Happy Monday!  I got a chance to do some watercoloring this weekend and am enjoying practicing and creating with watercolors.  I signed up for the online watercolor classes through Kristina Werner quite a while ago.  Only $25 and lifetime access to the lessons.  It is a handy tool to have in your arsenal!

Today I am playing along with three challenges – I did not set out to do this – I made my project and then was scoping out some challenges and came across three that happened to work with this card.  So I will be linking up with The Curtain Call (bouquet), The Paper Players (CAS watercolor) and SugarPea Designs (celebrate spring).

I will try to be better in the future to explain some of the techniques that I use when I make my cards.  (Thanks Deb! And thank you for the stamp set!).  I started off with the Stampin’ Up! (SU!) butterfly basics stamp set.  I stamped the image on watercolor paper and then heat embossed with white embossing powder.

I taped the paper to a hard surface and then broke out my distress ink markers.  Whether I use the markers or the ink pads, I color/smoosh them onto a clear block so that I can pick up the color with my paintbrush.

I liberally brushed clean water over the heat embossed image.  (Something important to remember is wherever the water goes, so goes the color!) Then, using a small paintbrush (I pick the size according to the area I need to paint), I wet it and then dab in the ink on the acrylic block.  After that I paint the area and repeat as necessary with either the same color or new colors.  I add clean water to the paper as needed if it gets too dry.  This is not a perfect science, and if you are like me, I like a nice clean image.  But with watercolor I have learned to go with the flow! (pun intended!)  And it’s OK to go outside the lines!  In this case, because I used white embossing powder, I needed to go outside the lines to be able to see the image. 

For the sentiment, I watercolored a large enough space to be able to stamp the sentiment.  I used my heat tool to dry after I was done.  You could let this dry naturally but I wanted to complete my project.  After drying, I stamped the sentiment in memento black ink.  I added a few small pearls and then layered everything.

Thanks for stopping by today!  Tomorrow I post my project for the Retro Rubber Challenge blog.  If you have brads (and really, shouldn’t you?), then create a card and link up HERE to the challenge!

Supplies:  CS:  SU! watercolor paper and tangelo twist.  Papertrey Ink kraft.  Stamps:  SU! butterfly basics and herb expressions.  Other:  Distress inks, memento black, white embossing powder, and pearls.