Watercolor cards

As mentioned yesterday, I'm taking a beginning watercolor class and I've transformed my practice pieces into cards. I love this charcoal and orange combo, striped image below, and when I did it, others in the class probably wondered why I chose that palette. At the time, I knew it would be used for a Halloween card. I did some sewing machine stitching, added ric-rac, and a Happy Halloween stamped image that my sister stamped for me a few years ago when she was here visiting and we made cards together. Therefore, I don't know the name of the set it's from. My instructor, Donna, was teaching us how to paint a plaid surface, and she really disliked these colors. I told her I love it so she let me take her masterpiece home. I have just added some flowers, brads, and a rub-on sentiment, then placed it on Tangerine Tango and Creamy Caramel cardstock.

This effect was interesting. The idea was to brush the heavy paper with clean water, then put some color on top of it, then using tweezers, add chunks for rock salt until it dries. This was my very first one and it didn't turn out too well, but it's amazing how adding a little (happy birthday) embellishment (Birthday Whimsy) and coordinating cardstock can magically turn any old piece of paper into interesting card art.

This lavender wash was done at my first class. (I've had two now.) I stamped the chandelier image and it was not inked up enough on the right side, so I had to cover it with something. With the machine stitching and other bling, it turned out to be a very luxurious looking card. I like it!

I still have a few more images to play with and see what I can come up with.

Kindness comes in many forms

Here's my first card to do after taking a beginning watercolor lesson. I just painted these three colored images this morning and they're very fun to do. I used heavy 140 pound paper and watercolor paint. First I brushed the paper surface with clear water, then brushed it with one of the bold three colors on each piece of heavy paper, then dropped little amounts of rubbing alcohol on it. Then let it dry, then trimmed it. Then mounted it on whisper white cardstock, scored it, then embossed the sentiment from Stampin' Up's Heard from the Heart Sentiment. I finished it off with 1/2-inch wide Pumpkin Pie striped grosgrain ribbon by Stampin' Up! I'll be making more cards with my watercolor mini masterpieces.

The second card coordinates with my first, using a similar technique. Wet the surface of the heavy paper with a paint brush, then put dots of color on, then place crinkled plastic wrap on top until it dries.

Miss you

This was a fun little card to whip up for my sister, using Halloween colors. I just stamped the main image, then used two markers for the flower and pot.

Delight in Life

This old set is great and I have an extra one, so I'm sending it to my sister for her birthday. (I don't think she looks at this blog!) This card was cased from a design by Sara L. I'm also sending my sister some cards made using this set to give her some tangible ideas for future cards to create. I hope she likes it!

Quick card makeover

Today I just dressed up this ready-made card by Current, by adding the ribbon and stamped it with an image from Stampin' Up's Timeworn Trim in Tempting Turquoise. The clean look and bright colors are my favorites. Easy breezy, my kind of card.

Good Works by Kelleye

These are my top two picks from Kelleye H. The layers on this card are so pretty in person, especially the three-dimensional birds. This card is very pretty and so nicely colored.

Thanks, Kelleye, for participating.

A toast to Ilene

Ilene H's cards from the swap were some of the best I received. Each one was embossed and colored beautifuly, and had amazing texture and personality. This black one was very elegant. This one is bright and cheery.

This one was a good general purpose card.

I'm crazy about this pennant flag and 3-D chips, which really make this card stand out.

"Olive" this card with the embossed pimentos! Nice job, Ilene.

Mona likes to emboss

My friend Mona L. made these next two lovely cards. She is such a talented card maker and often uses embossing. I love her work and wish I embossed more. These are my two favorites from the swap that she did.Vincent Van Gogh, the famous Dutch artist who cut off his ear, is one of my favorites, so this quote and the card jumped out at me. Nice work, Mona!