Summer Vibes by Gennette Houghton

 

Hello, and Welcome to Watercolor Weekend!  Ah….August….the hurrah before fall.  Don’t mind me while I sit in the air conditioning until fall arrives.  LOL!  However, I do love all of the green and flowers, and I’m in no hurry for the cold I know is coming.  I am a mid-temp kind of gal.

 For my 1^st card I decided to go with several sets using the 6158 Story Tile Template.  The possibilities with this die is never ending.  I started off cutting down my watercolor paper to 4 ¼ by 5 ½, I keep a cutout of the template with my die that I use to trace the outline of the boxes on my paper.  I then stamped in all of my images with Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and then stamped them off once before placing them on my project, masking off the guides where needed.  I used 6106 Spring Keepsake Set for the birdhouse, and used a pencil to create a guide for the hanging line.  A mix of 565 and 969 for the wood, mixing these creates a more weathered look to the wood.  I then added 403 to the main part of the birdhouse, decorating with Bleed Proof White with a touch of 025 for the centers of the flowers.  526 was used on the sky before adding in the leafy branch from 5126 WC Foliage Set 4 in 126 and 177.  I also used a mix of 565 and 969 to the hanging line.  5981 My Joy Set was used for the Black-eyed Susans, I started with 126 on the leaves and contoured with 177.  For the petals I started with a base layer of 055, adding contours with 025.  I use a small amount of 026 for the deeper shading.  The centers I use 947 and shade with 969, also adding a couple of dots with 969 on each center.  For the background I used 403, and then added some gold dots with Winsor & Newton Gold Ink with 5418 Bible Foliage Set 2.  For the next section I used 6195 Love Blooms Set with a stamp positioner to make sure I had it centered where I wanted it.  A pencil and ruler was used to map out the guidelines for the windows before I started coloring.  For the windows I used a mix of 526 and 565, shading with more 565 along the edges.  For the wood I did a mix of 565 and 969 for this one as well.  Darkening around the bases of everything sitting on the bench.  For the curtains I used 025, and the tie backs I used 403.  For the pillow on the right I used 676 and 947 for the button, the left pillow I used 403 and 969 for the button.  I colored the left pot with 905, adding stripes and dots, and then shadowed with 947.  The right pot I used 126 and also shaded this with 947.  I started with adding in the shadows on the cat with 565 and then colored him in with N15.  I used a black micron on his facial features and a pencil for his whiskers.  I added in the foliage with 5126 WC Foliage Set 4, vines, in the right pot with a mix of 126 and 177.  For the left pot, I used 4868 WC Flower Set 2 in 676 and 177.  I also added in some Bleed Proof White for flowers on the vine.  For the birds, I used the 6196 Fresh Flowers Set.  A black micron was used on the eyes, beaks, and feet before coloring.  I extended the line across the opening with a pencil as well, to create a ledge that I colored with a mix of 565 and 969, adding some extra 565 for the shadows.  For the birds I started with 526 and 905, but then decided to add additional color with 565 and 856 because I felt they were too light.  403 was used for the sky, and then I added the little leafy branch from 5007 WC Foliage Set 3 with 249.  Adding in some flowers with Bleed Proof White.  

The FG Flower Borders are so useful in so many ways, so I used the 6186 FG Tulip Border for my next section.  For the leaves and stems I started with a base layer of 126 and then shaded and contoured with 177.  For the tulips I used: Purple – 676 and 947, Blue – 403 and 407, Yellow – 055 and 025, and Peachy Red – 905 and 947, making sure I deepened the colors in the more shaded spots.  I hate to admit this, but this is the very first time I have used the little girl from 5717 Little Girl FB Set.  For her hair I used 947.  For the skin I used 850 as the base, contouring with 910, and shadow with 912, with just a touch of 772 on the cheeks.  I used a black micron for her eyes, and 912 to define her nose and mouth with a touch of 947 on her eyebrows.  I decided to go all fancy with her dress and used a pencil to map in the guides for the checkered pattern, and used 905 on her hat, buttons, and dress.  I don’t know what it is about this color, but I love it.  It can be a strong orange/red, or when it’s watered down can be a peachy pink.  I used some 565 for a shadow under the brim of her hat.  969 was used on the basket, and then created a mask before adding in the daisy bunch from 5074 Bible Flower Set in 403.  I also added in the vines from 5126 WC Foliage Set 4 in a mix of 126, and 177, adding in some Bleed Proof White.  I shaded the arms and basket on the apron with 565.  I decided to add boards behind her with a pencil and ruler, using a mix of 565 and 969 to add definition, plus added a shadow behind the girl with 565.  Using the 6158 Story Tile Template I cut out the frame from 6082 Bible Journaling S1 Paper Pack, mounting this over my images and assembling my card. 

 For my 2^nd card I used 6184 Euro Cottage Set with Distress Ink Pumice Stone after stamping off once and then stamped onto my watercolor paper. I also created a mask for later.  I started with 947 on the roof, adding a bit of 969 for the darker areas and added shading with 565.  I used a mix of 565 and 969, with a touch of 249 on the chimney, door frame, and steps, shading these with 565.  For the walls I watered down some 969 just to give them a bit of tint, and then darker for the suggestion of bricks.  For the trim around the windows I used 947 and a bit of 969.  526 and 565 was used on the windows, and then I used some 969 for the panes.  I used 969 on the door, shading with 565, and then used 947 for the door knob.  For the lantern, I started with 526 for the glass, and finished it off with 026.  

I then used the mask I created and masked off the cottage to add in the foliage for the trees.  4051 Foliage Set 1, the large foliage, I covered the stamp with 126 and then added 177 in random areas, stamping and re-inking multiple times for both sides.  I softened this with a damp brush before adding in the branches.  I used one of the larger branches from 4964 WC Branches Set in 977, using the stamp positioner to figure out where I wanted the branches of the trees to be.  I then added in some 526 for the sky.  Removing the mask, I then used one of the smaller branches from the same set for the vines going up around the house.  From 4051, I used the small grass in 177 along both sides of the house, and then used 5126 WC Foliage Set 4 and the vines in 126 and 177.  I also softened the vines and grass with a damp brush, before adding in some Bleed Proof White.  Just a touch of 969 for the path for the door.  I cut out my image with the 3^rd from largest die from the 5063 Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies.  After matting my card base with paper from 6033 Inspirational Easter Paper Pack, I matted my image with a darker green and then silver, before assembling my card.  Thank you so much for joining me today, and I hope you enjoyed my cards!  Until next time, Create….Share….Inspire!