Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Sweet and Spooky!

Hello, Ai Fans! We're back with a range of projects from sweet to spooky with our Watercolor Guest Design Team! Whether you are gearing up for Halloween, looking forward to winter, or dreaming about spring, we have inspiration for you! Let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I am still busy playing with my favorite new stamp set - 5197 - WC Winter Kids. I am now using Strathmore Bristol smooth paper for all of my dye ink watercoloring because I just love how smooth the color blends on it. I stamped the snowman and kid after inking it up with brown 969, then blue 565. I stamped it off first on scratch paper (my usual way) so that the lines would not be so dark. I did the same thing with the light post and then I pulled the color out of the lines the same way Bonnie Krebs, Owner/Creator of Ai, always does on her YouTube videos. If you haven't subscribed yet, you should, I still learn from her every time. I used 565 off the palette to watercolor the snow, boots and sky. I colored the snowman's hat, the branch arm and the little girl's hair using brown 969. I used the Arteza TwiMarker in sage green to watercolor the hat band, the hat, the gloves, the pants and the scarf on the little girl. I inked up a branch from the 4960 - WC Fir Trees Set in green 249 and stamped it up and down the light pole then pulled the color out of the lines. I added the berries using the fine tip of the 55 iris purple pen. I dabbed in some of the sage green from the palette. I used the iris purple to watercolor the scarf, coat and hat band. I colored the nose with 88 terra cotta. I used the fine tip of a Copic Multi-liner pen to darken the eyes and buttons on the snowman. I used the fine tip of the Tombow TwinTone brown pen to draw hair on the girl. I cut it out using the large square die from the 5061 die set. I used watered down white Gouache to flick dots for the snow.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

I'm using all sorts of product from the Ai Bible Journaling collection today!

I began by cutting out my Canson XL watercolor paper with two sizes of the 5062 - Double Stitched Rounded Rectangle dies. I coloured the gate image from 5067 - Gates of Righteousness Set first in Tombow #565 Deep Blue, then #969 Chocolate overtop. I stamped it off on scrap paper, and then onto my panel. Since I knew that my card design would have the overlapping sentiment panel, the gate is positioned a little to the right of center. I added the clay pot image on the left side, slightly below the gate so that it would appear in front of it. With my damp #4 paintbrush, I softened the lines and pulled out the colour into the shadowed areas, as I wanted the gate to be white. I did the same stamping method with the medium scroll image from the 5202 Scroll Set on the smaller rectangle. I used a pencil to faintly sketch in the overlapping hillsides, having them meet right in the middle of the gate, as I wanted a sunrise to be centered there, and sketched in the narrow path also. Using the vine image from 5073 - Bible Foliage Set, and #158 Dark Olive, I stamped the vine so that it wrapped up and around the gate, and spilled over the top, sometimes colouring only part of the image if I wanted a smaller sprig of greenery. I filled in a few areas with the small leaf image from 5074 - Bible Flower Set, and used this to add foliage to the clay pot. The spiky trio of blooms from the same set was coloured with #946 Gold Ochre and stamped in the pot and around the vine to created the floral clusters. I used the Mini Foxglove stamp from Flower Set 4052 coloured in #565 to stamp the longer stems in the clay pot. I picked up #947 Burnt Sienna from my palette, and painted it onto the pot, adding several layers to the edges to deepen the colour. Using the shrubbery image from the Bible Foliage set, I coloured it in #249 Hunter Green, and stamped it on either side of the gate - wanting to create a bit of a hedge. I touched all of the flowers and foliage with my damp brush, then picked up #158 from my palette and painted in the hillsides and grassy foreground. I used it with the small grass image from the Bible Foliage set to add tufts of grass in and around the cobblestones. The path was painted with #992 Sand. I used #565 to add shadows between the slats of the gate, and as texture on the stones. With my scene pretty much complete, I used my fine point Twintone marker in 42 Navy to add definition and shadows to the stones, bushes and gate. I also used the finer point of my #946 to add darker yellow shades to the flowers. I used the #946 to paint the sun and it's glow, and added a wash of #565 to the sky.

