{ Watercolor stamping tutorial }

I created this layout for Elle's Studio March Inspiration gallery. I used a flower stamp that I colored with watercolor pencils. Elle asked me if I could do a tutorial for the Elle's Studio blog...here it is.

WATERCOLOR TUTORIAL

You will need watercolor paper, waterproof ink (like StazOn or Ranger Archival Ink), watercolor pencils, paintbrush or Aqua painter and stamps – Whale of a Time stamp set. I buy a large watercolor pad at a craft store and cut it down to size. In addition, they have these ATC size watercolor sheets that are perfect for tags and cards.

Stamp your images on watercolor paper and outline with watercolor pencil of your choice. You do not need a lot of color, plus you can always add more if needed.

Make sure your brush/aqua painter is damp, not too much water. Start working from the edges in circular motion to blend the color. Keep wiping the brush on scratch paper or a paper towel to remove excess color/water and keep blending.

This is what it looks like all completed.

I stamped and colored the whale and made a tag out of the ATC size paper. I added a punched edge to the bottom.

For this journaling tag I stamped the whale in the middle. I added the lines by masking the whale.

Masking – I stamped the whale on art masking tape, but you can use scrap paper or a post it note. Cut the image out. Lay it over the original image to cover/mask it and then stamp the lines. Save it, because you can use it again.

I stamped and painted the circle tag. I cut the boat and adhered it with foam adhesive. For the whale tag, I stamped the circle tag on some left over stamped cardstock and punched it out. I cut the whale out and used foam adhesive to adhere the whale over a stamped whale base.

I used the boat tag for the card. I addition, I used a stamp from Let It Snow stamp set and a tag from Prompts, Patterns and Journaling Tags.

You can use a blender pen with watercolor pencils. The blender pen is perfect for blending watercolor pencil colors, eliminating the need for water and a paintbrush. The colors intensify and blend smoothly, and you don’t need the watercolor paper.

Stamp images and outline with watercolor pencil. Use the blender pen to blend the colors in circular motion starting from the edges.

****For the entire month of April we have our Whale of a Time Stamp Set 40% off!

{ Happy Easter }

I hope everyone is enjoying their Easter weekend. We are enjoying this beautiful, warm weather that is here to stay, I hope.

I wanted to share these little bags I made for Alex's friends using my new Cricut Expression. Plantin SchoolBook cartridge came with the Cricut and I love it. They came together so quickly. My friend Danni made cute treat bags with little tags that I loved and I told her I was going to make some.

The bags, grass and "eggs" are cut with the cricut. The bunny stamp is from Michaels dollar bin.  I am still playing with sizes and "testing" things out on scrap paper. I am taking notes so I can remember next time. The sentiment is from Easter Bunny (CL212) Impression Obsession stamp set that I curved to fit along the edge of the egg.

We made little bunny puppets and filled the bags with little goodies. I hope they like it.

I made a little basket for me, too. This basket can be used for so many different occasions, and I will make it again. I used Easter Basket template from The Cutting Café.  The template comes with two different sizes.

I used the one that holds 4 eggs. Love it. After I printed the template, I cut it out. The basket is covered with crepe paper that I sprayed with Glimmer Mist. I made the flower out of the same crepe paper and painted the edges with Shimmerz paint. The leaves are cut out of Core'dinations cardstock and embossed.

Before I cut out the handle I added about 1/2" inch to the width so I can punch a decorative border and still have a nice size handle.

One last photo of Alex from the Easter egg hunt on Friday. He had so much fun playing outside and collecting eggs with his friends.

{ Impression Obsession DT challenge - Celebrating mom }

I created a card for Mother's Day. I am still playing with my crepe paper, except I have a white roll, too. I love it. I used CPS #160 for the card. I started with Core'dinations whitewash cardstock that has a green core. I embossed it with a cuttlebug embossing folder. The Making Memories journaling note is stamped with Cover-a-card Medallion (CC032). I wanted an imperfect impression of the background. I lay my stamp down and when I cover it with ink I don't apply an even color. After I lay my paper on top and press with my hand, I make sure I don't press evenly. I love the way it turns out...

I made the crepe paper rose with white crepe paper that I sprayed with Shimmerz Spritz, first. It was left over from another project so it was dry, but it doesn't take long. I added some hand cut leaves and pink ribbon.

The sentiment is from Greetings Galore (CL48) that is stamped on Granny's Doily Circle tag from Elle's Studio. This was such a fast and easy card.

I hope you'll take the time to visit the other designers' blogs for inspiration! Dina, Jeanne, Jenny,  Kathy,  Julie, Deborah,and Laura.

***Would you like to see your card featured on the Impression Obsession blog? Email your challenge cards using Impression Obsession images to Shirley. Every week, cards will be selected to showcase on the Impression Obsession blog!!! You have until midnight this Saturday to enter your card. A random winner will be selected from the submissions to receive a $25 Impression Obsession gift certificate! You can find all the info HERE.

{ Digital stamps and new Cricut }

Kathy Martin asked me to make a card with one of her new digital stamps Party Banner.  Check out her blog for more wonderful ideas using this stamp.  I used October Afternoon and My Mind's Eye patterned paper. The chipboard is painted with white paint and sprayed with Shimmerz Spritz. Here is a closer look at the banner.

I made my first official card using my new Cricut Expression! There are so many things I have to learn. If you have a Cricut and have any tips I would love to hear them. Link me to some Cricut resources and blogs I can check out.

I am making cute little Easter bags for Alex and his friends that I will show you as soon as I get a photo. Here, I am cutting grass for the eggs.

As I was getting ready to list this Life Mini album in my Etsy store I got a request to make one...perfect timing. I had several other people asking about it. If you would like one, email me and I will be more than happy to make one for you. I updated the store with some new items and I will be adding more.

{ CupCards {to go} GRAND re-opening day}

I am so very, excited to share with you that CupCards {to go} card kits will be re-opening beginning June 1st, 2010 with sneak peeks of the new kit/card creations all during the month of May from all the designers with blog hops & prizes. You can read all about it here. And, Sonda is having a giveaway, just visit this post to leave a comment and have a chance to win.