Watercoloring for APP91

In keeping with my New Year's goals and in need of stress relief I turned to the Paper Players challenge this week which was to create a CAS card using watercoloring.  I find coloring--watercoloring in particular--so soothing.  It's a go-to activity for me when I'm in need of calming and peace.  In fact, when I was teaching, if the class was particularly unruly, I would quickly come up with some activity that required coloring (I would join in!) and before I knew it, we were all calm once more.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks around here and this challenge was just what I needed. 

I hate that that old adage about death coming in threes seems to be true because I found I was once more in need of a sympathy card.  I pulled out my "Easter Blossoms" stamp set, inked up using brown Staz-On and went to work.  I used Rich Razzleberry on the buds and blooms as it reminded me of the gorgeous red bud tree in my front yard.

Although you can't see it in the photo, the vanilla base is stamped with the same branch using VersaMark.  I wanted to include a sentiment (I don't always) but wanted the branch to stand out so I stamped the message on vellum.

And, because I was still in need of a bit of calm, AND I needed a birthday card for Miss Beanie who turned two yesterday, I made a second card (so I once more have two submissions for the challenge--I can't seem to stop at only one these days...):

I love the "Greeting Card Kids"--I find them utterly adorable!--and knew this little sweetie would make a perfect card for my little sweetie. :o)  I had a blast coloring her as Lissie and I watched "Pride and Prejudice" (the good version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy :dreamy sigh:).  Talk about soothing--watercoloring and Mr. Darcy?  I was in heaven. ;o)

I cut the little darlin' out using my oval Nesties, added a very sweet sentiment from "Curly Cute" and I was finished.

I'm grateful to the Paper Players for this week's challenge--it helped me find my calm center once more.  Thanks, ladies! :o)

Making Cards to Mail

Another color I decided would be nice to use for Easter cards is Wisteria Wonder. On the first card I layered the color by using Wisteria Wonder both for the background color and then again as the scalloped border for the large oval. I also did this so that I could emphasize the satin roses, which I love. But you cannot easily mail a card with the roses because the post office does not like anything that won't zip through their machines. So, I had to devise a way to make this card without the roses. I chose to use a subtly patterned DSP to add interest. Here are the supplies for both cards:

DSP: Flirtatious Specialty

Ribbon: Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin

Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Wisteria Wonder

Ink: Wisteria Wonder

Stamp Set: Easter Blossoms

Nestabilities: Large Oval and Large Scalloped Oval

--Lissie

Oops! A Forgotten Easter Card

So, I had this, I meant to post it, and then, somehow, I didn't.  Crud. 

When I went to visit Lissie, oh so very long ago now, I fell in love with Baja Breeze.  I'm not sure what happened, but something about it just really began to call to me and I couldn't seem to stop using it.  :o)

I wanted to make a quick, CAS Easter card using the pretty little egg from the "Easter Blossoms" set and this is what I came up with.  I had wanted to play around with the colors and design more when I returned home, but then, I got wrapped up in Easter, Initiation, visits from friends from Germany, home improvement projects and so much more that my poor offudio is gathering dust.  :sniff sniff:  I left a DVD in the machine, awaiting my return.  Poor Lizzie, how she suffers Mr. Darcy's pride...

I'm hoping to get back in there soon.  Forget that.  I'm GOING to get back in there and get to work.  :o)

This card uses:
*Stamp Set: "Easter Blossoms"
*Inks: Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Pale Plum
*Papers: White (non-SU! cardstock), Baja Breeze

--Rach

Pink Blossoms--Or as Brien Says, "Woah, That's Girly!"

This is the other card I made using the "Easter Blossoms" set.  I made an effort to color these more like apple blossoms, but still don't know how successful I was.  Oh well.  They're still lovely. :o)

I wanted to give the background some texture so embossed the paper.  And then, because I wanted that texture to "pop", I sponged it with some Rose Red.  And, who doesn't love a great big bow?  I mean, besides Brien? ;o)

This is another one of those cards that I think doesn't really need a sentiment.  I make those from time to time. This cards seems to scream "spring!".  :o)

This card uses:

Stamp Set: "Easter Blossoms"
Inks: Early Espresso, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette
Paper: Whisper White, Rose Red, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: dimensionals, Pink Pirouette ribbon

--Rach

Apple Blossoms?

I'm not certain what sort of blooms these are, whether they're apple, red plum, cherry, or some other fruit.  What I am certain of is I love this stamp. :o)  I made two cards using this stamp yesterday, one vertical, one horizontal.  Since I posted a horizontal card yesterday, I went with the vertical today. ;o)

Once again, I felt the white space was just a bit too white, so I used a background stamp to make it a bit more subtle. 

When I was younger, I really didn't care much for pink.  Now, I adore it!  Since I decided these were apple blossoms, I made an effort to color them as such.  Then, after coloring these, I realized I had colored them more like our purple plum tree blossoms than like an apple blossom.  Oh well. :oP  I used my blender pens to pick up Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink and Rose Red and tried to shade, laying on the darker color over the lighter ones. 

This card uses:
Stamp Sets: "En Francais", "Easter Blossoms"
Inks: Rose Red, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Early Espresso
Papers: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Rose Red
Accessories: Scallop border punch, Swiss dots embossing folder

This is such a sweet, feminine card, I have to find just the right girl to send it to. :o)

--Rach

Blue Blossoms

My box of new SU! goodies arrived the other day and also helped jump start my mojo a bit.  I had impulsively purchased "Easter Blossoms" from the Mini, having fallen in love with the sweet silhouette of the little girl.  Unfortunately, I wasn't sure what I was going to do with her...

I also rather impulsively picked up a pack of "Springtime Vintage" DSP--I have NO idea what possessed me, as "vintage" is not something I'm very good at--and it seemed to be made to go with the dancing sweetpea.  I loved the tiny little blossoms on the blue and determined that was the paper I was going to work with. 

From there, it all seemed to fall into place.  (I assure you, even though it looks as if the image has been mounted crooked, it is in fact straigt IRL.)  The only other hurdle I had to cross was the vast emptiness of white space in the background--it just seemed too bright somehow.  I picked up the apple blossom branch and stamping off, used Baja Breeze in the background. 

I think she's pretty sweet and can't wait to play with her a little more. :o)

This card uses:
Stamp Set: "Easter Blossoms"
Inks: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy
Papers: Baja Breeze, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, "Springtime Vintage DSP"
Accessories: dimensionals, Victoria lace

I'm not sure to whom I'll be sending the card, but I know it will be someone who likes blue. ;o)

--Rach