Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Back for Toonie Tuesday!

Well, after 2 and a half weeks away, we're back from vacation, it was a wonderful time away as a family. And after almost 3 weeks without stamping....I'm back with another Toonie Tuesday for you!

Today it's all Stampin' Up! for you, I returned home to my lonely SU catalogues that had been patiently waiting for me all this time! It's always a happy day with a new catalogue to peruse through! And, I checked the color challenge from Emily over at Splitcoast today and it was some warm feeling colors (Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, and Close to Cocoa), so I wanted to create some pretty watercolored images. Honestly I was just in withdrawal from coloring.


Sample One Bunny Basket



Here is a sample from one of the level 2 Hostess sets from this fall's catalogue. I like it for it's sweetness and because it is so great for watercoloring. With a really detailed image like this one I like to watercolor with markers and an aqua painter, that way you can really get into the tiny details without too much bleeding of your color.

While this isn't a tutorial ...here's the progression of how the image is colored....


Above I've just added the first layer of color to the bunny in Blush Blossom and the first layer of Close to Cocoa on the basket. You can see - to start with I leave lots of white space to give it highlight and then blend in later. You just can't add white with watercolor afterwards! And the best contrast in color is created with white space. If you can see it...I color the parts of the basket weave in opposite directions (horizontally and vertically) and also blend in those directions to give the feeling of dimension to the basket weave.

Here I'm almost done my coloring and have given in multiple layers of soft blending from my Stampin' Write marker; softly blending with a damp aqua painter (not too much water on the brush so you don't bleed your image too much) On the grass blades I simply colored them in with the fine tip of my SW marker and then only blended the leaves slightly - not the grass so you keep the sharp edge. See the soft shadow of Close to Cocoa under the basket to ground your image and create the shadow for the basket?


And above you can see the final product close up. I added a second flower popped up (like a sample in the new catalogue page 21 top sample). I added some great designer paper and gave it some *Sweet Bella* feel scallops with my new scallop edge punch. I colored the caramel gingham ribbon with my markers to match my colors so there's very little hint of gingham. I really never use buttons, and I know they're really in style again so as accent I threw them in there. Sweet don't you think?

Recipe: Stamps: Serene Spring, Canvas Background Ink: Brown Stazon Paper: Close to Cocoa, Ruby Red Textured, Ginger Blossom DSP, Petal Patch DSP, Watercolor Paper Accessories: Neutral Buttons, Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, SW Markers, Aqua Painter, Scallop Edge Punch


Sample Two Asian Blooms


I LOVED the idea of combining the blossoms onto the *sprig* from Embrace Life (see page 91 sample of the new catalogue). Here I wanted to create a very simply Asian feel to the card. Clean lines, minimalist feel. (I'm not very good at minimal though! :) )

The blooms were all colored on watercolor paper, then I cut them out and popped up the flowers onto the sprig. I also added some blush blossom shadow with my marker around the entire image, it's very subtle and may not be visible, but it's just the right addition of color and shade to give it some pop.


There is a matching scallop on the sentiment layer that isn't as visible from this angle but I matched it up to the scallop on the Ruby Red designer paper layer.

Well, that's it for now. My new SU order should be arriving this week (yippee!)....but I also return back to work this week after the summer away with my kids. So...hopefully you'll be seeing me later this week with some more great things.

Recipe: Stamps: Embrace Life, So Many Sayings Ink: Brown Stazon, Ruby Red, Blush Blossom Paper: Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Ginger Blossom DSP, Watercolor, Close to Cocoa Accessories: Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, SW Markers, Scallop Edge Punch, Vintage Brads, Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness Christine, you're back to a fresh start and what a wonderful way to begin! These watercolors are so incredibly beautiful and your layouts are devine! I can't wait to get my order in from SU, I'm dying to play with that bunny stamp. When I first read the color challenge, I wasn't so sure, but then after viewing your cards I see how gorgeous they are together.

Alexandra said...

I just found your blog by following the link from SCS. I am so glad I did. You are a big inspiration!

Yosha said...

This are fantastic! I LOVE the bunny card! The colours are just brilliant!

Yosha said...

These are fantastic! I love LOVE the bunny card. The colours and the colouring is just brilliant!