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

Feminine Sympathy Cards - Lavender Watercolor Flowers

It's nice to have sympathy cards on hand that you can send when needed, but I struggle to do that.  I tend to make them as needed and spend the time making them to pray for the loved ones left behind.  That was the case for this card.  It actually started as a practice piece for watercoloring lavendar.  I thought it would look good on a card so I saved it.  When a young member of our Corvette Club lost her life, I knew this flower would become a card for her parents.

I then stamped a sympathy sentiment beside the flowers and die cut using my favorite wonky stitched dies.  I layered it with some purple paper and a thin strip to anchor the flowers.  The final step was to stamp an image on the back of the envelope.  We took this to a memorial service, so I wasn't worried about rain smearing the ink in the mail.  (A problem here in the Pacific Northwest)

This would make a sweet thinking of you card, Mother's Day, birthday or even friendship card.

This plaque was made by our friends at D&M Embroidery.  They also made vinyl clings for our club members to put on the hoods of our cars as we traveled together to her memorial.

Meghan and her dad were both part of our club.  When her dad & mom saw us pull into the parking lot and they read what was on our cars they started crying (again) and I got so choked up as her mom pointed our car out to Meghan's sister.  It was a special way to honor her life and her being in our club.

That's me on the left waiting for the driver's meeting to start.  Several of us wore purple and black.  I had the unique challenge of finding something nice to wear in my new smaller size.  Thankfully the dress I ordered from LuLaRoe fit perfectly.  You never know when ordering online.  (#girlproblems)

We met together in Olympia and traveled together to Kelso, WA where we met up with the other Corvette Club that Meghan & Don were members of.  Then, we went together to the memorial.  It was a sight that meant so much to the Evans family to see their Corvette families roll in to honor their daughter/sister.  At Corvettes de Olympia we really are family.  Corvette + Family = Love  

Corvettes wrapped around the bend in the road and across the overpass on the other side.

Presenting Don with the plaque, card and flowers.

The flowers and food were lovely.  They also had a slideshow of Meghan's life in pictures.

This was my first memorial service since my grandfather's funeral last Spring.  It was difficult because Meghan was so young.  In this picture I see the effects of grief around my eyes.  It was important to support Meghan's family and though it was hard, I was so glad we went.  We go for those who are left behind.

eta: Sentiment for the stamp set is Beautiful World by Gina K Designs and Catherine Pooler.

Hollyhock Watercolor Birthday Card

Do you remember me saying that watercolor videos from Let's Make Art helped me get back my creative mojo?  This card was made using one of her tutorials.  I've found that I like to "practice paint" on a smaller scale.  Often I am able to turn them into other cards.  Sometimes I paint them onto a card on purpose, like this card I made for my mother-in-law.

 Unlike the original video, I added a background using all the colors on my paint pallette.  The effect I was going for was a mutued floral and sky background similar to a macro setting on my camera.  I finished the card off by stamping "Birthday Wishes" and adding a double layer Happy die cut of glimmer paper over black cardstock.

If you have been wanting to try watercolor, but unsure about starting a subscription, I highly recommend choosing one of their kits.  You can find one you would like to paint and order the box, then watch the video on youtube that goes along with that painting.  They also have lettering kits and kits for kids.  Clicky for the hollyhock I used to make this card.

Inspiration Everywhere

One of the difficult things about my creative slump was that I felt like I lost all inspiration to create.  When that started coming back, it brought with it joy.  Suddenly I was finding inspiration in everything from napkins, to cookies to plaques on the wall of the local diner.  Oh, how I have missed that!  Remember that watercolor napkin at the ladies luncheon a couple of days ago?

It motivated me to work on my watercolor and not worry about what the end result would be.  I watched youtube videos and used one (or more) of the kits from Let's Make Art.  Someone asked me in the comments (yes, I enjoy reading your comments) how many subscription boxes I've received.  I did it for about 6 months and then took a few months off.  You can stop, start and hold at any time. My February kit is on its way as we speak though.  I'm excited to watercolor again next month.  I find that I like quilting in the cold months and painting or making cards in the warm months.  The former is for days when I want to stand in front of a hot iron or under a warm quilt the latter is for quick sessions when the weather is warm and I have things to do outside.

Here is one of those practice pages.  I believe I shared it here already, but not the backstory.  I didn't worry about making this a piece of art.  Watercoloring is fairly new to me and I didn't have a ton of skills.  I needed to PRACTICE.  It didn't have to be perfect and it didn't even have to turn into a painting or a card or anything I would keep.  Sometimes (ok, like all the time) I need reminders that there is a process to getting good at something and that process involves practice, mistakes, more practice and more mistakes before getting to a result I don't hate.  Often it takes me taking a step back and a day or two (or 30) before coming back and liking what I have created.  One thing I have learned is it is ok if it doesn't turn out.  It's ok if it goes in the trash instead of on the blog.  I am getting back to the place that creating is fun and not a job and that is bringing me joy!

The cookie inspired me to pull out this stamp set and my Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers. I believe the Altenew stamp I used here has been discontinued, but I found Everlasting Happiness (also from Altenew) which might even be a little prettier than the one I have and it may or may not have ended up in my cart while I was searching for you.  ;)  I still haven't made these into a card, but I love where these 2 pieces are going.  My initial thought is to stamp or die cut a simple sentiment and leave it a fairly clean and simple card.  What would you do with this image?

This second piece was my attempt at no line watercoloring.  I like it, but I miss the stark outlines.  hmmm... Maybe I will restamp over it... or perhaps I'll leave it.  No finished card for today, but I think you can see where the inspiration of a cookie on a napkin inspired me.  How does it inspire you?  Where do you find creative inspiration?

Day 18 of 100 Days of Creativity ~ Hanging Florals 2

On day 14 I showed you some images I had colored from the Hanging Florals stamp set by Pinkfresh Studios.  As I shared before, I like to stamp out images that I can color later.  The previous cards were made using Zigs and a little bit of water to blend.  This time I wanted a more watercolor feel to the image so I used more water on paintbrush to blend out the Zig markers.

As you can see, this image is much softer and the edges appear a bit blurred.  I stamped it in Distress Ink so that it would look like no-line coloring.  I think my favorite thing about this painting is the blue in the circle.  I made the center very wet and continued to add more color.  What type of sentiment do you think I should use for this when I turn it into a card?

Hanging Florals, Pinkfresh Studio Clear Stamps

Everlasting Happiness, Altenew Clear Stamps

Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black

Midnight, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad

ZIG Watercolor BrusH20, Detailer

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 2

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 6

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 803, English Lavender

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker 054, Pale Orange

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 045, Pale Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 303, Shadow Mauve

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker 201, Pink Haze

Ranger Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Ranger Distress Mini Ink Pad, Tea Dye

Zig Art & Graphic Twin Tip Marker, Blue

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 031, Cobalt Blue

Day 15 of 100 Days of Creativity ~ Feather Painting Practice

For those who don't know, I am a Rodan + Fields skincare consultant.  My team is called "Dream Chasers".  I chose this name because we don't just day dream, but we CHASE our dreams.  Anytime I see a feather now it makes me think of our team.  Something about that symbol makes me think of making dreams come true.  When I saw they were doing a row of feathers for Let's Make Art I got very excited.   Then, like I usually do, I became fearful of tackling it because I didn't want to fail.  That's when I took out a piece of watercolor paper and gave myself "permission" to just practice and play with the feather concept.  Here is one of those practice pieces. 

I actually really love the texture of the blooms I was getting on that feather.  My finished feather did not turn out as eye-catching as this practice one.  Funny how that works.  When I was just "playing for fun" I made something I enjoyed far more than when I was trying to do what the teacher was doing and "get it right".  Lesson learned. 

Day 14 of 100 Days of Creativity ~ Hanging Florals with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Markers

One of the ways I am trying to get a little bit of creative time everyday is to stamp out images that can be colored and turned into cards later.  In fact, I purchased this stamp set so I could do just that.

My plan is to cut this cardstock in half and make 2 cards out of the colored florals.  I can stamp or die cut a sentiment in the center of each ring and (hopefully) create an easy card.

Hanging Florals, Pinkfresh Studio Clear Stamps

Everlasting Happiness, Altenew Clear Stamps

Strathmore Bristol Pad 9x12

Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black

Midnight, Catherine Pooler Ink Pad

ZIG Watercolor BrusH20, Detailer

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 2

Silver Brush Black Velvet Watercolor Brushes, Short Round 6

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 803, English Lavender

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker 054, Pale Orange

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 042, Turquoise Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 045, Pale Green

ZIG Clean Color Real Brush Marker 303, Shadow Mauve

Zig Clean Color Real Brush Marker 201, Pink Haze