Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Three Unique Projects Inside!

Hello Ai Watercolor Fans, and welcome to another Watercolor Weekend post! It's a great day for stamping, don't you think? Check out these three lovely projects to inspire your weekend creations! Remember to check out the pink links by the designer's name to hop over to the personal blog, instagram, or other accounts so you can continually be inspired throughout the week!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I hope you like my beach scene card I made using Art Impression's stamps for the Watercolor Weekend. I wanted to make the brick wall after watching Art Impression's Creator/Owner Bonnie Krebs Bible Journaling video on YouTube, where she showed us you have to add the color first. The first thing I stamped was the lighthouse from the 5069 - My Fortress Set. I inked it up first with the brown 969, then I inked it up with 565 but I didn't ink the water part on the bottom of the stamp. I stamped it off on a piece of scrap paper before I stamped it on my watercolor paper. I stamped the little girl next from the 5118 - WC Beach Girls Set using the 969 and stamping it off first. I stamped the little puppy next to her from the 4959 - WC Dogs Set using the same 969 and stamping it off first as well. Those Tombow markers are really juicy so I tend to stamp everything off first when I use them. I used a T-ruler and permanent Copic Marker to make the two wall top lines and the bottom line. I used a pencil to make the water line and then colored the water in with 528 and the sky as well. I pulled the color out of the lines of the light house and used 757 on the palette to watercolor the red lines on the light house and the little girls swim suit. I used NO. 47 pale pink to color the little girl's skin. I used 565 to darken the windows, 969 on the roof and door, and then I took the fine tip of the Tombow twin tone pen to darken each window. I used 158 for the hat and the ground cover. I added a little 969 to the cliff side but only used 565 to shadow the rocks and light house. I colored the girl's hair and the puppy with 969 and darkened his eyes, nose and mouth with the Copic marker and then I used that marker to put dots on the rocks in the crevices. I used some 969 and 565 to watercolor the brick wall and then I masked off the little girl, puppy and the top and bottom of the wall with post-it tape runner. I used the bricks from 5127 - Build My Life Set and inked them up with 969, then stamped them off on the scrap paper twice before stamping the wall. I stamped the grasses from the 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 in the green 158. I inked the birds from the My Fortress Set in 565, and stamped them after stamping them off first on the scrap paper. I took a Sakura Gelly Roll pen and added some glitter. I signed it with my Copic pen and cut it out using the 5063 - Rectangle Double Stitched Dies. I used the largest die to cut out the background piece of paper.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

I started by tracing a faint circle in pencil on my Canson XL watercolor paper to use as a guide. I began with the leafy green image from 5126 WC Foliage Set 4, and #249 Hunter Green, stamping it around the circle in both first and second generation. I wanted to have a strong contrast of greens, so I coloured the stem of a flower from 5008 WC Flower Set 3 in #126 Light Olive, and the petals in #565 Deep Blue. To fill in a few areas, I used the tiny foxglove (quite possibly my favourite Ai watercolor flower!) from 4052 Flower Set coloured in #533 Peacock Blue. I love the versatility of this stamp, I can stamp it repeatedly to be as long as I like, and because it's so tiny, it allows me to bend the blossom one way or another to suit my design. Using two of the branches from 4964 WC Branches Set coloured in #969 Chocolate, I tucked branches in and around the wreath to finish it off. I very lightly used my damp #1 paintbrush to dab the leaves and blossoms, keeping them mostly intact (I didn't want to lose the image definition). I used a TT42 - Twintone marker in 42 Navy to add a few dots around the foxgloves to finish them off. I looked at several of the birds from different sets, and found that this one from 5030 On The Sparrow Set in the Ai Bible Journaling collection fit perfectly inside the wreath - so I coloured him with #969 and used my stamp positioner to set him just inside the bottom of the wreath. I pulled out the colour with my brush, and added in touches of #533 on his wings and tail. I kept my wreath quite loose and open, making it slightly irregular - and really love the look! I can hardly wait to try a fall version. I matted the image on some periwinkle cardstock and stitched it down with my sewing machine. I tied some twine around my kraft cardstock base and attached the image with some pop dots.

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

Hi Watercolor Fans! Welcome back to Art Impressions watercolor weekend. For my project this week, I decided to make an interactive card. This was so much fun to make. Come along with me and I’ll tell you how I made my Reveal Wheel Wagon.

I wanted to create a watercolor card using my new reveal wheel dies. I used the Add-On window and Essential Shapes stencil. I cut a rectangle out of the watercolor paper. First, I inked up the wagon with N25 & 569, stamped it off and stamped it in the bottom right corner of the paper. I used my Round 6 brush to pull the color out of the lines making sure the sides are darker and leaving a highlight. 

I added some additional color from my palette. Next, I inked up the small grass from the original foliage set with 249. I stamped it underneath and around the wagon. I pulled the color out of the lines. I inked the leaves up and stamped them along the top of the wagon. I wanted to make sure to stamp outside where the window will be so the flowers on the wheel fit.

I cut the wheel out of watercolor paper. Using the template, I stamped more foliage and flowers in different colors on each side. (After I already cut it I realized I didn’t need the template as by doing the whole wheel there is no break in the flowers). I used the small vine and the medium vine inked in 249 and stamped it several times. I added the small dots, daisy bunch and single flower to the wheel. I chose pink, orange and purple as they go so well together and I wanted it to be cohesive. I added water to the foliage and then the flowers. I added some additional color from my palette (mostly yellow onto the orange flowers). I added some wink of stella to the flowers and the wagon for a bit of shine.

Using 565 from my palette, I added a sky, which I also used on the wheel so it would blend with the background. I signed and dated it. I used a scrap piece of black card stock with the reveal wheel die and did some partial die cutting. I embossed the celebrating you from the Simon Says Stamp Tiny Words stamp set to it with white embossing powder.

I cut the craft paper with the reveal wheel card die. There are lots of YouTube videos on how to put the card together. I cut the opening in the watercolor paper (after making sure my wheel lined up). I then cut another window in the Kraft card stock in the same spot. I added my wheel and assembled the card. I added it to a white card base. To complete it I stamped the arrow so you know which way to spin the wheel (not that it matters in this instance).

I love to find ways to stretch my dies and stamps and this worked perfectly. I think I may do some more of these.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you join us this watercolor weekend. Tag us on Instagram with #AIWatercolor and #AIStamps. 

Have a crafty day!

Thanks, team! We love how creative and diverse the projects are this week! From larger scenes like Dot's to beautiful wreaths like Karen and even interactive cards like Tricia, there is so much you can create with Art Impressions Watercolor stamps! Have a super weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - The Great Outdoors!

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! We hope you are enjoying your summer (or winter, to our friends in the southern hemisphere)! Dot, Tricia and Karen are here with a NEW watercolor roundup of beautiful projects! We LOVE how each watercolor artist develops their own style. Let's take a look at these unique projects featuring beautiful outdoors scenes!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I made this floral card using Art Impression's stamps for the Watercolor Weekend. First I stamped the two pots from the 4870 - WC Ornate Container Set after inking them in 969 and then 565 and stamping them off on a piece of scratch paper. I then pulled the color out of the lines. I used No. 93 aubergine to watercolor the decorations on the pots. I placed a mask on the one pot, then used the stamp positioner to stamp the stool from the 5055 - WC Sitting Places Set (using the 969 then 565) under the pot. Next, I watercolored the stool in with No. 105 lt. teal. I used 177 and 249 to stamp in the greenery from the 4867 - WC Foliage Set 2 and 5126 - Foliage Set 4. I used the 565 to stamp in the blue foliage. I used No. 93 to stamp in the flowers from the 4052 - Flower Set and then touched them with a wet brush. I stamped the branches in 969 from the 4964 - WC Branches Set. I stamped the small grass in 177 from the 4051 - Foliage Set around the pot and stool and the pulled the color up and out. I added shadows and sky with 565 and then green 177 from the palette. I took a Sakura Gelly Roll pen and added glitter which you can't see in the first picture but you can see it in this picture below. The glitter adds the most beautiful touch! Try it, if you haven't already. I cut out my image with the 5062 - Rounded Corner Rectangle die.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

