Just What Is So Special About February 22?

George Washington, the father of our country, was born on this day. So was my little sister, who always got her birthday off from school (the little twerp). Oh yeah, and so was a fabulous new stamping forum called Stampin' Addicts! And to celebrate their 2nd birthday, we are having a Birthday Blog Hop featuring different stamping techniques, all with a birthday theme. If you are following the hop in order, you just landed here from Holly's blog, where punch art was the technique. That pizza made me hungry! This is stop number three and the technique is Watercoloring. (Here's a link to all the stops on the hop, in case you get lost.)

The first card uses the marker-to-stamp technique. Using a Stampin' Write Marker, color directly on your stamp. Mist Shimmery White cardstock lightly with water before stamping to get that soft watercolor look.

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Up next is the Watercolor Bleed technique using re-inkers. Heat emboss image in white on Shimmer White cardstock or Watercolor Paper. Moisten image with water in a mist sprayer, then pick up ink with an Aqua Painter and spread it around, letting it "bleed" on the image.

And the last card features a quick, easy technique. Simply stamp the image on Watercolor Paper using a Classic Stampin' Pad in your color choice, then use a Blender pen to spread the color around as desired. Easy-peasy! Note: After the pony was inked up, the Blender Pen was used to remove the ink on the eye and nostril. Then a Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker was used to color (marker-to-stamp) the eye and nose.

There are sooo many different ways to watercolor...you've only seen a few here! I hope you are inspired to try some of these techniques. Check back on Monday for the materials used in each card.

Up next is Carmen's blog, where she's going to show the inlaid embossing technique (one of my new favorites!). Love the bats, especially.......

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be sure to check out Stampin' Addicts. It is a warm, friendly Stampin' Up-only community, and is open to everyone, not just demonstrators! It's free, it's fun, and it's full of fabulous ideas. (Be sure to check out the gallery.)  Tell 'em Cindy sent you!

A Rose is a Rose

More 'Thank You' cards going out.  I have a lot to be thankful for!  I heat embossed the rose with clear EP on Shimmery White cardstock and colored with Classic ink and blender pens.  The leaves were heat embossed with gold EP.  The idea wasn't mine!  I "borrowed" it from Sandi McIver.  She's so creative!!!

Stamps: Rose-Fifth Avenue Floral, Leaves-Autumn Splendor (Holiday Mini catalog), Sentiment-Thank You Kindly (FREE Sale-A-Bration item!)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Shimmery White
Inks: Pretty In Pink, Real Red, and Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pads
Accessories: Modern Label Punch, Vary Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware ribbon slide, Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, Perfect Polka-Dots Textured Impressions Die, Crystal Clear and Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

Fifth Avenue Bleach

Did that title get your attention?  LOL!  I'm toying with a quick and easy card for an upcoming workshop.  This technique is kind of neat.  Heat emboss the image with clear embossing powder on Pretty in Pink, then paint bleach on the image, staying inside the lines.  Like magic, the rose turns a beautiful creamy white.  I used a blender pen with a Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad to highlight around the outer edges, and add some depth to the rose petals.

This one would be fun to do in a workshop, because it involves three techniques; heat embossing, bleaching, and watercoloring with the blender pen. 

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Well Scripted
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: VersaMark, Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Heat Tool, Crystal Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Horizontal Slot Punch, Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Blender Pens, paintbrush, Swarovski Crystal, bleach

Fifth Avenue Get Well

I had some card kits left over from my last workshop and wanted to see what I could come up with for a get well card.  This is the first time I've inked up any of the Fifth Avenue Floral stamp set.  I think it turned out okay - not great, but okay.

The idea for the embossed border was CASEd from Sandi McIver's brilliant idea here. I never in a million years would have thought of that on my own! 

The rose was stamped in Melon Mambo on watercolor paper, softened with blender pens, then outlined lightly with Crushed Curry and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals. The ribbon is the reverse side of the Rich Razzleberry Polka-dot Grosgrain ribbon.  I love that you get two looks from one ribbon!  Swarovski crystals completed the card.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral (113734), Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)

Cardstock: Rich Razzleberry (115316), Melon Mambo (115320)

DP: Razzleberry Lemonade DSP (115675)

Inks: Rich Razzleberry (115658), Melon Mambo (115656), Crushed Curry (115659)

Accessories/Tools: Tag Corner Punch (107215), Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon (115613), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Finial Press Textured Impressions Die (115963), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Paper Cutter (104152), Swarovski Crystals, adhesive