Hello Friends!! It’s Sunday and that means another fun challenge!! Last week’s color challenge was awesome, a big thank you to Joanne for the awesome colours! It’s Nance’s turn to host this week and she has come up with another great idea…
I have to let you in on a secret….I have NEVER water colored before. EVER. … Really. I don’t even remember doing it as a kid. It was just never my thing. So here I am, guest designer for a challenge using a medium I have absolutely NO experience with! Eek!! Nothing like a little pressure, right? lol
So, drum roll please…(I’m closing my eyes right now, hoping you’ll like it)
Ta Da!! Eek…I hope you like it! It’s watercolor but with baby steps 🙂
I sponged two different colors of distress ink over my top layer and then flicked water all over the paper and let it dry. I like the effect, it’s subtle because my coloring is subtle, but it’s there. Then I inked up with Versamark Ink and stamped and heat embossed the butterfly. Next, I inked up some clear blocks with distress ink in the same colors I used for the background and started water coloring.
I applied a bit of water to the spots on his wings and then added ink until I was satisfied. I then ran the paint brush (with ink) over all the lines in the wings and body to draw them out and used water and ink all around the edges of the butterfly, adding water and/or ink to the design until I achieved a color I was happy with. Once he was dry, I ran him through the big shot with his coordinating die and popped him up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.
A quick sentiment, some thick baker’s twine (I separated a few of the layers out of the twine to make it thinner), and a few Moonstones by Simon Says Stamp and it’s all ready to go!
So f you’ve ever thought that water coloring is not for you, I hope I may have inspired you to give it a go. I used two colors of distress ink, some water color paper I’ve had forever, and an inexpensive paint brush, you know the 10 for $1 kind of brush? Yep, that’s what I used. I definitely plan on experimenting a bit more with this, by the end I was having fun!!
I would love to hear from you if you do decide to try water coloring!! And for those experienced with water color, please be gentle with me! Thank you!!
A note on this lovely stamp and die set. It’s called Flight of Fancy and made by Clearly Besotted Stamps, BUT…they have discontinued it (insert pouty face here). It isn’t available on their web site anymore. I found it by luck at Ellen Hutson but in just checking now, it is out of stock there as well. I’m sad because it’s such a beautiful design, hopefully it is still available out there somewhere, if not, I’m sure you could re-create this card using another stamp and die. Heaven knows there are many out there to choose from!!
Please visit the rest of the design team to get some great inspiration!!
The Paper Players Design Team
Wishing you joy and blessings!
Products Used:
Cardstock: Vintage Cream by Papertrey Ink; unknown brand of Watercolor Paper
Pattern Paper: Unknown (I forgot to look!!)
Ink: Broken China and Bundled Sage Tim Holtz Distress Inks; Tuxedo Black by Memento Ink
Stamps: Flight of Fancy by Clearly Besotted Stamps; Journaling by Simple Stories
Dies: Flight of Fancy by Clearly Besotted Stamps; Stitched Mats: Rounded Rectangles by Lil ‘Inker; and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!
Tools: MISTI by My Sweet Petunia (for the sentiment); White Embossing Powder, Embossing Buddy and Heat Tool by Stampin’ Up!; Mister, Fine Tip Paintbrush
Embellishments: Assorted Moonshine Sequins by Simon Says Stamp; Thick Baker’s Twine in Pistachio Pudding by Stampin’ Up!
Oh my goodness, Shannon! We would never know you hadn’t watercolored before…this is gorgeous! Love how you colored inside and on the edges of the butterfly and the soft background is just perfect. It’s all a breath of fresh air and a lovely CAS design. You rocked it and I’m so glad you had fun creating it too. 🙂
Shannon, you may not have much in the way of watercolor experience, but your card doesn’t show that at all! It is truly beautiful!! And you are one of the best stampers I know with CAS cards, so you really hit this one out of the park. Absolutely stunning!
It’s beautiful!! I really love how you did the edges on the butterfly, would have never thought of that. It’s very striking and balances the background out beautifully. I looked on both Amazon and Ebay for the stamp set, but not available there either. 🙁 I ordered some watercolors back in March that are FINALLY arriving this Wednesday. Now I’m really looking forward to playing!
NO WAY that you never watercolored before! You could have fooled me, your creation looks like an expert artist created it! Well, what am I saying, you ARE an expert artist! Just beautiful!
Shannon, I would never believe this was your first attempt at watercolor! Oh wow!!! This is just gorgeous! The butterfly is just beautiful! XX
I would never have guessed you haven’t tried watercoloring before! This background is so beautifully subtle and I just love the colors you chose. Gorgeous card! Can’t wait to see another watercolored card from you…. 🙂
So soft and gorgeous! Awesome card!
Someone as talented as you has never watercolored before? Well you’d never know because this is beautiful, Shannon! That butterfly is awesome, and it looks so good embossed in white and with your watercolor wash background. I’ve been experimenting with distress inks lately too. Yet another thing I am starting to collect!
Well, I would NEVER have believed you hadn’t water colored before. You are obviously a natural because this card is gorgeous. Your background is perfect for that fancy butterfly. Gorgeous card
hugs
jaydee
What a gorgeous image! Your card is perfect in every way!
First time for watercolouring – really?! Wow, if this is your first watercolour attempt, I can only imagine what you’ll be like with experience!! This card is stunning Shannon – the background is beautiful, and the blended butterfly on top is fabulous! You rocked this challenge for sure!
Gorgeous, Shannon! For someone who has never watercolored before, I would say that you have completely mastered it on the first attempt. Wowza! The soft colors paired with the details on the images…perfection! Keep on watercoloring! You do this technique so well! 🙂