Hi everyone! Hope you're having a wonderful day! I've been creating a lot and have lots to share in the coming weeks. Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day and Easter and Spring! Loving all the pretty pastels and bright colors in crafting and in clothes too. I made my first tiered tray decoration project for our house (LOVE this trend)... We had a really quiet weekend at home with, your guessed it, MORE RAIN. Dang. I think it's done for now and the weather report calls for a few days of sunshine. I'm ready for it.
Today I'm sharing a project made with new stamps I bought at the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo a few weekends ago. I always love going by the Art Impressions booth at these events. My friend Georgia is one of their reps, so I always get a giant hug. And, I love seeing what one of my favorite companies has come out with that's new. I have been a fan of Art Impressions for YEARS! Especially the tiny stamps that build watercolor scenes. Back when I used to regularly teach stamping classes at my LSS I taught this technique a lot...and the classes were some of my most popular ones. I still have allllll those teeny tiny wood mount stamps. The best. I'll talk more about the technique as we go along in the post. I used brand new Mushrooms stamps with little elves! EEP.
The finished card is slightly smaller than A2 size. I trimmed it 1/4 inch on the long side. The card base is a pretty olive green, and I layered some gingham over it before making the top layer. The top layer is watercolor paper die cut with a stitched rectangle die cut.
I used Mini Distress Ink ink pads for this project. It's super easy to smush some ink onto a palette and use a small brush to paint. For the grass, rocks and purple flowers, I also used the Mini ink pads and stamped with them. The sentiment is from a new set from Hello Bluebird stamps. Hi!
Here's a close up! I inked the two mushrooms, the elf, and the sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black ink. This ink holds up to watercoloring. I water colored the mushrooms and the elf using a paint brush and water mixed with the distress inks. For the grass and flowers and rocks, I used the small accent floral stamps with distress ink. Now, this is how the technique comes to life! After you stamp with the water based ink (ink pad or water based markers) you take your paint brush and a tiny amount of water and blur the lines of the stamping! It's really like magic. And it never fails. When I was first learning to stamp I adored this so much. Made me feel like I could water color! I went back with some blue ink and water and added the shadows. For the white mushroom detail, I used a floral stamp and some white pigment ink!
The watercolor layer was wrapped with some twine and then attached to the card using foam tape. I added a tiny heart.
That's my Spring card for today! I really love anything that has a woodland theme! Mushrooms, elves, foxes....all of that! I hope I've inspired you to try something new!! XOXO
I have something else to announce! I'm very very pleased to now be an Amazon Influencer! I've been an Amazon Affiliate for a few years and this is a great next step. I have an Amazon Storefront now. It's populated with lists of things that I recommend to my followers and readers. I have lists of my favorite craft supplies, yarn supplies, pet products, my photography equipment, my favorite beauty products...etc. My promise to you is that every item on every list is something I own and enjoy. I will only recommend things that I use myself in my own home. I really hope you will check it out. Any feedback is appreciated! Want a new list of something? Curious about something? Let me know! Click the link below to visit my Amazon Page.
Sunday morning it was sunny for a minute. LOL. I ran out into the front yard and picked some daffodils and tulips to put on my desk in the studio. What a joy to have fresh flowers again! Yeah! Our garden is bursting!! My husband plants a million bulbs all mixed together and it's so fun to watch everything bloom. Daffodils, Crocus, Tulips, Narcissus....AHHHH.
SUPPLIES FOR TODAY!
Ahh this is so cute! I was looking at that stamp but didn't end up getting it. Thanks for the tip on "blurring" the stamp lines. I will have to try that.
Posted by: Karen | 03/12/2019 at 11:00 PM
Very spring-like & bright card!! I love the daffodils!! They always make me happy cuz I know warmer weather is coming!!
Posted by: Jennifer Hovermale | 03/12/2019 at 07:47 PM
Wanda, love AI and this card is darling! Looked through your Amazon list! Lots of goodies! Congratulations on becoming an influencer! Have a lovely day!
Posted by: Julie L | 03/12/2019 at 11:56 AM
Such a pretty flower. Love the flowers - I can't wait for Spring to come.
Posted by: Martha H. | 03/12/2019 at 09:52 AM
You make it sound so easy... I am going to give it a try. I love these mushrooms, and who wouldn't love to see an elf perched on top. I am excited to check out your Amazon list! Congrats on becoming an Influencer. Of course you have been influencing me for some time already. Thanks for that too....
Posted by: Anne Sturgeon | 03/12/2019 at 08:03 AM