Masculine Sympathy Cards - Waterolor

More sympathy cards today.  I feel like such a downer.  Can you see why I avoided blogging for so long?  Even the cards I was making were depressing, but it is an honest reflection of the season I was going through.  This card has a slightly more masculine feel to it.   I made it for one of our close friends that had lost his father. 

  

The tree was watercolored using another Let's Make Art tutorial, scaled down to card size.  I made it into a 5x7 card instead of the typical A2 size.

The painting was layered onto a light tan cardbase once dry and I added a die cut out of navy cardstock on the front with my xyron.  On the inside I stamped some leaves in Versamark ink.  It shows up nicely on the Crumb Cake cardstock.  I stamped the same image on the back flap of the envelope.

For those who are curious, I did a combination of lessons from these 2 kits listed below.  You can find youtube videos on them as well from Sarah Cray at Let's Make Art.

Treetop Watercolor Kit

Wild Trees Kit

You're Not Old Masculine Birthday Card

Here is another card made from scraps on messy desk.  I had made the background some time ago, but never turned it into a card. 

It's been awhile since I made the background, but I think I used Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers in greens & blues on bristol cardstock (or perhaps watercolor paper), then misted with water to get the colors running.  After it was completely dry I used Versafine black onyx ink to stamp circles, and other images all over the piece.  Some overlapped, others didn't.   I like to use clear embossing powder on versafine black and heat set because if I don't, I tend to smear the ink.  

A simple run through the die cut machine with my wonky stitched rectangle dies and I was off to the races.  I plopped it onto a black cardbase and added another scrap with the cheeky sentiment embossed in white.  I'm pretty sure both of the stamp sets I used have been retired,  but you could recreate it with whatever circle, star, heart or music note images you have. 

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 6

Watercolor Cardstock, Ranger Distress

Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX, My Favorite Things Die-namics

Strathmore Watercolor Paper Pack, 5x7 Cold Press

Strathmore Bristol Smooth Pad 9 X 12

036 - Light Blue, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker

042 - Turquoise Green, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker

033 - Persian Green, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker

037 - Cornflower Blue, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker

040 - Green, ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker

VersaFine Ink Pad, Onyx Black

WOW Embossing Powder, Super Fine - Clear Gloss

WOW Embossing Powder, Super Fine - Opaque Bright White

(PREORDER) Reveal Wheel Circle Sentiments, Lawn Fawn Clear Stamps

Accentuation Circles, Alexandra Renke Clear Stamps

Hearts Love, Alexandra Renke Clear Stamps

Welcome Wreath, WPlus9 Design Studio Clear Stamps

Satisfaction, Alexandra Renke Clear Stamps (Retiring)

Bokeh Dots by Julie Ebersole, Essentials by Ellen Clear Stamps

Happy Hearts, Gina K Designs Clear Stamps

Birthday Laugh Lines, Art Impressions Clear Stamps (Retiring)

Crazy Antics, Art Impressions Clear Stamps

Yoga, Art Impressions Clear Stamps

Everyday Punnies by Julie Ebersole, Essentials By Ellen Clear Stamps

Mini Messages, Mama Elephant Clear Stamps

Pause for Applause, Pinkfresh Studio Clear Stamps (Retiring)

Ranger Mini Mister, Individual

Sprayer By Tim Holtz, Ranger Distress Sprayer By Tim Holtz

Day 4 of 100 Days of Creativity ~ Thanks

Here we are at Day 4 of daily crafting.  Today I decided to just take an unfinished card and scraps on my desk and turn them into a card.  The background of this one layer card was stamped before Easter.  I was working on a couple of different card ideas to give to a friend of ours that was being baptized.  For this reason I wanted the card to have a springtime masculine feel.  (not easy to do, but colors make all the difference)

One trick for this card is to stamp the lighter colors closer to the middle of the card, getting darker as it gets to bottom.  A light sponging from the bottom up finishes that area nicely.  For this card I added a thanks die cut combined with stamping of "A Note To Say".   The card felt a little empty, so I decided to stamp a butterfly and color it with Zigs.  It didn't turn out perfect, but it is still a nice enough card to send to show my gratitude.  

Butterfly Notes

Wild Garden

Premium White Cardstock

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Lime Rickey

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Melon Ice

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Midnight

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Grass Skirt

Catherine Pooler Ink Pad, Garden Party

Clear Acrylic Block 2.75" Round, Catherine Pooler

Catherine Pooler Dies, Thanks

Clear Acrylic Block 1.25" X 3.5" Rectangle, Catherine Pooler

Flora & Fauna Dies, Thanks

Thanks Message, Hero Arts Dies

Heffy Doodle Dies, Thanks

Thanks & Hello, Reverse Confetti Cuts

Concord & 9th Dies, Bitty Thank You

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 004, Fluorescent Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 053, Yellow Green

Zig Art & Graphic Twin Tip Marker, Lemon Yellow