Easy watercolor cupcakes

 Easy watercolor cupcakes

Altenew stamp/die set

This is a fun technique I learned from Altenew designer Nicole Watt from Pixel Maven's Retreat blog.  

basic instructions:

1.  tap ink pad to image and spritz with water so it beads up on the stamp.

2.  press to cardstock and hold for 10 to 15 seconds so the ink soaks into the card.

3.  remove stamp and see the fun loose watercolor effect.

tip:  you can leave the image as is or add outline image with black ink stamped on top of the watercolor effect image after it dries.

Thanks for stopping by. come back again soon.

***not affiliated with company just a satisfied customer***

Is it too early for bats?

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

Couldn't resist putting ink to this adorable Cuddlebug Bat in three different ways for Unity monthly challenge.

Card #1

Stamped bat with copper ink onto bubble wrap background.  you can see details here on this post.  Wink of Stella was added to this card.  I will admit that I did a little rubber surgery to cut off the stars and moon off the bat because I wanted them separate.  

Tag

Stamped the bat with SU Fig ink pad then did a little watercoloring with the same ink.  White embossed the hello with white embossing powder onto a piece of SU Fig cardstock.  Adhered the embossed saying strip across the tag.

Card #2

This is a shaker card with Tulle for the window instead of clear plastic.  Stamped, colored the bat with blue ink then fussy cut him out and glued him to the card.  Stamped the saying onto scrap of white cardstock then punched it out.  Punched out scrap of black and same light blue cardstock as the note card then adhered to the card.  The black bats are a SU paper punch.  Added Wink of Stella to the bat wings.

Is it too early for bats???

Hope you like what you see and come back again soon.

Oxidized tags

stamps used:  Unity stamp co. Always by your side, Hello little birdie and Happy stamp sets

Black tag:

Stamp the background of the tag with images from Unity Always by your side/Happy stamp sets using distress oxide twisted citron and seedless preserves. On separate piece of white cardstock stamp solid flower image from Always by your side stamp set with twisted citron oxide ink. Spray with water and allow the ink to move around. It will create a loose watercolor effect. Allow to dry or heat with heat tool. When completely dry repeat the process with the seedless preserves oxide ink. When the stamped piece is completely dry over stamp with the flower outline image from the same stamp set in black ink, preferably a waterproof ink. Stamp the hello saying from the Unity Hello little birdie stamp set in the bottom corner with the same black ink. Add self sticking gems to the stamped piece and adhere to the tag. Tie on some ribbon to finish the tag.

Kraft tag:

Stamp the background of the tag with dot cluster image from Unity Happy stamp set, using Ranger oxide inks fossilized amber and walnut stain. Wrap twine around the tag. On piece of white cardstock stamp Unity solid flower image from Always on your side stamp set with fossilized amber oxide ink. Spray with water and let the ink move around. Allow to dry or use heat tool. Repeat the process with walnut stain oxide ink. When completely dry over stamp with Unity flower outline image from Always by your side stamp set with waterproof black ink. Stamp the saying from Unity stamp co with same waterproof black ink. Layer stamped piece onto a piece of black cardstock about 1/8” bigger. Adhere to tag, add self sticking gems and ribbon. I don't like seeing the wrapped twine on the back of the tag so I taped another tag to the tag.

White tag:

Stamp dot cluster from Unity Happy stamp set on tag with Ranger distress oxide inks twisted citron and seedless preserves. Stamp saying beautiful minds from Unity September KOM Flowers, foliage & Fall stamp set with waterproof black ink over the dot clusters. On white card stamp solid flower from Unity Always by your side stamp set with distress oxide twisted citron ink, spray with water and allow the ink to move around. Allow to dry or use heat tool. Repeat process with distress seedless preserves ink with the same flower image. When completely dry over stamp with flower outline from same stamp set. This creates a loose watercolor effect. Stamp hello from Unity Hello little birdie stamp set with black waterproof ink. Layer the stamped piece onto some black and maroon cardstocks. Layer the complete piece to tag. Add self stick gems to card and ribbon to finish the tag.

