Spring Flowers Cards

I came across this post by Yana Smakula for Simon Says Stamp Blog where she used a single stamp set to create 4 different cards. This inspired me to try something similar. And for this I chose the Botanicals 3 Stamp set from Paper Smooches and created 3 CAS cards.

For all the 3 cards I used the same stamps and the same distress colors as well. The colors I used - Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Ripe Persimmon and Peeled Paint and Broken China for one of the cards.

Card 1 - All Over Background with some Sparkle

For this card, I stamped the flowers and the leaves from the Botanicals 3 set all over the front panel randomly in the colors mentioned above using Distress Inks. I left some space in the center for sentiment that I was going to place on top. I also sprinkled very little water on top of the flowers for some effect.

I decided to 'Make it Sparkle' inspired by the SSS Wednesday Challenge :) So for the sentiment I cut out a circle and went with a Handwritten 'hello' sentiment which I then heat embossed in Gold. Also heat embossed the edges of the circle with Gold. After that I adhered some gold sequins to add some more sparkle to finish off the card.

I am entering this card in the following challenges

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Sparkle

• Mod Squad Challenge - A Little Bit of Spring

Card 2 - Circular Patterns

For this card I used only the smaller flowers from the set and stamped them in random circles. I introduced a bit of Blue in this card as well. For the sentiment I made a small Banner and painted it with Broken China Distress Ink and stamped the sentiment from Paper Smooches Birthday Bash stamp set. I also added a few dots with a gold marker on the banner and the card - again for a bit of sparkle.

Entering this card for the following challenges

• Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Make it Sparkle

• CAS(E) this Sketch #202

• Mod Squad Challenge - A Little Bit of Spring

Card 3 - Corner Patterns

For this card I stamped the flowers and leaves only in the 4 corners. For the sentiment, I cut a rectangular piece and I stamped small dots in the colors of the flowers all over and then stamped the Best Wishes sentiment from Mudra Stamps. I also drew a black border around the rectangular piece and then adhered it in the center of the front panel.

                                              

Entering this card in the following challenges

• Mod Squad Challenge - A Little Bit of Spring

Supplies for all 3 Card

• Canson Watercolor paper
• Distress Inks
• Botanicals 3 - Paper Smooches
• Birthday Bash - Paper Smooches
• Best Wishes - Mudra Stamps
• Foam Tape
• Sakura Micron Pen
• Deco Art Gold Marker
• Gold Sequins

Watercolor Resist Cards

Sharing a couple of cards I made using the watercolor resist technique - something I have been wanting to try for sometime now.

The technique involves creating a kind of a surface using anything that basically resists color. For my cards I used heat embossing as the technique to resist the watercolors.

I made two contrasting CAS cards - one for a birthday party related theme and the other a bit more on the elegant side to say a simple 'Thanks'.

Card 1 - Celebration Card

For this card I used the Birthday Bash stamp set from Paper Smooches. I heat embossed the balloons and the sentiment on Watercolor paper from Canson - the balloons in white and the sentiment in silver. These elements would work as the resist for my technique. I also stamped a cake from the same stamp set using Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink.

I used Zig Clean Color Real Pens to be my watercolor medium. First I applied water with a brush all across the paper. I applied some Blue Zig on to a clear acrylic block and used a brush to apply the color on the entire panel. The embossed parts resisted the color. I also avoided coloring inside the cake. Once I got some color for the background I proceeded to color inside the balloons in a similar manner blending a few colors from the acrylic block. I then colored the cake. I felt the background needed more color so I added more color around the balloons till I got the desired look.
The colors used are Cobalt Blue, Blue and Carmine Red.

I felt the balloons looked bare without the strings. I wanted a bit more of silver on my card as well so I used the Clear Emboss It pen from Ranger to draw strings and then heat embossed them in silver. I finished the card by adding some white dots on the balloons and the cake using white Sakura Gelly Roll pen.

I am entering this card in the following challenges.

• Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Party Time

• AAA Cards CAS Game # 80 - Silver

• CAS Watercolor December Challenge - Watercolor Resist

• CAS(E) this Sketch # 202

• Muse Challenge # 197 - inspired by the Background color 

Card 2 - Thank You card

I made this card the exact same way as the previous one. What is different are the stamps and the colors used. The flowers are from the Flower Garden stamp set by Tim Holtz from Stampers Anonymous. The Zig colors used are Pink, Carmine Red, Orange and Yellow.

I adhered the finished panel on to a card base and added a handwritten Thank You sentiment. I splattered drops of pink color around the sentiment to finish off the card.

I am entering this in the following challenges

• CAS Watercolor December Challenge - Watercolor Resist

• CAS(E) this Sketch # 202

Supplies for both Cards

• Birthday Bash stamp set by Paper Smooches - Card 1
• Tim Holtz Flower Garden by Stampers Anonymous - Card 2
• Canson Watercolor Paper
• Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens
• Versamark Watermark pad
• Ranger White and Silver Embossing Powder
• Ranger Heat It Tool
• Sakura Gelly Roll Pen - white
• Sakura Micron Pen - black
• Ranger Jet Black Archival Ink pad
• Ranger Clear Emboss It pen