Day 3 Homework

 Happy Wednesday!! Just popping in with my projects from Day 3 homework for my Watercolor Christmas Class. I like these cards a bit better BUT I will never just be able to do a one layer anything I have decided.

My first card was a card with some simple trees. 

Again, I got a little heavy handed on my trees with the paint. They were lighter but I kept trying to blend and then this is what happened. 

Since I spent so much time on them, I decided that even if I didn't love them, I was making a card anyway. I created a gold frame from some gold foil cardstock using the Waffle Flower Frame dies.

I also heat embossed a sentiment from PTI at the bottom.

There was another cards I was supposed to do with a different technique with trees BUT the masking medium I used was a disaster so I threw it away.

My third card was to create an ornament without any masking. This was actually kind of fun. The watercolor did not blend like I wanted BUT it came out way better than my other cards from the first two days.

I chose to adde a silver piece of mirrored cardstock for the top of the ornament and some silver thread as a bow.

The heat embossed sentiment is from Mama Elephant.

I actually thought that this card technique was relaxing. I liked trying to keep the paint within the circle and I did slowly layer the color down. Not perfect but getting better!!!

That is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by!! Have a FABULOUS day!!

Holiday Card Homework Day 1 and Day 2

 Happy Sunday!! Just popping in with some cards that I created for the Holiday Watercolor Class that I am taking. Let me tell you-I am EPICALLY failing at this class. I SUCK at watercolor. 

Here are a few things I have learned:

1) I am not patient enough to watercolor. I took a watercolor class in college 20 years ago and thought I enjoyed it, I learned then that I was not really patient enough for the medium. It takes too long to let things dry and I have too heavy a hand with it.

2) I used the wrong kind of watercolor paper. I have a ton of different brands and used the cheapest I had. Wrong move!! The color does not soak into the paper that well.

3) I should have used the real watercolor I have. I have tubes of good watercolor but was just too lazy to squeeze it out and use. I also need to invest in some better brushes and dedicate them strictly to watercolor.

4) Frisket + Me = DISASTER!! I remember hating using frisket when I was in school. The one I have must have been bad or again, I used too heavy of a hand. When I went to erase it, it left a STAIN on my cards. This was so annoying because these cards took a lot of time for me to make!!

The first three cards are homework from Day 1 of the class.

My first card I like BUT the color is way to dark and the ribbon is not straight. This was the first card I did so I give myself a pass on it being perfect.

I am actually showing it extra large so you can see all the fun mistakes!! I chose to use stamped greetings as the class is strictly watercolor. My handwriting is HORRIBLE.

My second card I "stacked" presents. I like this one a bit better BUT if you notice the top present, some of the green soaked through the bottom. I chose to create a card with it anyway.

If someone doesn't like it, are they really going to tell me? It is a handmade card!!!

Again, I embossed a simple sentiment to match the red card base that I mounted the watercolor panel on.

My last card that I created for day one of the class is a tree that I masked off with tape. I then added some sequins as "ornaments" when I was finished.

I used the golds in the "Starry Colors" Gansai Tambi watercolor and I was a bit heavy handed.

I need to learn to do just a light coat, let it dry, and do another. I get too impatient, though!!

I also had to cut down the card panels and do a bit of "doctoring" because I tore the background of the paper when I took the tape off the edges. Some cards were worse than others.

Day 2 Homework:

I only have one card for the second day of the class. My first two cards were EPIC fails. I used the Frisket on them and it stained when I took it off. I didn't even bother to photograph them but just threw them away. However, the second technique I did was a masking with tape and the card did come out.

I am going to admit two things here-this paint is NOT strictly watercolor but Twinkling H2O's. You cannot tell from the photograph but it has a shimmer to it when put in the light.

The sequins that I added were not part of the class. They are covering up some boo boos that leaked through!!!

I like this technique but again, would try it with a lighter hand next time. Not sure I would use that green again either. It is a bit too "earthy" for me.

Well, that is all from me tonight. I did cards for Day 3 too but have not edited one of them to post. I still have to watch the video for Day 4 but ran out of steam when some of my cards sucked so bad. 

All in all, this class has been a lot of fun and I have learned a TON. I just need to practice some patience and all will be well. I also need to buy some better frisket and lower tack tape!!!

Have a fabulous night!!!

Happy Monday and some Christmas Cards

Hi everyone!! I hope the start of your week is FANTASTIC!!!

I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that during this stressful holiday season, take a breath and enjoy the little aspects. I am not fond of the commercial aspect of everything but I do relish having my house all decorated, wrapping my presents up all pretty with beautiful bows, and taking the time to pick personalized gifts to the people that I do buy for. THIS is what makes me happy.

Another thing that makes me happy? Making cards-even if I am not going to send them out this year. Okay, I am going to send cards but home made cards only get sent to a few people. The rest get my photo cards.

Today I am popping in with a few cards I created for some challenges. My first card, I used two challenges as my inspiration.

I used CASE this Sketch #350 as my inspiration, as well as Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge-Traditional Christmas.

