He has risen indeed!

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  Our second Make and Take for April also featured watercolor.  The watercolor pencils and a blender pen make it incredibly simple to add color to your stamped image.

Here is the video showing how I created this card.

Please feel free to leave a comment and if you have questions about this technique, please ask!

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: Easter Message, Sheltering Tree
Card Stock: Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Watercolor
Ink: Archival Black, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive; Early Espresso and Rich Razzleberry watercolor pencils
Other: Big Shot, Layering Oval framelits, Petal Burst embossing folder, Blender pen, Aqua Painter, Spritzer filled with water,Tombow liquid glue, dimensionals

Lovely as a Tree Watercolor Sympathy

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  Our April Make and Takes were based on watercoloring...simple techniques using water, reinkers, and stamps for this sample.
Water coloring can be so relaxing and produce beautiful results when you are finished.  Many times your results will look much different when the coloring is completely dry.  The ink has a tendency to dry much lighter than it appears when it is fresh and wet.  Starting out light and adding more ink as you desire a darker appearance is a good rule of thumb.  I am not in any way, shape or form an expert in water coloring.  However, I enjoy doing it and learning as I go.  I've come a long way since the first few times I tried it and I certainly have a lot more to learn.  The most important suggestions I have to offer are practice, practice, practice!  Relax, enjoy, create....It's YOUR art piece...do what makes your eyes and heart happy!

I have created a video showing how I created this card.  As you will see in the beginning of the video, no two end up the same.  You can change the appearance of your focal point by adding more or less water and ink.

Here is the video.

Feel free to leave a comment and if you have questions, please ask!

Blessings~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree, High Tide, Rose Wonder
Card Stock: Whisper White, Water color paper
Ink:Reinkers in Bermuda Bay, Old Olive, Soft Suede (optional), Black Archival, Always Artichoke
Other: Aqua Painter, Spritzer filled with water, Tombow Liquid multi purpose glue

Country Livin'

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  Trucks n boots aren't just for guys!  Girls like 'm too!  Today's share is a birthday card for a very special young lady in my life, my precious daughter.  She does love her boots and trucks.

The truck and boots are stamped in Archival Black ink onto watercolor paper and colored with ink refills and an aqua painter.

Thanks for looking and if you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Blessings~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: Country Livin', Hardwood, Wild About Flowers (sentiment on the inside)
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Watercolor paper
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Archival Black, Blushing Bride, Always Artichoke, Smokey Slate, Soft Suede, Black reinkers
Other: Big Shot, Brick Wall embossing folder, Oval framelits (retired), Wink of Stella Clear (windows and headlights), Aqua painter, dimensionals, tombow multi purpose liquid glue

Hey, Chick Partial Die Cutting

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  I've been wanting to try this technique for longer than I can remember.  This is my first go at it.  I will be using this technique again.  It allows you to have a portion of your stamped image outside of your die cut.  There are several videos on YouTube if you search 'partial die cutting'.

I stamped the chick with Archival Black ink onto water color paper, colored with reinkers and water color pencils, and then die cut it with the Stitched Shapes framelits using the partial die cutting technique. Using my paper snips, I cut down the sides of the chick's neck so I could slip the Christmas wreath over her head.  I cut the scalloped circle with the Layering Circle framelits and attached to the top layer.

Dimension was added to the scallop circle using dimensionals, to the wreath with rolled glue dots, and to the bow using the bone folder to curl the bow and tails.

If you have any questions, please ask.

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Sets: Hey, Chick, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Santa's Sleigh
Card Stock: Whisper White Notecard, Whisper White, Water Color Paper, Real Red
Ink: Black Archival, Real Red, Garden Green, Real Red and Crumb Cake reinkers, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, and Pacific Point Colored Pencils, Red Sharpie (for pearls)
Other: Big Shot, Softly Falling embossing folder, Stitched Shapes framelits, Layering Circle framelits, Circle framelits (retired, for the center of the wreath), Paper Snips, Pearls, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, Aqua Painter

More Hot Glue Embossing

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  In my previous post I shared I had 4 pieces drying.  Today I will share what became of them.  I am still so glad I tried this technique!  I learned some new things along the way and I will share them as we go through the cards.

