Copper Flourishes

Months ago, I posted about making watercolor backgrounds, and how I considered this one a complete loss. {grin} As it happens, it really sets off these gorgeous Copper Foil Flourish Thinlits! Never give up on a watercolor, eh?

Flourishing Phrases, Copper Foil, Thick Whisper White, Watercolor paper, Vellum Cardstock, Versamark ink, Copper embossing powder, Flourish Thinlits, Copper Metallic Thread, Popcorn Box Thinlits (sentiment shape).

Technique: Watercolor Resist and Balloon Celebration

Resist techniques (when you use something that "resists" the ink) are always fun, so why not add in watercoloring??? The key to making this technique work is the MISTI. It allows you to overstamp your images several times, to make sure the Versamark attracts enough embossing powder. Watercolor paper by nature is rough, so it would be difficult to accomplish this without being able to re-stamp.

Instructions: 
Using the MISTI, stamp the images 3 times with Versamark, then emboss with Clear Embossing Powder. Let cool.

Tape all 4 sides of your watercolor paper to a watercolor board. Use a wide brush to apply a light coat of water to the watercolor paper. If you don’t want the color to extend clear to the edges, leave a slight dry border.

Using a wet Aquapainter, dip into ink (start with Curry and work darker, to Cucumber Crush and Bermuda Bay) and touch to wet areas on WC paper. Keep adding till you get the blend you want. Allow to dry.

After Watercolor panel is dry, use black fine-tip pen to draw borders and balloon strings.

Here are a few different samples--all made by me, and all using the same technique. Each one will be different!

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tams# 7163

Product List

Balloon Celebration Photopolymer Stamp Set

[140675]

$26.00

Bravo Photopolymer Stamp Set

[135380]

$26.00

Watercolor Paper

[122959]

$5.00

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

$7.00

Gold Glimmer Paper

[133719]

$5.00

Versamark Pad

[102283]

$7.50

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[131158]

$3.25

Cucumber Crush Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[138329]

$3.25

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[131156]

$3.25

Project Life Journaling Pens

[135304]

$5.00

Bear Hugs Framelits Dies

[140275]

$27.00

Aqua Painters

[103954]

$17.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Paper Pumpkin Monday: Watercolor Manly Occasions

My  May Paper Pumpkin kit arrived Saturday! I rarely get it so early. I was playing around with the Night of Navy ink spot that came with this kit, Many Manly Occasions, and I ended up adding a bit of water coloring to the edges of the die cut card base. There are also a few spatters across the greeting, but it's hard to see in this photo.

This is a great kit! There are two types of laser-cut card bases:

A great stamp set:

And corrugated Pumpkin Pie cardstock and Pool Party enamel stars:

You can sign up for a Paper Pumpkin subscription by clicking here
or going to http://goo.gl/nynVwn

Technique: Layered Watercolor Stamping

The Picture Perfect stamp set has been out on my desk for the last few months, because I just can't stop making pretty projects with it! This card features a simple but lovely technique: Layered Watercolor Stamping.

Start with watercolor paper and brush a very light coat of water where you want to stamp first. Then stamp your bottom layer of your 2 (or more) step stamp. Use your Aquapainter to lightly smudge the image and spread the ink around a little bit. Once you're satisfied with your image, use a paper towel to lightly dab off any excess water. Stamp your next layer, and smudge a little more. Continue this process, making sure to remove excess water with each layer before stamping again. When you are finished, use the Aquapainter again to spread a tiny bit of ink out from the edges of your image. This softens the borders and completes the watercolor look.

I used Layered Watercoloring on both the rose and the leaf images above. I love that this technique gives you an entirely different look with the same stamp set! I hope you'll give it a try and post your project in the comments.

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tams# 6978

Product List

Picture Perfect Photopolymer Stamp Set

[140520]

$27.00

Watercolor Paper

[122959]

$5.00

Tip Top Taupe 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[138336]

$7.00

Blushing Bride Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[131157]

$3.25

Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[122934]

$3.25

Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[131158]

$3.25

Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[131160]

$3.25

Old Olive Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[100531]

$3.25

Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad

[126975]

$6.50

Aqua Painters

[103954]

$17.00

Pearl Basic Jewels Embellishments

[119247]

$5.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Paper Pumpkin Monday: Watercolor Chalkboard Birthday

The April Paper Pumpkin kit has SO many fun things! I love the free bonus stamp set, All About Everything. I used it here with white craft ink on one of the adorable chalkboard tags included with the wreath kit. The pierced, scalloped border draws the eye to the message on the tag.

The background has been sitting on my desk, waiting for inspiration to strike me. I made it by putting ink (Mint Macaron and Gold Wink of Stella) on a clear acrylic block, spritzing with water, and stamping on watercolor paper. The ink does all the work with this technique! 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Come back every Monday for more Paper Pumpkin ideas! 

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Stamp set All About Everything from the April 2016 Paper Pumpkin kit Lovely Little Wreath

tams# 6856

Product List

Watercolor Paper

[122959]

$5.00

Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[121045]

$7.00

Mint Macaron 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[138337]

$7.00

Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad

[101731]

$8.00

Mint Macaron Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[138331]

$3.25

Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141898]

$8.00

Mint Macaron 1" Dotted Lace Trim

[138424]

$6.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com

Watercolor Wildflowers--Last Day of Sale-a-bration!

 Today (March 31) is the very last day of Sale-a-bration 2016! I hope you earned all your favorite sets, papers, and accessories! I know these images from Flowering Fields will remain in my collection for a LONG time.

Paper Pumpkin Monday: Pocketful of Cheer and Gold Wink of Stella

These are the last few days of Sale-a-bration 2016! 

Please click here to see the FREE items that are still available with your $50 purchase. 

I am so in love with this month's kit! It has taken over my crafting table AND my crafting brain! This card is inspired by the color scheme of the kit and uses 2 of the darling stamps. I love the font! And the little flowers draw the eye to the watercoloring, I think.

To get this effect, I used a clear acrylic block as a palette. I added Bermuda Bay ink, Pool Party ink, and Gold Wink of Stella. A couple spritzes of water made them all flow together, and I quickly used the block as a stamp on my Thick Whisper White cardstock. I re-stamped a few times till all the ink was (mostly) off the block.

In real life, there is a sheen of gold over the whole piece, but it's really hard to capture the subtle effect in a photo! Add a little Wink of Stella to your next project and watch it shine!

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Stamps from March 2016 Paper Pumpkin: Pocketful of Cheer

tams# 6475

Product List

Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[140272]

$7.00

Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131197]

$7.00

Basic Gray Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140932]

$7.00

Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[131156]

$3.25

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Ink Refill

[122933]

$3.25

Gold Wink Of Stella Glitter Brush

[141898]

$8.00

Gold 1/8" Ribbon

[134583]

$5.00

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com