Showing posts with label Watercolor Weekend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Watercolor Weekend. Show all posts

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Sweet Sentiments

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! It's a beautiful Saturday morning, and time to share beautiful projects from our design team to inspire your creations this weekend! Let's take a look!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest
Hello Friends,

Here's the card I made for the Art Impression's Watercolor Weekend. It could be my granddaughters on their trip to Hawaii in March. I stamped the shed from the 5121 - WC Garden Shed Set using both 86 African violet and brown 969 after I stamped it off on a scratch piece of paper first. I used the brown to color in the roof and door knob area. I used 17 steel blue to watercolor the shed and the windows. I stamped in the palm trees from the 5120 - WC Palm Tree Set with the brown and green 177. I used the smallest palm frond to stamp the ground cover and then used the flowers from the 4052 - WC Flowers Set 1 in the pink 725 for the flowers. I used 101 tropical with a touch of green mixed in to color in the water using straight strokes and brown to watercolor the sand. I stamped the little girls from the 5118 - WC Beach Girls Set using the 40 brownish grey then colored them with yellow 993, 77 pastel peach, steel blue, pink 725 and brown 969. I stamped one flower at a time with the pink for the swimsuit and then added a yellow dot in the centers. I used the fine tip of the 45 sepia to add hair strands to both girls. I used 86 African violet to add the shadows under the girls, trees and house. I used very little of the blue and a lot of water to color in the sky. I cut out the picture using the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies and adhered it to my card base. 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've had the idea for the dress card floating around in my head for awhile. I wanted to use the Ai floral & foliage stamps to create a sort of life-like embroidery look, and kept going to create a grouping of wedding themed items. I sketched the outline of my dress in pencil, directly onto my watercolor paper, and indicated where I wanted the higher points around the hemline to be as a stamping guide. Using the Daisy Bunch in Flower Set 4052 and my #703 Pink Rose marker I stamped it three times without reinking, multiple times around the hem, and again on the neckline. I repeated this with the tiny cluster from 5009 WC Mini Flower Set in #676 Royal Purple. For my last flower, I used the Mini Foxglove from Flower Set 4052 and #533 Peacock Blue, stamping it three times in a row to create the flower stalk. With my #126 Light Olive marker, I coloured just the tip of both of the trailing ivy stamps in 4876 WC Foliage Set 2 New to fill in the greenery, making sure to change directions to keep it looking random. I used my damp #4 paintbrush to dab at each of the flowers & foliage to soften each image and enliven the colours. It then became apparent where the holes were on my 'embroidery', so I used the small green from 4876 WC Foliage Set 2 and #158 Dark Olive to fill in those white spaces. I left these as is, not using my paintbrush, as it defined the shape of the foliage a bit more. I traced the pencil outline of the dress with #533, and used this colour with my brush to add some shading. I picked up #565 Deep Blue from my palette and painted a background wash around the dress. I went in with all of the markers directly onto the image to add in a few deeper colours. The sentiment is from WC Sentiment Set 2, stamped in Versafine Onyx Black. I used my sewing machine to stitch the panel to some coordinating cardstock and adhered it to my base with pop dots, then glued on some iridescent sequins. 
The colours and stamps are all the same for my other two projects. For this card, I sketched in the cake and the table, just adding foliage to each layer. I sketched in a heart as my cake topper, and painted in a few ripples on the tablecloth. I stamped this sentiment separately, matting and stitching around it, and adhered it with pop dots going off the right edge. 
As a fun little add on, I painted a bouquet and drew in a ribbon bow underneath it to use as a placecard.


Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook
Welcome back AI fans to Watercolor Weekend! I wanted to do a simple project for this weekend, so I decided to do this Simple Things Vase. This project is really easy and quick. I have done a video for you to show you just how quick. 

Project Details

Step 1 – Ink up the Vase from the WC Decorative Vase Set with Blue. I wanted my vase to be white so I am using the tombow 569 but you can use any marker you may have. Bonnie Krebs uses 565 a lot in her videos. I stamped it to the left side of my paper to allow room for my sentiment. Next, pull the color out of the lines along the right and left side of the vase. This creates the illusion of the vase being round. I wanted the area under the spout and the right side under the handle to be really dark.

Step 2 – Cover your vase with a mask, I am using a piece of Post-It tape. Stamp in your foliage. I am using the leaves from the Foliage Set 4, but you can use any foliage/vines you may have in your collection. This is the greatest part of Art Impressions watercolor line; all the stamps can be used together for any project. Therefore, you don’t have to feel like you can’t create this project because you don’t have the exact stamps I am using. I inked them up with 158 and stamped them a few times. Add water to the leaves.