My scroll was looking a little grey and gloomy next to my image, so I added in touches of the #946 Gold Ochre, which really brightened the scroll, and I added a little of the 565 and 158 around it to mimic the grass & sky - I quite like the effect. Both images were given an 1/8" soft grey matt, and glued onto a subtly patterned background paper. The sentiment is adhered with pop dots, and positioned about 3/8" above the top edge of the 5 1/2" square card.

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Hey watercolor fans, welcome to another watercolor weekend over on the Art Impressions Blog. This weekend I decided to get into the Halloween spirit by creating a spooky window. It was so much fun using the water to create some really cool textures.

Card Details

First, I inked up the window with 969 and 569. I stamped it off and then stamped it on the watercolor paper. This window seemed to be perfect for this project as it looked like it was kind of hanging off its hinges. I added more water than I usually do to the hanging part. After it dried, I added some additional color with my Twintouch Brown and Blue to get some additional texture. I pulled the color out of the lines around the window and panes.

In order to place the cat inside of the window, I masked it off using post-it tape, inked it up with black and using my positioner, stamped it in the window opening. I added some additional black to my palette and slowly built the color up to a deep black.

Next, I inked up the brick texture with 969 and some 569, stamped it off and then stamped it to the left and right of the spooky window. I added water between the stones. Once that dried, I added some additional cracks in the background for some additional spookiness (LOL).

I wanted to create a lighted window so I added some 025 in between each pane from my palette. I left a small amount of white space and free handed a ghost into the window. I used my fine point to add some cracks to the window panes.

I inked up one of the branches with black and stamped it to the left of the window, for yes - additional spookiness. To finish it up I drew in some spider webs around the window. Finally, I signed and dated my work!

Card Assembly

I cut my painting out with a stitched square die. Using Connect Glue, I added it a mat, using the next size up stitched square die, from Gina K Designs Black Onyx card stock. Next, I inked up a Spider Web Cover-A-Card stamp from Impression Obsession inked with Gina K Whisper ink and stamped it on the background of my white card base.

I cut the spooky BOO out of the Black Onyx card stock with my Art Impressions alphabet dies. I cut it 4 times and glued them on top of each other to give them a little more depth. I added a spider web on the "O" with a white gel pen.

This was such a fun spooky project and I am so happy that you stopped by today. I hope you will join me and my fellow design team members this weekend. Post your projects on Instagram with #AIWatercolor so we can see your creations.

Have a crafty day!!!

Thanks, team! Such a great variety of projects here! It's amazing what you can create with Ai Watercolor Stamps, and how each stamper develops her own style! Do you watercolor the Art Impressions way? Be sure to let us know, and tag us @artimpressions and #aiwatercolor on Instagram so we can see your cards! Also, you can enter our card challenges for a chance to win Ai stamps!

Happy Stamping!

NEW VIDEO! Window Composition Watercolor

Hello Ai Fans!

Welcome to a NEW Watercolor Wednesday! This week, Bonnie combines a few of our watercolor sets to create a beautiful WC Window Set composition. She adds a hanging basket from our WC Small Container Set, a watering can from our WC Wishing Well Set, and a sleepy kitty from our WC Mini Critters Set! Check out the full YouTube video for this challenge project to combine a few elements your watercolors!

Happy Watercolor Wednesday!

View on YouTube: https://youtu.be/m9ustau0UrM

Greatest Gift Framed Window, by Carol Hintermeier

Hello Ai Friends!

I hope you had a great weekend and your Monday is off to a good start!  I love the Art Impressions Window stamps, and my project today features the Greatest Gift Window set.  It's been around for quite a while, but it's new to me and I think this stamp design is certainly timeless!  The sentiment reads: "The greatest gift we can receive in life is a true friend."  Isn't that the truth?!!