Hope you like these tags doing a different type of "watercolor" technique.  Thank you for stopping by and please come back again soon.  You can subscribe to my blog by email so not to miss any of my posts.  comments are welcome and appreciated.

watercolor fun part #2

stamps used:  Unity stamp co.

inks used:  distress ink pads 

I call this post watercolor part #2 because on a previous post here I showed what I did with the die circle cut out piece (see above) using it as a mask.  So this is what I would call the waste product but when I looked at it I said ..... no way am I throwing these pieces out!  here are the results of the cards I used with the cut out pieces.  I do like layers so I die cut out a lavender piece of cardstock with the circle die.  adhered it to watercolor piece and added it to a white note card.

hope you like my wastes and have fun with your waste or left over pieces.

come back again soon.

watercolor fun

stamps used:  Unity stamps ...every single day stamp set

inks used:  distress tumbled glass, salty ocean, wilted violet - VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black)

This started out as a one layer card but knowing me as I do ... I just couldn't leave it that way. Just seemed not finished so I made it into what I call Platform cards.  you can see details for Platform cards here.  

Back to these two cards:

platform base - 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" 

card base - 8" x 5 1/4" folded in half

To create the watercolor background I die cut a circle ... saving the die cut circle for another project.  we will be using the reverse mask.

1.  On a craft sheet press the three colors of distress ink onto it then spritz with water.  

2.  place the reverse mask on the front of the folded card then press into the watered distress inks.

3.  remove mask to see what I like to call a watercolor splat.  allow to air dry or heat with heat tool.

4.  stamp image over watercolor splat with black ink.  

5.  stamp sentiment in the bottom corner of card.

6.  adhere folded card to platform base.

let me know what you think of this watercolor splat technique.  if you try it come back and show me what you create.

come back again soon.  comments always welcomed.

spring tag

Yes, I want spring!  it's snowing outside again ..... not sure how much accumulation we are expecting ..... mother nature is in rare form this month, that's all.
for this tag I did a quick and easy watercolor wash by wetting the tag first then scribbling on color with zig clean pens.  Mostly I just let the water do it's thing to move the colors around.  when it is all dry I stamped the flowers and saying which are from Stampin' Up.
enjoy your day and may it be free of snow and ice!

tag-a-long

here are a couple more tags.  I had some left-over shaving cream background so I cut it down to a tag size then stamped a lighthouse and saying on it...I did a little ink blending to finish it off.  for the second tag I did a wash of color with the clean zig pens...let it dry completely...stamped the pears and word to finish this tag.  easy but I think they still have dramatic effects.

quick watercolor postcards

 Today I'm showcasing these fun, quick and easy watercoloring postcards that I did at the crop I was attending earlier this month.  actually did these in between doing the cards I had prepped when I was tired of doing the cards.  to start off the ferris wheel postcard is done on watercolor paper and the other two were done on bristol board.  personally I like the movement more on the bristol board postcards.  basically what I did for these 3 postcards is I wet the papers first with water pen then added color and wet again.  let them dry then stamped images with archival black ink and colored in images with the same zig clean markers.  these pens make a nice water color effect in the background but I think I need to practice some more.


postcard details:
stamps: Unity stamp co. - socks/saying, ferris wheel/saying, girl/saying --- fireworks by LIWP
watercolors: zig clean color markers
water pen
archival black ink

Easy watercoloring

This is my version of easy watercoloring.....get out distress ink pads, craft sheet, water brush and go to town.  with this method of watercoloring you can do multiples in minutes especially if you do it assembly line style. After I finish watercoloring all my little snow angels I'll use them on cards.  come back soon to see.
 check out my video to see how I do this technique.

details:

inks - Ranger distress inks 

 Ranger craft sheet

stamp - Unity itty bitty Make Snow Angels

water brush

Put a bird on it!

