Hello everyone and thank you so much for joining us today for a fun Card Making Therapy Blog Hop! I don’t know about you, but I find cardmaking to be both relaxing and therapeutic. I love to turn to cardmaking after a long day working on the computer or in the evening after doing the housework. I especially love to color using various mediums. I’ve been sharing lots of projects lately colored using pencils, but today I have a Christmas card colored using watercolors!
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VIDEO TUTORIAL
As always, I filmed a video tutorial showing how to create this project from start to finish. I’m hoping you’ll enjoy it. Watch it below or on my Youtube channel.
Like this video? Please give it a big thumbs up (you can do this on Youtube video page right under the video) and share with a crafty friend! Leave me a comment too, I love hearing from you!
CARD DETAILS
I started working on this project by stamping a custom background using Simon Says Stamp Poinsettia stamp set onto Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor paper. Be sure to watch my video above to learn how I made this background without the use of masking. I stamped 6 flowers and also added a few leaves next to each poinsettia.
Once my background was done I taped my watercolor paper onto a board and started coloring it using the wet on wet technique. I used colors that are now available in my exclusive Daniel Smith Yana Smakula palette at Simon Says Stamp and colored poinsettias using Pyrrol Red and Bordeaux. I colored all of the flowers with Pyrrol and when doing the second layer of color mixed in a bit of Bordeaux and made 3 of the flowers darker.
To color leaves I first used Sap Green and later came in with Undersea Green to darken the colors. I also painted the background for this card as I didn’t want to keep it white. I know now everybody is a fan of dark backgrounds but I can’t get enough of them lately. I used Indigo and Lunar Blue colors for the background.
Once my coloring was done I trimmed this panel to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2″ and foam mounted onto an A2 card base. To create a sentiment I used Simon’s Stained Glass greetings stamp set and coordinating dies.
HOP ALONG WITH US!
Little Crafty Pill
Laura Bassen
Nina Revis (Waffle Flower)
Yana Smakula – you are here
Pretty Pink Posh
Debby Hughes
GIVEAWAY!
There are 10 prizes to be won during this hop! Six 20$ gift cards to the Simon Says Stamp store (one for each stop on the blog); A 25$ gift card to Concord and 9th; A 30$ gift card to Pretty Pink Posh; A 25$ gift card to Waffle Flower; A coloring class by Kit and Clowder.
Winners will be chosen at random from the comments left on all the posts on this blog hop by 11:59pm EST on October 17th and will be announced on Amanda’s blog on October 19th.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Simon Says Clear Stamps Poinsettia Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamps and Dies Stained Glass Greetings Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Stained Glass Greetings Wafer Dies Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Clear Stamps Stained Glass Greetings Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Daniel Smith Yana’s Set Watercolor Palette Shop at: SSS |
 Simon Says Stamp Black Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Platinum Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS |
 Spellbinders Tool ‘n One Shop at: SSS |
 Hero Arts Heat Embossing Gun PW200 Shop at: SSS |
 Hero Arts White Embossing Powder PW110 Shop at: SSS |
 Neenah 110 Lb Solar White Cardstock Shop at: SSS |
 ScraPerfect Crafting Pouch Shop at: SSS |
 Arches Hot Pressed Watercolor Pad 9×12″ Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Sap Green 5ml Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Undersea Green 5ml Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Indigo 5ml Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Pyrrol Red Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Bordeaux 15ml Shop at: SSS |
 Daniel Smith Lunar Blue Shop at: SSS |
 Silver Black Velvet Brush Size 4 Round 300541 Shop at: SSS |
 Silver Black Velvet Brush Size 8 Round Shop at: SSS |
 Jack Richeson 9 X 12 Inch Hardboard Panel Shop at: SSS |
 Scor-tape 2 1/2 Inch Crafting Tape Shop at: SSS |
 White Fun Foam 12 Pack 9 x 12 Shop at: SSS |
PIN THIS PROJECT
Are you on Pinterest? I’d love for your to pin this project if you like it! Thanks!
Yana, your creations are simply stunning. Thank you for the tips and tutorials. For sharing with us the photography tips and make all easy and beautiful. You are amazing!!!
Amazing card Yana and what a fabulous idea for a blog hop. Love it. Jenny x
This card is gorgeous! The colors are stunning!
I often find myself turning to card making after a stressful work day. I joke that it keeps me sane…but in reality it does.
WOW! What a gorgeous card! I love the dark background! Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent with us! I love watching your videos, I always get inspired!