I stamped the image with Versafine Onyx Black ink onto Strathmore Bristol Smooth cardstock.  I wanted to use my Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers and, for me, the Strathmore paper works wonderfully!  I also added some clear sparkle to parts of the image for some sparkle!  

After I colored the image with my Zigs (colors listed below) I die cut it out with a Square Double Stitched die.  I wanted a thin matte layer for my image so I cut a piece of green cardstock to go behind it.

Next I used some two-sided patterned paper and die cut it with the 3D Frame Die.  This is really easy to assemble and I added glue to the tabs to secure it all.  I then cut a piece of white cardstock to fit the back of the frame for more stability.  I also die cut an extra stand from 110# white cardstock to glue to the patterned paper stand to make it stronger.



Here is a close up showing that fun sparkle!



For a bit of dimension, I put some thin foam tape behind the matted image and added it to the center of the frame.



I think this would be perfect to tuck in with a gift for that special friend!  I hope you will give these Window stamps a try!  So fun and easy!  Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful, crafty week!

Zig Clean Color Brush markers:

May Green, Light Green, Pale Green, Yellow, Bright Yellow,

Turquoise Green, Geranium, Shadow Mauve, 

Brown, Dark Brown, Mid Brown, Beige,

Black, Gray, Light Gray, Gray Brown, Blender

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - World Watercolor Month Continued!

Have you been making extra watercolors this month? July is World Watercolor Month (#worldwatercolormonth), so let's celebrate! We all know practicing is so important to build your skills. But it can be so fun, too! Join us in a watercolor adventure by sharing your artwork with hashtag #aiwatercolorchallenge on Instagram, along with Bonnie (@bonniekrebs.biblejournaling)! Ok, inspiration time! Let's see what the design team made especially for today!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I made this card using Art Impression's stamps for the Watercolor Weekend. I stamped the little girl in 969 from the 5053 - WC Little Girls Set and stamped her off on a piece of scratch paper then stamped her on my watercolor paper. I used the stamp positioner to stamp the bench also in 969 from the 5055 - WC Sitting Places Set. I pulled the color out of the lines, then I watercolored the skin in with No. 47 pale pink, her cheeks in No. 55 iris purple, her hair in 969 and her overalls and headband in 603. I used 67 bubble gum pink to paint stripes on her shirt. I used 158 to watercolor the bench. Next, I stamped the umbrella in 969 from the 5118 - WC Beach Girls Set. I used a ruler and the Tombow twin tone brown fine tip pen to extend the umbrella pole under the bench. I pulled the color out of the lines then colored the umbrella in 158, bubble gum pink and 636. I stamped the small grass with 177 from the 4052 - WC Foliage Set 1 and pulled the color out and up. Then I stamped the flowers in 177, 636 and 55 iris purple from the 4868 - WC Flower Set 2. I used 565 to watercolor the sky and add some shadows under the bench. I used the 5062 - Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies to cut out the scene and background pieces then adhered them all to a card base with double sided tape. I added my name and date to the corner and drew the eyelash with a very fine black pen.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

