HLS November Watercolour Challenge - With a Twist of "Get Well"

A "get well" card can have almost any image.  That makes them very versatile.  All they should really have in common is that they should be "up beat".  You don't want to depress the very person for whom you're making a get well card, do you?

I fell in love with the Lilypad Lake stamp set when I first saw it.  The images lend themselves to all sorts of cards.  In this case I've used the heron and the lilypad for my get well card.  I stamped the image onto a piece of Shimmery White cardstock using pigment black ink for the heron and the Antique Linen Distress ink for the lilypad.  I knew I'd be watercolouring over them and didn't want my inks to run.  The heron was easy.  I used my clear Sakura Glaze pen to entirely cover the white of the heron.  Then I coloured the lilypad and flower using my Stampin' Up! Blends.  I also used the Sakura Glaze pen to create ripple lines where I intended to have water.

Once all that was totally dry, I want to work with my watercolour inks.  I used Pacific Point and Coastal Cabana for the water, applying it across the paper with a broad brush.  Then I used the same brush (cleaned) to apply the Flirty Flamingo and Crushed Curry across the sky.  I sprayed the card with my Ink Blending Solution to move some of the colours around and then added a bit more of the Coastal Cabana and Flirty Flamingo in places.  Again, I sprayed it with my Ink Blending Solution, moving the colours into each other more and, while the inks were still "mobile", moved some of the Crushed Curry and Flirty Flamingo into the water, like a reflection.

I've never tried this technique before but LOVE the results.  Of course the Shimmery White cardstock added a certain something to the whole as well.  It didn't take long for everything to dry and then I took a soft tissue and "cleaned" the heron and lilies.  Once I attached it to a base of Call Me Clover cardstock, I just stamped the sentiment from the Beautiful You set and the card was done.

Our winner for this challenge will receive a $20 coupon to spend at the shop! Check out all the details HERE.

IF YOU USE STAMPS BY HAPPY LITTLE STAMPERS AND YOU ARE OUR RANDOM WINNER, YOUR PRIZE WILL BE DOUBLED!

Hope you'll pop over to see what my Team Mates have created and come join us this month at our Happy Little Stampers November Watercolour Challenge with the optional twist of "get well".

Pink and White and Roses --There's Music in the Air!

Woo Hoo!  I got Top Pick at Inkspirational for this card!

Sometimes a challenge can be more than a challenge.  Sometimes it is an inspiration that just won't let you go until you've created something.  That's what happened to me when I saw the lovely pink and white inspiration photo at the Inkspirational Challenge.  I knew what I wanted to do and hoped that I could somehow translate my ideas into a card.

I began with simply heat embossing a section of the background stamp set, Sheet Music.  I used white embossing powder but I think that's going to have to be replaced because it's taking on a more vintage, yellowish tinge.  In other words, it's ageing gracefully.  I used a piece of Shimmery White cardstock for that but the shimmer seems to be lost to the camera lens.  Once the heat embossing was nicely cooled and hardened, I randomly covered it with a wash  of Powder Pink ink and then sponged the lower section to make it a bit darker pink.

After that I cut two roses using my Rose Garden thinlets, one from Powder Pink cardstock and the other from Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.  I also cut a small "love" from Shimmery White cardstock and sponged that to give it an ombre look.

I think the pearls and vellum leaves which I added are the perfect finishing touch, don't you?

I've entered this card into the Inkspirational #152 - Violin Photo Challenge.

I've also entered this card into the Addicted to CAS #127 - Music Challenge.

And finally I've also entered this card into the Let's Craft and Create Challenge #133 - Option Love is in the Air.