Celebrating 70

Hello everyone,

Today's card was commissioned for a gentleman whose celebrating his 70th birthday.

The image is Gina K Follow Your Dreams stamped in StazOn Timber Brown and painted with Rebhan watercolor paints.  The image panel is layered on Core'dinations Jim Holtz Kraft-core.  The sentiment is Bonnidee French Wording #1 stamped in Stampin' Up Early Espresso on Recollections Vanilla and layered on Early Espresso.  The embellishment is My Mind's Eye Sleight Bells Ring Wooden Dots.

As those who follow I SPI know, I don't often craft cards with scenes let alone painted ones.  This was actually my first attempt and I was so pleasantly surprised with the results.  I do find watercolor painting a lot more forgiving than markers.  The gentlemen receiving this card loves the outdoors.  He has a boat and loves to fish.  This seemed the most appropriate of cards to craft for him.  I hope he likes it.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Garden Goodness

Hello everyone,

Today's post is, I think, the last Mother's Day card.  It was commissioned by a colleague.

The printed paper is Close To My Heart Grace layered on Honey and Barn Red.  The images are Stampin' Up Scene In A Garden and Branch Out stamped on Very Vanilla with StazOn Timber Brown and Black Cherry, and Stampin' Up Pear Pizzazz, Wild Wasabi, Certainly Celery and Crushed Curry.  The images were coloured with Rebhan watercolor paints.  The sentiment is Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Mocha Opaques.

I had such success with the last scene card I crafted I decided to try again.  My colleague and her sister got her Mom, an avid gardener, a couple of plants and wanted the card to reflect their gift.  This really worked for them.  I also crafted two unique gift cards that the girls used because they didn't want to pick up something their Mom didn't want or need.  I love this card!  Well worth the effort and practise!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Scene of Sympathy

Hello everyone,

I thought I would try a little different sympathy card.  It's one I've been thinking about for a while.

The images are Stampin' Up Scene In A Garden and Branch Out stamped on Recollections Vanilla.  The image was stamped and coloured in Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Pool Party, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Faber-Castell markers, and Rebhan watercolour paints.  The butterflies were highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The scene is layered on a piece of brown of unknown origin and a green from Generations Traditional Stackers.  The sentiment is Gina K Garden Silhouettes stamped in Early Espresso.

I don't often craft cards with scenes as I'm terrible at colouring.  This is the second attempt.  I'm not all that confident in the scale but I really wanted to see if it could work.  It's not bad.  I used a variety of colouring mediums because I find I'm so much better with inks and watercolour paints than with markers.  I know practice would resolve the marker issues but try as I might, I'm never happy with the results.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

On The Water

Hello everyone,

Today's card was commissioned for a colleague who is heading on to another post.

The images are Gina K Follow Your Dreams and Stampin' Up Wetlands stamped in Early Espresso on Whisper White that was painted with Rebhan watercolour paints.  The background is Whisper White textured with Cuttlebug Fleur De Lis embossing folder, layered on Brilliant Blue and highlighted with Royal Blue Liquid Pearls.  The sentiment is Bonnidee French Wording #1 stamped in Color Box ink and heat embossed.

The friend who commissioned this card was very specific.  She knows what she likes and what she wants.  I've learned to be open to when someone is commissioning a card.  At first blush, it may sound overly challenging but it always seems to come together.  I think this card turned out beautifully.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Watercoloured Heron

Hello everyone,

Today's card was commissioned by a colleague who asked for a natured-inspired birthday card for her husband.  It's been a long time since I've attempted this watercolour technique.

The printed paper is Little Yellow Bicycle Nita Bella Blue Harlequin.  The image is Gina K Follow Your dreams, heat embossed with Close To My Heart Cocoa embossing powder.  The watercolour paper is painted with Rebhan paints.  This image is layered on Stampin' Up Whisper White and the flip side of the Blue Harlequin paper.  The sentiment is Stampabilities Happy Birthday 01, stamped in Nick Bantock Charcoal Grey on Whisper White.  The embellishments are of unknown origin.

It took me a couple of tries to get this image to work but I'm extremely pleased with the results.  It actually turned out better than I expected.  My colleague was extremely happy and I hope her husband loves it as well.  I can't wait to try it on another card. 

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Birthday Boat

Hello everyone,

Next to September and October, May and June have the most birthdays in my families.  Today's card is for my father-in-law.

The printed paper is BasicGrey Olivier layered on Stampin' Up Old Olive.  The image is Gina K Follow Your Dreams stamped in Timber Brown StazOn on Very Vanilla, coloured with Rebhan watercolour paints and layered on Night of Navy.  The sentiment is Gina K Pleasant Plurals also stamped in Timber Brown on Very Vanilla and layered on Night of Navy.  The embellishments are of unknown origin but likely Multicrafts.

I really like this card.  I've been itching to use this image but, as usual, shied away from it because I'd have to colour it.  The watercolour paints I used are around thirty years old and worked beautifully.  I'm glad I kept them.  This card is really pretty simple but I wanted the focus to really be on the boat.  My in-laws live in Prince Edward Island so this boat is a nod to the Island.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle