Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Creating Projects Big and Small!

Hello, Ai Fans! It is the first Saturday of the month, so we are happy to share another Watercolor Weekend with you! We started this "twice a month" series in August, and our Watercolor Guest Design Team ( Dot Freel, Tricia Kennedy and Tricia O'Bin) is excited to share new projects with you this month! Find out what other projects they are up to on their personal blogs and Instagram!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello, I created this somewhat masculine scene with Art Impressions stamps from the set Southwest, the Rustic Container Set, the grass from the Foliage Set 1, and the Furries set. It seems I'm constantly needing masculine cards, probably because I'm married with three sons and three grandsons. I always make cards for my family and friends. I truly love making cards. If you have always wanted to try it, do it! Your friends and family will love getting your homemade cards. Mine sure do.

Art Impressions Products: 4763 Southwest, 4871 WC Rustic Container Set, 4051 WC Foliage Set 1, 4208 Furries, 4773 Acrylic Blocks, 4774 Stamp Positioner, #4 Brush
Marvy LePlume II Markers: 6 Brown, 19 Carmine, 45 Sepia, 72 Pine Green, 75 Sky Blue
Other Supplies: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Paper

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

I’m excited to share my watercolor jewelry project with everyone today. I have two options – “Spring Flowers” and “Southwest”. This is Watercolor the Art Impressions Way on a very small scale – 1 inch to be exact!

For the “Spring Flowers” pendant, I started by stamping the long stem flower bunch from the WC Flower Set 2 in 55 Iris Purple and 15 Olive Green followed by the single long stemfrom the WC Flower Set 2 in 8 Violet, 13 Ochre and 15 Olive Green. Do not pull the color from the lines for any part of the flowers - just leave them as is. I then stamped the small grass from the WC Foliage Set 1 in Olive Green. I did slightly pull the color from lines on the grass by dipping my brush in water, but just a bit. The final step was to add dot detail in 55 Iris Purple around the flowers. 

Onto the “Southwest” pendant. I stamped the prickly pear cactus from the 4763 Southwest set in 15 Olive Green. I then stamped the single long stem, flower only, from theWC Flower Set 2 in 55 Iris Purple to make the cactus blooms. Do not pull the color from the lines for the cactus or flowers - just leave them as is. I put 15 Olive Green on my palette and added a few shadows onto the cactus. And, Salvia Blue on the palette for the clouds.

To complete both pendants, I placed a thin coat of Craft Fantastic Glaze onto the Craft Fantastic Glass Square. I set the glass square onto my watercolor piece, pressing it down so any excess glaze would ooze out the side. FYI, once the glaze touches the image, the glaze reacts with the ink just like water – that’s why I didn’t pull the color from the lines as I normally do - try not to move it. Remove any excess glaze around the edges of the glass with a cotton swab or toothpick. Let dry. I trimmed the watercolor paper from the glass piece by cutting right along the edge with my scissors. I placed a Craft Fantastic Jeweler’s Dot into the center of the Craft Fantastic Pendant Tray, removed the red backing and pressed the watercolor backed glass square firmly into the tray. I slid the pendant onto ribbon and voila a necklace.

Try this project and you, too, can wear your watercolor art!

Art Impressions Products: 4763 Southwest, 4051 WC Foliage Set 1, 4868 WC Flower Set 2, Watercolor Palette, Watercolor Brush No. 6, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 15 Olive Green, 55 Iris Purple, 8 Violet, 13 Ochre, 60 Salvia Blue

Other Supplies: Craft Fantastic Medium Square Pendant Tray, Craft Fantastic Medium Glass Squares, Craft Fantastic Jeweler’s Dots, Craft Fantastic Glaze, 3/8” Sheer Ribbon By Celebrate It 360 in white and pink

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube

Hi, I am using the Stone Bridge for today's project for this Watercolor Weekend round-up. I just love these stone bridges, don't you? It reminds me of the one in Central Park NY. It can be used for so many occasions, just add a sentiment. Let’s jump right into how you can make this project as well.

I decided to create a stone bridge with rocks in a stream. The rocks are actually created with a stamp from the 2016 Exclusive set that is only available when you take an Art Impressions class. I love them and use them often.

I inked the Stone Bridge with #86 African Violet. I stamped it off a couple of times and re-inked it with #45 Sepia. This creates a nice grayish brown color for the bridge and rocks. After I softened and pulled the color out of the lines, I covered the bridge with a mask I made from a post it note.

The birch trees are inked with #45 Sepia and the tops of the trees are inked with #72 Pine Green. I added water to the outside edges of the trees to keep them white and used more water on the tops of the trees to create a background for the leaves. I stamped the leaves over the background to define them within the trees.

I added a bush of leaves on each side of the bridge in the #72 Pine Green. I added water and softened the leaves. I stamped the rocks into the stream using the same combination of #86 African Violet and #45 Sepia. I softened the lines and added some definition to the tops of the rocks. Once that was dry, I added the water using #60 Salvia Blue first, adding #36 Manganese Blue and finishing it off with #3 Blue to get a nice highlight.

I added the tiny grass to the hill on each side of the river using #15 Olive Green. To add a hint of sky I used a watered down version of #3 Blue from my palette.

Here is a close up.

This is such a fun project to do. I hope you will break out your stamps and markers and have a go! If you want to see me create this project, I will be posting the video soon so head over to my YouTube channel and paint along with me.

I hope you are inspired to watercolor this weekend. I look forward to seeing your creations.

Have a crafty day!!

Art Impressions Product: 3497 WC Series 6 Set 1, 4808 Covered Bridge Mini Set,  4051 WC Foliage Set 1, 4773 Acrylic Block 5 Pack, Canson XL WC Paper Pad, Watercolor Palette, WC Brush NO. 6

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 86 African Violet, 45 Sepia, 15 Olive Green, 72 Pine Green, 3 Blue, 36 Manganese Blue, 60 Salvia Blue

Other Supplies: Neenah Classic Crest Paper 110 lb, Post-It notes

What do you think, Ai Fans? Leave some comment love! We always look forward to reading what you like about our new roundup! Do you make your own watercolor projects? We would love to see them! Join in on any of our weekly challenges here on the blog, or show us on Instagram with #aistamps and #aiwatercolor so we can see your creations! Happy Stamping!