paper. I used the MISTI so I could restamp a couple of times to make sure the image was solid; watercolour paper has some texture, even the hot pressed, so the first stamped image is not always complete. Once the the ink was dry I positioned a frisket film circle mask on the left hand side and painted the sky, lake and reflections in blue watercolour paint. I kept the colour diluted around the moon and in the lake under the moon.
Another way to use this stamp is by inking sections in different colours. To see this technique check out Jill Foster’s beautiful card and video here.
Supplies
Stamps: On the lake (PB)
Ink: Versafine onyx black ink (Tsukineko)
Paper: Fabriano hot pressed watercolour paper , Neenah epic black cardstock, solar white cardstock
Also: gansai tambi water colour paint, grafix frisket film, MISTI
Heather Telford 