Blue Hydrangea Margin Card and Pink Hydrangea Frameworks Gift Enclosure Card by Diane Mason

 Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I’m excited to share some beautiful hydrangea cards with you today. These projects feature images from two of the newest releases: 6219 – Hydrangea Margin Set and 6222 – Frameworks Set 4. I had so much fun exploring different color palettes and layouts, and I can’t wait to show you how these came together.

Blue Hydrangea Margin Card:

Hydrangeas are some of my favorite flowers — we actually have four hydrangea bushes in our backyard, and the whole yard looks so pretty when they’re in bloom.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Patterned Paper: 5955 – Encouragement Paper Pack

Cardstock: gold metallic, white

Brushes: No. 4 round brush, No. 0 round brush

Stamps and Dies: 6219 – Hydrangea Margin Set, 5952 – Portfolio Template Set

Ink for stamped images: 526, 606, 177

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 177, 526, 606

Other: Foam squares, Post-It Tape, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Winsor Newton Gold Paint

I inked the flower petals in 526 and the leaves and stems in 177. After stamping the blue hydrangeas, I added 606 to the lower portions of the blooms and stamped again to create a soft blue‑purple blend.

Once all the elements were stamped onto Canson XL watercolor paper, I pulled the color from the lines with a damp brush and added additional color from my palette. The blue and purple tones blend beautifully to create depth and dimension. Using the bullet tip of 526, I dotted in the floral centers.

For the background, I pulled color from the edges of the image with a damp brush. When the panel was dry, I added tiny gold paint dots to the background and selectively to the stems and leaves.

Next, I masked off the edges of the painting with Post‑It tape, pressing firmly to prevent any bleeding. I painted the border with 526, and once dry, blended in 606 for added richness. Finally, I trimmed the finished panel to 1 7/8 x 5 1/2 inches.

To create the gold borders, I used one edge of the scalloped rectangle die from the 5952 – Portfolio Template Die Set to die cut gold metallic cardstock. Since the die wasn’t long enough, I extended the length by selectively die‑cutting and repositioning — there are lots of helpful YouTube tutorials on this technique. I adhered the gold strips behind each side of the painted panel.

For the card front, I trimmed patterned paper from the Encouragement Paper Pack to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches and adhered it to a white A2 card base. The watercolored panel was then attached directly to the card front.

To add a little interest inside the card, I adhered a strip of coordinating patterned paper along the right edge. This design makes a lovely all‑purpose card, perfect for many occasions.

Pink Hydrangea Frameworks Gift Enclosure Card:

Sometimes it’s nice to have a small card for leaving a sweet note or attaching to a present or gift bag. This little enclosure card measures 3 1/2 x 2 6/8 inches (full card base: 5 1/4 x 2 6/8 inches).

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Mix Media Paper

Patterned Paper: 6010 – Basic Pink Paper Pack

Cardstock: White

Brush: No. 4 round brush, No. 0 round brush

Ink for stamped images: 743, 606, 177

Stamps and Dies: 6219 – Hydrangea Margin Set, 6222 – Frameworks Set 4, 6062 – Hydrangea Floral Set, 5062 – Rounded Rectangle A2 Double, Stitched Dies, and 5726 – Nested Circle Dies

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 743, 606, 177, N52, 403f

Other: Foam squares, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, sheer white ribbon, detail scissors, and envelope punch board.

I inked the frame and flower petals in 743, and the leaves and stems in 177. After stamping the pink hydrangeas, I added 606 to the lower portions of the flowers and stamped again to create a pink‑purple blend.

Once I pulled the color from the frame, I added touches of 606 for shading and used N52 to create shadows under the frame edge. For the background, I washed in a watery mix of 403 and added white dots with Bleed Proof White. Using the bullet tip of 743, I dotted in some floral centers.

I lightly sketched a cutting border with pencil and trimmed the image using detail scissors. Mix Media paper is thinner than watercolor paper, making it easy to cut cleanly. After attaching the sheer ribbon to the card front, I popped up the image with foam squares.

Inside the card, I die‑cut two panels from Mix Media paper using the Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies, plus a small circle from the Nested Circle Dies for the envelope seal. The sentiment is from the Hydrangea Floral Set, and the hydrangea images come from the top portion of the margin stamp. I created a coordinating envelope from white cardstock and patterned paper using an envelope punch board.

Thank you so much for spending a little creative time with me today. These hydrangea sets were such a joy to paint, and I hope they inspire you to pull out your favorite pinks, blues, purples, and greens this weekend. Whether you’re trying a new layout or revisiting a favorite technique, I can’t wait to see what you create. Be sure to tag us on social media. Until next time, Happy Painting!

