Hello Ai fans!
A friend of ours is getting married on Saturday and I'm
sharing the wedding card that I made for them.
Their invitation was movie themed so I decided to play off of that.
I love the Story Tile template because it creates little windows and
each one features something a little bit different.
I also used the template on the inside but I cut some of the borders out
to create two large windows. I also embossed the designer paper on the left
for a little something extra.
Happy September, everyone! Summer is drawing to a close and it is almost fall! It feels like summer was just starting.
For my September project, I am using my favorite puppy that I haven’t used in quite a while. He’s sitting in a flower garden enjoying the beautiful end-of-summer day.
I put the sky in next using #75 sky blue, keeping it lighter where I had flowers planned. I find it easier than trying to work around the flowers once they are stamped. Once the sky was in place, I stamped grass in repeat along my grass line next to the puppy and rocks, mainly using the teeny tiny grass from Foliage Set 1 and also stamped the grass stamp from WC Tree Set 2 a couple times to the right of the puppy. I masked off the rocks and used a positioner to place the tall flowers from Foliage Set 7 to the left of the rocks. I inked the foliage with #15 olive green and the flower buds with #79 grape and then added a little #8 violet at the base for shading. Once the flower was stamped, I carefully dabbed at the flower buds with my paintbrush. I also carefully touched my brush to the leaves of the foliage, but avoided the stems.
I stamped the tall blue flowers from Foliage Set 7 on the right side of my project – also using a stamp positioner for placement. I inked the foliage in #15 olive green and the flowers in #29 Prussian Blue. I then carefully touched my brush to each flower bud and leaf. I then stamped the flower bunch from Foliage Set 7, inking the foliage with #15 olive green and the flowers with #96 auburgine. I used the stamp positioner for placement and again, touched my brush to each flower and a few of the leaves.
I then used the small dot flower from the WC Mini Flower Set and inked it in #43 brilliant yellow. I stamped it in repeat above the grass line on the left and right edge of my project. There was a small gap between the grass line and the puppy, so I used the fine tip on my #15 olive green and added a few blades of grass. I then used my fine tip on my #8 violet and added a few dots to the top of the grass stems for random wildflowers.
I then added a wash of #15 olive green for the foreground, making sure to have light and dark areas, especially under the dog to create a shadow. It needed a little more, so then I used #45 sepia to also add a wash of brown, leaving light and dark areas. I felt that something was needed above the rocks, so I added a small butterfly from My Joy Set. I stamped it in Pumice Stone and used #8 violet, #79 grape and #3 blue to paint the wings. Once it was dry, I used my Micron to add the body and very small antennae. I also used Dr PH Martin’s Bleed Proof White to add some dots to the grass and the yellow dot flowers. I cut a simple frame from black cardstock to mount my project and then used single sheet of background paper to cover my card front.
I still use Marvy Le Plume markers for my projects. Most of these can be converted to Tombow colors, but choose colors that work for you. These just happen to be some of my go-to colors for any project I work on. (Here is the link for the Tombow conversion chart: https://www.artimpressions.com/shop/art-impressions-most-loved-color-conversion-chart/)
Happy Stamping! As always, I hope
you will give this project a try! Don’t forget to
enter the
Monthly Challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your
choice!
Accessories:
Pumice Stone Distress Ink
#1 Connoisseur Brush
#4 Connoisseur Brush
Marvy Markers
From a Classic Door to a Blooming Garden
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).
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
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.
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:
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!
