Hi Everyone
It’s time for a new Watercolor Challenge over at Happy Little Stampers – this time Anything Goes, with an optional twist – Rainbow! We have a guest designer joining us this week – Julie – be sure to check out hers and the rest of the Design Team’s inspiration over at the HLS blog. You could also be in with a chance to win $15 discount at the HLS store.
I had so much fun playing this week, I made two cards, both using the Happy Little Stampers Especially For You which I think is my favourite stamp set by HLS!
For both cards I stamped the focal image in Distress Ink Hickory Smoke on Strathmore watercolor paper (500 series) cut to 3.5″ x 5″. I then stamped it again on a post-it and cut it out and masked the image.
To create the rainbow I used a variety of Distress inks and blended them gently over the masked image and outward. I used Carved Pumpkin, Fossilized Amber, Wilted Violet, Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron and Abandoned Coral for the Butterfly card. For the flower I changed it up with some Picked Raspberry, Tumbled Glass, Cracked Pistachio and Squeezed Lemonade (as well as WV and CP). I then flicked water onto the ink and let it dry for a few seconds before lifting it off. I then removed the mask
To colour the focal image I used a paintbrush, water and did a light wash of Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke, let it dry and then did another layer. I let it dry then did another couple of layers in Ground Espresso. I thought this gave a cool vintage-y sepia photo type look. I then added some splatters of both with the paint brush for good measure.
The sentiments are also from the same set. I heat embossed both – the Butterfly using Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder, and the flower with Hero Arts white.
To finish the cards I added them with double sided tape to a Simon Says Stamp Fog card base. On the flower card I added Nuvo drops in clear along the bottom and as drops on the main card. For the butterfly I coloured the image with clear Wink of Stella and added some Sparkling Clear Pretty Pink Posh sequins.
Hope you liked the cards – make sure to play along over at Happy Little Stampers for your chance to win a $15 discount to the store!
Have a wonderful day,
Jenny x
Amazing cards, Jenny! That moth looks like it is about to fly away, it's so real!
oh my, Jenny! These are simply amazing! I LOVE the vintage feel you gave the butterfly and flower – wow! Stunning work xx
Oooooooo! So lovely, Jenny. Beautiful colors. Love the butterfly and the flower. I don't have "Especially for You" and now I think I NEED it. 🙂 Gorgeous creations.
Two fab cards, love the soft background to the watercoloured images. The butterfly looks so real! 🙂
Gorgeous cards Jenny, and I love the vintage sepia look against the beautiful blended backgrounds.
Beautiful cards Jenny! That butterfly looks so realistic.
Wow, love the backgrounds of both cards and love how you've used the hickory smoke and espresso distress inks…they looked amazing together x
Both your cards are absolutely Stunning, Jenny. I love your sponged rainbow colored backgrounds with water splatters and your beautifully watercolored main images. Definitely a sepia vintage look. TFS and including your descriptions. Hugs..
Oh Jenny, 2 mini masterpieces! Gorgeous watercolors!
Oh my goodness, Jenny, these are gaspingly gorgeous! The natural colouring on both the butterfly and daisy is beautiful … and the rainbows of soft colour around them are stunning! A spectacular duo! Hugs, Anita 🙂
Wow Jenny both are so beautiful! Love the light colours and the subtile use of the images! You coloured both images so realisti; great! Hugs, Gerrina
These cards are beautiful, the contrast you created with the sepia focal points and the rainbow background was such a cool idea!
Both cards are stunning–just want to stare at them!
The combination of monochrome sepia color with the colors of the rainbow looks stunning! Unusual, very beautiful cards.
Hugs,
BożenA