HLS July Watercolour Challenge - Have a Magical Birthday

Here in Canada we open July with a huge birthday party.  You see, Canada's birthday is on July 1st.  So we bring on the games, ice-cream, pop-corn, cake, dancing and, of course, the fireworks.  How perfect is it that our theme for the Happy Little Stampers July Watercolour challenge is "Birthday"?  I love it!

For my card I decided to use a gorgeous Stampendous mermaid and friends stamp set with matching dies.  The image just begged for some watercolouring and I was happy to oblige.

What you can't see very well is the shimmer of the Yasutomo metallic watercolours which I've added to the tail, globe and crown.

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 will pop over and see what my Team Mates have created and come join us this month for our Anything Goes Watercolour Challenge with the Optional twist of a Birthday.

Everything is Better With a Friend

When I found this wonderful House-Mouse Designs image by Stampendous in a darling little craft store in Calgary a couple of months ago, I fell in love.  What could be sweeter than the House-Mouse combined with a beautifully drawn image of a hummingbird?  Of course I bought it!  Now, finally, I've introduced the images to ink, thanks to the Addicted to CAS challenge and its theme of "birds". 

I stamped the image onto a piece of Watercolour paper using my Stamping Platform to ensure that the lines would be evenly stamped.  Before removing it from the platform, I took a sentiment from an old Hero Arts stamp set and added that along the bottom right.  After letting the ink dry completely, I commenced colouring.

Because a friend of mine introduced me to Prismacolors and Gamsol, I decided to use that colouring technique.  I loved the versatility of blending several colours together for my Hummingbird.  The House-Mouse was easy enough, as was the flower, but that brilliantly coloured bird was my challenge. 

When I had finally achieved the look for which I was striving, I added some clear Wink of Stella to the jewel-tones of the feathers and was done.

I can see myself enjoying many more hours, playing with this image.  

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:  

House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #262 - Anything Goes

Addicted to CAS Challenge #132 - Birds

Double D Challenges - Just Wing It