Another Attempt at Daffodils

I wasn't in love with my first attempt at painting PTI's daffodils the other day, so I thought I would try again with the technique that was shown to us on day 8 of Online Card Classes Watercolor class. This attempt feels much less overworked to me, so I am happier with it. I almost always make two cards at the same time and after I painted the background on one I decided to leave the second one without a background. I think I like it better.

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OCC More Day 8 Cards!

Ok, I admit it - I am totally in love with what I learned in day 8 of Online Card Classes Watercolor class! I can't stop making cards with the technique Tasnim Ahmed taught us! With this card I did learn that the paper can make a BIG difference. I decided to paint two roses at once. The one that I made the card with is on Fabriano Hot Press 140lb watercolor paper and I loved how it turned out. I am also going to show a picture of the other one, painted at the same time on Aqvarelle Arches 100% cotton 140 lb watercolor paper. I think it turned out awful (it actually looks better in the photo than in real life) and it is not like the paper was cheap paper. I have had it for years, but at the time I bought it, it was probably the most I had ever spent on a craft item! (I will say I later did a different watercolor technique that the Aqvarelle paper handled better than the Fabriano, but I havent had time to photograph it yet.)

The stamps are PTI and I painted with distress inks.

This one is much fuzzier looking and the ink settled into the paper very fast, so I couldn't push it around where I wanted it like in the first one.

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OCC Day 8 Homework

I have love, love, LOVED day 5 through 8 of Online Card Classes Watercolor for Cardmakers class!! I just want to keep trying these techniques over and over (seriously, who need to go to work!? It is messing with my painting time!!)

First I tried the technique shown to us by Tasnim Ahmed. Her painting was SO gorgeous!! I need a lot more practice (and I think it would help if I picked an image with bigger open areas next time) but I think it is not too bad for a first attempt.

I used Papertry Ink's Year of Flowers Lily of the Valley and the sentiment is from one of the Think Big Favorites sets. I painted with distress inks.

My second card follows the example of Dawn Woleslagle (I definitely need a lot of practice here!) Can I just say she is AMAZING?? I already LOVED her stamps (WPlus9) and am being blown away by her recent watercolor cards made with those stamps (both in class and on her blog!)

I used the stamp set Flora and Fauna 1 by WPlus9. The sentiment is from WP9's Fresh Cut Florals  and I painted with distress ink.

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OCC More Day 5 Cards

I am playing catch up with my homework from Online Card Classes Watercolor for Cardmakers class. I LOVED the technique shown to us by Swarup Murthy (Sanketi) and already did one card using it. I know it is going to be something I try again and again!! This is my second attempt.

I used stamps from Papertrey Ink (Year of Flowers Daffodils and the sentiment is from one of the Think Big Favorites). The paint was Windsor and Newton Cotman tube watercolors.

I also made two cards using the technique Shari Carol showed us on day 5. They are the same other than color scheme - I thought I would make one masculine and one feminine, but I think my "masculine" one is still a little feminine! Oh, well!

I used a Hero Arts background stamp and the Thanks die and stamp set from Simon Says Stamp. 

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OCC Watercolor Day 3

Day 3 (and 4) of Online Card Classes Watercolor class taught us a lot of techniques for watercolor stamping. This is my first attempt with one of the techniques - I can't wait until my days off so I can try some more!

I used watercolors for the background and Distress Inks with the My Favorite Things floral image. The sentiment is from PTI. 

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OCC CAS3 Day 7 Take 2

Day 7 of Online Card Classes Clean and Simple 3 had me so inpired I had to try a second technique!! This one involved tracing an image with a gold pen and then coloring it in. I love how this looks even with my drying out pen! (I had to run to my local Micheals the next day to get a new pen and I am anxious to try this again with a pen that is more cooperative!!)

The main image is a new Papertrey Ink set that I just got and I think the sentiment is Hero Arts?

Thanks for looking!

Online Card Classes CAS3 Day 5

Well, Day 5 of Online Card Classes Clean and Simple 3 was all about bringing backgrounds into the foreground. I was particularly inspired by the lesson on iron off embossing and created 2 cards using the technique. I also had an excuse to grab my Twinkling H2O's out of the "garage sale" pile!! I'm glad I hadn't gotten rid of them yet!!

For the first card I used the My Favorite Things stamp set Peaceful Wildflowers. The sentiment is from PTI's Mini Blooms.  

My second card uses Stampin Up's Just Believe and PTI's Mini Blooms for the sentiment again. I made the first card using regular card stock so was able to make it a one layer card but I used watercolor paper for the second and it worked best as a panel.

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Online Card Classes CAS 3 Day 1

I am taking another card class through Online Card Classes - Clean and Simple 3 - and am loving it!! I am especially happy that they have given us more days between each lesson to get caught up, because I am obviously VERY slow to post anything I make!! I have actually made hundreds of cards since my last blog post, and just not gotten around to posting them.....