Yes, I put three birds on it!  here are two postcards I stamped with Ranger dylusions Put a bird on it stamp set.  guess I'm a little bird crazy lately with either TH crazy birds or now with this new set I bought a couple of weeks ago.  basically I stamped the birds with a waterproof black ink then went to town water coloring with my distress pads that I just smooshed on craft sheet then picked up the color with a waterbrush.
entering in following challenge:
1.  Curtain Call: snowcone - inspiration challenge - inspired by the colors

Background Check for day 3 design break

Day 3 at Background Check we were supposed to make cards out of
backgrounds from day 1 and 2......so far here are my cards from watercoloring backgrounds.  On the first card with the yellow, red and blue I used Pro Art Watercolors in plastic tubes....found these in my stash.  Pretty sure I bought them years ago (probably over 10 yrs. ago) when I was enamored with Mary Jo McGraw at the time she was working with Judi-kins.  Hey Mary Jo if you read this please tell me why I bought these watercolors.  The other two backgrounds I used distress inks.
card details:
stamp saying by MFP Stamp Shop Out on the Town stamp set
Spellbinders Nestabilities dies
vellum
Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz collection Shatter THS014 stencil
Ranger distress ink pads

Background Check - day 1

 Today was the first day for the Background Check online class and here are my homework samples.  Blended the inks with  Ranger blending tool on both of these samples.  The one on the right has some basic masking done on it.






The 2 samples on the left have lots of distress inks blended on the cardstock.  For the one with all the colors I sprayed the Hero Arts background stamp with Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists biscotti.  In person you can see all the shine....now the brown one is using the same stamp but with just water for a faux bleach effect.  The 2 cards on the right is the smooshing technique on watercolor paper.  Looking forward to tomorrow's lesson.

happy hello

I received a sheet of rubber from Repeat Impressions from a drawing on their blog this month so I decided to use it in one of their challenges.  this challenge is a sketch       that you can see over at The House that Stamps Built blog.  This sheet of rubber has a couple of jars, fish bowl and all the things that fit in them including some sayings.  For my card I used an embossing folder and a couple of nestability oval dies then I stamped jar added the flowers and saying.  did a little water coloring with prisma watercolor pencils then added some stickles for glittery water.  hope you like it.
entering in the following challenges:
1.  The House That Stamps Built blog - sketch
2. Love to Scrap! challenge - anything goes

Green is good

Green is good in more ways than one....one way is it is the beginning of Spring and no more snow.  Or at least that is what I thought but my husband just told me the weather for later this week is SNOW!!!! can you believe it.  I finally jumped on the quick and easy watercolor band wagon...basically I wet watercolor paper added a stripe of distress peeled paint stain then a couple of the distress markers in green.  next got out my waterbrush and watered them down some more to make the graduated green background for the funky spring flowers.  for the chevron background I just inked with distress pads then spritzed with water and stamped it. I do like green!  also used a new product for me a Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I like it ...it adds shine and sparkle but not sure you can see it in photo but believe me it's there!
entering in the following challenges:
1.  Impression Obsession blog - color challenge green - stamps used:  CC0108 thick chevron, J2011 Damask Flora
2.  Divas by design - flower power
3.  Simon Says Wednesday challenge - glitter it
4.  CCEE challenge - spring or autumn
5.  crazy 4 challenges - shake your thing (which means anything goes)

Simple Salutation 53 - anything with wings!

***if you are here for MFPaHc blog hop please scroll down***

This week at Simple Salutaions #53 we are flying!  the theme is Anything with Wings!  so let the bugs, angels and fairies fly in the sky this week.  I did a one layer card today and the acrylic block technique.  Acrylic block technique is where you put ink onto your block then spritz it with water then print it onto cardstock.  Makes for some fun watercolor effect blocks then stamp over it with a basic black ink.  Actually you could use just about any ink pad to overstamp I just wanted my bugs to pop so that is why I used black.  Next I added a few self sticking gems to finish off my card.  Please remember to visit our other design team members blogs  Vickie and Steph's   to see what is flying over there.

