It's the weekend - let's get caught up!

Helllooooooo! Happy Friday night! Yeah! A weekend awaits and I am blogging! I've missed ya this week. I have lots to share. I have a couple more watercolor technique cards I made last weekend and some other stuff too. How are you? Got any fun plans for the weekend? I hope you do! Me....I have no idea what I'll be doing, and to be honest, that's just okay with me! I know one thing that's 100% certain....Sleeping in tomorrow!! 

Here is card #1 with another SUPER cool watercolor technique from the Onlinecardclasses class I signed up for. I'll warn you, this took about four hours! But, I think it's worth it because I really like how it turned out. Lots of color and a pretty pattern.

 

 

 

 

Here's a side shot of this card. I tried a bunch of different things on the front - banners, die cuts, stamped things and nothing looked good. So, I left it just the way it was. And, I sort of like it. I think this could be a nice 'any occasion' card for either a man or a woman. What do you think? What would you put on the front of this? 

 

 

Here's a side shot of the coloring and the colors...

 

 

 

The first step is to take watercolor paper and white heat emboss your stamped pattern. This is a giant background stamp from Penny Black. I used Versamark Ink and White Embossing Powder. 

 

 

 

The next step is to INDIVIDUALLY color each tiny section!!! I used Distress Markers in some pretty shades. You'll notice that all my colors fade in the same direction. This gives an overall appealing look. The color placement is totally random. I took my marker and gently colored a swatch in the section, then took my water brush and blended it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I only colored about half the image, then I cut it out around the edges. 

 

 

Here are my marker colors....

 

 

 

This next watercolor technique is an old favorite! This cute stamp set is from Mama Elephant. I simply stamped my images with Distress Ink pads and then went over the images with my water brush. This softens the edges and gives a blurred look. 

 

 

I kept this card really clean and simple too...

 

 

 

One last watercolor/stencil technique - if you'll indulge me!!! This is F-U-N!! Take your favorite stencil and some mini Distress Inks.... Blot your ink pads directly onto the back of your stencil in a random fashion. 

 

 

 

Next, take your mini mister and spritz the ink really good. Let the ink colors sort of run together...

 

 

 

Then, smush your stencil down on some watercolor paper....

 

 

 

Voila! I told you this was fun!!! How neat does this look??? I haven't made anything with it yet. It's just sitting on my craft table right now. 

 

 

 

Give it a quick hit with the heat gun to stop the ink from rolling around and ruining the images. 

 

 

 

In the interest of full disclosure.... Here's another one I made that I don't really like. I think all the darker colors are not as interesting as the brights...but there you have it! 

 

 

AND...you thought this post was over??? Ha! Today was my day to host over at the Taylored Expressions Blog and here's the card I'm sharing over there. You know it's only two weeks until the 4th of July! CLICK HERE to see more photos and my notes and directions for this card.  

Whew. Okay, now I'm done!

Have a great, awesome, wonderful, fantastic weekend. Love ya! 

 

Comments

[Audrey Pettit]

Loving all your projects and all these fun watercolor techniques! I am smiling to myself because I just made a card this weekend with that last technique you used. :) SO fun! I just love your cards! And I'm really wondering why on earth I don't have the Distress inks and markers yet. Seriously, what am I thinking?

[Lin]

Looks like you had lots of fun with these, Wanda! Love them all!

[Lisa - papergrace]

Oh Wanda...all your cards ALWAYS blow my mind. You are just so dang talented. But that top one? ♥swoooooon♥

As far as a sentiment? My fave way to add something is to stamp a sentiment on to a strip of cardstock weight vellum, heat emboss it, and wrap it around the entire front of the card. This way you HAVE a sentiment (if you want it) and all your beautiful coloring still shows through. :)

[julie]

I tried the 3rd technique after seeing it on Tim's blog for the June tag. Interesting results. Not sure how I would finish your first card (the background is so pretty). Maybe a simple die cut word in dusty concord.

[Jessica Monte]

Wow I really love the stars. You clock works is awsome for a masculine card. And you rock Tailored expressions

[Holly Saveur]

WOWSA you have been so busy.....LOVE them all..each one is a beauty!
hope you have a good long sleep...I did the same this morning!
hugs Holly.