Think Spring Tulip

This week at the challenge blog Can You Case It - #107 the challenge is a color themed challenge with the colors being Kraft, Purple and White.  I took up that challenge.  I decided I'm done with winter...  I figure if I ignore the snow on the ground and the cold temps and think about Spring all that other nasty stuff might just go away.  So that's it folks, I'm moving on to Spring!

Happy Spring!

I started off by stamping the tulip onto watercolor paper using VersaMark ink which was then sprinkled with white ep., and heated to melt.  I used my Koi watercolors to then paint the tulip then flicked both purple and a light brown onto the rest of the card.  The watercolor panel is mounted on a piece of kraft colored cardstock and a purple card base.  I thought it needed a little something so I added the twine bow for the finishing touch.

Supplies:

Just For Fun Rubber Stamps - Tulip, Sentiment

IMAGINE Crafts - VersaMark, White EP, Memento Dye Ink - Grape Jelly

Koi Watercolors

Club Scrap.com - Kraft & Purple Cardstock

Watercolor Paper, Twine

Less Is More #263

This weeks challenge at Less is More consists of a one layer card which includes a stem.  I decided to pull out my pastel pencils to add a bit of color.

And here is what I created... I stamped the stitch marks along the bottom, stamped the flower & sentiment.  To add a bit of color I drew a few lines with my pastels then smudged them up a bit to spread it around.  

Less Is More #263

Supplies:

Georgia Pacific - White Cardstock
IMAGINE Crafts - Memento Inks
Club Scrap.com - Crewel & Unusual - Flower & Stitch Stamps; Celebration - Sentiment

2016 Watercolor Calendar - November

Hello Friends!  We're nearing the end of our watercolor technique calendar ~ just 2 left!  Kind of sad as I have so many fun ideas to share - not enough months in the year - LOL!!  I'll share those later on though.  Today's technique is another fun one, what do you get when you cross watercolors with alcohol?  No, no, not that kind of alcohol!  Rubbing alcohol silly.   

This is what you get!  Amazing colors with an subtle embedded pattern created by the alcohol reacting with the watercolor paint.  Let's take a look at this technique so you can see what I'm talking about.

Start off by applying one or more watercolors to your paper.  It doesn't have to be perfect, just here and there is fine.  The look with change once you add the alcohol.

Immediately, sprinkle on the rubbing alcohol.  I dipped a paint brush into my bottle and initially dripped it onto the paper.  Once I was satisfied with the large droplets I then flicked/splattered the alcohol onto the paper to create small and tiny dots.   The best part about this technique is that it offers instant gratification.  The pattern begins to emerge immediately.  

Your pattern will depend on the colors you choose and how much alcohol you sprinkle on.

Here is another example - top - freshly painted, below - a few sprinkles...it looks like something you'd see in outer space huh?  

Since this is for November I wanted to go with some really intense autumn colors - oranges, reds, purple, browns and I added some golds.  This was my test page using this technique with these colors.  LOVE it!

And here's what the calendar page looked like before adding all of the other goodies.

SUCH a fun technique - 

this is something you could just sit and play with for hours. 

Just experiment and enjoy!

2016 Watercolor Calendar - October

Today I have a really fun and easy watercolor technique that you can use with many watercolor mediums...all you need is a bit of cling wrap.

The fun thing about this technique is you never know what the results are going to be.  It's always a great surprise!  I stamped right over the top of my background using stamps for JFF Rubber Stamps.

Start by applying a generous amount of paints to your watercolor paper - I used 3 colors of orange and 2 colors of green.  Your paper will need to be really wet for this technique to work so if it starts to dry before you get the entire panel covered, add a bit more water.

After you are satisfied with your colors, place a slightly crumbled sheet of cling wrap/film over the wet paint.  You can gently push the wrap around until you get lots of nice crinkles and creases in the wrap.  Now comes the hardest part...let it dry!  Trust me on this, I have a terrible urge to remove the wrap before I know it's fully dry....if you do you will ruin the cool pattern because the wet paint will spread out over the pattern.  Just leave it alone until it's dry.

Once you're sure the paint has dried (you won't see any movable water on the cling film), remove the wrap and check out your cool design!  Wicked cool technique and you can do several at one time and let them all dry off in a corner while you're doing something else.

Ink Stains Pocket Letter Swap Results

Today I wanted to share the pocket letters from the recent swap here on Ink Stains...we are still waiting on a few Pocket Letters to reach their destination but for the most part everyone has rec'd their letters.  If you haven't rec'd your PL yet you might want to wait before looking...other wise, enjoy!

Carolyn - DashCam

Deb G. 

Denise A 

Diana B

Dianne R.

Donna N.

Elizabeth M. 

Heidi

Suzy / Ike 

Ina

Jeannie

Jamie

Karen 

Kris

Loretta

Loretta

Marie

Mom (a.k.a. Dixie)

Nikki

Roni - Seasons 

Roni - Watercolor Flowers 

Roni - Celebrate Life 

Roni - Snow much Fun!

(my letter was behind the Snow much Fun sign)

Terry D

Theresa P.