Frosty Valentine by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello and welcome to Watercolor Weekend! I know most of you are probably already dreaming of spring. I know I am, but I decided to take a frosty twist to Valentine’s Day. 

For my first card I used the 5056 WC Fairy Doors Set, and stamped the tree on my watercolor paper using 969. Using a pencil with the die I plan to use, I extended some of the branches to meet the edge of where the frame will sit. After pulling the color out, I then added more 969 from my palette. I sketched in the hearts with a pencil, and added some definition with more 969 around the heart on the tree trunk to make it looked carved out around the edges.

I then added in 526 for the sky, being careful as I went around the tree branches. Keeping the hanging hearts white I deepened the color around them so that they would stand out more.  I used a black micron pen to add in the strings connecting the hearts to the tree branches. I then used 565 at the base of the tree and along the edges of the white hearts for dimension. Using Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, I added in some snow on the branches and around the base of the tree, adding a touch of 565 to give depth to the snow. 

I then cut out a white frame using a die from 5588 Journal Oval Frames Die Set, and popped it up using foam tape. Placing it over the tree and securing it down, I then used my scissors to cut away the excess paper from my painting, angling my scissors under the frame. I stamped out 2 of the little birds from 5100 Woodland Tree Cubbies in 969/565, and stamping them off. I colored the main part of the birds with 526, leaving their bellies white, and added some 565 for the shadows.  The beaks were colored with 025, and I used a black micron for the eyes, feet and the outline of the beaks. After die cutting them out with the included dies, I then attached the birds at the top of the frame, I then matted my card with paper from the 5892 Easter S2 PP, and attached the frame to the front of the card to finish it off. 

I am not ready to give up the snowmen yet, I love painting them! The couple from 5467 WC Snowmen Set, I felt were perfect for my next card.  In 969/565 and stamping off, I stamped in my sweet couple on watercolor paper. I also created a mask and stamped in the tree from 4807 Old Barn Mini Set in 969 after I put in the sky with 526. 

I pulled the color out of the tree first before working on the couple, adding a little extra to the areas that would be more shadowed.  On the eyes, mouth, and buttons I used a black micron, leaving a hint of white on the buttons for a highlight.  Before adding any other colors on the snowmen, I first went in with 565 to define and create shadows. For the carrot nose I used 025 and on the bottom portion 026. N15 was used on the top hat, and 856 was used for the rest of the outfits, with a touch of 969 on her coat button. I then used the Bleed Proof White to add in the heart on the hat band and his scarf. I also used the white to create heart shaped snow, outlining them with a little more of the 526 and blending it out a little bit just to give them a little bit more of a pop.  I then cut my image out with the 5064 Circle Double Stitched Dies, using the 2^nd to largest one and matted my card with paper from 5741 Valentines Paper Pack.

Thank you for joining me today, and I hope you enjoyed my cards! Until next time. Create….Share….Inspire!