Watercolor Grand Botanical

I seem to be reaching for different watercolor mediums these days. This is Julie with you today, and I have a short tutorial to share, using watercolor pencils and a fairly dry paintbrush. 

I have two cards, both featuring the Grand Botanicals digi stamp. 

Here's a sneak peek, then the tutorial.

 

Here's how a did this:

Step one.  I started with the lightest color

then, I added a second, similar shade

last, the third color, which I blended slightly with a damp paintbrush

I made the leaves with 3 shades of green and some purple for contrast.

then, I did the same thing again, using shades of violet on the flower.  I fussy cut both flowers and all the leaves.  Then, I started creating cards.

Here's the first one, using the Grand Botanical digi stamp, Rose Sentiments and free Robyn digital papers.

Another card, using the same Grand Botanical digital stamp, Rose Sentiments, and free Robyn digital papers

Two cards, same products, but the look very different.  I love how that happens!  I hope you enjoyed your visit to the blog today and will come back often!

Distressed...

Okay - Confession time. I have just jumped onto the distress ink bandwagon. Is it too late to join the party? Hope not as a craft addict needs many toys. lol. They're perfect for bringing images to life with or without extra coloring.

With the following digi images from Pickled Potpourri Designs, the option to highlight these super images in a totally different way was so fun! You'll find three different types of cards below with this style to show the versatility of the digis with supplies you most likely already have in your stash.

My very first attempt to add color without coloring was with this super cute bear from Birthday Bear! I used Photoshop to put the balloon, bear and sentiment into one image. I love stamping but there are times that a digi is so much easier as you can place the balloon exactly where you want it in the bear's paw. That's always a challenge for me for one reason or another with traditional ink and stamps, even with positioners and stamp presses so this option is super fabulous for me! Love how the inks highlight the image and bring it all to life.

Here is the Dahlia all distressed and pretty. Love this pretty flower as it works so well for so many things from sympathy to birthday to journal covers and more.

And, while in the mode, Southern Window just begged to be part of the fun. Make up 4 or 6 of these, tie them together with a pretty ribbon and you'd have a lovely set of notecards for a hostess gift.

Each of the images has some shimmer on them as well but it's hard to get that to show up in the photo. It's another way to highlight and add some visual interest.

It's been a pleasure to get all distressed with you today. Looking forward to seeing you next month!

Featured Pickled Potpourri Images:

Birthday Bear

Dahlia

Southern Window