Using a larger block, I positioned both my cabin from 4962 -WC Rustic Cabins Set and the rowboat from 5057 - WC Boat Set, as this allows me to determine the right placement. I coloured them with my #969 Chocolate Tombow marker, then pulled out the colour with my damp #1 brush (this smaller paintbrush is amazing for scenes like this that are on a smaller scale!). Using a post-it note, I masked the cabin and coloured up both trees from the 5010 - WC Tree Set 1 with #249 Hunter Green. I did some second generation stamping behind the cabin to suggest some trees in the background. Now I took my pencil and sketched in the hills, shoreline, mountains and lake. With #992 Sand, I painted in the pathway and sandy shore, and used it to paint the boards and roof of the cabin. With the tiny greenery in 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set and my #158 Dark Olive marker, I added some bushes around the cabin, and tufts of grass with the small grass from 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1. With a wash of #158, I painted in the grassy foreground. I used the tiny cluster of rocks from the 5128 - As The Deer Set from the Bible Journaling collection, and my #N57 Warm Grey to stamp different clusters of rocks along the shore. I scribbled #565 Deep Blue onto my Palette, and picked it up with my #4 paintbrush, painting in the mountains and water. I went in with a second darker layer of the 565 to add shadows around the rocks, boat, cabin and trees to give a little depth to my scene. Finally, I mixed the #249(green) and #565(blue) to create the shade used to paint the far away line of trees. I used #837 Wine Red to add colour to the boat & chimney, with a touch of #991 Light Ochre on the oars. With a wash of #451 Sky Blue I painted in the sky. To finish, I used my sewing machine to run a line of stitching around the scene, matted it on grey, and adhered it to my base with pop dots.

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

Hi Watercolor Fans! Welcome back to Art Impressions watercolor weekend. For my project this week, I was inspired by a painting I had seen with boats. I knew I could re-create it with my watercolor stamps, so that is just what I did. Let me tell you how I created my Simple Boats project.

Simple Boats Tutorial

1. I used the small boat from the 5057 – WC Boat Set and inked it up with Chocolate. I stamped it off a couple of times so I could get a really light impression. I wanted this boat to be really light so it would appear to be further away from the other boats. Using my stamp positioner, I positioned it in the upper right corner.

2. With my brush, I pulled the color out of the lines. I added some additional Chocolate from my palette to the areas I wanted to be the darkest.

3. Next I inked the medium boat with Chocolate. I stamped it off once to get a light impression but not a light as the first boat. I decided to use my positioner so I could get them exactly where I wanted them. I added this boat in the middle to the left of my paper. I pulled the color out of the lines and again added some additional Chocolate to the darkest areas. I also added a darker shadow under the oars.

4. I inked up the larger boat with Chocolate and wiped off the bottom. I wanted it to look like it was sitting in the water. I stamped it and pulled the color out of the lines. I added Chocolate to the darkest areas. 

5. I added True Blue, Asparagus, Hunter Green, Process Blue, Deep Blue and Jet Blue to my palette. I added color to each of the boats. I brushed in the water by building up the color slowly making sure to leave lots of white space. I made sure I used softer colors in the background gradually getting darker as I moved toward the front. I added darker shadows beneath each of the boats.

6. I added darker lines at the top where the horizon line would be. I added the mountain with Jet Blue. A light wash of Process Blue to create some clouds. Last but not least, I signed it

7. Using my MISTI, I stamped the sentiment “It’s the simple things” using Gina K Designs Amalgam Ink.

8. I cut it out using the Rectangle Stitched Dies. I added it to Gina K Designs Blue Denim card stock and adhered it to a Neenah Solar White card base.

This was really a lot of fun to put together. I hope you will challenge yourself to recreate something beautiful you see.

Thanks, team! We love Watercolor Weekends - they just get us so excited to create! Share your watercolor creations with us on Facebook or Instagram with #aistamps!

Happy Stamping!

