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Hello, friends! I hope you are doing okay today. I admit I was struggling with everything for the past few days. I cried a lot, I talked to friends, I had many of you reach out to me via email and direct messages on Instagram with kind and supporting words and it all helped. THANK YOU!
I’ve also found that watercoloring calms me down. I was very much inspired by a recent card created by Debby Hughes and reached out for my watercolors (I haven’t really used them in ages). I’ve never really done a proper no-line watercolor. I’ve watched many instructional videos, I’ve admired many projects, but I haven’t really ever truly tried it myself. Until yesterday. And I loved it.
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CARDS DETAILS
I actually started to work on this card by foiling several gorgeous frames using a new Glimmer Hot Foil plate from Spellbinders – Geometric Floral. I just wanted to have a bit of fun one night and I foiled this gorgeous frame (it is so trendy!) in various color foil on various colors of cardstock. I used one foiled on gold on white for this card and saved all the other foiled frames for future cards.
Next, I pulled out my Arches Cold Pressed watercolor paper pad (haven’t used that in ages either) and even my Distress ink! I can’t even remember the last time I used Distress. I remembered everyone recommends stamping images in Old Paper if one is to do no-line coloring, so that is what I did (after going rouge and stamping the same images in Fired Brick first, that actually worked too).
I managed to color a few petals immediately after stamping the image and because the ink was still wet when I was coloring, it blended together with my watercolor perfectly. I didn’t have time to color all the flowers that night, so I left the piece and came back to it the next morning. By that time the ink was already dry and it wasn’t blending together with my watercoloring. I didn’t like that at first, but it actually worked for the best later. I used just one color – Quinacridone Coral by Daniel Smith (the photo is deceiving as I have a Jane Davenport watercolor palette there, I didn’t use it, I only have it there for photo purposes).
You can see the watercolor leaves don’t have any detail in them, that is because I watercolored immediately after stamping these images and thus, the detail washed away. I could have colored the detail back in using a brush but decided not to do that. I used Sap Green color for the leaves.
I used coordinating dies and cut these images out in my die cutting machine. When selecting the stamp set to watercolor I specifically looked for one that had coordinating dies as I knew I’d want to cut these out and cutting out images from watercolor paper by hand is usually tricky as the paper is very thick (at least the paper I use).
I also stamped additional leaves in Old Paper Distress ink and cut those out without watercoloring them. I layered all of the images over my foiled frame (the panel was trimmed to 3 3/4 x 5″) and foam mounted in place. I also foam mounted the panel on the A2 Kraft card base.
I used several sequins and gold jewels from my stash to embellish this card. As for the sentiment, I once again used Simon’s sentiment strips – I’ve been loving those lately.
Anyhow, this was my first real experience with no-line watercoloring and I loved it. I’m very grateful to Debby Hughes for sharing her art and inspiring me. I look forward to doing more watercolor in the future.
Big hugs to you all! Stay safe and stay healthy.
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 Beautiful Flowers Shop at: SSS |
Simon Says Stamps and Dies Beautiful Flowers Shop at: SSS |
Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Flowers Wafer Dies Shop at: SSS |
Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips All Things Happy Shop at: SSS |
Spellbinders Geometric Floral Glimmer Hot Foil Plate Shop at: SSS |
Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil Roll – Gold Shop at: SSS |
Spellbinders Glimmer Hot Foil System Shop at: SSS |
Simon Says Stamp White Cardstock 120 LB Shop at: SSS |
Neenah Classic Crest 80 Lb Desert Storm Shop at: SSS |
Arches Cold Press Watercolor Pad 9×12″ Shop at: SSS |
Spellbinders Deep Sea Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS |
Daniel Smith Sap Green 5ml Shop at: SSS |
Daniel Smith Quinacridone Coral 5ml Shop at: SSS |
Medium Water Brush Shop at: SSS |
Silver Black Velvet Brush Size 2 Round 300527 Shop at: SSS |
Silver Black Velvet Brush Size 4 Round 300541 Shop at: SSS |
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad Old Paper Shop at: SSS |
White Fun Foam 12 Pack 9 x 12 Shop at: SSS |
Simon Says Stamp Craft Tacky Glue Shop at: SSS |
Pretty Pink Posh Metallic Gold Jewels Shop at: SSS |
You did an amazing job! I have never tried this technique. I do like how you left those leaves stamped as they are soft and add just the right effect. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Melissa! I would have colored them, but truth be told I am still to improve the way I color leaves. Something I need to work on next time.
Such a beautiful card!
thank you, Tara!
Your card is simply gorgeous!
Cheryl
awww, thank you, Cheryl. I already started on another watercolor piece.
Your watercoloring came out beautiful!! Congratulations on your first no line project!!!! I enjoy no line watercoloring, but haven’t done it in a long while now (have even done it with pencils). Glad to hear you’re feeling better. I believe it’s good to have a melt down and am waiting for mine to come about. One way stress gets relieved for me is through a good cry. Sending hugs.
Sending hugs to you too, Debbie. And yes, having a good cry is ALWAYS helpful. I got some mild meds today to help me calm my anxiety. Hopefully they will help. And more watercoloring, I did some this morning and looking to more watercolor practice tomorrow.
This is lovely and reminds me to use my distress inks both to stamp and the reinkers to paint!! I use the distress oxides all the time but it’s time to give some love to the original distress inks! Thank you so much for sharing and stay well!! XOXO
Absolutely gorgeous card! Love the touches of gold!
Thank you, Maureen! Yes, it is always so good to go back to the old supplies!
Just gorgeous, as always.s
thank you, Sharon! Glad you like it!
I love how your card turned out, Yana! The flowers are gorgeous and I also love the muted tone of the leaves. They are the perfect accent for the flower colors.
thank you so much, Connie. I had wonderful time coloring these. I really ought to watercolor more, it is the best way to spend time
Your colouring is gorgeous.
thank you, Andre! I enjoyed it. Looking forward to watercoloring some more.