Hello everyone! So happy to have you over at my blog. Thanks so much Mindy for sending them over. To view the entire list, you can go to the Altenew Card Blog or view the list at the end of this blog post.
Altenew is collaborating with the amazing Kathy Racoosin from The Daily Marker to inspire crafters to find joy through coloring. Kathy is celebrating her 16th 30 Day Coloring Challenge until 5/7/2020. You can still join the fun and participate in the 30 Day Coloring Challenge by coloring something and share it on social media using the hashtag #TheDailyMarker30Day. You deserve some “me time” and hope you’ll enjoy the benefits that coloring will give.
We are currently in times of uncertainty. Worries and doubts tend to fill my mind. But a dear friend of mine, TM, reminded me about this: “Worry will just fuel more worries but it’s not reality. Live in the moment first of gracious gratefulness.” Isn’t it beautiful??? Now is the time to focus on what we should be grateful for and one thing for me is art therapy– specifically through watercoloring. For some, it may be journaling, and for others it might be collage work, sketching or painting. The techniques used in a creative process tend to improve the mental, physical and emotional well-being of a person so I encourage you to be creative! Below are some card samples I made using watercolor as the coloring medium.
YOU MATTER
The color blue is a soothing color and can help calm the mind. Add a bunch of palm leaves and voila! You have a card that calms the soul. I’m replicating a technique of creating freehand backgrounds taught by Debbie Huges in one of the Online Card classes I recently took. First, I created the background by watercoloring two sheets of Arches cold press watercolor using a mixture of blues teals and spatters of black. One paper had lighter shades while the other had darker ones. This was then die cut using the Ornate background die. 4 more cardstocks were die cut and adhered on top of each other to create some depth.
The Parlor palm die set was used to die cut different shades of cardstock from the Sea Shore cardstock pack. The sentiment from the Ornamental Bliss stamp set was stamped using Versa Mark Ink then embossed with pure white embossing powder. The card front was assembled and adhered onto an A2 side folding brown card base.
THINKING OF YOU
I wanted to create a card that was not my usual choice of colors. For this card, I used the Bold Floral Drapes stamp set and the Ornamental Bliss stamp set for the sentiment. The Sea Shore dye ink was used for the background. Using a Misti, I stamped the background several times because the watercolor paper was rough. I let it dry using a heat tool then covered the stamp with Versamark Ink. The background was then embossed. This will seal the background so that I can easily watercolor the flowers and leaves.
At this point, I wasn’t sure if I should go ahead and finish the card because the background turned out to be too dark for me. I decided to finish the card to see the outcome. Oranges and yellows were taken from the Altenew Brushmarker sets. I started coloring the flowers using the lightest shade of yellow then allowed it to dry. I then layered a darker shade of orange. The same steps were done for the leaves. The sentiment was stamped using Versamark Ink then embossed with pure white embossing powder. I added an enamel dot to tie-up the sentiment with the card. Next time I’ll probably use watercolor for the background as well.
MAKE A WISH/YOU’RE IN MY HEART
For the next two cards, I used the image from the Precious Peony Stamp set. the images were stamped on Arches 140lb watercolor paper then embossed using white embossing powder.
The flowers were then watercolored using the brush markers. For the Make a Wish card, I added the Golden Strokes washi tape on the left side of the card for more contrast. The center was die cut using the rounded rectangle die set then I adhered a portion of the Circle Quit cover die for added texture. This panel was mounted on foam sheets for height.
For the You’re In My Heart card, I made a similar card recently using this technique. The backround panel was covered with Sea Shore washi tapes making sure to leave some parts of the white cardstock uncovered.
The Dotted Starbust debossing die was used to add some texture to the card front. I added an orange strip across the card to anchor the sentiment and at the same time give some contrast to the card.
GIVEAWAY PRIZES
Altenew is giving away a $30 gift certificate to 6 lucky winners and Kathy from The Daily Maker is also giving away a goodie bag(worth $30) to 4 lucky winners. Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog by 5/6/2020 for a chance to win.
We’ll also draw a winner to receive a $15 gift certificate from the comments left on each designer’s blog on the blog hop list below. All winners will be announced on the Altenew blog on 5/9/2020. Do leave a message! I love hearing from all of you <3
SPECIAL OFFER
To celebrate the Watercolor Therapy Blog Hop, Altenew is offering two deals.
5/1/2020-5/3/2020: 40% off the Wonderful Watercoloring Class Bundle from 5/1/2020 at 12:01 AM EDT until 5/3/2020 at 11:59 PM EDT. Not valid on previous purchases.
5/3/2020-5/4/2020: 20% off *All Alcohol Markers from 5/3/2020 at 12:01 AM ED until 5/4/2020 at 11:59 PM EDT. Shop HERE>> https://altenew.com/collections/artist-markers Not valid on previous purchases. Excludes Artist Marker Refills.
Thank you so much for dropping by. I hope you get some inspiration to create something today through watercoloring.