Watched your video and I have tremendous thanks for you. You’ve shown me that I shouldn’t be afraid of water coloring the whole card after heat embossing. I have a whole new “world” to journey through.
So very pretty! I really like your palette and I also like your bold background color. It might be too dark if you hadn’t used the embossing powder, but I love it on this card. (And thank you for admitting that masking is too much work! I agree: there are other parts that are way more fun and I don’t want to spend all of the creative time on a project cutting out little bitty pieces. It’s a useful tool, but probably my least favorite technique. It’s nice to have one of my ‘stars’ agree!!)
WOW Yana… this card is gorgeous! I love how you colored in the poinsettias… but that background is just over the top awesome!!! WOW.. I didn’t think the dark blue was going to look good up against the reds when you first started dropping in the color but wow.. as you said, in the end the results are amazing!!! Beautiful technique and I definitely will be trying out some dark backgrounds! Thanks for inspiring me! Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
JO in Jersey
♥ Jo’s Scrap Shack ♥
As always your card is just beautiful! Thanks for all the inspiration!
Love this card. I am interested in trying more watercoloring.
WOW what a GORGEOUS card!!!
Beautiful card.
The colors are so amazing in this card. Always loved this technique and finally have everything I need to try. TFS!
This is so completely gorgeous!
I love poinsettias and your card is
a masterpiece!
Yana, you have done it again! A masterpiece. Love how you make it look so easy, (but I know it is not) The colours are gorgeous.
The water coloring on this card couldn’t be more beautiful! I hope one day to be able to paint like that!
Fabulous coloring!! Such a beautiful and pretty card!! Thanks for sharing the background technique 🙂
Your card is stunning! I love the new Stained Glass sentiment set and ‘Peace’ is my favorite word. I also love the tip about brushing away the ep where it’s not needed instead of masking – yay!
Wow, that’s a really beautiful card! I came here through the bloghop and am impressed!
Kind regards,
Jantine
Beautiful card! Love how bold and bright the poinsettias are against the background!
GREAT TECHNIC
Hello.. yes, I find time after work to craft or color, or.. very therapeutic. It is so wonderful Amanda has recovered and she is sharing with everyone and we can learn from her 🙂 Thank you for this and for supporting her.
Wow!! This is stunning!! I love your videos, Yana! I love this hop!
What lovely watercoloring!!
It amazes me how your cards are alwasy elegant and classy. Nice one Yana.
Beautiful!! ❤
Love your use of color on these poinsettias.
WOWZERS! This is absolutely GORGEOUS! Thanks for the detailed video!
Love the bright colors at your card!
Yana, thank you for participating in this special hop. Crafting is very therapeutic. It has turned my life completely around, and I thank God for it every single day.
This card is amazingly elegant!
Love this card and your techniques. Thank you. I am going to try this right away.
Such a beautiful card; thanks for sharing your techniques and inspiration. Also, I agree with Jenny…what a great idea for a blog hop!
I love water coloring and appreciate your tips. I keep trying to get good at it, but so far no luck. I am going to give this one a go — I guess since I have this stamp set I think I can do it!
Beautifully crafted card, love the vibrant colors!!!
I commented on your video already, but this is STUNNING! Simon Says Stamp should use your card as the stamp set’s example photo! I love the depth and texture this card has and I am so inspired. So glad I found you via this blog hop 🙂
Stunning card as always, Yana!! Love those poinsettias.
Incredible. I just ordered the DS sheets. Can’t wait to try them.
I love the poinsettias, the gorgeous colors and the pretty sentiment stamp.
The poinessettias are so beautiful. I love to watercolor. Awesome job and thanks for sharing.
Yana, this card is stunning. I love the design, colors and technique. I happen to have the stamp and will try this. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas. You always have such a beautiful creations! I am really happy I found your blog.
Lovely card! The reds are so vivid! Card making is therapeutic!
Crafting keeps me calm amid a young family. ☺️
Love your card – beautiful!
I’m so glad you were part of the hop, Yana! Your card is absolutely GORGEOUS! Watercoloring is so therapeutic!
Thank you sharing this video, Yana. The background turned out just fine and did not overpower the images. Love the vibrant colors you used for the poinsettias…beautiful card! 🙂
Wonderful watercolour card Yana! Crafting is my daily dose of happiness and the guarantee that I keep my sanity 🙂 I have 2 little kids who are really naughty 😀
Your card is lovely !
Your background is beautiful. I love the shades of blue you used.
Beautiful card!
Beautiful Card……