This is the card that I made after being inspired by the first days lessons. I know it is not really in the CAS style and I did work on that for my day 2 card, but I thought it would still be good to show what I was inspired to make. Everything is inlaid and completely flat except where the green strip meets the main panel. 

I used the Papertrey Ink stamp sets Mighty Oak and Hello Foxy, the Mighty Oak Coverplate, and a Birthday die. The inks are Linen Distress ink, Delicata Gold, and a mix of greens and brown from Fresh Ink, A Muse, and Memento Luxe. I think the green paper is some old Stampin Up - maybe Handsome Hunter?

Thanks for looking!

A Subtle Hello

I have made another card using inspiration from the Online Card Class Summer Card Camp 2 class that I am taking. I used the color combo from week 3. I have been wanting to try this technique (I don't really know what it is called!) where your sentiment is die cut from your background and raised to subtly show. I also sort of used the second sketch from this week.

Details:
Stamps: None
Paper: SU Chocolate Chip, Pool Party, Creamy Caramel, Lavender Lace, PTI Plum Pudding
Ink: None
Misc: PTI Wonderful Words Hello Die, PTI Rainbow Stripes Die

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Card Class Week 3 Color Combo

Hello! This weeks color challenge at Online Card Classes Summer Card Camp 2 was a doozy. It was SO not in my comfort zone! I almost decided to skip it, but went ahead and gave it a shot. I have surprised myself by actually liking it! Who'd a thought!? I also used the 1st sketch for the week. I usually post a picture of the sketch or colors but I am not sure what the rules are about that since it is a class instead of a challenge....

I tried the flowers using only the purples and then using blue, light purple and darker pinkish purple and I couldn't decide which I liked better so I just made basically the same card with each of them!

The Details:

Stamps: PTI The Sweet Life and Think Big Favorites #4

Paper: PTI White, Dark Chocolate, SU Kraft

Ink: PTI Classic Kraft, SU Baja Breeze, Lavender Lace, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Suede, Versamark

Misc: SU Linen Thread, PTI The Sweet Life Dies, SU White Embossing Powder

The Details:

Stamps: PTI The Sweet Life, SSS Banner Sayings

Paper: PTI White, Dark Chocolate, SU Kraft

Ink: PTI Classic Kraft, SU Baja Breeze, Lavender Lace, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Suede, Versamark

Misc: SU Linen Thread, PTI The Sweet Life Dies, SU White Embossing Powder

Thanks for vising today!

Summer Card Camp Day1 (For the New Neighbors)

Even though I have had little to no time to stamp lately, I signed up for Online Card Classes Summer Card Camp 2. I knew there was a chance I wouldn't get any of the assignments done until well after class had ended, but I still couldn't resist. I have really enjoyed each of the classes I have taken there! And, hey, I am only 3 days behind on doing the 1st day's assignment! Good job, me!!

This card was made using one of the Day 1 sketches and the 1st color challenge. I just got new neighbors and I am determined to at least know their names, so I have made a card and made a little trip to a local farmer's stand. I think fresh corn is a good "Welcome to Nebraska" gift (and I got them a watermelon, too! The samples were too tasty!)

For my card I used:

Stamps: Blanket Stitched Blooms (WPlus9), Sentiment from Winter Hills (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight (all Stampin Up), and Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: Sweet Girl (Echo Park), PTI White Cardstock
Misc: Inkssentials Enamel Accents, Copic Multiliner

ColourQ 187 Challenge

Hello! I have made a card today for the ColourQ challenge. These colors were HARD for me! I am pretty sure it is the light purple and pink together! What colors do you have a hard time putting on the same card?

This is the inspiration photo:

 

And here is my card:

 

I used PTI's Happiness in Bloom (sprayed liberally with water before stamping) and A Hero Arts sentiment.

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Fusion Challenge #4

Hiya! I have managed to do another challenge! This time I am playing along with the Fusion Hypothesis #4 challenge. The premise is that you can either use the sketch, the inspiration photo or combine them. You can then vote on the cards entered and they are keeping track of whether the winning cards use the sketch, inspiration photo or combine the two. This is my second time participating and both times I was drawn to the inspiration photo. I think all of the winning cards have combined both.

 

And here is my card:

 

I used Papertrey Ink's Mini Blooms and Wonderful Words Additions plus the "you" die from the Wonderful Words Additions set. I embossed the blooms in clear and then used Distress Stains for the color.

For anyone who visits here because you liked the colored images I did, I have some coming up. I still love to color and definitely feel more comfortable with that kind of stamping but I am trying to push myself out of my comfort zone.

Thanks for visiting today!