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
WOW, all of your cards are so artistic and beautiful, love each one for a different reason
So many BEAUTIFUL cards! I love the colors and designs on all of them. Who would have thought to deboss a washi tape background. Such a great idea! thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks for sharing so many lovely cards! And all the technique details are so helpful. Great job!
Your cards are gorgeous! I love all the color combinations, especially the orange flowers against the dark background!
The cards are so lovely. Your use of color, watercolor, layering … so creative and beautiful!
I am always a fan of your work, Nenette! I love, love, love how you used the Precious Peony set. Keep ‘em coming!
Great examples for color and layers. Great embossing use.
Wow! these cards are gorgeous! I especially love the first one “You Matter”. I love what you did with the dies!
Oh what a striking collection of cards! Beautiful designs and lovely watercoloring.
I have just recently gotten into watercoloring. Very beautiful cards!
I just love these colors. Beautiful!
All of your cards are unique and beautiful! Thank you for the inspiration!
Wow! I love that background! It looks so col!
Beautiful cards. Thank you for sharing.
Gorgeous cards! You use such stunning color combinations. I really like the first card with the cover die – the shades of blue and black splatter really give it a lot of interest.
to many great ones to choose from
These are all so beautiful!
These are all so pretty! Great job!
Whoa…you have been busy!! Absolutely gorgeous cards!!
WOW!!! so many beautiful cards. I love them all. thank you for sharing.
So many amazing ways to use watercolors! Gorgeous cards!
Gorgeous cards- I love what you did with the Bold Floral Drape stamp! Very creative!
I love the bright yellow/orange flower on the dark background. Looks terrific.
Lovely coloring.
What a diverse—and lovely—set of cards!
Wow! Your cards are absolutely beautiful. Such a variety of colours, layers, die cuts, and a wonderful eye for detail!
I LOVE them all! Especially the first one with the blues and splatters!
Gorgeous cards!!! Loving all this watercoloring!!
Wow! What wonderful and beautiful cards. With so many great ideas and different styles.
Wow, beautiful and so very creative!
All your cards are so very lovely and creative!
Such fabulous designs!
Such pretty cards, especially the blue cover die one. The colors and textures work perfectly together!
i like the colors and coloring. so facy
I am just getting into watercoloring and am loving this hop. Thank you so much for all your inspiration. Your cards are beautiful!
Absolutely beautiful!!! My fave is the background orange flowers and purple background!!! Love love love!!
Gorgeous cards, stunning choice of colors and definitely love the way you’ve added the texture in all the cards. The use of dies is so unique and fresh..
Amazing cards and can’t get over the layers on them. Thank You for sharing your talent with us.
Stay Safe,
Sue Ann
Ok something is wrong here as I just left a comment here with another lady’s link posted on the Altenew blog hop page. Confused.
Respectfully,
Sue Ann
Such beautiful work I’m just loving everyone’s designs ty so much for sharing
Oh be still my heart! Your cards are simply dreamy! Each one is so gorgeous with color and detail! These cards are made with such care and you took so much time to create the 3d element and it shows! TFS!
These are so pretty! I love the fronds in the vase on the first card. 🙂
Uhm….WOW! Each & every card is wonderful! I’m so glad you decided to finish the Thinking of you card even though you thought the background was too dark – it’s my favorite! I love it- thanks so much for sharing!!!
Beautifully done! Each card is an art work in it’s self. So glad they invited you to guest this time!
Your cards are simply beautiful!! I love the second one the best!! Swoon!! I am a natural worrier, I get it honest from my dad. My husband says not to worry unless it is something serious but I worry about the little things too. The “what ifs”….. I know it’s wrong, in my head I know not too but i can’t stop! I do do better when I craft, I get my mind off of things. Oh well, be safe and be healthy.
Oh my gosh! I wouldn’t change a thing. All if you cards are stunning and unique.
Incredible cards. I love how you added colour to the background die cut – that is such a lovely look, with even more depth and intricacy because of the colour. I love your bold colours for some of those florals too.
You’ve really out done yourself with so many great cards. I especially love the peony cards.
Hi Nanette 🙂 You’ve been one beautifully busy lady!!! Love the You Matter and Make a Wish cards best, but they’re all great! Thanks for inspiring me 🙂
So many lovely cards! thanks for the inspiration
All your cards are beautiful, but I especially love the Palms card. In love with the layers. Thanks for the inspiration.