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 - July is World Watercolor Month

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! Did you know that July is World Watercolor Month? How cool is that! We hope today's projects inspire you to break out your stamps and play to celebrate the occasion all month long. Without further ado, here is your weekend inspiration!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I made a "Beach Babe" with Art Impression's stamps for the Watercolor Weekend. Summer in Las Vegas always finds me wishing I was on a beach where I can cool off in the ocean. I stamped the palm tree trunks in 969 from the 5120 - WC Palm Tree Set first, then I used a pencil to sketch in the lines for the ocean and the sand. I watercolored in the sand with 992 and the ocean with 526. The water was too light so I added some 565 which darkened it nicely. I stamped the palm fronds in 177 and pulled the color out of the lines. I watercolored the sky using No. 36 manganese blue and stamped the birds in 565 from the 5069 - My Fortress Set. I stamped the beach babe in 992 from the 5118 - WC Beach Girls Set and the puppy in 992 from the 5016 - WC Mini Critter Set. I used 77 pastel peach to color in the girl's skin and 603 to color in the girl's hat and suit. I used 969 and No. 1 black to color in the puppy then darkened his eyes and nose with the fine tip of a Copic multi liner pen. I stamped the flowers in No. 6 violet from the Flower Set 4052 and touched them with a wet brush to bring out the color. I used 565 to create the shadows. I used letters from the 5072 - Block Letters Die Set to cut out the word "beach" and then used adhesive foam to give them dimension. Lastly, as always, I added my name and date to the corner.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

This little shed from the 5121 WC Garden Shed Set looks like a beach hut to me, so I stamped it using my Tombow marker #969 Chocolate. With #676 Royal Purple and #703 Pink Rose, I stamped the tiny dot cluster from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set in and around the hut, to suggest tropical flowers, and added the tiny foliage stamp with #158 Dark Olive for greenery. From the 5120 - WC Palm Tree Set, I used the two trunk images with #969 to add the trees behind the hut, then with #126 Light Olive and #158, I added in the different palm fronds. Using my #4 paintbrush, I pulled out the brown of the trees and the shed, and only lightly touched all of the flowers and foliage to liven the colours. I painted the hut with #991 Light Ochre, and a bit of #969 to suggest painted wood, and added #515 Light Blue to the door and painted it to suggest the ocean in the background. I used #N65 Cool Grey 5 and the stepping stone image from the 5018 - WC Cobblestone Set in front of the hut, and then painted a wash with #126 to indicate the grass. I added #565 Deep Blue to my palette, then painted in the mountains, a soft sky, and added it around all of the images to indicate shadows. I stamped the sentiment from 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2 using Versafine Onyx Black ink, then mounted my image onto the base using pop dots. I layered some paper flowers and a wooden button to the bottom corner of my card, along with a few loops of May Arts twine. The paper flowers and the flowers on the image were all touched with a Wink of Stella pen, so they're quite shimmery in person! And you can't really tell in the photo, but that background paper has tone-on-tone sunglasses all over it.

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

To begin, I inked the elf with the 969, stamped it off and then stamped the him to the right of the middle of the paper. Using a mask to protect him, I inked up the mushroom with the 969 and, using my positioner, stamped it underneath the elf.

I pulled the color out of the lines of the elf and the mushroom. I added some additional 969 from my palette to add some shadows onto the mushroom. I added some 954 to my palette and added it to the arms and face of the elf. I added some 969 to his pants and 535 to his shirt, adding shading around the bottom of his shirt.

I decided that it would be fun to try to use the long grasses from the 4875-Garden Wagon Mini set to create some fireworks. I am always looking for ways to stretch my stamps and this was perfect. I inked one of the grasses up with 847-Crimson and stamped it in a sort of circle a few times without re-inking, being careful not to ink the small flowers on the ends of the stamp. I did the same with the 535-Cobalt.

To create the fireworks look, I pulled the color out as far as I could in a wispy motion. I tried to pull the color out as far as I could in all directions. I added some additional red and blue to the mushroom as a type of reflection. Next, I added some N25 to my palette and slowly built up the color in the background. To add some sparkle to my fireworks, I added some Wink of Stella.

I cut the piece down using my Stitched rectangle die. I used some Gina K Designs metallic silver paper for the base and Blue Denim cardstock for the frame. To see how to create the gate fold, Jennifer McGuire does it perfectly...check out her blog here.

We LOVE to hear what you think about our bimonthly projects! Share a comment below, and we hope you can whip up a little watercolor time this weekend! Also, did you see that Bonnie (@bonniekrebs.biblejournaling) is hosting a Watercolor Challenge on Instagram that we hope you'll join! Simply use #aiwatercolorchallenge on your Instagram post so Bonnie and Ai Fans can see your work!

