Watercolor Hydrangea with Distress Inks!

Hi there! Happy Weekend! How are you friends? What's new? As you've probably noticed, I've been busy crafting up a storm! Dang, it's been paper and ink and stamps flying everywhere in my studio lately! It's all soooo very good! In addition to my post here today, I also have a post on the Simon Says Stamp Blog - a really cute Ice Cream Truck card! EEP - click here to check it out!

Today, here, I'm posting my final project made with the new SSS Release from last week - Among the Stars (at least my final project for now!) I made this totally elaborate and very dimensional card using the new Hydrangea Petal Dies. This card really was a labor of love...late at night, with my pretty Distress Inks, like a mad scientist in her laboratory. The result is pretty fun and I'm excited to be sharing it with you.

The die cut for this flower is actually three of the same shape in four different sizes, perfect for layering and building a hydrangea flower. I've outlined my steps in photos later in the post, but here is a look at the finished card. I'm going to have to either hand deliver this one, or send it in a box!

Here is a close up of the petals and leaves. The card base is white, with just a half sheet of patterned paper to accent the flower. Everything was die cut using watercolor paper, and everything was colored with water and Distress Inks. Exact colors listed at the bottom of my post. Pretty pearls accent the centers of the buds and the leaves. This card has an old fashioned feeling to me, and pearl accents seemed like the right touch.

Here is a side view so you can see how it is all put together. I used glossy accents to hold the flowers in place. You can see that each little bud is pushed right up against the next one, to make it look really nice and full, like a real hydrangea. The sentiment is clean and elegant and stamped in rich black ink.

I started by painting a couple of sheets of watercolor paper in different shades of purple, violet and blue. In these step out photos, you'll notice that the petals look a lot more purple than in the final project. When I finished, I decided that I wanted more blue, so I added more paint later - that's the reason! After my paper was dry, I die cut as many petals as I could out of the watercolored paper.

I knew that I didn't want the petals to be flat, so I used the end of a rounded paint brush to gently push the centers in and therefore raising up the petals. This is what they looked like after that step of the process.

This is the fun part! I glued them together in layers and clusters. This is where I added more blue paint too!

I wasn't to exact in my placement of everything. I don't think it matters in this instance - just keep building until you get a flower the shape you like! I watercolored some Clustered Leaves and added them underneath the flowers for pop of bright, fresh green.

Thank you so very very much for stopping by today to see this project. I'm hoping I inspired you to spend part of your weekend being creative! Have a lovely day! XOXO

SUPPLIES FOR TODAY'S PROJECT!

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Comments

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So yummy! Wow! Just wow.

Posted by: Princess Judy | 06/29/2016 at 04:44 PM

LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Posted by: Ellie Knol | 06/28/2016 at 01:12 PM

Absolutely beautiful, I love it!

Posted by: Germayne | 06/27/2016 at 03:07 PM

Hand delivered or sent through the mail in a box, anyone would be excited to receive this beautiful card.

Posted by: Linda S. | 06/27/2016 at 05:21 AM

Gorgeous card!

Posted by: Dolores | 06/26/2016 at 08:48 PM

Just stunning Wanda!

Posted by: Teresa Doyle | 06/26/2016 at 03:18 PM

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE the coloring. These flowers are Fabulous! Thank you for sharing this technique.

Posted by: Veronica Fairbrother | 06/26/2016 at 10:20 AM

Such a pretty card!

Posted by: Tona | 06/26/2016 at 10:15 AM

You are so AMAZINGLY TALENTED!!! Love this card and it just totally boasts of your talents and your gifts for color, precision, card design and styling!! SO VERY BEAUTIFUL!!!

Posted by: Taunya Butler | 06/26/2016 at 09:55 AM