Paper craft project no. 339: Beautiful watercolor one layer card

Hello! I've got a watercolor one layer card to share today. It isn't something I normally make because one thing I cannot do is draw people/faces! Objects I can draw, no problem...but faces? I know I suck at it. However, I couldn't help but take up the challenge at Inkspirational, where it's to create She Art or use an image of a woman, especially when the last time I created She Art projects was more than a couple of years ago. Here's the first She Art project I made back in 2013:

Be True to Yourself She Art Mixed Media on 6x6 canvas panel. 1/26/2013

I did about half a dozen She Art projects after my first one and sold them through a local shop. As much as I was excited to create She Art, I soon discovered it wasn't really what I enjoyed making. I mostly ended up frustrated because I had a difficult time drawing people or doing faces. And so I stopped making She Art inspired projects after that.

Anyway, I thought I'd give She Art another go when I saw the current Inkspirational challenge. I'm woman enough to admit that I still suck at it LOL! But hey, this time around, I enjoyed the process and didn't get frustrated. I got to play with my watercolors and stamps and it helped me relax after a week of unscheduled doctor visits and stressful lab tests.

I kept things simple by doing a one layer card. I stamped the daises, roses, and butterfly in antique linen Distress ink on 140-lb  watercolor paper, masking as I stamped. Then I took my Prang watercolors and watercolored the images, layering the colors in between drying the layers with my heat tool. Took about 45 minutes to do this -- and it isn't something I'd normally do because I'm very impatient, but in this case, it was a welcome relief for me. After the watercolors dried, I stamped over the images again with peanut brittle Memento Luxe ink. I drew the face using Faber-Castell Big Brush pen. Does the girl's eye look closed to you? Yes? Maybe? Good enough for me! I originally wanted it to be open but again...I suck at drawing faces and drew the shape of the eye way too big. So I improvised and just added "lashes" at the bottom. I watercolored the face and then stamped the sentiment.

I'm quite happy with how the card turned out, but I gotta say, it will be a long time before I attempt another one like it. Thanks to the Inkspirational DT for the She Art challenge :o)

Anyway, my card also doubles as the inspiration project over at the STAMPlorations blog. Check out what the girls in the Inspiration DT made here. If you're inspired by my card or any of the cards by the Inspiration DT, I hope you'll come play with us at the Inspiration CASE Playground (open until April 5). We highlight the best CASEs and randomly draw one winner of a $15 gift certificate.

Also linking up my card to these fun challenges:

• Simon Says Spring Pinterest Inspiration Challenge (those blooms in my card signal spring!)
• 613 Avenue Create #116 - ATG with optional twist of purple
• Fusion - Floral Fusion (I went with the inspiration photo)
• Fairytale Challenge #113 - Flower Power
• Addicted to Stamps and more #136 - Anything Goes

 

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 338: I am so happy for you

Hello! Popping by before I call it a night to share a card I made a couple of hours ago. I used a fun monoprinting technique: stamping on Gelli plate. I've got more info (and pics of how I pulled the prints) on this card here.

In addition to my Gelli plate, I used orange and blue acrylic paints, textured cardstock, SRM sticker stitches, and STAMPlorations stamps (Blossom Overture and Trendy Butterflies).

Linking up my card to these fun challenges:

• Addicted to Stamps and More #136
• Shop Our Stash #193 - Make Your Own Background (I made my background by stamping on Gelli plate and then pulling prints)
• Use Your Stuff #177 - Create Your Own Background

My card also works as a reminder for our current challenge over at The Mixed Media Card Challenge. For March, the theme is Hints of Spring. There's still 6 days to join in the fun and link up your spring-inspired mixed media cards!

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 337: Happy birthday CAS card

We've got a brand new challenge at Time Out Challenges! For the next two weeks, the theme is Clean and Simple with the optional twist of black and white + a splash of one color. Create a project with the optional twist and you can win a $20 gift certificate from our sponsor, CAS-ual Friday. We're joined by a very talented guest designer, Susanne of Keep in Touch! I hope you'll stop by her blog, as well as the TO blog and check out their fabulous CAS creations :o)

To create my card, I brayered different shades of blue acrylic paints on my Gelli plate, placed the Happy Flowers stencil on top, laid the cardstock panel, and pulled the print. I stamped the sentiment from Blossom Overture in black ink, popped up the panel on the card base, and the card is done. Easy peasy clean and simple card :o)

Linking up my card to these fun challenges:

• CASology #138 - Blossom
• Addicted to Stamps and More #136 - Anything Goes
• The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #108 - What season are you in? - *It's spring for me!*
• Cards und More #128 - Monochrome

Also wanted to share that I'm over at the STAMPlorations blog with a one layer mixed media card featuring one of my favorite mixed media techniques: stamping on gesso. The step-by-step photo tutorial is here.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 336: Thankful one layer card

Happy Monday! Here's a one layer card I made for the new sketch challenge over at the STAMPlorations blog. For the next couple of weeks, we're playing with this fun sketch:

Instead of using layers of paper or die-cuts (which isn't really my style), I went with layers of images and colors to create this grunge-yet-still-CAS one layer card. I stamped the various mixed media elements (from Mixed Media Grunge) in HA inks. I balanced the sentiment with the distressed frame (both from Blossom Overture), and the frame also works to nicely draw the eye to the grunge floral image on the left. The collage look gives this card dimension even though it's just one layer.

Check out how the rest of the STAMPlorations girls interpreted the sketch here. We're also joined by 3 awesome cardmakers: Robyn, Kathy, and Stephanie. And we hope to see your take on the sketch too!

I'm linking my card to these fun challenges:

• The Paper Players #236 - Clean and Simple Floral Challenge
• AAA Cards #35 - Bare Naked CAS
• Sister Act Card Challenge #97

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

Paper craft project no. 335: You are beautiful mixed media card

It's inspiration time from the STAMPlorations Inspiration Team! I'm joining the girls today for another batch of cards to CASE. 

To create my card, I took a panel that's smaller than my card base and used stamps from the Mixed Media Grunge set to create the background. (It's the April/May 2015 stamp club set that will be available in the shop beginning on the first week of April.) I toned down the brown with a thin layer of gesso. Once the gesso dried, I scribbled Gelatos (mango, lemon, metallic mint, and lavender) and blended the colors with my finger. I placed the Honeycomb Delight ARTplorations stencil on the panel, took a baby wipe, and proceeded to wipe away some of the colors through the stencil. Next I took a black watercolor pencil and traced inside the hexagons and ran a damp brush over it to blend the color a bit. I cut the panel in two, distressed the edges, and applied coffee archival ink around before adhering the panels to my card base. The sentiment is from Hashtag Authentic.

Stop by the STAMPlorations blog to see some more awesome inspiration from the team! If you decide to CASE my card or any of the cards by the team, link it up to the Inspiration CASE Playground by April 5. You can win a $15 gift certificate to the shop or your choice of 2 ARTplorations stencils :o)

Linking up my card to these fab challenges:

• Craft Stamper Take It Make It - Take a Stamp
• Simon Says Monday Challenge - B is for... *Beautiful
• Sister Act Card Challenge #97
• Scrap & Craft Inspiration #4 - Mother's Day

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to smile :o)

~Shery

PS: Today is the last day to comment on the projects for the ARTplorations Stencil Blog Hop! Lots of prizes to be won and all you gotta do is check out the designers' blogs and comment along the way :o) Start the hop here.

PPS: Did you make projects using stencils (any brand) within the last 6 months? If yes, link them up to the Flash Stencil Linky Party by Saturday, March 14, 11:55 p.m. PDT (GMT-7) and win some cool ARTplorations stencils!