View this post on Instagram

Hey, guess what! July is World Watercolor Day! How fun is that?! I thought we could do something to celebrate what has become one of my most favorite creative outlets. Who wants to do a 31-day challenge with me? All you have to do is post one watercolor stamping project a day and use the hashtag #aiwatercolorchallenge (be sure your account is set to public so we can see!). Everyone who completes all 31 days (with 31 different projects) will be entered in a giveaway for a $50 Art Impressions website credit! Who's in!? Here is my first one! #aiwatercolorchallenge #aistamps #aiwatercolor #watercolorstamping #worldwatercolormonth #watercolor #stamping

A post shared by Bonnie Krebs (@bonniekrebs.biblejournaling) on Jul 1, 2019 at 9:44am PDT

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Outdoor Scenery

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! Today we have three beautiful projects from our Watercolor Design Team to share with you! As the weather warms up, it is delightful to stamp outdoor scenes! Let's take a look at these cards to inspire your projects this weekend!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

Hello Friends,

I use all of my Art Impression's stamps for both bible journaling and cards but I only used stamps from the bible journaling line in this card I made for the Watercolor Weekend. I stamped the covered bridge from the 5129 - He Leads Me Set after inking it in both African violet and then in sepia. I pulled the color out of the lines and watercolored the roof and boards underneath in 969 and I used 565 to watercolor inside the covered bridge and in the windows. I stamped the deer from the 5128 - As the Deer Set using sepia, pulled the color out of the lines and then watercolored it with the 947. I darkened the eyes and nose with my super fine Copic liner pen. I stamped the trees from the 5129 - He Leads me Set in sepia and then I stamped the leaves from the 5074 - Bible Flower Set on the trees and dabbed them with a wet brush tip. I used a pencil to lightly draw in my hills, road and water which owner/creator Bonnie Krebs suggested in her YouTube tutorial here. She has mentioned this before but it just clicked for me that I should be doing it on all of my cards - it's so much easier! I used 177, 565 and 969 on the palette to watercolor in the hills, road and water. I stamped the grass from the 5073 - Bible Foliage Set in leaf green and then the flowers in 757 using the dots from the 5074 - Bible Flower Set. I touched them with a wet brush which really made them brighter. I then used a tiny bit of 565 to paint in shadows under some of the flowers, tree and deer. I cut out the picture using the 5065 - Oval Stitched Dies and two background piece using the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies. The last thing I did was sign and date it.

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

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

I was really happy to see that the smallest bicycle in the 5124 - WC Bicycle Set was the perfect scale to work with the 5013 - WC Door Set, allowing me to create a little scene today! I coloured the door with my N65 Cool Grey 5 Tombow marker, and stamped it slightly to the left of center. Still using N65, I stamped the bicycle and the bricks from 5018 Cobblestone Set, using my stamp positioner to get everything just so. I used 2 pots from the retired 3498 Series 6 Set 2, but the ones in the 4869 WC Small Container Set would work here. With my dampened #4 paintbrush, I softened the lines on all the images, and pulled out the colour to create a few shadows. From the 5009 WC Mini Flower Set, I used the tiny greenery stamp with 158 Dark Olive and the dotted floral stamp with 565 Deep Blue and 991 Light Ochre to add the flowers and foliage to the pots, bike basket and over the door. I dabbed all of these lightly with my brush, as I didn't want to lose the definition of the images. Using my N95 Cool Grey 1 marker and a stamp from the 5019 - WC Wall Texture Set, I added the pale grey stones on either side of the door. To keep them from looking repetitious, I flipped the stamp upside down for the second side, and didn't colour all of the stones. I picked up 515 Light Blue from my palette with a fair bit of water to give an aqua-coloured wash to the stone wall. After scribbling 856 Chinese Red and 969 Chocolate onto my palette, I coloured the door and bicycle in red and used the brown to create a wooden doorframe and pots. I wanted everything to look well worn, so kept my brush strokes fairly streaky. I used 565 to add shadows in and around all of the images. With the small grass from the WC Foliage Set 1 and the 158, I added grass in around the bike & bricks, and with the excess colour after painting them with my brush, I added a pale green wash to the ground. To finish, I used the 5062 Rounded Rectangle Double Stitched Die to cut out the image and used the smallest one in the set to cut out my sentiment (Hello! is from 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2). Both were matted with some brown cardstock and the sentiment was attached with 3D pop dots.