A rose is a rose!

This week  Simple Salutations challenge 51 is A rose is a rose!  all that means is get out those flower stamps that you packed away for the winter and stamp yourself a flowery garden delight!  Please remember the name of this challenge is Simple Salutations so you do need to add a salutation (saying) to the front of your card to be officially entered in our drawing.  here is my card:  I choice a rose because it's my birthday month and the rose is the flower for June but you can do any flower you prefer.  I stamped and embossed my rose in white then watercolored with distress markers on kraft cardstock.  It's a fun and easy technique.  Hard to see in photo but I added some glitter to the yellow rose.
card details:
stamps - MFPaHC love, love, love stamp set (rose), MFPaHC bring on the sun stamp set (saying)
Spellbinder Nestabilities labels dies
Ranger distress markers
ribbon & twine

Coffee, Tea or me?

This week at Speedy TV I'm hosting Simple Salutations challenge 47 The theme for this week is Coffee, Tea or me!  for me it is definitely tea!  Bag tea or loose tea it's tea for me so get out your favorite and stamp a cup to add to our challenge for a chance to win this beautiful butterfly image.  I do like to have layers on my cards, tags or bookmarks and this one shows seven layers of cardstock and two images from  Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps! a Heinrich Company .  I got out my water coloring pencils to add a wash of color to the row of tea cups and my Nestabilities for my saying on top of my big tag. Please remember for this challenge you need to add a salutation (saying) on the front of your creation to be officially included in the drawing.  hope you enjoyed my big tag enough to come by Simple Salutations challenge and join in with your project. 

 

***click on pic to see bigger pic***
card details:
stamps - Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps! a Heinrich Company saying and row of cups
water color pencils
cardstocks

Challenge Winner Guidelines

We encourage you to participate in all of our challenges, we would like to ask you to limit your submissions to 5 per challenge, per week. Each submission needs to be a new card (no cards that have been posted prior to the challenge date). Please do not submit the same card for every challenge, each submission should be a different card for each submission and each  challenge.

It's TGIF!

Happy TGIF!  although for us stay at home moms and retired people everyday is TGIF!  Here is a spring card for you today.  It's pretty in pink for this spring card...more like hot pink!  first I embossed the tulips from MFP spring things   stamp set with white embossing ink/powder.  next got out some re-inkers ink pinks and water colored the flowers on water color paper because it holds up better to all the water.  the stems and leaves were done with greens, of course.  did some fussy cutting then mounted the tulips on a card over a border of hearts.....why hearts you ask........couldn't say except the border punch was the first one I saw in the drawer.  Enjoy your weekend!

Srping into spring!

Today it is supposed to reach 50 degrees!  yeah! but tomorrow back to the 30's oh well, one warm day is better than none.  here's a bright bunch of spring flowers.  these tulips are from Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps! a Heinrich Company new March release called Spring Things.  bet you can't guess how I colored these tulips....no....not with my Prisma pencils..........got out my water brush and old dye ink reinkers.  first embossed the tulips with versamark ink, heat embossed black embossing powder then just watercolored inside the image.  that easy!  stop by here next week for Mark's Finest Papers blog hop where I will be featuring a tunnel card all week. 

Happy Holidays

Two posts in one day, I don't do that very often but it happens.  Here is another faux layer card this time with amaryllis flowers...impressed I know the name of the flower?  don't be it's in the name of the stamp set. ask any of my friends I'm not a flower or gardener person but stamping them, yes.

entering this card in the following challenges:

1.  One Stop Craft Challenge - christmas theme

2.  Crazy 4 Challenges - put a bow on it

 

card recipe:

stamps: used two new releases from Mark's Finest Papers and Stamps! a Heinrich Company Amaryllis Definition and Winter Scenes

ribbon:  May Arts

inks:  Ranger Archival jet black and Prisma watercolor pencils

***Don't forget to come back here on Monday to see my circle easel card within a card!***