Today I'm featuring the 5014 WC Window Set. The base is cut with a 3 1/4" x 4 1/2" stitched rectangle die, from Canson Watercolor paper, and I started by colouring the smaller window in the set with my N55 Cool Grey 7 Tombow marker, stamping it about 3/4" down from the top edge. Still using the N55, I stamped the kitten from 5016 WC Mini Critter Set on the window sill, and the pot from 4869 WC Small Container Set about 3/4" below the window. I masked off the pot, and stamped the bricks from 5018 WC Cobblestone Set with N55. With the fine point of the marker, I sketched in the curtains directly on the paper. (If you're nervous about adding details with a marker, use a pencil to get it exactly as you like, first!). I used my damp #4 paintbrush to pull the colour out of all the lines, dragging it towards where the shadows would fall. I scribbled 992 Sand onto my palette, and painted it in streaky strokes to suggest weathered wood on the shutters. I used 947 Burnt Sienna to add colour to the kitty, and the terra cotta pot, going in a second time to add another layer of colour where the shadows would be. With 177 Dark Jade and a sprig from 5007 WC Foliage Set 3, I created the vine leading up from the pot, through and over the shutters, adding a few smaller sprigs using the tiny greenery in 5009 WC Mini Flower Set to fill in a few areas. With 533 Peacock Blue/177 Dark Jade I coloured the floral cluster from the Mini Flower Set and added it to the pot. With the tiny dotted flowers from the set, and the 533 marker, I put clusters of flowers throughout the vine. I dabbed all the foliage with my damp brush to soften all the lines. With the tiny grass from Foliage Set 4051, and my 126 Light Olive, I added grass around the pot & cobblestones, then pulled out the colour to add a suggestion of a grassy area on the ground. I picked up 565 Deep Blue from my palette to paint in the shadows on the window, around the shutters and cobblestones to add a little depth to my scene. You really can't see it in the photos, but there is a faint wash on the wall of 491 Glacier Blue, which softens the look of the wall quite nicely.

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Hi AI Fans, welcome back to Watercolor Weekend! I decided to try out a design that I fell in love with when I was young. We used to go to the beach and they had a guy who airbrushed license plates, shirts, hats etc. This was a design that I just loved and always wanted so I decided to re-create it using my AI watercolor stamps. I call it Silhouette Stamping. It was so easy and fun, I hope you will give it a try.

Here is how I did it!

I began by adding PINK to my palette. I added water and painted from the horizon line up sporadically using a horizontal brush stroke. I left lots of white space. I added another layer of PINK to it. Once that dried I repeated the same steps with the YELLOW, PURPLE and GRAY. 

I added BLACK to the horizon line with my paint brush. I added water to my PINK, YELLOW, PURPLE AND BLUE and painted a light wash of each color for my reflection in the water below the horizon line. I made the YELLOW a little darker near where the sun would be. 

Once that was completely dry, I inked up the large palm tree with BLACK ink. I stamped it below the water. Using my brush, I pulled the color out of the left side of the tree to create dimension. I re-inked the stamp and stamped it again to the right of that tree, angling it so the tops weren’t too close. I again pulled the color out of the left side of the tree.

Using the left and right palms, I inked them up using BLACK ink and stamped them several times on each side of each tree. To create the palms closest to the tree trunk, I only inked the end of the stamp. I used a damp #2 brush to pull the color out of each of the palms using a brush stroke.

I added BLACK to my palette and created the sand using a horizontal brush stroke. I put the sailboat on my small acrylic block and inked it up with BLACK ink. I stamped it off once and then stamped it into the middle of my sky. Using my #2 brush pulled a small amount of color from the left sides of the sails and the bottom. I also added some black beneath the boat for a shadow. Finally, I signed and dated it.

Once the painting was complete, I cut it out using my Stitched Rectangle Die. I added it to a 4.25 x 5.5 inch card made from Gina K Designs Wild Lilac cardstock with GKD Connect Glue.

That’s it, easy peasy! Tag us on Instagram and let us see what you are up to!

Have a crafty day!

Don't forget to leave a comment to tell us what you like about these projects! Also, remember to join the fun with our #aiwatercolorchallenge!

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Bikes and Beaches!