Step 3 – Ink the flowers with a color of your choice. I used the Daisy Bunch from the Bible Flowers Set inked with 905. I only inked up the top 3 flowers and stamped them in a circle a few times. Stamping items in groups of three is visually appealing so I stamped one in the middle and one on each side of the vase. Add water to the blooms.

Step 4 – To create a little more interest, I used the vine from the Bible Foliage set to create different leaves around the blooms. I inked it up with 249 and stamped it several times around each of the blooms. Add water to the leaves.

Step 5 – Ink up the dots (they remind me of lilacs – although I keep calling them violets LOL) with a purple. Unlike the daisy bunch, this stamp is walked out to create the lilac. Again, I stamped three different blooms. Add water to the blooms. I added a small amount of 569 from my palette underneath the vase to ground it and create a shadow.

Step 6 – In order to create some additional interest, I added the accent flowers to the vase. This created some height and I just love how they look on any project. I inked them up (I used the left and right stamp) with the 379 and stamped them several times around the vase. No need to add water to these.

Lastly, I signed and dated it. 

Card Details

I stamped the “It’s the Simple Things” to the right side of the panel using a sentiment from the WC Sentiments 2 set and some Gina K Designs amalgam ink. I thought it needed a little something more, so I added a flower to the bottom right side of the sentiment. This was done using the lilac stamp and the vine. 

Easy peasy right? I think so. We hope you will join us this weekend and show us your creations on Instagram using #AIWatercolor. Check out the video here if you want to paint along with me.


Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have a creative weekend! See you soon!


Thanks, team! These projects are all so gorgeous! From beachy scenes to hand-drawn elements to customize your creations, to a lovely floral arrangement with video tips! What an awesome day! Be sure to leave a comment below so we can hear what you enjoyed about this week's installment. We'll see you again soon!

Happy Stamping!


Saturday, May 4, 2019

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Homey Inspiration!

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! We have three more fabulous projects for you from our Watercolor Guest Design Team! We hope you enjoy these outdoorsy house scenes from Dot and Karen, as well as a colorful floral wreath by Tricia! Let's take a look!

 Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest
Hello Friends,

I was inspired by my camping/fishing weekend in Utah to make a card for my son's birthday. I stamped the boat from the 5057 - WC Boat Set in both 86 African violet and brown 969 and then I pulled the color out of the lines. Next I stamped the shed from the 5121 - WC Garden Shed Set again first using African violet and then the brown. After pulling the color out of the lines, I used the brown to color in the roof, shingles and door knob area. I used African violet to color the windows, add shade under the roof, on the door, and the water around the boat. I used the brown to watercolor the oars, the bench and the top of the boat. I used the brown to watercolor the ground on the other side of the boat and the walkway from the shed. I stamped the tree trunks from the 4960 - WC Fir Trees Set in brown, then I stamped in the branches using green 249. I added 75 sky blue to the palette to color in the sky. I stamped the grass from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 in with 27 olive brown. I stamped the tall grasses from the 5007 - WC Foliage Set 3 also in the olive brown. I stamped the flowers by the boat from the 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 using green 177 and orange 885 for the flowers. I stamped in the heart flowers by the cabin from the 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 in the same orange color. I cut out the picture and a background piece using the 5063 - Double Stitched Rectangle Dies. I used my Copic pen to sign and date it.

The birthday card below is the first card I made which I will give to my second son Chad and then I made the other version for the Art Impression's Watercolor Weekend blog post. Give it a try!