Make sure to visit all of the artists in this watercolor blog hop and get inspired to create!!! Thank you for dropping by and stay safe everyone! <3 Happy crafting!
WWW.MYLITTLEATTIC.COM | IG: MY LITTLE ATTIC STUDIO
BLOG HOP ORDER:
Altenew Card Blog
Kathy Racoosin
Jaycee Gaspar
Nina-Marie Trapani
Kelly Griglione
Norine Borys
LauraJane
Vicky Papaioannou
Therese Calvird
Lydia Fiedler
Caly Person
Virginia Lu
Kristina Werner
May Sukyong Park
Kelly Latevola
Nicole Watt
Amy Tan
Maryam Perez
Lisa Spangler
Isha Gupta
Yoonsun Hur
Mindy Eggen
Nenette S. Madero
Each card is so beautiful! I really liked the first card, such a creative way to incorporate watercolor!
love all the colors
Great variety and inspiration
Your cards are amazing. I think the last one is my favorite. But it’s so hard to pick one.
I can’t pick a favorite.They are all so lovely!
Such an honor for my words to be quoted on such an all-heart beautiful blog.
Thanks Netsky!
Each one had it’s own unique touch. I would not have thought to use orange strip with last card, but I love it. They are all grand! I have to remember “think outside the box”.
What a lovely cards!!!! My fav is the first! Just wow!
Thanks for sharing with us and thanks for the chance to win!
Your projects area amazing, Nenette! Love your use of colour and brilliant designs! Wonderful inspiration! 🙂
SWOON!! Such a BEAUTIFUL Collection of Cards!! I LOVE the VIBRANT Colors and the different Designs and how you incorporated all of the different products!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!!
Woww!! Fabulous set of cards! Each one is just amazing, with all those colors and choice of layers! <3
Wow! You created so many amazing cards!! My favorite is your last one with the debossing background!
Beautiful cards. I especially love the first one — stunning!
Lovely cards and vibrant colours. Love the first card and knowing leaves can be blue too 🙂
Loving that Floral Drape card! Such a unique set!!
Such fabulous cards!! I agree that the dye ink background is a little dark for my taste, yet you pulled it together with the yellow & vibrant oranges. Way to go! I’d have likely pitched it, but then, I think I give up too easily at times. Your first & fourth cards are my favourites & I think it’s because they remind me of the colours of the ocean & summer with warm breezes. Thanks Nenette. P.S. I love the quote – so true!
All these are beautiful. You really “knocked it out of the park” with your amazing cards! If I were forced to choose a favorite, it would be the first one you displayed!
They saved the best for last! So many cards and so much inspiration and different styles and techniques. I would have never thought to colour a background cover die. But WOW! is it amazing! And those flowers are so vivid and vibrant that they pop right off the card. Thanks Nenette!
Gorgeous cards! Your ‘Thinking of You’ card is a real show-stopper! Spectacular design and colors!
The last card is my favorite! I’m always surprised by washi tape in the background (shouldn’t I be less surprised by now?) and I LOVE the debossing folder on top of it. Thanks so much for showing your talent.
Absolutely beautiful cards!!…Love all those details and your coloring is mind blowing!!
Nenette- you were busy! These are all gorgeous, and I so appreciate the thought process for sealing the dark background and go/no-go decision. I, so glad you kept it as the results of the orange vs navy were stunning. I have to day the peony cards are my faves- beautiful justice you did them in your watercoloring! Thanks so much for being a part of the therapy/inspiration hop! Be Well
Nanette, you are sooo talented. I covet the first card. So many great tips. And you gave me a new mantra. “Live in the moment first of gracious gratefulness.” Thank you.
We are certainly blessed with the fact that you created such beauty for us to enjoy.
These are all lovely. My favorites are the first and last ones. I like those colors.
All beautiful cards, my personal favourite is the last card. Thanks for sharing.
I love the last card, but these are all incredible!
Wow such works of art they are all so beautiful. I especially love the design of the first one. As for the second card you should think about using those colours more often, you did a wonderful job it’s gorgeous
What beautiful cards, I especially love the one created with the floral drape. Thank you for sharing.
Really, Lyn? I was close to throwing it away cause I thought the background was too dark. I’m glad I didn’t!!! <3
You have been very busy. All those cards and each a different look. The last card was my personal favorite. Thanks for showing us some different techniques. Staying home, crafting, reading, blog hopping and staying safe. Take care you all!
I’m glad there’s something I can do while quarantined!!! Stay safe too!!!
wow, absolutely amazing!!
Thanks so much, Tina!
Each card is so pretty. I really like the fern on the first card. And that purple really stands out on the other card. I wish I was good as you. I am just getting started. I actually bought the modern deer stamp and die set today! I have a question, what color would be the best color to stamp the deer? I bought 2 different packs of mini brown cubes. Thanks
Hi Danyelle! Thanks so much!!! The colors will really depend on your taste but I suggest you skip one shade so that there will be a nice contrast. 🙂