Tuesday, October 13, 2009

The Holly and the Ivy

I don't know if any of you have this experience, but there are times when I open up a Flourishes set that I just GASP outloud with delight!  This set today is one of those gaspy in a good way sets!  Marcella just draws such beautiful detail that if you love to stamp....if you love to color you can't help but appreciate all the potential in a set. 

If you haven't guessed already there's a bit of a theme in some of the sets this month....the music of Christmas.   Have you heard the Christmas Carol "The Holly and the Ivy"?  And the 12 Days of Christmas...? 

I have two cards here and a bit of a tutorial on sponging too, so read on :)  This on is my Two Turtle Doves...



This gorgeous pair of doves is watercolored on Flourishes watercolor paper with a combination of Stampin Write Markers (an SU waterbased marker), and reinkers.  I actually got my color palette from this pretty 7Gypsies Nottinghill paper.  After coloring I decided to give it some depth by sponging.   I've received a few questions recently on how I sponge, so here's a quick tutorial.   Below is the image just watercolored.  Pretty, but missing something. 





Beside, you can see that I ran the colored image through my Labels 5 Nestabilities, then stamped and cut out a mask with Eclipse tape and taped it over the image.   I sponge with my SU round sponges cut into quarters.  I dab my sponge onto my ink pad then test how much ink I have on it onto a scrap piece of paper.  If I have the right level of ink (not too much- you can always add more layers), then I dab onto the paper.  I LOVE how watercolor paper takes sponging.  Because the paper has tooth, it grabs the ink so beautifully.  Then once I have a dabbed look I like I use more squishing or sweeping motions to get deeper color.    The mask holds tight and you have the perfect color around the image.  Because I also used my Nestability template around the edges, it gives me a border that doesn't get sponged either. 

Here is the image close up with the sponging.  I love the glow it gives the doves. 




For the second card think of the Christmas Carol, "The Holly and the Ivy". 



I used the small holly and ivy stamp from the set and stamped it down a horizontal row and then watercolored.  I cut it with my Borderabilities, and then added the Blossom Two Nestie to accent the shapes, with gorgeous velvet ribbon too.   It just looked like it needed something else so I added the pretty piercing and then when the card was all done, added Crystal effects to the berries.  The sentiment is just a part of the entire sentiment inked for this card. 

There are so many stunning samples of this set over at the other Design Team members' blogs, you'll have to check them out. 

Cindy Lawrence, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan,  Sharon Doolittle

And to win this amazing set today:  The Flourishes Newsletter


 
Recipes:  Two Turtle Doves:  Stamps:  Flourishes - The Holly and the Ivy;  Ink:  Black Stazon, Night of Navy;  Paper:  Night of Navy, Baja Breeze, Flourishes Watercolor Paper, 7Gypsies Nottingham Designer Paper; Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels 5 Nestabilities, Fancy Tags Nestabilities, Silk Ribbon, Kaiser Rhinestones, Sponge, Eclipse Tape, Dimensionals, Reinkers, Stampin Write Markers
 
The Holly and the Ivy:  Stamps:  Flourishes - The Holly and the Ivy;  Ink:  Black Stazon, Always Artichoke;  Paper:  Bravo Burgundy, Memory Box Spiceberry DSP, Always Artichoke;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Borderabilities, Blossom Two Nestabilities, Velvent Ribbon, Kaiser Pearls, Piercer, Dimensionals, Reinkers, Crystal Effects.

31 comments:

Linda Carson said...

Such elegant artwork! The sponging added the perfect touch bringing out the texture in the wc paper. Beautifully done!

Mari said...

Those doves are flat out gorgeous! The sponging really did the trick - it *does* make them glow.
Beautiful work!

Lesley said...

Thank you for the quick tutorial on sponging...I am always afraid of it!! LOL! Those cards are gorgeous...my fav is the 2 turtle doves!!

Smiles,
Lesley :)

Jessica Diedrich said...

Wow, Wow WOW! These are just magnificent, Christine! Your coloring on the 1st image is BEYOND stunning and those holly berries look so real! beautiful work!

Diane said...

Beautiful card and thanks for all the tips on sponging!

Crystal said...

These look AMAZING!!!! Thanks for the great tips on sponging!!!

Liz Williams said...

I'm gasping along with you. These are just gorgeous. Thanks for the sneak peek!!

Broni said...

Both of these are absolutely gorgeous, Christine!!

Karen W said...

Wow, this is just gorgeous and I can't wait to get this set in my hands!!

The Rubber Maid said...

Both cards are just stunning but I have to say the turtel doves are simply beautiful. Love your take on these images. Pat

Stacy Morgan said...

Both are gorgeous Christine! I was wondering how you got the sponging so close and now I know. I need to get some of that eclipse stuff. haha Gorgeous watercoloring. Your holly is fabulous, I like how you have that as the focal point.

Helena (Gvendalen) said...

Oh, what beautiful card! Your coloring is fab!
Hugs

NancyK said...

Both cards are incredibly gorgeous! Thank you for showing how you did the sponging - it was very helpful and creates a beautiful look.

Laura (scrapnextras) said...

Simply stunning! Your watercolouring is amazing and the sponging is the perfect addition. Gorgeous cards both of them!

Unknown said...

Absolutely stunning, Christine!! I really love you paper pieced the image on the sponged background! Amazing coloring as always!!

Connie M. said...

Oh these are both just sooo beautiful, Christine!! Love your sponged sky against the birds on the first, and the repeated holly on the second...wonderful!!

Julie Koerber said...

WOAH! Love the masked doves and how that background just makes these two beauties pop! The holly border card is just to creative too. Way to take a smaller image and make it a gorgeous focal point! :-)

Shari said...

These are lovely! I was trying to save some money, but now I've ABSOLUTELY got to order these sets from Flourishes! Thanks alot Christine...LOL. You really do inspire me! Great cards.

creativearts said...

Beautiful, elegant cards. Loved seeing how you do your sponging. So far, I love the two flourishes sets of stamps adn the background.

Tracy said...

Absolutely STUNNING, Christine! I love the color palette of greens and blues.

Gloria Dojlido said...

G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S!!!

I love hte Nesties die you used and the sponging is wonderful!

Leslie Miller said...

The coloring of your doves and berries in blue is so very beautiful, Christine! That is one gorgeous card. I love how you showed the lighter, more festive side of this set, too, with your holly card -- sweet and fun!

DB said...

I love both cards! The sponging technique with the mask and the way you colored the doves makes this card breathtaking! Thanks for sharing.

Tosha Leyendekker said...

GASP!!!! WOW!! Both of these are just super stunning Christine! Your coloring is outta this world!! I'm in awe!! Awe I tell ya!!

Dawn B. said...

YOu may have gasped at the stamps I am gasping at your cards.. Gee willikers...these are gorgeous. I am loving the tutorial.. could you do a video..hehe in your spare time of course.. Gorgeous cards Christine..

Danni said...

Stunning!! Absolutely gorgeous!

Latisha said...

You are on fire this month!!! Seriously drop dead gorgeous!!!

Jan Castle said...

Beautiful...thanks for sharing how you did it!
Jan Castle

Betty Wright said...

Beautiful rich coloring, Christine!!! Beautifully done!!!

Silke Ledlow said...

GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS , GORGEOUS!!! Love both cards - Christine!!! Your coloring is perfection!!! Hugs~S~

Emily said...

Oh my Christine! These are so gorgeous! Your coloring is just awesome!!