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest
To create my scene today, I've paired up one of the cottages from 4958 - WC Cottages Set (this is SO typical of historic homes in my area!), with the footbridge from the just released 5122 - WC Bridge Set, inking them both with Tombow #969 Chocolate. Using the smaller tree from 5010 WC Tree Set 1, I stamped it several times on each side of the cottage with my #969, then softened all the lines with a damp #4 paintbrush, pulling out the colour on the tree trunks, and on the footbridge. I coloured my #177 Dark Jade marker onto the tiny foliage sprig in the 5009 WC Mini Flower Set, stamping it repeatedly to get 2nd & 3rd generation foliage in the trees, and creating shrubs around the house. Also from the Mini Flower Set - I used my #533 Peacock Blue to colour the tiny floral cluster (it looks like dots!) stamping it around the shrubs to suggest purpley/blue flowers. Dabbing at them with my damp brush softened the images, and intensified the colours. I initially drew the tufts of grass directly with my #076 Green Ochre marker, but since it is quite a yellow/green, my scene had a bit of a fall feel to it, and I was aiming for spring! So I picked up the #177 green off of my palette, and painted a wash of green grass, darkening up the grasses directly with the marker as well. I painted the pathway with #992 Sand, and added #491 Glacier Blue onto the roof & door. I painted a touch of #856 Chinese Red onto the chimney, then went in with the fine point of it to sketch in the bricks. I picked up #565 Deep Blue with my brush to paint in the stream, and then added the shadows to the windows, pathway, around the house & trees, and finally painted in the sky. With my scene complete, I always walk away for a few hours (days?) and come back with a fresh eye. I did want to darken things up a little, so I went back in with both my 177 and 565 markers, adding grasses and flowers in the deeper tones.


Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook
Hey there! Welcome to another Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend! Today I am sharing my "Enjoy The Day" spring wreath. 

Step 1: Start off by lightly tracing around a circle die. This can be any size you like based on how big you want your wreath to be. Make sure you leave space around the circle for your leaves and flowers.

Step 2 : I chose a larger branch from the 4964 - WC Branches Set and inked it up with 969-Chocolate. I stamped it along the circle, trying to keep the largest part of the branch on the traced circle. I stamped it a couple of times, then re-inked it. You don't need to add any water to the branches, they are more of an accent stamp.

Step 3: I inked up the leaves from the 4605 - Spring Basket with 177-Dark Jade. You can use either one. I inked it up and stamped it several times on each branch. I added water to each of the leaves. The water may cause the color from the leaves to mix with the brown from the Branches but this is OK, unless you don't like that. I actually think it creates more interest and depth.

Step 4: I inked up the flower from the 4604 - Chest of Flowers with 443-Turquoise and stamped it around the wreath. I added water to each bloom. Next, I inked up the small dots flower from the 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set inked with 725 - Rhodamine Red and stamped them alongside the flowers. I added water to the blooms and then stamped them again using 606 - Violet.

Step 5: Using my MISTI, I inked the Enjoy The Day sentiment with the Rhodamine Red and Violet. I re-inked and double stamped it. I carefully added a small amount of water using a #1 paintbrush. Lastly, I signed and dated it.

Check out my blog for more details on how I put the card together. Check out the other design team members inspiration over on the AI Blog. Tag us on Instagram with #AIWatercolor.



Thanks, team! These projects really are beautiful and perfect for giving to a loved one this spring. We are always searching for inspiration for structure scenes, and your projects with stepping stones, bridges, trees, and water is just so pretty! Also, the floral wreath has some really lovely flower stamps tucked in some of our favorite mini sets!

We'd love to hear what you think about these projects, drop us a comment below! Did these cards give you ideas for your projects this weekend?

Happy Stamping!

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Happy Easter!

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! We're here this Easter Weekend with some lovely spring inspiration featuring some of our favorite animal watercolor stamps! Take a look at these projects, we hope they inspire your own creations!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest
Hello Friends,

Happy Easter weekend! I made this Easter card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend. I stamped three bunnies from the 4874 - WC Bunnies Set using the 40 brownish grey, then pulled the color out of the lines for the shading. I stamped masks out of post-it tape for the two bunnies then stamped the tree from the 5056 - WC Fairy Doors Set using 969. I used brown 969 from the palette to watercolor the tree and then I stamped the leaves in green 177 from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 and added water to soften the lines. I stamped the basket from UMG4117 in the 40 brownish grey. I used 86 African violet to shade the basket and watercolored each of the eggs with the pink 725, 17 steel blue, 5 yellow, 48 leaf green and 7 orange. I colored the bunny's ear and cheeks using the pink 725. The grass is from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 and stamped in 48 leaf green and the flowers are from the 4868 - WC Flower Set 2 in the green 177 and pink 725. I colored the sky using 75 sky blue. I used my Copic pen to sign and date it. I cut it out and framed it using the 5062 - Rounded Corner Rectangle Dies. The sentiment flag was cut from the 5133 Flag Double Stitched Dies.

Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest
Did you know that the Ai Bible Journaling sets make amazing cards? Since I knew that I wanted to use my oval Spellbinder's die set along with 5128 - As The Deer Set, I started by marking it's shape in pencil on my watercolour paper, so that I knew where I wanted my images to be placed. I coloured all of the images with my N57 Warm Grey marker, and other than the stones (where I pulled out the colour a bit for shading, with a damp #4 brush) - I didn't touch the lines, just painted within them. I used 947 Burnt Sienna for the deer and the tree, layering the colour to get the deeper tones. Using the floral cluster from 5074 Bible Flower Set, and my 856 marker, I stamped clusters of flowers and dabbed them with a damp brush to intensify the colour. I used the tiny leaf sprig from the set to add some foliage under the flowers and to the tree branches, using my 177 Dark Jademarker. I also used the 177 with the large and small grasses from the 5073 Bible Foliage set, and then pulled the green colour out to fill in the green areas. I darkened up their hooves and noses with the N57 Warm Grey, and then picked up 565 Deep Blue from my palette and painted in the flowing river. I went back in and added a few ripple marks around the rocks, and added shadows under the deer. This is another card that I think would make a wonderful Try-fold! The stamp set also includes three lovely script sentiments, perfect for journaling.
 

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook
Happy watercolor weekend Peeps! Monday is Earth Day. I thought in honor of that, I would do a post with the As the Deer Set called Earth Day Deer. I love this new watercolor Bible Journaling set. I plan to practice more with it to create lots of serene cards. Do you have a stamp set that reminds you of Earth Day? I would love to check it out…tag us on Instagram with #AIWatercolor.

The Watercolor Piece

I inked up the stamp with the 2 deer with Chocolate and Jet Blue. I added Jet Blue over the Chocolate where the rocks are. I stamped it down on my watercolor paper. I then inked up the land and tree stamp the same way and stamped it above the original stamp, leaving space for the water.

To start off, I lightly pulled the Chocolate color from the lines from each of the deer making sure to leave a highlight. I let each layer dry and slowly built up the color. On the deer at the top, I made sure to leave the top of his face white. I used a fine point to darken in the eyes and noses on the deer.

Next, I pulled the color out of the lines from the landscape. I pulled color from underneath the rocks and dragged it into the water. I added some Cyan and Navy Blue to my palette. I added the color to the water. Once the water was dry, I added some Chocolate to create shadows.

I added Dark Jade to my palette and added grass to the grassy areas of the stamp. Additionally, I added some Dark Jade to the small grasses from the original foliage set and stamped it in several places. Make sure you ink, walk out your stamp and pull the color out using an up and out brush stroke.

Lastly, I inked the flower bunch from the original flower set inked in Rhodamine Red and stamped several places around the scene. I pulled the color out of the lines. Remember to sign and date your work, which evidently, I don’t seem to remember all the time. LOL

Check out my blog to see all the details on creating the rest of the card.
Thanks, designers! What lovely projects! We can't help but think of Bambi and Thumper with all these deer and bunny cards! Such fun creations inspired by spring!

We hope you'll comment below what you think of these cards - we love hearing your feedback! Have a great day, and Happy Stamping!

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - NEW Inspiration!

Hello, Watercolor Fans! Ready for a dose of Watercolor Inspiration? We are so excited about these beautiful projects from our Watercolor Guest Design Team! We hope you enjoy them as well!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest
Hello Friends,

Easter is less than a month away and I need to get busy making Easter cards. I made this card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the new 5123 - WC Decorative Jar Set. First I colored the teapot stamp in 696 then in 565 and stamped it off before stamping it on the paper. I then colored it in using 603. I used the stamp positioner to stamp the bunny from 4874 - WC Bunnies Set in the pot using 40 brownish grey, which I also used for the shadow under the teapot. I colored the bunny's ear and cheeks using 67 bubble gum pink and 177. I then stamped the flowers from the 4052 - WC Flower Set 1 in the pink as well. The other flowers are from the 4876 - Wooden Chair Mini Set and they are stamped in the 565 and 177. I added the grass from the 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 in 177. I used the sign and eggs and bow from the 4976 Holiday Mansion Easter Set, then colored them in using the same colors. I colored the sky using 75 sky blue. I added some glitter using a Wink of Stella glitter pen. I used my Copic pen to sign and date it. I cut it out and framed it using the 5064 - Double Stitched Circular Die Set and a rounded corner punch for the card base.