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! It is time for another Watercolor Weekend, a special blog post featuring projects from our Watercolor Guest Design Team. Today we welcome Karen Day as our new design team member! You may remember Karen's beautiful cards from our weekly design team, so please welcome her back in the comments. Inspiration today includes plenty of beach-inspired scenes, as well as that cute bicycle we all love so much. Let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

 Hello Watercolor Friends,

You may think it's a little early for beach scene cards but my three grandsons, Conor, Caide and Charlie, are in Hawaii right now probably in a similar scene. Lucky boys! I made this card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the brand new 5119 - WC Beach Boys Set. There's also a WC Beach Girls set which I have to get! The first thing I did was stamp the boy in the middle (Caide) using 40 brownish grey. Next I stamped the beach ball and then masked it off and stamped the standing boy (Conor) also in the 40 brownish grey. I stamped the third boy (Charlie) again in the 40 brownish grey. I used 77 pastel peach on the palette to watercolor each boy. I used 6 brown to color in the hair of the boy in the middle. I used 969 brown for the other two boys' hair. Coloring their trunks was fun. First I added the stripes and flowers using my favorite Copic Multi Liner 0.03 pen. I colored the trunks and beach ball using the 5 yellow, 565 blue, 725 pink, and 34 pale green. I used the 969 brown to color in the shovel handle and 40 brownish grey for the actual shovel. I used 990 to watercolor in the sand and 565 to color in the water and 36 manganese blue for the sky. I added 565 blue to the palette to watercolor in the shadows under the ball and kids. I used the 40 brownish grey fine tip to add the dots to the sand. I stamped 3 of the birds using the 40 brownish grey from the 5069 - My Fortress Set. I used a Signo White Pigment Ink pen to add white caps into the ocean, the high light on the ball and dotted the centers of the flowers on the swim trunks. I used my Copic pen to sign and date it. I cut it out and framed it using the 5062 Double Stitched Rounded Rectangle Dies and a rounded corner punch for the card itself.

You can find more inspiration by following me on my Instagram account here.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

I started creating my image cluster by stamping the puppy from the WC Mini Critters Set, the sitting little girl from WC Beach Girls Set, the beach ball from WC Beach Boys Set - masking each as I went along - and finally stamping the umbrella from WC Beach Girls Set. I coloured each of the stamps with my 992 Sand Tombow marker, except for the girl, where I used my LP38 Oyster Grey Marvy marker. I wanted a paler shade for her skin tone, as she's sitting partially in bright sunlight. I also used the fine tip of my LP38 marker to draw in the blanket. With a damp WC Brush4 paintbrush, I softened all of the lines, and then began filling in the colour by scribbling my markers onto my palette: Tombow 991 Straw for the hat/ball; Tombow 885 Warm Red for the umbrella, and added more water to make it more of a pink shade for her swimsuit & the ball. I used my LP86 African Violet Marvy marker to create the shadow under the umbrella, and in and around all of the images on the blanket. Her skin tone is made with several layers of Tombow 850 Flesh, and then I used the same colour to sketch in the suggestion of a sandy beach. I picked up the LP86 with my brush and painted in the water, and after watering it down a little more, used it to paint in the suggestion of a sky as well. *Design tip! You'll notice that I placed everything on the left side of my painting, leaving the upper right corner mostly white. The white space provides a sense of balance for the cluster of images. I could've added a sentiment up there, but felt like it would've been too busy. To assemble my card, I popped up the image and the stripey pink frame that I created with adhesive dots with my periwinkle cardstock peeking out from behind. Happy painting!  

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Someone shared the photo on Facebook and I love it so I thought I would try to recreate it using my Art Impressions watercolor stamps. I was very happy with how it turned out.

Step 1 - The Planter: I stamped the planter from the WC Window set inked in 969-Chocolate. I left off the bottom of the planter so I could stamp the small grasses below it to ground it. I added some additional color (969&569) from my palette and added some additional lines to make it look like wood slats. I also added some additional details with the fine tip of the marker.

Step 2 - The Bike: To protect the planter, I masked it off and stamped the bike inked in Chocolate. I pulled the color out of the lines and added some additional color from my palette.

Step 3 - The Foliage & Flowers: I inked the small vines from the Foliage Set 4 set with 249-Hunter Green and stamped it into the planter as well as both bike planters. I added water to the foliage.

