Last Thursdays: Watercolored You’ve Got This Thanks

Current Classes & Special Promotions!

• Browse The 2015 Catalog—See the latest products!
• Upcoming Class Dates Announced—New schedule, plus Countdown To Christmas dates.
• Countdown To Christmas Series—September 12.  Features Your Presents
  
• "Last Thursdays" Class—August 27.  RSVP by August 26.
• September Stamp-of-the-Month—Features Vintage Leaves.  Register by September 8.
• 50% Off First 2 Months of Paper Pumpkin—Subscribe at PaperPumpkin.com using code: HALFOFF
• Weekly Deals—New specials announced every Tuesday!       

________________________________________________________________________

Today, we're taking a closer look at another card from my "Last Thursdays" monthly card class coming up this Thursday, August 27!  Please let me know by Wednesday, August 26, at 5pm if you'd like to join us!

Watercolored You've Got This Thank You Cards

The You've Got This flower is currently my favorite for coloring!  I did some simple watercoloring and a little fussy-cutting to create these lovely thank you cards, originally designed by the awesome Australian demonstrator Teneale Williams. We'll be making this card at my August "Last Thursdays" class and you can choose the color you like!

CASEd from Teneale Williams at her Teneale Williams blog.

Background Basics—I started with a 4" x 5-1/4" striped background from the Typeset Designer Series Paper assortment that's adhered to a Basic Black card base.

Watermark Stamping—I randomly stamped the You've Got This blossom image in Mint Macaron ink on a 2-3/4" x 4-1/2" piece of Mint Macaron.  You could get the same "watermark" look by stamping in VersaMark Ink.

Watercolored Bloom—I stamped the You've Got This flower with the new Archival Black Ink onto a scrap piece of Very Vanilla card stock.  I did very simple watercoloring using the Aqua Painter and ink from the lid of the ink pad. I painted the petals in Mint Macaron and the flower center and leaves with Tip Top Taupe.

If you've never done watercoloring before, you'll be amazed at how easy it is!  Here are some tips:

• Squeeze your Classic Ink Pad before opening to transfer ink to the lid.
• Squeeze a little water through your Aqua Painter to get the brush wet, or simply wet a watercolor brush.
• Lift color from the lid and gently color with it over the petals.  The drier the brush, the darker the color.  A wetter brush will give you lighter color and the color will spread more smoothly over the image. 
• I like to color all of the flower petals with light color first, then go back and add more color on the bottoms of the petals and center of the flower to add shading & depth.
  

TIP: Be careful not to overwork the color on cardstock.  Since this is not watercolor paper, you will quickly get pilling on the card stock if you blend the colors in one area too much.  Paint on the color and move on.

TIP: For this card, I didn't worry about painting outside the lines, since I would be cutting around the image. 

Hand-Cutting—I used my super-sharp Paper Snips to cut around the flower.  I also cut the leaves off of the stem, so I could re-position them under the blossom.

TIP: If you have some white areas showing on the cut edges, simply add a little more color with your Aqua Painter.

Metallic Thread Accents—I love the new Metallic Threads for adding some whimsical loops behind the focal point.  This subtle accent is a really popular look right now!

Pretty Placement TIPS: You want the threads to look messy and random, but sometimes getting those fibers loops to fan out in a pretty way is kind of tricky.  I've discovered a couple of tips to keep them wrangled and manageable. 

• I like to add SNAIL all over the back of the focal point element. 
• I wrap the thread around my fingers a few times and when I pull them off, I twist the loops into a figure "8" before sticking them to the sticky back. 
• Once the threads are stuck, I carefully position them where I want them.
• To secure them in place, I add Dimensionals over the strands in several areas.

I adhered the flower to a Deco Labels Collection Framelits die-cut in Very Vanilla.

Sweet Sentiment—I added a greeting from Another Thank You on Very Vanilla card stock, then punched it with the Washi Tape Punch.  It's popped up with Dimensionals, too.

Two Cool—I tried a Rich Razzleberry version for my second card.  All of the basic elements are the same, but I moved the colored panel down to the center on this one.

I also changed the Metallic Thread to gold.

I'd Love To Hear From You!  Which color combination do you like best—Mint Macaron or Rich Razzleberry? Leave me a comment at the bottom of the page!

Angie

______________________________________________________________________

August "Last Thursdays" Card Class

Thursday, August 27, 6:30pm. 

Create 4 cards using simple, Too Cool techniques, plus envelopes.  This month, our cards will feature several ways to add color to your cards!  Class-To-Go Kits are available!

See Details For August's "Last Thursdays" Class

Contact Me To Sign Up by Wednesday, August 26, at 5pm!