{PP241} Wetlands Watercolor Block Technique

Happy Sunday, everyone!  I am so excited to share my Paper Players card with you today.  First, I'll tell you that I am the hostess for a Clean-and-Simple challenge this week:

Oh how I love the look of watercolor.....but....true watercoloring takes time, patience and skill.  None of which I had much of this week, ha!  That's when I was so excited to learn about watercoloring with an acrylic block and markers!  One of my very talented downline, Pilar, demonstrated this technique at our meeting last week.  She is so artistic and made some lovely cards with this technique.  I couldn't wait to use this technique for today's card:

It's so easy!  I used an acrylic block, size D, and "painted" the block with Baked Brown Sugar, Lost Lagoon, So Saffron, Calypso Coral & Pool Party Stampin' Write markers.  Just swipe the markers right onto the block.  Hold the block about arm's length away and spritz a few times with a Stampin' Spritzer of water.  The marker ink will bead up on the block.  Then "stamp" the block directly onto your paper, press and watch the water blend the colors together.  I will say it takes a few tries to get the hang of how much water to use and your image will be better if you stamp with a piercing mat or similar soft surface under your paper.

I wanted this scene to look like a sunset so I scribbled just a touch of Calypso Coral to the center So Saffron panel.  When the water and ink spread, it gave just the effect I was going for--a watery reflection of the setting sun.  And these little shorebirds--love them!

With my inside image, you can see that you won't have the same effect or blend of colors twice.  This is the same combination of colors but I think I had less water so the ink didn't run as much.  Still gives a cool effect though, doesn't it?

This faux watercolor technique would be a perfect way to join in the fun at The Paper Players this week!  Check out the awesome creations from the rest of the design team for even more inspiration.  We hope you will join us before this challenge ends on Friday, April 24th at Noon (PST).  Thanks for stopping by today!

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile
Claire Broadwater
 Jaydee
Joanne James
Laurie Schmidt 
LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis 
Debbie Mageed
Karren Johnson
Shannon Jaramillo

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Wetlands by the Beach {PP203}

Hiya friends!  Thanks for joining me this week for another challenge at The Paper Players where I am hosting a fun theme challenge this week:

I knew right away which stamp set I would use...love these wading birds:

The second largest banner from the Banner Framelits makes a perfect stamping surface for my abstract beach scene.  The abstract washes of color--Sahara Sand, Lost Lagoon and So Saffron--are provided by the fabulous Work of Art stamp set.

 

The background panel was embossed with the Woodgrain folder and rubbed with some Whisper White craft ink to mimic the look and feel of driftwood.  The Early Espresso Baker's Twine (retired) adds just the right touch of casual embellishment.  Linen Thread would also make a good design companion to replace the retired EE baker's twine.  Aren't those sequins cool?  Those are the In Color Sequin Assortment and the Baked Brown Sugar coordinates well with my beach-y color scheme.

I hope you will join us over at The Paper Players this week.  Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team inspiration especially this week as we welcome aboard SIX new Guest Designers!  So happy to be stamping with them! 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

 Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis 

Andrea Whisman

Claire Broadwater

Joanne James

Laurie Schmidt

Mike Funke 

Yapha Mason

click any image for more info and ordering details:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Petite Petals Tropicale {PP191}

Happy Sunday, everyone!  The always-amazing-Ann has a beautiful tropical color challenge for us this week at The Paper Players:

Aren't they pretty together?  Coastal Cabana and Calypso Coral are both very bright colors so I knew that I would use a lot of white for balance.  I also wanted to play more with the Hexagon Hive die and try using only a section of it....

I like how using only a portion of the die shape and stamping underneath gives the illusion of flowers growing through a garden fence.  Two different flowers from Petite Petals stamped in Coastal Cabana and Calypso Coral and some Gorgeous Grunge splatters in Always Artichoke created the background. 

You can see that I just snipped away sections of the Hexagon Hive die to reveal more of the flowers underneath.  Cutting away a corner section left the perfect spot for a sentiment.  Adding texture with the Woodgrain embossing folder helps create depth to the tone-on-tone look of white on white.  A sprinkling of tiny basic rhinestones adds just a little sparkle and shine.

On the inside, it was very easy just to replicate the spray of flowers on the front, leaving enough space for a birthday sentiment.  I had fun making this card and I hope you've had fun touring it with me!  Be sure to check out the rest of the Paper Players Design Team for even more inspiration.  Our challenge is open until Friday, April 18th at Noon (PST)--we would love to see what you do with these colors!  Thanks for stopping by!

The Paper Players Design Team
Ann Schach
Anne Marie Hile
Jaydee
LeAnne Pugliese
Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis

Click any image for more details and ordering info:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.