Day 3 and a challenge

Day 3 of sneaks and today I'm showing you a few cards from the Signs of Spring stamp set.  The Flourishes Design Team are all showing cards that are water colored today.  Have you ever wondered how some get that beautiful water colored look in their stamped creations?  Wonder no more, today's Flourishes Focus is all about adding that gorgeous wash of colors.  For a tutorial from our own Christine Okken, go to the Flourishes Newsletter blog, she will walk you through her process.  I have to admit, I was scared when I found out this week we were to water color an image from this set.  Water coloring is all about trial an error, it does not come easy for me, but I tried and thats all that matters.  I hope you join us for this water color challenge, if I can do it, you can do it too!  While you are at the Flourishes blog be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win this stamp set.

I stamped my image in a yellow toned ink, once the ink was dry I went into the flower image and took my brush with just water on it, to get a base coat down, for me its easier this way, it makes blending easier and you get a softer wash once you start adding color.  Patience is your friend when water coloring (for me anyhow lol).  Because I was using textured paper, I wanted a simple design and since I mail most of my cards, it needed to be post office friendly :)  

"Water Colored Daffodil"

materials used:

bazzill textured green paper, water color paper, true black card stock

Signs of Springs stamp set from Flourishes llc

sheer polka dotted May Arts ribbon, dimmensionals, Spellbinder dies

water color ink, paint brushes

~Be sure to visit the rest of the design team to see all of their water colored beauties~

Leslie Miller

Julie Koerber

Christine Okken

Laura Fredrickson

Faith Hofrichter

Cindy Lawrence

Stacy Morgan

Flourishes blog

This was the first card I made with the Signs of Spring stamp set, so I feel I must share it and do the artist Marcella Hawley justice (my water colored card isn't my best work).  I had some Making Memories Chloe's Closet paper that screamed to be used with this set, I love how things just come together in your mind and it actually turns out when you put it on paper.  I was going for a modern vintage feel if there is even such a thing, and I happen to love this card.  Those mini library clips and the button just pull everything together so nicely.  I distressed the edges of the paper with a Tim Holtz distress tool, then crumpled the paper a bit and then using a dauber, I inked up the edges and parts of the paper.  The daffodil is colored in using Copic markers.

"Vintage Daffodil"

Materials used:

vintage cream card stock, Making Memories Chloes Closet paper

Signs of Spring stamp set from Flourishes llc

satin ribbon, mm button, mini library clips from SU

Adirondack Espresso ink, Copic markers, Tim Holtz distress ink, Tim Holtz distressing tool, dauber

If you are not busy later be sure to join us in the Flourishes forum on SCS at 7pm est for the release party, I hear they are giving all three sets away!