I used the small flower from the Foliage Set 2 inked with 725-Rhodamine Red and added them to the planter. I used the same color to ink the single flower from the Mini Flowers set and stamped it into the back planter. I used 636-Imperial Purple to ink the small dots in the Mini Flowers set to stamp into the front and back planters.

I inked the small grasses with the Dark Jade and stamped below the planter. I added water to all the blooms and grasses. I added a small amount of 526-True Blue to the sky. Sign and Date! 

Step 4 - The Card: I cut the square out with a stitched square die. I cut mat from Gina K Black Onyx card stock about 1/8 bigger than the square. I added some white craft foam to the back of the watercolor piece. I had a piece of watercolor background that I had from another project made from watercolor markers which I used to cut a stitched banner from the new stitched banner dies. I cut a little bigger one from Black Onyx card stock. To make the weathered wood background, I scored a white piece of card stock at 1" intervals. I added some Dark Chocolate ink from Gina K Designs direct to the paper in long swipes. Finally, I white heat embossed the Hello from the new WC Sentiments 2 set.

I assembled the card and added it to a white card base. And that's it!

Thank you, team! These projects are just so lovely! Like what you see? Be sure to leave a comment to let us know! Also, don't forget to follow the pink links by the designer's name to visit and follow them on social media, you're sure to find more project ideas with them, too!

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Love Cards!

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! We have three lovely projects for you here on the blog with our fabulous watercolorists! Enjoy a slice of spring featuring flowers, children, windows, and a whole lot of LOVE!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Watercolor Friends,

I made this Valentine's Day card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend. I stamped the little girl from the Little Girls set and little boy from the Little Boys set in brownish grey. I feel it doesn't spread much when you add water so it's pretty perfect to use for the kids. Then I colored the little girl and boy's skin in from the palette using pastel peach. I used 725 to watercolor in the hat and shorts on the little girl and African violet to color in the boy's overalls. I colored their hair from the palette using 969. I added stripes to the boys shirt using 177. I stamped in the tree trunk from the Fairy Door set with 969 then stamped in the leaves using 177. I pulled the color out of the lines and added more 969 to the trunk of the tree from the palette. I added grass from the Foliage Set 1 and pulled the color out of the lines with a wet brush. I stamped the flowers from Flower Set 2 using the 177 for the stems and aubergine for the flowers. After I added water, I ended up re-stamping just the flowers again because the flowers washed out too much and I used the tip of the 177 to draw in more stems. I added a lot of water to some African violet on the palette and colored in the sky and the shadows under the kids on the ground and on their white shirts. I used the sentiment from Love is in the Air stamp set by only coloring the "Happy" in 969, then I cleaned the stamp and only colored in the "Valentine's Day" with the 969 so it would all fit on the bottom. I used aubergine to paint in the little flowers on the girl's shirt. I used the Rectangle Stitched Dies to cut out my picture and a background piece, then I glued it all to the card base. I finished it all off by glueing on the three sparkly hearts.

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

I decided a spring scene was the perfect project for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend since it’s been soooooooooooooooooo cold across the country. Perhaps this will warm everyone up!?!

Begin by inking up the window from 5014 WC Window Set with a combination of 969 Chocolate and 565 Deep Blue to create a lovely greyish color (I did not ink up the shutter). Next ink the foliage from 4867 WC Foliage Set 2 in 177 Dark Jade for the greenery at the bottom of the window and 158 Dark Olive for the greenery at the top of the window. Watercolor the Art Impressions way by pulling the color from the lines with your paint brush and water. Stamp in the tiny cone shape flowers from 5009 WC Mini Flower Set in 679 Dark Plum and the long stem multi flower in 725 Rhodamine Red (not pictured in photo) and 177 Dark Jade. Finally stamp a portion of the bricks from 5019 WC Wall Texture Set in the same greyish combination of 969 Chocolate and 565 Deep Blue on both sides of the window. I die cut the piece using 5063 Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies. I opted to put it on the cute little clip frame, but it would be great on the front of a card.

