Continuing with my theme of what inspires me this week... I have some fun and bright cards to show you! What has been inspiring me recently is the trend of watercoloring over images that have been embossed in white onto watercolor paper. This trend is BIG right now and it's so pretty and clean and classic. Pure stamping - back to our roots! I sat down in the studio yesterday and just picked and chose some pretty images that I thought would work with this technique... Well, I ended up making three cards! I'm going to share all three today, so there are a lot of photos. Grab a latte and sit down with me for a minute, won't you?
I used images from Stampin' Up (lemon) and Papertrey Ink (everything else) and then I used my Zig Clean Color Markers for coloring. Then, as I am known to do...I finished with some enamel dots and twine. I had some soft warm-grey gingham paper that I used for my card bases. I prefer the Ranger Watercolor paper the best, and that's what I've used here to stamp and color. Hope you enjoy! And, hope you're having a great week!
First up I chose an image from the Strawberry Patch stamp set from Papertrey Ink. I use this set all the time because I love this image! I stamped in Versamark Ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. Then the fun part --- coloring!
This sentiment is also from Papertrey Ink and I stamped/embossed it onto crisp black cardstock. I cut the flag part free hand and mounted it on the card with foam tape.
I used a couple of shades of red/pink for the berries and then three shades of green for the leaves. If you look closely you'll see a very light green, a darker true green and then just a touch of teal green. MMMMM. Yum. I colored with my Zig Clean Color Markers directly onto the paper and then swirled the color around with clean water and a small paintbrush.
My trick for the blue background is the wet the paper before laying my color down. I took clean water and wet the paper around my image. Then I took the pretty blue marker and colored on a clear stamping block. I diluted this ink with more water and then put it down onto the wet paper. This makes the color nice and soft. And, it will look different every time!
Next I thought it would be nice to try a Fall image...since we are in August and it's time to think about transitioning to Autumn... I used this gorgeous image from the Papertrey Ink set called Sunflower Bouquet. ACK. It's so pretty! And really fun to color. I used shades of yellow and orange and brown...and a few shades of green....
This time I stamped my sentiment directly onto the card. It didn't look right to have the large black paper on this one. I think maybe that looks better with more 'loose' florals instead of this 'formal' floral. Have to think about that some more....
And, last, but not least, I used a fairly simple image. I wanted to try something that had larger areas of color. These images are from the Stampin' Up set called A Happy Thing. This one took me just a few minutes to color. I thought about adding some glitter....but I refrained. Maybe next time! LOL.
I reallllllly love the contrast between the bright yellow and the soft aqua on this one!
Have you tried this technique yet? I really think you should! You can use whatever water-based markers you have. Give it a go! Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for spending some time with me. I'm excited because tomorrow I get to meet my friend's new baby! He was born on July 4th and I'm dying to squeeeeeeze him! XOXO
These cards - each one of them made me gasp in awe and delight and then I swooned as I took a closer look at each one and the beautiful details and the coloring and just so AMAZING!!!
Posted by: Taunya Butler | 08/20/2015 at 03:59 PM
Oh these cards are gorgeous!!!
Posted by: Jamie Vanskiver | 08/14/2015 at 05:34 PM
This technique/trend really brings watercolors to life. You've done them proud here. I love the strawberries bestest of all! So yummy I could take a bite.
Posted by: Princess Judy | 08/13/2015 at 11:46 AM
Just so beautiful...love your amazing water coloring skills!
Posted by: Kim Heggins | 08/12/2015 at 03:44 PM
Very nice! I love all of them. I like the white embossing with the watercolors. Also, agree with you about the Tim Holtz wc paper - very nice to work with. Thanks, have fun at visiting the new baby.
Posted by: Troy Louise | 08/12/2015 at 01:22 PM
This trend has become one of my all time favs!! LOVE your coloring on these, Wanda!! LOVE the sunflowers especially! Wow, so pretty!!!! Oh the lemon too, and the strawberries (so cute!) Goodness I love all the inspiration & creativity here!! I'm teaching a class on this very technique in Sept. at our lss. Yay!! Have a great week!!
Posted by: Natalie H | 08/12/2015 at 08:26 AM
Beautiful cards Wanda!
Posted by: Teresa | 08/12/2015 at 07:49 AM
Beautiful cards. I use several types of watercolor, from the original tubes to distress pads and markers, from watercolor pencils to Japanese watercolor markers. I've tried white embossing, memento Black, and the "no line " technique. Love them all. I have some alcohol markers but find them difficult to blend.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Julie | 08/12/2015 at 07:45 AM
Hi Wanda! These cards are stunning!! I have long loved water color, first in prints when I worked in a Frame Factory office and had some framed by my home. Then we when we all got computers and I made greeting cards with the Hallmark programs. This kind of water color was so easy and mindless for Me, which made it a very enjoyable to just play and or escape into something that made my heart sing without thinking. The Zigs look like so much fun, but I will keep using my Crayola Washable markers, even though the Tim Holtz markers are screaming my name...because I just plunked out $260 on Copic Various ink refills and a few new markers and colors, because they are my next favorite way to color!! OMgosh, I can't believe I spent that much!! LOL Most of it was birthday money, that makes it okay, right?! Have a GREAT Day, Wanda!
Posted by: Paulette S. | 08/12/2015 at 07:04 AM
GORGEOUS!!
loved how you used the gingham paper as background..and love all the images and how you colored them...this is my favorite thing to do ..love white embossing and water coloring...sadly don't have the time to do so at the garden needs much work at the moment..but made a few weeks ago a few cards that way...I love that the embossing makes the watercolor easier to handle..to stay inside the lines...
Have a great day my friend!
Hugs Holly.
Posted by: Holly Saveur | 08/12/2015 at 05:39 AM
Wanda, all your cards are just lovely! The colouring is amazing and make me want to give those Zig Markers a try (if only my cards turn out as beautiful as yours LOL).
Posted by: Susi Kelly | 08/12/2015 at 04:47 AM
These cards are so super cute Wanda!
Posted by: Celeste Goff | 08/12/2015 at 04:38 AM
Oh my Gosh! What coloring fun you had! Don't you love this loose watercolor? Now I have a soft spot for green, so this Lemon speaks to me but they're all wonderful!
Posted by: Patti Willey | 08/12/2015 at 03:45 AM