Better Together - A Mix and Match Challenge Week 5 by Andie

During this time of quarantine, Brandy and I miss crafting together.  It isn't that we did so often - we didn't see each other every week sometimes.  It's more that we can't see each other.  So I had an idea to create a challenge each week - one just for Brandy and she could create one just for me.  Brandy has to amp the idea up and came up with our official title.  This is our fifth week of challenges.  I present to you Week Fiveof the Better Together - A Mix and Match Challenge.

Brandy's Challenge for Andie:

Your challenge this week is Wild Flowers. The beauty of wild flowers is they are like sprinkles of color always different and never the same scene twice. This challenge is about being unique. You can free hand watercolor, draw with pencil, or use stamps to make your unique card scene. The only catch is you can't use a Bouquet stamp that already puts the flowers together for you. You can create your own by masking, but you have to create the flower design. It can be a field of flowers, a custom Bouquet in a jar, die cuts put together just as long as it is one of a kind, just like you.

This is an opportunity to use random embellishments like ribbon, twine, or even buttons, and brads.

The general color pallet is provided, but add colors as you like. The inspiration photo is provided.

I hope you enjoy the challenge!

This challenge took me about three or four rounds of painting to get there, but these "Spread Cheer" freehand watercolored scenes are the cards I'm most proud of because they are freehand. I doodled on the second card with a black pen. It was going good until I did the yellow flowers. Then it slid down the hill. However, I still think they are pretty in their own way.

This Kindness Blooms card was my first original thought, but it seemed to comfortable - so I went out of the box with the freehand stuff. Once I finished my freehand watercolors, but couldn't finish the card as it had to dry, I went ahead and created this die cut heavy card.  The flowers and leaves are both Spellbinders dies.

These Thinking of You cards were an attempt at a combo of free hand backgrounds and some Rubbernecker wildflower stamps - my attempt to avoid focus on the freehand. I used my Prima Oil Pastels, but unfortunately picked the wrong green and so I'm not pleased with the colors in the final analysis. However, the cards are not awful so I finished them off into a final card.  This challenge was once again a bit of a stretch for me, which I loved!  I'm so grateful for a bestie who will play along with me!

Funny Story

This morning I was feeling like I needed to do something artsy, but I wanted to try something different than traditional watercolor. So, I decided to use some of that glossy cardstock from X-pedit from years ago.  I also thought, why not use Distress Oxide. Well, here is why, it makes a nice misty background, but details get that chalky look and they just don't come through.  To which I thought, let's try Distress Stain, still not enough detail. I finally got to Daniel Smith watercolors and started getting some color to stay when I realized I had sat the paper right in the Distress Stain. I had to scramble to remotely try and salvage this to be anything.  This is where I am leaving it and moving on.

I will put it in my practice/attempt file and call it good.


So much happier with this:

This where the voice in my head said "Stop!". I did not listen. So I kept going and this is the final result:

Not bad for a good day's worth of painting.

Aqua Board Paintings

Brandy has been practicing her mad artistic skills again.  I had previously shared this post of a field of poppies that she painted with her Daniel Smith watercolor paints and an Aquabord.  Today I have two different paintings to share, each with a different look and style. This photo reminds me of the pond down the side of the mountaintop that my husband asked me to marry him on.  I love mountains and green and this scene is just mesmerizing.

This second scene was Brandy's attempt at a larger scale and practice for trees.  I love the watercolor feel of this one (in my favorite color, green!).  I think of Monet and impressionism and art.  I'm so very proud of Brandy and her willingness to practice and grow.  It is an artistic trait that I'm still developing while she's jumped off and is soaring...

Andie for 

Freehand Watercolor Painting - More Poppies with a Different Medium

Brandy did a new experiment in her freehand watercolor painting obsession with poppies.  This was painted on an Aqua Board.  An Aqua Board is a clay coated board that takes watercolor.  While this painting didn't turn out how Brandy planned, I think it is beautiful.  Apparently the painting was going well and Brandy was so excited when the disaster happened... she dropped her paintbrush and a big green smear was accidentally brushed across the left side.  The Aqua Board was less forgiving than a piece of watercolor paper, so even though she tried to dilute and lift her efforts were not entirely successful. 

I can't find the error, though Brandy says the grass is higher than her original vision.  Her artistic cover up means that those of us who didn't have the original vision can't see it.  I continue to be in awe of my bestie's talents and mad artistic skills.  She is an inspiration to me.

Andie for 

Handpainted Watercolor Notecard

Brandy sat down and painted this watercolor scene as an experiment and practice session.  It went so well she turned it into a notecard.  So special!

Andie for 

More Handpainted Poppies

Brandy is keeping the poppies coming - this time combining a variety of colors.  This painting creates the decided image of the transparent nature of the poppies in their natural setting.  Again - I'm just is awe of Brandy's talent and mad skills.

Andie

Handpainted Poppies - Round Two

Brandy has been faithful to keep up on her commitment to practice her free hand water coloring.  In this case - yellow poppies.  Whoa - this day's result is very delicate and delightful.  Keep them coming, Brandy.

Andie for 

Maymay's March Motivation ATC Non-Swap

I'm stopping by to share Brandy's second set of ATC cards for Maymay Made It's March Motivation ATC Non-swap.  Brandy embraced the spirit of the ATC - that a card is meant to showcase the artist (
"A" in the ATC) and their skills.

For Brandy's second set, she used her Mission Gold watercolors to create a row of hand painted poppies in a small, ATC canvas size.  Mounting them onto black cardstock accentuates the beauty of her hand painting.  I'm in awe of the talent and how these ATC's showcase the finished work.