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Welcome back watercolor fans! Today I am sharing a scene I created using some watercolor stamps from Art Impressions as well as a non-watercolor set. I wanted to create this Love Is In the Air card using all types of “couples”. These little animals were so cute! I did a video so you can create your own masked scene. If you want to watercolor along with me, click here.

Step 1 – The Animals

First, I inked up the rabbits up with the Tombow 569. I stamped it to the bottom left side of my watercolor paper. Next, I inked the mice up with the 969 and 569 which creates a nice gray color. In order for them to be a little lighter, I stamped it off first. Then, I stamped this into the middle of my watercolor paper. Finally, I inked the chipmunks up with 969 and stamped it on the bottom right hand side of my paper. I placed masks over each of the animal pairs. 

Step 2 – The Kids

Using the mask I created for the pier, I placed it so I could determine where to stamp the boy and girl. In order to get them placed where I wanted them I used my stamp positioner. I removed the mask stamped the little girl on the right. I replaced the mask and positioned where I want my boy to sit on the pier, I removed the mask and stamped him down. I added masks to the girl and boy.

Step 3 – The Pier and Birds

I stamped the pier behind the animals and underneath the kids. I masked it and then re-inked and positioned it to the left to extend the pier. I stamped each of the birds and positioned them to the left of the kids. 

Step 4 – Watercolor

I started by pulling the color out of the kids. Next, using just my brush and water, I pulled the color out of the birds. These birds are really small, so I try not to use a lot of water. If I don’t have enough water, I slowly add water until I am happy with the results.

Then I pulled color out of the rabbits. The 569 marker, much like the Marvy African Violet is very pigmented, I usually stamp it off. It only requires a very small amount of water to pull out the color. Once I soften those lines, I added additional color from my palette. On the bunnies, they are white so its important to just highlight the shadowed areas. 

I repeated with the mice, chipmunks and pier. Make sure to use the fine tip of the marker to darken in the eyes. I added some additional color underneath the kids for a shadow. I also added some 569 below the pier and animals to ground them.

Step 5 – Love

I lined up the word Love which I wanted to show behind the kids and birds. I placed it on a block and inked it up with 569. I stamped this down. From my palette, I added color to the kids. I pulled the color out of the words “Love”, only on the right side. I then added some 847 to each of the letters.

Don’t forget to sign your work, I keep doing that lately LOL. I am so happy you stopped by and I hope you give this a try. If you do, tag us on Instagram (#AIWatercolor, #AIStamps). 

INSERT

Check out the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/sOd4LtzGi_0

Tombow Markers – 969, 992, 569, 905, 847, 526, 990, 346, 676

Aren't these projects so cute? Leave a comment below to tell us what you think! If you aren't already following these ladies on social media, today is a great day to start, there is exciting inspiration ahead of us for spring!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest
Tricia Kennedy - Instagram
Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Happy New Year!

Hello, Ai Watercolor fans! Welcome to the first Watercolor Weekend of 2019! The team is back with fresh ideas for the new year, let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Happy 2019!

I always feel hopeful and excited to start a brand new year. I am ready to get back to more crafting, now that the busyness of the holidays is over, also. I made this card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the 5014 - WC Window Set that I stamped in sepia first, then in the African violet. I did stamp it off on paper first. I pulled the color out of the lines then added some of the African violet to the palette to darken the windows. Next I stamped the little pot from the 4869 - WC Small Container Set. I added brown and sepia to the palette to color in the pot. I added the leaves by stamping the ivy from the 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2 in olive green and the flowers from the 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set in scarlet and then added water to them. I stamped the birds in sepia from the 4966 - WC Bird Bath Set and the stamp positioner to add the birds to the window, then added more sepia, steel blue, and a little bit of the brown to their beaks from the palette. I used the fine tip of the sepia to darken the eyes and the legs.

