Another Art Impressions Watercolor Card

Yep, I’m obsessed!   Today’s picture is another practice piece that I did using Art Impressions style of watercoloring.

The container is a stamp from Fun Stamper’s Journey that is on the  retiring list; it is available for 40% off (until supplies last)  

I only inked the container part of the stamp using a Marvy LePlume marker then stamped it onto 140 lb watercolor paper. Then I used Art Impressions stamps from the floral and foliage basics sets to create the rest of the image using green and violet LePlume markers. I used a die to cut the frame using Fun Stampers Journey Pretty Amethyst and Rock Candy cardstocks.   I used a Sizzix die to make an easel stand so that this picture will stand up.

Below are links the Art Impressions stamps that I used.  These are affiliate links to Amazon.

Mother's Day Card 2016

This is the card that I gave to my mother this year.

It is an easel card that I created with Heartfelt Creations’ Peacock Paisley collection from 2015.  I also used Spellbinders oval dies and Heartfelt Creations daisy die.

This card was fun to create and easy since the paper is already colored. I die cut out one of the peacock images with a fancy scalloped die, added a few punched flowers and then layered it onto green & navy blue cardstock ovals.  I did the same for the lower image.  I added a daisy that I stamped, colored, then die cut.  The sentiment is from a Verve set. I stamped it with black archival ink then used a tag punch for the shape.

My lighting is a bit off so it looks like the green layers are different colors. However, they are the same color!

It’s easier to insert a link to a tutorial than to try to explain how to create an oval easel card. Here is a YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2HdBswS_BU

I love the Peacock Paisley collection! I need to make more cards since I have so much paper left still! So don’t be surprised if you see more of this collection in the upcoming months.

Art Impressions Style Water Color Picture

I have been obsessed lately with the Art Impressions style of water coloring!  I am trying to use what I already have in my stash of stamps and markers to learn this style.  I figure I’ll save money by not investing in new things plus it will help me expand my skills.  It’s been slow going and somewhat frustrating, though, because most of what I’ve been creating ends up looking messy with very little detail.

My Stamping Friend is a great teacher and I am very thankful for her!  She looked at the pieces I created and immediately knew what I was doing wrong.  Too much water.  The key secret to this technique is that the brush needs to be almost dry.  That’s what stops the ink from running together and creating a blobby mess in the center of the image.

My Most Awesome Stamping Friend made her own catalog of her Art Impressions stamps (and other stamps that will work for this technique) and included card examples that she found online.  She had been making those types of cards for several years but stopped for a while.  She almost purged all that stuff but decided to make the catalog instead.  I am soooo glad that she did that!    

We got together last Saturday and worked on a few water color pieces after watching an Art Impressions instructional video that she has.  The image in the attached picture is the best of the three images that I painted.  I may still put one of the others in a frame or on a card, but for now, they are in the stack with the other images that I have made as practice pieces.

The watering can in my image is not an Art Impressions stamp, but it works nicely.  The flowers, leaves, and grass are Art Impressions stamps and came from the basic floral and grass sets.  We used Marvy Le Plume markers and a water pen to paint the image. 

The other key secret to this technique is the water color paper – use a GOOD quality paper!  Some less quality papers either warp when the water hits it and/or it sucks up the ink & doesn’t allow it to move. We used Strathmore 140 lb cold pressed water color paper, on the less toothy side. The ink moved nicely and blended well.

I created a frame using dies & popping it up  over the image. I think glued on a black backing piece that is slightly larger than the frame to finish the front. I then cut an easel with a Sizzix die and glued it on the back. So now my picture stands up.

Try the Art Impressions style of water coloring ... you may find that you love it!

Freckle Fish!

No card to share today ... I've been making a few cards here and there, but have actually been spending more time organizing my studio. I am still working on the "Jennifer McGuire" style of storing my dies and stamps.  It has been slow going ,,, but as we know, "slow and steady wins the race!"

I went to Bali Studios  in  Cocoa Beach last night and painted this Freckle Fish!  Oh my, it was fun!  I forgot to put on an apron, so I got paint on my black top, but such is life.  If you look close, you can see the paint splatters on my arm!  lol

This painting is very easy and I will probably paint a few more at home.  It is three layers of sponged-on paint   (two of the orange/yellow background and one of the dark blue around the edges). Then, paint is splattered on top of that.  Next is the fish -- no stencil for that!  

Do you remember from your Kindergarten days how to draw a fish?  Where you draw the curved shape & add a triangle along the side?   Well, that's how you draw the fish, only using paint and a paintbrush.  Then fill it in with a base coat of white (I used creamy white).  While the base coat is still wet, blend in several colors of blue & one of a brown. Use the darker colors ar the bottom..  Paint in the eye, dot it up (freckles!), dry the piece, and you're done!