You can find more inspiration by following me on my Instagram account here.
Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest
I've used seven stamp sets in my scene today! I started by placing one of the sheds from 5121 - WC Garden Shed Set and the 4703 Flower Cart together on the same block, which allowed me to control exactly where they were placed to achieve the right perspective. I coloured them both with 969 Chocolate, stamped, and softened the lines with a damp #4 paintbrush. I used a combo of 969 and 992 Sand to paint in the roof, shingles and cart. Using N57 Warm Grey, I coloured and stamped 2 of the stepping stone images from 5018 Cobblestone Set, and pulled out the colour to create some texture and shadows. I used the two trailing greenery images from 5126 Foliage Set 4 coloured with 177 Dark Jade to stamp foliage falling out of the cart, and dabbed them with a damp brush to activate the ink. Next I used the floral cluster from 4052 WC Flower Set 1 coloured in 676 Royal Purple to create the pink flowers in the cart, and after masking the shed, I stamped them on either side of it. I coloured 565 Deep Blue onto the tiny bluebell image from Flower Set 1, stamping it three times in an upward direction to create tall stalks of blue flowers. After softening all the flowers/foliage with a damp brush, I went in with the tiny leaf image from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set (oops! that's an 8th stamp set!!) to fill in around the flowers where needed. I also used it around the shed to create some bushes with the flowers. I used both the small and large grasses from 4051 - WC Foliage Set 1 in 177 as well as 126 Light Olive to add the suggestion of grass around the shed, stones and cart. I pulled out the colour from the grasses, and painted in and around the images to create a wash of green grass. After masking off the shed, I coloured two of the tree images from 5010 WC Tree Set 1 in 177, varying the heights - then softened them with a damp brush. Finally, I scribbled 565 onto my palette, and painted in the sky and the door, and then used it to add shadows to the window, stones and cart. 

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook
Step 1: Ink the small pot from the Build My Life set in 969-Chocolate. Stamp it and pull the color out of the lines. I added 837-Wine Red to my palette and added it to the pot being sure to leave a highlight in the middle.

Step 2: I masked the top of the pot with a piece of post-it tape. I inked up the tall foliage from the New WC Foliage set with 969-Chocolate and 249-Hunter Green and stamped it several times on the left side of the pot. I removed the mask and softened the leaves with water.

Next, I inked the small vine from the New WC Foliage Set with 249-Hunter Green and stamped it several times along the right and into the top of the pot. I softened the lines.

Step 3: I inked up the small dots from the WC Mini Flowers set in 725-Rhodamine Red and stamped it several times in a circle. I added water to the bloom. I didn't really get a good depth so I inked it up with 636-Imperial Purple and again stamped it in a circle on top of the pink. I added water.

Finally I added some Chocolate underneath the pot to ground it. Finally, I signed and dated it.

Card Details
I placed the watercolor piece into my MISTI and lined up the Dear Friends circle over the pot. I inked it up with Gina K Amalgam ink and stamped it twice.

I used the double stitched circle die to cut the watercolor piece. I used a watercolor background to cut a mat using a Spellbinder circle slightly bigger than the watercolor piece. I cut a piece of fun foam to pop it up.

I die cut the background with Altenew Layered Medallians dies cut from Neenah Solar White 80 lb card stock. I added these to a Neenah Solar White 110 lb card base. I glued the watercolor piece to the top of the card.



If you enjoyed these projects, be sure to leave us a comment below! Have an awesome week!

Happy Stamping!

Saturday, March 16, 2019

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!

Saturday, March 2, 2019

Watercolor Weekend Roundup - Magical Moments

Hello, Ai Watercolor Fans! Happy Saturday! It is the first week of March, which calls for Watercolor Weekend! This week we have a special guest designer, Karen Day, joining us today! Let's take a look at what the team has in store for us today!