Pacific Point and Basic Gray reinkers, Silver embossing powder

Basic Gray and Real Red reinkers, Silver embossing powder
After the watercolor panel on this card had dried, I spotted what looks to be a silhouette of a man's head in the lower right corner.  However, when I photographed it, I saw something more...I see arms raised and on the left arm, I can see a hand.  (click on the photo to enlarge it)  This is what it speaks to me, "Even in your crafting time, I am with you and I love you".

Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, and Pacific Point reinkers
Let me tell you a little about this one...as I mentioned last time, I put my hot glue down, water color my panel, and then when it is all dry, I add the embossing powder.  My 'plan' on this one was to use white embossing powder over the hot glue. When I warmed the glue back up and added the embossing powder, the powder stuck terribly in the center of the balloons but not good to the hot glue!!  I brushed off what powder I could with a dry paint brush and then used my heat tool to melt what little had stuck where I wanted it.  So then I had this 'brilliant' idea to use my embossing buddy so my next coating of embossing powder wouldn't stick to the inside of the balloons...that might have been a good idea IF the hot glue had been cool.  However, it was not!!  When I wiped over the green balloon, my embossing buddy stuck in the glue! When I pulled my embossing buddy off, the glue came with it.  So...I ended up using my silicone craft mat and heat tool to remove the rest of the hot glue from the balloons! I accomplished this task in a not so timely matter by getting the glue good and hot with my heat tool, then I laid my craft mat over the image and pressed it into the hot glue...thus lifting it from the card stock onto the craft mat.  I would NOT recommend trying this at home! :)  It takes a long time, a lot of patience, and still leaves a shiny outline of the hot glue.  But Hey! It is Art...or that's what I'm calling it anyway!

This one I did on Thick Whisper White card stock NOT water color paper!  The only reinker I used was Soft Suede for the frame and background.  I started with the frame and did the Hot Glue Embossing on it. I added black embossing powder to the hot glue.  I was ecstatic this time that some of the embossing powder strayed and stayed on my card stock. It adds so much character to this card.  The background panel was also done on the Thick card stock.  I inked up the inside of the new Hexagon Dynamic Textured Impressions embossing folder, placed my card stock inside, closed the folder and ran my brayer over the folder to press the versa mark onto the card stock.  I then heat embossed the image with black embossing powder and water colored it with lots and lots of water and the Soft Suede reinker.  When everything was dry, I used double sided tape to adhere the frame to the background. The chickens, egg, and word bubble were also created on the Thick card stock.  They are embossed with black embossing powder too and water colored with Soft Suede, Daffodil Delight, and Real Red reinkers.  I created dimension by gluing the chickens bodies down flat and leaving their tails and heads glue free.  The sweet little egg is popped up with dimensional pieces. The finished panel was mounted on a Crumb Cake note card.

What great fun this technique has been! Please feel free to leave a comment and if you have questions, please ask!

Blessing~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Sealed With Love, Hey, Chick
Card Stock: Watercolor, Thick Whisper White, Crumb Cake note card
Ink: Versa Mark, Archival Black  Reinkers: Pacific Point, Basic Gray, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Garden Green, Soft Suede
Other: Hot Glue, Silver, White, and Black embossing powder, heat tool, aqua painter, Hexagon embossing folder, Big Shot, Word Bubbles Framelits (retired), double sided tape, liquid Tombow, and dimensionals

Thea's Cutie

Hi there, Stampin' Friends! I can finally share this sweet birthday card I made for my Great niece, Thea! Her birthday party was delayed due to an ice storm.   However, the party has happened now. It was fun like most 1st Birthday Parties.  Ms. Thea and I sat on the floor and opened her special card together. She loved it!!  She adored it so much that she wanted to touch it, and feel it, and tear it up and eat it up!  I handed the card to her Mommy and the envelope to Ms. Thea, which she had shredded in seconds! lol

I'm hoping some day when she is older...probably about 15 - 20 years older, she will treasure the cards I have made for her...and realize how much love I've put into making them for a sweet little girl who holds such a special place in my heart.  Thea is one and she is loved dearly!

Thanks for looking and have a great day!  Feel free to leave a comment and if you have questions, please ask.

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Sets: Little Cuties, Balloon Celebration,  Labeler Alphabet
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Watercolor paper
Ink: Archival Black, Sweet Sugarplum, Soft Suede
Other: Big Shot, precision plate, A2 Filigree Delight die (Spellbinders), polka dot embossing folder, reinkers, aqua painter,  Whisper White Mini Pompom trim, pearls, black sewing thread for the string on the balloon, Xacto knife, paper snips, dimensionals, liquid Tombow glue

Still Rockin'

Hi there, Stampin' Friends! Do you ever find yourself  'stuck' with a favorite? Well that is where I've been lately! Stuck with the rocking horse from the set Little Cuties. So here is the next card I have to share with you...same technique as the last two...different colors.