 

This card technique was one I used last year on some cards and one that Kristina Werner demonstrated this year on one of her Holiday Card Making 2019 videos. Hers came out WAY better but I gave it the old college try!!

I added some gold Nuvo drops for "ornaments" across my tree. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

I have to admit that this sketch was really hard for me for some reason. I have TONS of stuff but just no mojo? Anyway... it is one more card created for my stash.

My second card is another Christmas card.

This card was inspired by Sunday Stamps #219-Feeling Festive graphic and the Paper Player's Challenge #470 from last week. I made the darn card and never posted it!!

Once again I used my Hello Bluebird Frosty Littles stamp set for the little scene.

The colors were inspired by the colors from Sunday Stamps color challenge and the snowman was inspired by both of the graphics.

I am kind of a dork but wanted to make a kind of "snow globe" effect with the little scene in a circle.

I would say that even though this stamp set is not new, it is new to me and is my favorite this season.

Well, that is all from me today. I thank you for taking the time to stop by.


I hope you all have a FABULOUS Monday!!! Don't forget to make someone smile today!!

Some Challenge Cards

Hey everyone!! Happy Sunday!!

Just popping in with a couple of cards for some challenges. I have been busy making cards for relaxation and not blogging lately. Just too tired to do both.

My first card is for the Inspired By challenge.

I was inspired by multiple things on the image below. I combined the deer, the greenery, the hoop, a tree...I think you get the picture!!

I used Hello Bluebird's "Frosty Friends" images for the tree and the deer, and some presents I had stamped for something else that I am not sure where they are from.

The embossing folder is a Richard Garay folder I had from last year. The greenery is from Simon Says Stamp.

I adore how this card came out!!! However, I think the deer is a bit dark. I will use different colors next time I color him in.

I used a bit of Nuvo Glitter drops over a bunch of areas on this card. This has become my new favorite thing to use!!

I am also going to enter this into Just Us Girls Challenge #516-Anything Goes and this weeks Time Out Challenges#150-Merry and Cheerful.

 

My second card I created for this weeks Freshly Made Sketches #414.

I kind of flipped it? Instead of the element strip at the bottom, substituting a little spray of pine cones and branches. I always hesitate when I do things like this because I don't know if I am supposed to go by the LETTER of the law or what inspires me?

I decided to use some of my Christmas pattern paper that I have TONS of in my stash, though this from this year and is Prima "Christmas in the Country" collection.

I combined and Echo Park die cut with the MFT sentiment. That sentiment looks wonky close up but IRL if it even!!

The pine cones, branches and leaves are from Stampin Up!! I coated the pine cones and branches with Nuvo "White Blizzard" glitter drops for some shine.

I really like how this card came out as it was kind of out of the box for me.

On another note, yesterday we decided to give our dog a bath and groom him a bit. We are trying to save money on going to the groomers, which is good. The clippers and Dremel have already paid for themselves after just two cuts at home!! However, it did take both Chris AND I to do it. Zack did not like the cutting part, though doesn't mind the bath or the blow dry.

I am pretty happy with how it came out, actually. Better than our last attempt!! However, our kitchen floor was COVERED with hair, as was I. I think I will be finding it for days-though we did use a huge sheet to try to contain the mess on the floor.

Well, that is all from me today. I thank you for stopping by and I will be back with a post tomorrow to with some more Christmas cards!!!

Have a FABULOUS day!!

A Couple of Challenges

Happy Sunday everyone. Just popping in to post some cards I created for a few challenges.

My first card is a Christmas card. I used Altnew's "Brilliant Baubles" stamp and die set, as well as Stampin Up!'s "Christmas Pines."

This weeks Freshly Made Sketch Challenge #412 and The Card Concept #124 were my inspiration.

Can you tell how the ornaments on this card were inspired by the photo from the Card Concept?

I loved the blue and silver color scheme and had fun using it on this card.

For my second card, I created a card using my favorite Hello Bluebird set "Frosty Friend's."

I used a sketch from last month and this weeks Just Us Girls Challenge #515 as my inspiration. I loved the snowy scene on the inspiration photo!!

I used a piece of Basic Grey pattern paper in the back. I have been hoarding this paper for YEARS but think I need to start using it. I have so much paper!!

I covered the tree with some Nuvo clear glitter and some added some Studio Katia pearls.

My last card I created for my niece's birthday back in October. I had SO MUCH fun making this card. I used the MFT sneaker die with the paper I used to wrap her gift in.

Of course I am not sure where the sentiment is from as they are from a bunch I stamped and cut out a while ago.

I was going to use little grommets that I had but wound up using the die cuts. I couldn't find the grommets-which if you saw my room, would not surprise you. It is a MESS!!

I am going to enter this into Seize the Birthday Challenge #179-no topping and Time Out Challenges #149-Celebrations.

Well that is all from me tonight. I need to get to bed because I have a very long day tomorrow. Charlotte is also coming home and I cannot wait!!