If you hurry, it's not to late to join the fun.  As long as your ATCs arrive by April 30th, you too can join the non-swap.

I'm entering these cards into the Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday March 2019.

Andie for

Handpainted Poppies

Brandy is back at it with her freehand watercolor painting.  She has a watercolor notebook where she creates this art for her pleasure only - no intention to make a card or use the painting for anything other than the joy of it.

Beautiful, don't you think?

Andie for 

Daily Art

Brandy has made a commitment to daily art.  The idea is that she will do some form of art every single day - whether the project is finished and/or whether she really intends the art for a purpose.   I am admiring her dedication, but mostly, I'm admiring this painting which was one of the first pieces that she completed.  It is beautiful and charming.  I say "go Brandy go" as I get the pleasure of seeing each of these lovely pieces to share with you.

I'm linking this up with Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Anything But a Card since this isn't a card, but it truly is a work of art.

Some More - This Time Purple!- Poppies

Brandy has been on a roll.  Look at these vibrant purple poppies, hand painted onto watercolor paper using her Mission Gold watercolor paints.  The lines in the petals really set off the image and create depth.  I'm inspired and bowled over. 

Andie for 

Hand Painted Poppies

I get to share this lovely handpainted poppies that Brandy created.  She used watercolor paper and her Mission Gold watercolors to make a watercolor masterpiece.  I just love the impressionistic feel.  If she turns this into a card I'll let you know, but I'm voting for this one to be framed and hung in a beautifully lit room!

Andie for 

Brandy's Freehand Watercoloring!

Brandy was ever so kind to send me these picks of some card fronts that she freehand watercolored on a business trip recently.  She has a travel size watercolor ink palette that travels with some watercolor paper that is cut down to A2 card front size.  This way, it doesn't take up much space in the suitcase, but is there to fill a couple of downtime hours on the road.  Heaven knows its a wonderful stress reducer and often works to invigorate after long hours of work.  These pink flowers are adorable.

This second set of flowers are a little more abstract.  Brandy stated she wondered what she was thinking.  This is my favorite, the petals are so delicate.  I did a bit of research and I think these are called spider flowers.  Creepy name, but beautiful result.  If Brandy finishes these into formally finished cards, I'll be sure to snap a photo and post it here on the blog.  Until then, we'd all do well to be inspired by her creativity.

Floating Above the Clouds

Brandy shared this wonderful card with me and I get the joy of sharing it with you.  She used balloon stamps to begin the card and the rest of the art is her own free hand watercoloring.  Just about the time I think the magic is in the clouds (which are perfect!), I'll focus on the mountains and I am facinated by the depth of color and texture and shading in those mountains.  To top it all off, theres a bit of Wink of Stella glitter on the balloons.

All in all a perfect notecard.  I only wish work didn't keep Brandy so busy because every card she makes stuns and inspires me.  Join me in telling her so!

Cards from Handpainting Panels

I can't say I'm overly enthusiastic with these card fronts on their own.  I attempted to paint some abstract rose images and these are my feeble attempts.  I decided to finish them off by ding the background with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.  I was surprised at how the background helped with my vision of the panel.  Also, I trimmed down the panels to fit onto these colored A2 card fronts and that really helped as well.  Finally, I added a simple sentiment and I thought these could actually be used as abstract art.

On this last card, the background went a little dark.  I also accidentally trimmed the panel too small.  Oh well, I simply created a sentiment flag and colored with my Prima Oil Pastels.  I think it worked and I would say I'm proud of these cards and the final result.

A Simple Wedding Anniversary Card

Just a quick post to show this finished card.  I had previously watercolored the heart as a class assignment for my Online Card Classes Watercolor for Cardmakers.  I added the hand drawn border and a couple of sequins to make this a simple anniversary card.  A co-worker used this and I let her pick her sentiment for the inside.  Simple and to the point.

So I've struggled if or how to say something about the tragic events in Orlando.  This blog is focused on spreading joy through crafting.  I don't enter into most current events.  However, it's  not lost on me that I had an organic response to the tragedy in Paris in this very same blog.  I think the difference is that this happened closer to home - hundreds of miles away, but in our country and to our people.  It reminds me we aren't any safer here.  It reminds me that our response to violence and destruction should be love.  Sending prayers and love to those hurt and healing and those who lost loved ones in the tragedy in Orlando.

Hand Drawn Roses

Stopping by today to share with you another original Brandy creation.  These roses were sketched by Brandy and then colored using her Mission Gold watercolors.  I simply love the detail on the roses, but I think the stems and leaves are part of what makes this image so charming to me.

I hope this encourages you as much as it does me.  I've been so inspired by Brandy's work it has spurred my own feeble efforts.  So much so, that I don't think I'd describe my efforts as feeble any longer!  If you haven't given the watercolor techniques a try, I say go for it!

Brandy's Freehand Hibiscus Watercolor Art

Brandy decided to use her creative talent to freehand paint a scene for the front of one of her Mother's Day cards.  I am so pleased to share this with you.  The background was washed onto a piece of Arches watercolor paper using Distress inks.  Then, Brandy used a pencil to sketch the image onto the paper using a photo as inspiration.  The image was then colored with a watercolor brush and her Mission Gold watercolor paints.  Notice the paint splatters and the use of the white opaque pen to add dimension and detail to the painting.

Awe and inspiration - these are the two words I'd select to begin to desribe my best friend and the impact of this work of art.  I am sure this card stunned in person and the receipient was also awestruck and inspired.  Beautiful.


I'm linking this card up with the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Simon Says Flowers

Wor+d Art Wednesday's  Challenge #230-231 Anything Goes

Dome join the fun.