Dot Freel - Instagram - Blog - Pinterest
Hello Watercolor Friends,

I am in love with this brand new 5124 - WC Bicycle set! I made this birthday card for the Art Impressions Watercolor Weekend using the largest bike stamp (there are four bikes in the set!) First I used the 45 Sepia, then the 86 African violet to ink up the bike and then I stamped it. I pulled the color out of the lines then used the 105 lt. teal on the palette to color the baskets and chain cover. I used N25 on the palette to watercolor the bike seat, handlebar grip, pedal and tires. Next I watercolored the bike body in the 94 scarlet. I used a ruler to and a pencil to draw the present in the back basket. I watercolored it in 34 pale green and painted the ribbon in the 94 scarlet. I used my white Signo pigment pen to outline the ribbon like it's high lighted. I used the 15 olive green on the mini leaf stamp from the 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set to fill the front bucket with leafs, added water and then I used the 3 hearts in the same stamp set with the 94 scarlet to stamp the flowers in the basket. I dabbed the flowers with water. Next, I took the grass from the brand new 5126 - WC Foliage Set 4 and the 72 pine green and stamped in the grass along the ground. I took some of the same green on the palette and colored in the ground all under the bike. I used 105 lt. teal and lots of water to color in the sky. I punched out three pink glitter paper hearts and glued them above the bike like they were balloons and used a ruler and my Copic Multiliner 0.03 pen to draw the strings and then outlined the present. I used a pencil and a ruler to draw in the spokes on the wheels. I signed it with my Copic pen and then cut it out using one of the 5061 - Double Stitched Square dies. I cut out the blue banner using the 5134 - Double Stitched Banner die set and a scalloped rectangle die for the next layer and stamped that sentiment from the brand new 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2 and then cut it out using the smallest 5063 - Rectangle Double Stitched die.


Karen Day - Blog - Facebook - Pinterest
I challenged myself to use a limited colour palette this week, using just tones of blue & brown - and I love the end result! I started by cutting a 5065 Oval Double Stitched die from Canson XL Watercolor Paper. Using 45 Sepia, I stamped and masked the bunny from 5016 Mini Critter Set, and then stamped the smaller toadstool from 5125 WC Elves Set behind him, leaving the top of it uncoloured so that I had a spot where my elf could sit. I inked him up in 992, which I also used to draw in a few blades of grass. I stuck with 969 (brown) and 86 African Violet to paint in the elf's oufit, with shades of 969 on the toadstool. I used 850 as a skin tone, and for the bunny's ears, using the 86 for my sky & shadows. For my second card, I cut a 5063 Rectangle Double Stitched die shape from Canson XL Watercolor Paper. I stamped both toadstools in 969, masking the small one, and stamping the larger one behind. I hand drew in the door (but the ones in 5065 WC Fairy Doors Set would work perfectly!) and stamped the stones from 5018 WC Cobblestone Set in 969. The elf is stamped in 992, and 850 is used as a skin tone. I used shades of 969 and 86 African Violet scribbled on my WC Palette to colour in the scene, often layering the colour to achieve darker shades, and used the 86 for my shadows.

Tricia O'Bin - Blog - Instagram - YouTube - Pinterest - Facebook
Here is how I created my Elves card. This one is a little different as I needed to stamp the elves before the mushrooms. So to begin I created a bunch of masks and moved them around until I was happy

Step 1: The Elves
First, I stamped each of the Elves inked in 969-Chocolate. Once they were stamped I used my masks to protect them.

Step 2: The Mushrooms
I stamped the yellow Mushroom first, as I wanted it to be in the front, with Chocolate. I masked it off, using my positioner, stamped the orange mushroom. I removed part of the detail on the stem and tried to position it to the right to give it a different look. Then I stamped the purple mushroom and masked it off.

Using the smaller mushroom, I stamped the red and then the pink mushrooms.

Step 3: Adding water
Pull the color out of the lines from the Elves and Mushrooms. I added color to them from my palette. I tried to shade them based on where the Elves would have cast shadows as well as if something is in front of the object. In order for the Mushrooms to look round, I made sure to keep the darkest areas on the sides leaving a highlight in the middle. Once the were all dry, I added white dots to the tops of the Mushrooms. I added some additional color where the shadows would be darkest.

Step 4: The Grass and Flowers
I inked up the left and right grasses from the new WC Foliage 4 set using 249-Hunter Green and stamped them around the bases of the Mushrooms. I pulled color up and out of the lines. I then inked the flower bunch from the Flower Set 2 with 685-Deep Magenta and Hunter Green. I also stamped some of the small grass sporadically.

I added some 452-Process Blue to the palette and created a sky. Sign and date your piece!

Step 5: The Card
Using the rectangle stitched die, I die cut the watercolor piece. I glued it to a card stock base made from Red Hot card stock from Gina K Designs. To make sure that the sentiment, from the new Sentiments 2 stamp set, was straight, I used my MISTI. I added some Gina K Amalgam ink and stamped it down in the left hand corner. I added the entire piece to a white base card.
Give these ladies a round of applause by writing comments below! Don't forget to visit Dot, Karen, and Tricia on social media by clicking the pink links by their name! They are sure to give you ongoing inspiration with our newest watercolor release!

Have a great weekend and Happy Stamping!