From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden

Welcome to Watercolor Weekend; today is August 23, 2026

There’s something truly special about giving a classic stamp a new look. For this A2-size card, I combined the classic door stamp #5433 (WC Foundation Door) from 2021 with the recently released flower stamps #6270 and #6271 (Foliage Set 6 and  Flower Set 7) to recreate a charming scene filled with color and texture.

Painting the Door and Creating the Brick Wall

I began by stamping the door using Tombow markers #969 and #565. To color the door, I chose light shades of gray, purple, and blue to give it the appearance of weathered white wood. I then colored the flower pots and steps using very light shades of pink, purple, green, and blue.                   

                             

To create the background wall, I used a brick stencil paired with a dry-brush watercolor technique for a soft, artistic look. By applying a small amount of watercolor to a relatively dry brush and lightly sweeping it across the stencil, I achieved a beautiful, uneven texture that gives the wall an aged character.

                    


   
Adding the Flowers
Using Foliage Set 6 and Flower Set 7, I inked the stamps with markers and stamped the flowers directly into the pots. I also added foliage over the door and a wreath using stamp set 5830. Because the ink dilutes slightly with water, each flower features a unique blend of color, making it look as though a vibrant garden is growing right outside. To finish, I used PH Martin Bleed Proof White to add small white flowers. I painted the door hardware in gold and added a touch of grass to the bottom step using foliage set 1 (#4051).
                                                        

Putting the Card Together

Once completely dry, I trimmed the main panel to 4" x 5.25" and layered it over a 4.25" x 5.5" coordinated background from the Winter Woodland paper pack (#5964). Finally, I mounted the entire piece onto an A2 card base.

The watercolor effect from the Tombow markers brings everything together beautifully, creating a soft, hand-painted finish that looks completely custom.

A Quick Tip
When using Tombow markers with stamps, experiment with your water ratio. Less water preserves defined details, while more water creates softer, blended colors. Don't be afraid to let the colors mix and move naturally—those minor variations are what make each image look like a miniature watercolor painting.
 

Second Project: I will SEA you Soon

For my second card, I used stamps 5054 and 5509 along with Tombow markers to craft another watercolor-style scene. This image features a boy pausing during a playful day at the beach to watch a sailboat in the distance (featuring the exclusive sailboat stamp, WC0526).

I hope these projects inspire you to break out your classic favorite stamps and combine them with something new. Sometimes, the most unexpected combinations create the most beautiful cards!

Happy Crafting!

Neema 

Last Days of Summer Card and Interactive Whimsical Storybook Box by Diane Mason

  Hello, and welcome back for Watercolor Weekend!

 

Hello, my Ai Watercolor friends and fans! I have two projects to share with you today. The first is a card featuring a darling, sleepy little girl resting in her favorite rocking chair, soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the last days of summer. The second project highlights one of the newest additions to the Storybook Box Series.

Last Days of Summer Card: 

This square card was inspired by all the kids heading back to school. I was always a little sad when Summer Break came to an end — it always seemed to fly by too quickly. This sweet little girl is nestled in her rocking chair in the garden, soaking up the sunshine and savoring those final, carefree days of summer.

Colors and Supplies Used

Paper: Canson XL Watercolor Paper

Cardstock: Purple

Patterned Paper: 5939 – Fairy Garden Paper Pack

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

Stamps & Dies:

• 5360 – WC Rocking Chair Set
• 5578 – Little Angels Set
• 5475 – Flower Set 6
• 6271 – Flower Set 7
• 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1
• 6270 – Foliage Set 6
• 6047 – Scalloped Square Dies

Ink for stamped images: Versafine Smokey Gray & N52

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 177, 249, 555, 565, 603, 606, 910, 912, 977, 969, 772

Other: Post-It tape, Masking Paper, Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, Brown TwinTone Markers

Since I knew I’d need to do some masking for this scene, I first stamped the rocking chair (5360 – WC Rocking Chair Set) and the girl (5578 – Little Angels Set) on scrap paper. This helped me see exactly where to place the masks so the girl would look naturally seated in the chair. I also left off her wings for this design. The rocking chair was inked with Versafine Smokey Gray, and the girl was selectively inked with N52. Once I had the placement figured out, I stamped the images on to Canson XL watercolor paper.

Painting:

I brushed in the sky with a watery mix of 555. For the foliage, I stamped with 177 and 249, and the flowers were stamped in 555 and 606. I used 603 for the girl’s dress and 277 for her hair and shoes. Her skin was painted with 910 and 912, with 172 added to her cheeks. The rocking chair was shaded with 565.

White highlights were added with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White, and I finished the scene by adding small details where needed with a brown TwinTone marker.

I matted the painting using the largest square scalloped die (6047 – Scalloped Square Dies), cut from purple cardstock, and layered it onto a 4¼ x 4¼‑inch piece of patterned paper from the 5939 – Fairy Garden Paper Pack. The panel was then adhered to a square white card base of the same size.

Interactive Whimsical Storybook Box:

My next project features the newly released 6223 – Whimsical Storybook Set. This set includes both a fairy and a gnome that can perch on the wooden stump, and I couldn’t choose between them — so I used both and made the box interactive! I attached tiny magnets to the backs of the fairy and the gnome, as well as to the inside front and back of the box, so you can swap them out whenever you like. It’s such a fun little detail that brings the whole Storybook scene to life.

Here are all the images painted and die cut. Colors used: 679, 177, 249, 885, 847, N25, N52, 565, 555, 905, 845, 992, 977, 925,192,133, 526, 912, and 942. I used branches from 4964 – WC Branches Set for the trees and leaves from 5372 – WC Mini Foliage Set. The grass is from 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1. The images were stamped with Versafine Vintage Sepia Ink. Red, blue and brown TwinTone markers were used to add detail.

Adding the magnets:

 

Interactive Options (front):

Interactive Options (back):

The gnome and fairy can be attached magnetically to the back too!

The sentiment is from 5935 – Fairytale Houses Set. Patterned paper is from 5832 – Gnome Paper Pack.

I think anyone would be super excited to receive this adorable interactive Storybook Box as a gift! Reminder: Safety First - this should not be given to a small child – tiny magnets are a chocking hazard and should not be ingested!

Thank you so much for joining me for Watercolor Weekend. I hope you have enjoyed today’s projects! Until next time, Happy Painting!