This one appears more masculine even with the 'bling'.  I have one more finished with this sweet little cutie but it has to wait to be shared until it has been delivered to my precious great niece!

Thanks for looking! Feel free to leave a comment and if you have questions, please ask!

Blessings~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: Little Cuties
Card Stock: Basic Black, Pacific Point, Watercolor
Ink: Archival Black, Soft Suede and Pacific Point refills
Other: Big Shot, A2 Filigree Delight die (Spellbinders), Rhinestones, Aqua Painter, Paper snips, exacto knife, liquid Tombow adhesive, Champagne Glimmer Mist (retired)

Wisteria/Gray Cutie

Hi there, Stampin' Friends! I have another card made with the rocking horse to share. I  haven't added a sentiment. It would be perfect for a new baby or a birthday!

I stamped the horse and rocker on water color paper and colored with an aqua painter and ink refills dripped in the matching stamp pad lids. I cut it out using my Paper Snips and an exacto knife before gluing it on the card front.

Thank You for looking!  Feel free to leave a comment and if you have a question about how I created this, please ask!

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: Little Cuties
Card Stock: Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Slate, Watercolor
Ink: Black Archival, Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Slate and Soft Suede reinkers, Island Indigo marker (eyes)
Other: Big Shot, A2 Filigree Delight die (Spellbinders), Rhinestones, Wink of Stella clear (bridle and saddle),  Aqua Painter, White gel pen, Paper Snips, Exacto knife, Tombow liquid glue, Champagne Glimmer Mist (retired)

Mr. Fox

Hi there, Stampin' Friends! I finally got the opportunity to ink up the little fox from the set The Wilderness Awaits. He looks like he is waiting alright....not sure for what...but he is waiting.

I inked him up with Archival Black ink and stamped onto watercolor paper.  In real life, this really does look like a water-colored print. So...I just had to make a frame! Not sure you can see in the photo but I have scored all four corners to give a little depth.

Here is a different angle. If you click on the photo, you can enlarge it.

Thanks for looking.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: The Wilderness Awaits, In the Meadow (grass)
Card Stock: Canson Watercolor 140 lb, Cajun Craze, Basic Black
Ink: Archival Black, Cajun Craze, Marina Mist, Mossy Meadow
Other: Big Shot, Spellbinders Nestabilities A2 matting basics A and B, mounting tape, Tombow liquid glue

In the Meadow of Love

Hi there, Stampin' Friends.  I've been wanting chance to ink up the new set In the Meadow.  The  second I saw this set, I knew I wanted it.  Having grown up with timber/pasture on two sides of our farm, deer were a frequent part of our days.

I am pleased with my first attempt to create a water-colored scene.  Boy does it bring back the memories!

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply list:
Stamp Sets: In the Meadow, Great Bible Quotes (Gina Marie Stamps)
Card Stock: Marina Mist, Basic Black, Watercolor paper
Ink: Archival Black, Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow, Marina Mist, Melon Mambo (for the teeny tiny flowers I free-handed)
Other: Aqua Painter, White Gel Pen

Sepia Sympathy

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  Today's card uses the Hostess set Bloom with Hope.  I stamped it with Black Stazon onto watercolor paper and colored the images with Baked Brown Sugar reinker and an aqua painter.  After the flowers were completely dry, I did a color wash in the background and added some speckles with the retired spritzing tool.

Thanks for looking!  Please feel free to leave a comment and if you have questions, please ask!

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Supply List:
Stamp Set: Bloom with Hope
Card Stock: Watercolor paper, Baked Brown Sugar, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Black Stazon, Baked Brown Sugar reinker, Basic Black and Baked Brown Sugar markers
Other: Aqua Painter, Baked Brown Sugar Baker's Twine, Tombow liquid glue

New Grandma Circle Card

Hi there, Stampin' Friends.  I hadn't had the opportunity to ink up the stamp set 'Baby, We've Grown'.  I got out my water color paper, punched several 2 1/2 inch circles and started stamping images in Black Stazon.  I colored and colored and colored. It's extremely relaxing for me and I accomplish something along the way.  I have created several simple cards that I will share over the next few days. I have two very good friends who will become a Grandma for the very first time in April.  I made this with them in mind!