I stamped the cat in sepia from the 4873 - WC Cats Set then made a mask for it and using the stamp positioner, I stamped the bench in sepia and African violet from the 5055 - WC Sitting Places Set. I pulled the colors out of the lines on the cat and bench then used sepia from the palette to color spots on the cat. I inked up the small grass in olive green from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 and stamped the grass on the legs of the bench. I used pine green to ink the bottom of the flowers from the 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 and I inked the tops of the flowers in the steel blue and stamped them on either side of the bench. I used water to soften the flowers and the grasses then I used African violet from the palette to make the shadow under the bench. Next I used a tiny amount of sepia on the palette and a lot of water to color in the background. I used the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies to cut out the picture, and a background piece of paper and then mounted it all to the card base.

Tricia Kennedy - Instagram

My card for today’s Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend is a pretty little winter scene. 

Begin by inking up a home from the WC Cottages Set in 86 African Violet. Stamp a few pine trees from WC Tree Set 1 in 72 Pine Green around the home. Watercolor the Art Impressions way by pulling the color from the lines with a paint brush and water. Scribble a little 45 Sepia onto your palette and brush onto the roof. Add a bit of 28 English Red and 82 Mustard to your palette and brush onto the door and windows. Next brush 86 African Violet onto your palette to build up the sky and snowy ground. Add detail to the base of the trees and in the top window using the fine tip of 45 Sepia. And darken up the door knob with the fine tip of 86 African Violet. Use an A2 card base, tag, cardstock, jute and Xyron Mega Runner to finish off the card.

Art Impressions Products: WC Cottages Set, WC Tree Set 1, Acrylic Block 5 Pack, Watercolor Brush No. 4, Watercolor Palette, Canson XL WC Paper Pad

Marvy Le Plume II Markers: 28 English Red, 45 Sepia, 72 Pine Green, 82 Mustard, 86 African Violet

Other Products: Post-It Notes, Xyron Mega Runner, A2 card base, tag, cardstock and jute

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook

Step 1: I inked only the hat from the WC Snowman Set with Tombow N25. Using the stamp positioner, I placed the hat cocked to the left. I created a mask with the Post-It Adhesive Roll. I covered the hat with the mask. 

Step 2: I inked up each of the San Serif Letters (H, N, Y) using Tombow 569. I wiped off some of the ink. I stamped them next to each other. I created masks for each letter. Next, I inked up some of the stones from the WC Wall Texture Set using the Tombox N25 & 569 markers. I stamped it off and then stamped it to the left of the “H”. I repeated this process several more times stamping between the letters and to the right of the “Y”.

Step 3: Pull the color from the hat (on the sides working into the middle). I added some additional color from my palette. Next, pull the color from the left side of the letters only. Add water to the stones behind the letters. 

Step 4: I inked up the sm leave cluster from the WC Foliage Set 3 with Tombow 249 and stamped it around the letter “H”. I then inked the vine and added it to the “N” & “Y”. Pull the color out of the lines.

Step 5: I added the small leaves from the WC Foliage Set 2 inked with Tombow 565 to the “H”. Next, I inked up the small dots from the WC Mini Flower Set with Tombow 676 and added flowers to the “N”. Add the inked the same flowers with Tombow 725 and added flowers to the “Y”. I added water to the flowers.

Step 6: Using my palette, I added some darker shadows to the letters. Using a fine black pen, I added the 2019 to the hat and Happy-New-Year below the letters. I die cut the watercolor piece out with the Stitched Oval die. I added some Distress Ink in Espresso to the edges of the piece and added some water. 

Thank you so much for checking out the watercolor projects on our first Watercolor Weekend project of 2019. I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and here’s to the new year! 

Tombow Markers colors I used: 569, 249, N25, 725, 565, 676

Thanks, designers! These cards are so lovely! Love all the different approaches you can take with simple stamps, markers and a brush! Do you like what you see? Leave a comment below, we always love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Stamping!