Watercolor for Card Makers & A Challenge

Today is the last day participants in the Online Card Class can post their work to the galleries. Today I found time to finish two cards I had already started and create a third one. Each one uses a different medium for the watercolor.  I’ve taken several of the Online Card Classes and loved them all, but this one rates an A+. Each lesson was loaded with content and inspiration, and the techniques varied from beginner to very advanced. I’ll be working on the techniques for weeks to come, but I’m already more comfortable with many of the watercolor mediums now than I was when we began. One thing I’ve learned (which is not easy for me) is that you cannot hurry watercolor. It takes time!

All three cards qualify for the new CAS-ology Challenge: Flowers, so I’ll be linking them up there.

My first card is based on a lesson for Day 2. Jennifer McGuire demonstrated how to use art masking fluid (or rubber cement) to seal the stamped image. Once it dried, it was easy to add a water color wash over it.

After the watercolor dries, you can easily rub the masking fluid off the stamped image. I added a die cut from Simon Says and put the watercolor panel on a card of Raspberry Fizz (PTI) and added some thin pieces of black card stock to set it off.

On Day 4, Shari Carroll used Gelatoes directly on a stamp. She used a red rubber stamp, so I wasn’t sure how it would work on a clear acrylic stamp, but my test sample came out just as I hoped, so it ended up on the card! My purple Gelato is one of the metallic ones, and so the flower has a subtle sheen to it.

The stamp is from a rather neglected set by Papertrey Ink called “Life.” I do believe this class will breathe new life into some of my older, less used stamp sets. The sentiment came from “Winter Hills,” also by Papertrey. Here you can see the subtle shine of the Gelato.

The last card was based on another of Jennifer McGuire’s cards on Day 6 where she watercolored a white embossed stamped image. She used some Sparkle mist as her water, but I didn’t feel the tulips were a great subject for that, so I stuck to water. This one took a lot of time. It was very difficult to see the white embossing on the watercolor paper. I taped it down on a clipboard and by tilting the clipboard to the light was able to get it watercolored. I used Tim Holtz Distress Markers for this one.

I do love these soft colors, and it was worth the time it took. 

The tulips are from Friendship Jar Spring Fillers, and the sentiment is from “Wishes Come True,” both Papertrey Ink sets.