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

I love these bridges. They are so quaint and you can use them in so many ways for any occasion. I challenge you to pull out your bridges, flowers and foliage and give it a try, I know you will love them too!!

Project Details

Step 1: Ink the bridge from the 5131 – Stone Path Set with 969 – Chocolate. Stamp it slightly to the left. Using your brush, pull the color out of the right side of the bridge leaving a highlight on the left side and fading the color from right to left. Stay within each board section. Using the fine tip of the 969 – darken in between the boards. Pull some of the brown into the foreground in front of the bridge.

Step 2: Scribble some 528 – Navy Blue on your palette. Slowly lay down layers of color under the bridge and to the left of the bridge. Keep your color darker underneath the bridge. Add some darker color in lines to create movement.

Step 3: Ink up the small grass from the 4051 – WC Foliage Set 1 with 177 – Dark Jade. I used my post it tape to mask off the top right of the bridge and stamped my grass by walking the stamp to the right. I added more grass to each corner of the bridge. Using a damp brush, pull the color up and out of the grasses. Pull some of the color underneath the clumps of grass to ground them.

Step 4: I inked up the single flower from the 5074 – Bible Flower Set using 177 – Dark Jade & 847 – Crimson and stamped it several times. I softened just the blooms with a damp brush. I inked up the small dots from the same set using 993 – Chrome Orange and stamped it a couple of times on each side of the water to the right of the bridge. Finally, I inked up the dots in the shape of a cone from the same set with 636 – Imperial Purple and stamped them around the bridge. I softened them with a damp brush.

Step 5: I used the left over ink from my palette (528), watered it down and added it to the sky. I signed my painting.

I cut it with my stitched border die and mounted it on a piece of Gina K Designs Black Onyx card stock. I added that to my mounted background. I used Yupo paper and Copic Marker Refills to make the background. I mounted the entire piece onto a 4.25 x 5.50 notecard.

I loved making this piece and I hope you will give it a go! Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty day!!

Aren't these cards so sweet? Let us know what you think in the comments! Don't forget to follow these lovely ladies on social media! There are pink links next to their name to take you directly to their Facebook, Instagram, etc. so you can follow their daily watercolor journeys. From all of us to you, have a happy watercolor weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Happy June!

Hello, Ai Fans! Happy June! It's the first of the month, and also the first Saturday - time for a lovely roundup of projects! Today our team is here to feature bicycles and sunny scenes in their creations! Let's take a look.

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest

I'm pretty certain my love for anything patriotic started in 1976 in my hometown of Canon City, Colorado when our town celebrated the bicentennial year in a big way! I just put out my red, white and blue decorations in my house and that influenced this idea for my card for the Art Impression's Watercolor Weekend. I stamped the bike from the 5124 - WC Bicycle Set three times using both brown 969 and 86 African violet and a mask made of post-it paper. Next, I pulled the colors out of the lines on each bike then watercolored the red and blue bikes from the palette using NO. 89 persimmon and NO. 50 ultramarine. I stamped flowers from the 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set to fill the baskets using the same colors as the bikes. The foliage for the baskets and on the ground was from the 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 and from the 4051 -WC Foliage Set 1 stamped in three greens - NO. 15 olive green and 177. I used NO. 1 black to watercolor the bike tires. I used African violet to watercolor the shadows under the bikes. I used a fine tip Copic marker to draw the flag and colored in the red and blue from the palette. The sky was watercolored using NO. 50 ultramarine. I cut out the picture and a background blue piece using the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies and adhered it to my card base. I cut out a frame from red paper. I stamped the sentiment from the 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2 and then cut it out with a die from the 5132 - Tag Stitched Dies Set. I used a flag die from 5133 - Stitched Flag Set to cut out the red and blue tags that I adhered to the back of the sentiment using a glue dot. I made the bow for the tag and then used foam to adhere it to to the front of my card. I used a Wink of Stella pen to add some glitter to all of the flowers. The last thing I did was sign and date it.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest

It's my first time painting the new-for-2019 #5124 WC Bicycle Set and I've paired it with the #4873 WC Cats Set. I began by colouring the bicycle with my #N65 Cool Grey Tombow Marker, and stamping it onto my watercolour paper. I pulled out the colour with a damp #4 brush, leaving more colour where the shadows fall. I was careful not to colour a portion of the rear tire, leaving a space to stamp my cat with the help of my stamp positioner (also in #N65.) Using the trailing vines from the #5126 WC Foliage Set 4 and my #158 Dark Olive marker, I stamped them several times in the bike's basket without reinking. With the floral cluster from the #4052 Flower Set, I stamped multiples with #565 Deep Blue in the basket and around the wheels. From the #5009 WC Mini Flower Set, I used the cluster of tiny flowers, and stamped them into the 2nd basket, using #158 & #565. Also from the Mini Flower Set, I used the dot cluster in #991 Light Ochre, filling in the basket and around the tires. I used the tiny foliage stamp with #158 to fill in some greenery, and then used #856 Chinese Red/#158 to add the tall flowers to the basket. With a damp brush, I dabbed the flowers & greenery, not wanting to lose the definition of the images. Using the two longer grasses from Foliage Set 4, and the small grass from the #4051 Foliage Set, I added grasses around the tires & cat, and then pulled out the colour with my paintbrush to add a green wash on the ground. Taking #565 from my palette, I painted in the sky and added shadows to the bike, ground and cat. I wanted just a touch of colour on the bicycle, so I picked up #515 Light Blue off of my palette and added it to the metal parts. I used #850 Flesh to add colour directly to the cat's ears. I die cut my image with a Wonky stitched square die, matted it with dark blue cardstock and adhered it to my base with pop dots. The final card is 5 3/4" square.

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

Hi Ai Fans, welcome back to another Watercolor Weekend! This weekend I decided to create this card using only 2 stamps sets, the Palm Tree Set and the WC Sentiments set. It reminded me of my recent vacation to Aruba. I call this card “Palm tree kindness”.

Project Details

Step 1: I inked up the large palm tree with 969 – Chocolate and stamped it to the left side of the card. I re-positioned it to be curved to the opposite way, re-inked it with the 969 and stamped it on the right side. 

Step 2: Then, I inked the small palm tree up with the 969 and stamped it to the left of the large palm tree on the left. I re-inked it and stamped it a little higher between the two palm trees. Taking my damp paintbrush and pulled color from the right side of each of the palm trees. I made sure to pull a little bit of color out of the bottom of the trees.

Step 3: Next I inked up the large palm tree leaves (left facing) with 177 -Dark Jade and stamped it several times to the top left of the large palm trees. I then inked up the large palm tree leaves (right facing) with 177 and stamped it to the right side of the large palm trees. I added water to the palms.

Step 4: Using the smallest palm leaves, I inked each side up and stamped it on either side of the smaller palm trees. I added a small amount of water to them.

Step 5: Using my palette, I added 873 – Coral and 969 around the trees making sure to leave white space for the sand.

Step 6: Again, using my palette, I added some 476 – Cyan to the bottom third of the card for the water. I started with it really watered down and then continued to build the color up slowly, using brush strokes to make wavy lines leaving white space (for white caps) and bringing the color to the sand.

Step 7: I added 528 – Navy Blue to my palette and watered it down. I jumped it around to create a sky. I slowly built the color up.

Card Details

I cut the piece down to 5.25 x 4. I placed it in my MISTI and inked the sentiment with Gina K Designs Amalgam Black Ink. I stamped it in the top right corner.

To create the frame, I traced around a large rectangle die and another smaller die to give me a guideline. I drew in some sporadic lines using 969 making sure to go outside of the guidelines. I used water to pull the color out of the lines to resemble wood. Once it was dry, I ran it through my machine using the large die. I then placed the smaller die down and ran it through my die cut machine. This created a frame that I glued in place with liquid adhesive.

I added the piece to a white 5.5 x 4.25 note card using a liquid adhesive.

This is a really easy card to create with very minimal supplies. I hope you will give it a try. Make sure to tag us on Instagram with #AIWatercolor and (@artimpressions, @dotjiris & @tobin0971). We would love to see what you create.

I hope you take some time for yourself and watercolor. Thank you for stopping by, I really am blessed by all the social media love and the incredibly supportive crafting community!

Thank you for the beautiful projects, team! These bicycles are just gorgeous with overflowing flowers and we love the ocean scene, too!

We hope we inspired you to break out your watercolor stamps this weekend!

Happy Stamping!