The Smoky Mountains in Watercolor

Have you ever been to the Smoky Mountains?  If not you're missing out on something beautiful!  We had a chance to go there again not too long ago to celebrate my hubby's 50th birthday a little early.  My In-laws invited all of my hubby's siblings and spouses for a wonderful and relaxing vacation to Tennessee.  We stayed in a cabin that was pretty high up and we had three different levels in our cabin that we could look out on every morning and evening.  We had a couple of beautiful sunsets to watch that's for sure!

Since I definitely needed to write a thank you to them I thought, "Why not try to watercolor the Smoky Mountains for my thank you card".  Now I can't say they look like this at all, but for my first try I didn't think they turned out too bad.  And let's just say I added things here and there that I wasn't planning on adding and did a bit of trimming by the time it was done! lol  Now I can't forget to add that the sketch for this card was inspired by Freshly Made Sketches #237 and I turned it on its side.  It doesn't match the sketch exactly either because I trimmed it down more than I originally planned on because there were just some areas that I did not like, so off they went!   

The two mountain ranges in the back were made using the same color even though they look different.  Since the sunset was pink when I added the blue it turned a lavender color.  Then it turned purple the next time because the lavender was there and when I added more blue it turned purple.  Then I mixed a bit of blue and green for the middle mountain range.  I added a bit  more green to the mixture and yet a lot more for the final front mountain range.  It was definitely a live and learn (really paint and learn) experience for this picture, but I wasn't about to start over after all the work I had put into it!

Yes, believe it or not these are the colors I used.  By mixing them I came up with colors that were not anything like the original.  I have to say it was pretty fun seeing the colors that were made each time I added a new color.

Marina Mist

Watermelon Wonder

Soft Sky

Mint Macaron

Mossy Meadow

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Elegant Rose Wonder

Do you ever get stuck wanting to do the same thing for a while?  That's what's been going on with me...and watercolor is the word!  I pulled out the set Rose Wonder and got to work.  I used my Stampin' Write markers to color the flower and leaves of the rose, spritzed them a couple of times with water, then stamped them onto watercolor paper.  I didn't get the watercolor paper wet before I stamped it this time.  Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't and this time was a don't time.

These are the three colors I used on this card...

Elegant Eggplant

Garden Green

Always Artichoke

I don't know why I decided to watercolor it because it takes me forever!  I liked the look when I did them before though and decided to try it again.  I have to say the dark color was harder for me to work with than with the pinks and oranges I've used before!  I really need to work on the leaves though.  I don't mind the one on the right, but the others are just ok.  One of them was so bad that I stamped on another piece of watercolor paper, cut it out and popped that leaf to cover up the bad one! lol

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on this card:

Watercolor Paper

Picture Perfect Birthday

Today I have a pretty card for you using a fun sketch from Try Stampin' or Not on Tuesday.  I took a little bit of liberty on it and didn't put the horizontal strip.  Instead I used the bird's beak/bill and wings as the strip and his tail feathers as the banner.

Here is the sketch from Try Stampin' on Tuesday.  Make sure you check out all the other great cards made using this sketch HERE.  We'd love to have you play along if you get a chance!

I thought the background looked a little plain with the two colors and nothing else so I used a retired embossing folder that I thought would add too it.  I'm happy with it how it turned out and hope you enjoy it too.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Watercolored Rose Wonder

I'm at it again...yes, more watercoloring.  Believe it or not I never paid attention to anything watercolored until I saw ladies that did it on their cards.  Now I'm fascinated by it!  Can you tell?!  

I've been playing around with the new set Rose Wonder which is in the Stampin' Up! Occasions catalog.  The first time I saw it I couldn't wait to watercolor it.  I've done a few and so far this is my favorite card that I've made  :)

The picture below is the first card I made with this set.  I'm happy with how it turned out for my first card, but I wanted darker colors on the petals.  It's hard to tell in the pic, but after using Tangelo Twist and pulling the color from the stamped image it turned yellow like a light layer of Daffodil Delight.  And the strategically placed "Thinking of You" is there for a reason.  Orange and green mixed together just don't make a pretty color! lol

Like I said earlier I used Tangelo Twist for the rose.  I also used Pear Pizzazz for the leaves and Mint Macaron for the background.  I've learned to paint each petal separately instead of just quickly blending as much color as I can when the paper is still wet and the ink from the stamp.  I've read about and watched different ladies talking about how to fill in the petals.  One at a time and never next to each other.  I have SO much to learn yet, especially about shadowing and shading things in.  For some that comes naturally, but it is very difficult for me.  In the mean time I'll keep reading, watching and practicing...and hopefully you enjoy what I create.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!

Supplies used on these cards:

Please note that some items listed may be retired from Stampin' Up!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Beautiful Birthday

Yes, this is my second post today.  I happened to have two projects that needed posting, so I just went with it. :)  I created this card using Try Stampin' on Tuesday's sketch challenge #250 and made it for my niece's birthday.  I remember hearing that she always get winter cards, so I had to make her a nice spring/summer card.  I also had to try a bit more "water coloring".  I couldn't resist and was pretty happy with how it turned out. :)

Make sure you head over to Try Stampin' on Tuesday HERE to see the other great cards created by the design team.  Looks like I forgot the theme to use metal on my card.  That is optional so I still pass...whew! lol

.

Just a couple more pics to check out.  Wish I could get the pictures to look like the card actually does.  I think I need to haul out my light box again AND get the lights that I need to keep things nice and bright when I'm trying to take pictures.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!
Sara

I would love to be your demonstrator! If you like what you see and want to order anything just click on any of the products that I've listed at the bottom of my blog or click on the "Shop Now" tab at the top of my blog. Any of them will take you directly to my website! If you have questions feel free to contact me. Just click "Contact Me" at the top of my blog . If you're thinking of becoming a demonstrator click "Join My Team". I'd love to have you join me!