Hello Friend Floral Shop and Craftiness is Happiness Cards by Diane Mason

Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I have two friend cards to share with you today – one with a 3D floral theme and the other perfect for a “Crafty” friend.

Hello Friend Floral Shop Card:

This fun 3D card features elements from the recently released 6159 – Floral Shop Die Set and 6114 – Box Village Template Dies. I also used an image from 5444 – Matchbook Garden Set for the interior of the shop window.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Patterned Paper: 6205 – Floral Shop Paper Pack

Cardstock: Green, White

Brush: No. 4 round brush, No. 1 round brush

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Stamps and Dies:

• 6159 – Floral Shop Die Set
• 6114 – Box Village Template Dies
• 5444 – Matchbook Garden Set
• 6062 – Hydrangea Floral Set

Tombow Dual Brush Pens:

• Hat: 992 and 856
• Gardening gloves: 856
• Watering can: 526, N52, 565
• All greenery: 177, 173
• Blue flower pot: 555 and 565
• Purple flower pot: 636, 565
• Shelf: 977
• Shelf paneling and white containers: 565 for shadows

Other: Foam squares, Post-It Tape, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White

I folded an 8 ½ x11-inch piece of white cardstock in half and placed the page die from 6114 – Box Village Template Dies just outside the fold line of the die to cut the card base. All the decorative house elements are from 6159 – Floral Shop Die Set and die cut from 6205 – Floral Shop Paper Pack and white cardstock. I inked the image from 5444 – Matchbook Garden Set with Versafine Onyx Black ink and watercolored the image using the above Tombow colors. I die cut the image using the window die. Using the window pane die, I die cut it from white cardstock five times and glued all five together to create a 3D effect. Additional die cuts included the vine and bush cut from green cardstock and the flowers from watercolor paper. I painted the flowers pink (703) and the centers (025, 933). For the doorstep stairs, I die cut watercolor paper using the stairs die from 6114, and painted them gray (N79).

  

Once I had the card front mostly assembled, I popped up the flower boxes, window awning, dormer trim, door sign and stairs with foam squares.

  

For the inside of the door, I die cut another door front from white cardstock, and trimmed the hinge off with scissors. I stamped the Hello Friend sentiment from 5444 in 703 and glued the panel into the interior of the door for a fun surprise element.

Inside the card, I added decorative panels using dies from 6114. The friends sentiment is from 6062.

Craftiness is Happiness Card:

I have had this set in my stamp stash for such a long time and finally decided to give it some love! I think all of us artists and crafters can relate to this fabulous set. This is a perfect “just because” card for a crafty friend. 5563 – Queen of Craft set includes stamps and dies for the images, as well as a scripty “Crafty” die.

Colors and Supplies Used

Tombow Dual Brush Pens:

• 555 – books, papers, painter’s tape, marker, paint brush jar and jar accessories
• 403 – books, papers, marker, and ribbon
• 173 – die cutting machine, book, and marker.
• 977 – shelf, chalkboard frame, ruler, wooden crate, and hair strands
• 850, 942 – face, hands, and feet
• 992 – rug
• 703 – ribbon, heat gun, and jar accessories
• 636 – wheeled craft tote
• 856, 837 – books, hearts, paint brush handle, coffee mug, earring, cheeks, lips, and craft tote bag
• 933, 856 – scissors and books
• N25 – chalkboard, craft tote bag, and wheels on wheeled craft tote
• 569 – pajamas
• 025, 026 – hair, crown, books, marker, ribbon
• N52, 565 – shadows, slippers, shelf, storage container, papers, jars and tables

Other Coloring Supplies:

• Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink (stamped image)
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White – jar highlights, polka dots, books and ribbons details, hair highlights, mug heart, and chalkboard lettering
• Winsor & Newton Gold Ink – crown details
• Tombow TwinTone Pens – gray and brown (for details)
• Black Micron pen

·       Brush: No. 4 round brush, No. 1 round brush

Paper & Dies:

• Canson XL Watercolor Paper
• Purple cardstock
• White embossed cardstock
• 5063 – Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies
• 5061 – Square Double Stitched Dies
• 5563 – Queen of Craft (Crafty die)

 

To finish the inside, I added a white panel and stamped the sentiment from the set in Versafine Onyx Black ink.

Thank you so much for joining me today! I had such a great time creating both of these friend cards. I hope they spark ideas for your own weekend crafting. Until next time, Happy Painting!