Hi everybody! Where did this week go? Sheesh! I had all kinds of plans...but here it is Friday and all I did was go to work all week! Today is a special day because it is Chinese New Year - the Year of the Horse! Gung Hay Fat Choy! If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I always make Chinese New Year cards for my friends. CLICK HERE TO SEE MY CARDS FROM PAST YEARS. Here is some information about the Chinese Zodiac symbols. I am a Dragon! What are you?
I looked on-line and went through my stash and could not find any horse stamps that I thought were appropriate, so I got out my huge bin of Asian stamps and found a pretty lantern stamp to use for my cards this year.
I used one of my favorite techniques, which is 'watercolor' stamping with markers onto watercolor paper. You do this by inking your stamp with markers (water based markers like Marvy), and then spritzing the stamp lightly with water before impressing your image. For my cards, I stamped off three lanterns from each inking.... I used red, orange and yellow markers and let the colors blend together....
After I stamped my lanterns and they were dry, I stamped some pretty Chinese calligraphy in Linen Distress Ink, and then also inked the edges of my paper. Then I stamped my numbers in nice dark black ink.
Here are my stamps....
Gosh, how gorgeous are the postage stamps this year for Celebrating Lunar New Year??? LOVE these. I bought five sheets! The white cards on the right are the insides of my cards. The envelopes are a pretty red. You can see I stamped chrysanthemums in Versamark Ink on the front for a pretty detail.
Here is a close up of the pretty stamps....
I hope that you have a wonderful New Year! Celebrate and enjoy! I hope the Year of the Horse brings you health, happiness, success and prosperity! Gung Hay Fat Choy! And, have a great weekend everyone! XO
Your Chinese New Year card is so great! I particularly like the way you did the numbers and the colors are perfect the way in which you did them!
Posted by: Fonda Jo | 02/10/2014 at 08:29 AM
Pssst... you shall be the first I tell. A Muse is bringing back the gingham paper as part of their "spring accessories" catalog. It is only available in an assortment pack, but it shows they saw the error of their ways! They are also getting all sorts of fun dies, patterned paper, and crepe paper rolls (think party streamer). Available March 1.
Posted by: Princess Judy | 02/01/2014 at 07:35 AM
This card is gorgeous! I have a friend who asked me to make several "oriental" themed cards. I'm thinking I'd rather pull out my teeth with a pair of pliers. That is so not my style. I'll give it a whirl though. Whatever I come up with will not hold a candle to this card here though!!
Posted by: Princess Judy | 01/31/2014 at 02:34 PM
WOW!!!!!
so gorgeous..you are such a great stamp /card making artist..the cards are amazing!
hugs Holly.
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 01/31/2014 at 12:25 PM
I love your card: the colors, the techniques, and the number style. I don't have any Asian-style numbers :-(. I'm an ox; Mark's a dog.
I'm off to my studio to play with my Asian stamps--you've inspired me! I also need to buy some of those postage stamps. Can't believe how high international stamps are these days. I bought 3 yesterday for friends in the UK and Germany, and they've gone up 10 cents this month! Probably so they can spend more time scanning our envelopes at the NSA...
Posted by: julie | 01/31/2014 at 11:07 AM
Love that technique! I'm going to try it!! Your card is gorgeous, Wanda!!
Posted by: Natalie H | 01/31/2014 at 09:28 AM
Forget where did my week go...where did my life go? lol! Only kidding! I love your lanterns, they are so gorgeous! The layering of color is striking with the red and black...beautifully done, my sweets!
Posted by: Shelly | 01/31/2014 at 08:38 AM
I absolutely adore that you create Chinese New Year cards, my friend! Such a fun tradition, and I really look forward to seeing what you come up with each year. These are gorgeous! The watercolor effect with the lanterns is stunning. Really love that you stamped three times with one inking...as it adds just that much more depth. Loving the light string and stamped text, too. Love it all! Gung Hay Fat Choy to you, too!
Oh, and I'm a snake! :)
Posted by: Audrey Pettit | 01/31/2014 at 08:11 AM
Nice!! Always love the Chinese New Year's card you make!
Posted by: Mark | 01/31/2014 at 07:28 AM
Happy New Year Wanda! Gorgeous card! Love it!
:) Rachel
Posted by: Rachel ♥ Gingerbread Gal | 01/31/2014 at 07:00 AM