A closeup of the watercolored bunny.

  The inside is simple and provides a place for a greeting and a signature.  With the dry embossing, I found it necessary to double up on the white circle layers.  I punched an additional 2 1/2" circle and glued the two pieces together before adhering it to the card base.  I did this for the front image and the greeting inside.

Supply List:
Stamp Sets: Baby, We've Grown, Cuddles & Kisses
Card Stock: Marina Mist, Watercolor paper
Ink: Black Stazon, Smokey Slate, Marina Mist, Blushing Bride
Tools: Circle Card Thinlit die, Big Shot, Magnetic Platform, Perfect Polka Dots folder, 2 1/2" circle punch, aqua painter, reinkers, tombow liquid glue

Feel free to leave a comment.  If you have questions, please ask!

Blessings ~
RaeDeen

Blessed Watercolor

Hi there Stampin' Friends!  Do you like to watercolor?  If so, the Blessed Easter stamp set is a perfect design to do just that! I separated the greeting part of the stamp from the floral image. This makes the set more versatile for me. The tulips are easy to shade and the color combinations are unlimited.  They look gorgeous in bold colors or pastels.  It's all up to the artist!  It's way too cold for the tulips in my garden to be peaking out let alone blooming.  In anticipation, I have created them on card stock!

The Framed Tulip embossing folder is the perfect background to create a frame for the little 'garden' of tulips. Coloring with the aqua painter on watercolor paper, a little spritzing with the retired spritzing tool, sponging and distressing with Jet Black Stazon, and there you have it!

The inside matte presents a beautiful place for your message!

I would love for you to let me know what you think by leaving a comment.  If you have questions, please feel free to ask!

Supply List:
Stamp Sets: Blessed Easter, Tiny Tiny Wishes
Card Stock: Watercolor, Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black
Ink: Black Stazon, Primrose Petals, Crushed Curry, Elegant Eggplant, Soft Suede, Old Olive, Pool Party, Marina Mist (for sponging), Soft Suede marker
Tools: Big Shot, Framed Tulip embossing folder, Bitty Banners Framelits, Aqua Painter, sponge, tombow liquid multi purpose glue, spritzer (retired)

Blessings~
RaeDeen

People Like You

Hi there, Stampin' Friends!  I ran across a new tutorial and knew I had to try it!  I just love the effect.  The technique is No-Line Piercing and you can find it here.  I was considering adding the french knots like Dina did on her sample and in her video. However, when I had the image water-colored, I really liked the simple effect without any additions.  No sponging, no distressing, no pearls, nor ribbon, just poking holes and coloring.  So here it is...my No-Line Piercing People Like You...

I love the soft colors and the natural highlights created by the piercing!

Supply List:
Stamp Set: People Like You
Card Stock: Watercolor, White
Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Lucky Limeade, Smokey Slate
Tools: Aqua Painter, Scissors, Piercing tool and mat, dimensional tape

Please feel free to leave a comment and  if you have questions, please ask!

Blessings ~ RaeDeen

How to watercolor your Flower Garden

I've had several requests for instructions on how to watercolor the Flower Garden cards I have made.  Since my previous post I have been busy making more.  I am 'stuck' on this technique for now and I think they will make a beautiful gift set.   I have used several different Stampin' Up! sayings.  Some of them are current and some are retired.  There are just some sets I can't part with even after they retire.  I have created a video to show this technique...Enjoy and Create!

 Island Indigo and Raspberry Ripple  (Gumball Green for the stems and leaves)

 Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party (Gumball Green for stems and leaves)

 Primrose Petals and Midnight Muse (Gumball Green for stems and leaves)

 Summer Starfruit (Gumball Green for stems and leaves)

Here is the set using the In Colors




See how it is done ....

Blessings ~ RaeDeen

Flower Garden Watercolored

Grab your aqua painter and ink reinkers and create!  I embossed the Flower Garden embossing folder on Watercolor paper and then using my reinkers in Calypso Coral, Poppy Parade, and Old Olive painted away.  The Spritzer tool adds just a touch of dimension without being overpowering the main image.  To add a little sparkle, I misted with Champagne Shimmer Mist (champagne shimmer paint and alcohol mixture in a spritzer bottle).

Blessings ~ RaeDeen