Away In A Manger - A Watercolor Card Set

As mentioned last week, I'd used my Art Impressions Nativity stamp and die set to create a set of tri-fold cards.  Here's the finished labor.  I, once again, used my Intense Watercolor Pencils to color the image,  In this case, I usually wet my watercolor brush and dabbed it onto the pencils to pick up color.  Then, I colored the image as if the brush was full of watercolor paint.  This technique creates a soft image with little chance of blooms - a sure fire technique to look good at watercoloring.  I really followed the example provided in the product packaging to color the image.

I simply love the inside of the card - It's such a sweet sentiment and image.  Couldn't get over how adorable this stamp set is.

I stopped myself after creating a set of six images - making the total 7 cards made since my sample card was also made.  The original sample opened to the left and these duplicates, I made to open to the right - which is more standard for cards.  I can see more coloring in the future, but I'd better get moving on a few other projects before finishing up any other Christmas cards.  Quite a lot of crafting planned for the next two weeks so I'm a busy little crafter.

Hope your week is going well and that you've completed all your to-dos this week.

Oh Holy Night!

Sooooo, I found this ever so cute Christmas stamp...  this is how conversations between Brandy and I start.  Far too frequently!!!  In this case, it is me having picked up Art Impressions latest stamp - Nativity stamp set.  This set comes with the dies to create a tri-fold card.  Here's my attempt at creating this card.  Photography wasn't hyper great, forgive me.

I used my Intense Watercolor Pencils to color the image - mostly taking a watercolor brush to the pencils and then coloring the image as if it was watercolor paint.  This allowed the soft image with little chance of blooms - a sure fire technique to look good at watercoloring.

I'm really pleased with this set - it is so adorable with that little baby Jesus peeking out from the inside of the card.  I adhered the Bristol cardstock tri-fold (made exactly how the package instructions prescribed) to a kraft card base which I had glued shut.  This gave the card extra sturdyness while also creating the aesthetic I was looking for.  I really love the cards and have already stamped and cut a set.  I'm going to work on watercoloring the set and then I'll have a gift set for the holidays.  Yay!

How about you?  It's officially December now, clocks ticking.  Are you ticking off those to-do items from your crafty list?

Another Fall Birthday Card

You can't say I didn't enjoy my Hero Arts September Monthly Kit.  Here's one last card made with the supplies from that kit.  In this case, the die cut wreath on the front of my card.  I used my Mission Gold watercolors to create some rich watercolo and dropped the paint onto a watercolor card front to get these interesting splotches.  Not a totally fall colored theme, but definitely man worthy card, so I used this for a family birthday wish.  I think it works very well coupled with the sentiment on the inside of the card.  Keeping it simple for the masculine flair.

I find myself behind on my gift making endeavors.  Are you feeling the same?  I hope not.  However, I do have to focus, focus, focus as time before Christmas is running short.  This week marks the end of birthday season with my daughter, Katie's birthday.  I'm saving a photo of her birthday card so she doesn't get a sneak peek.  Moving on from birthday's to Christmas gifts now.

Our Beautiful World - White

I have been out of town for work several times over the past few months.  This past trip I was able to stay a few extra days and see some sights with my brother-in-law, sister-in-law and husband.  We took a day trip to Ashville, North Carolina to see the Biltmore House.  This house is the largest private residence in the US built by the Vanderbilts and it open for public tour.  We decided to visit because the house was decorated for Christmas and there was threat of rain (though you can't tell in my pictures).

They have a beautiful garden which was on the trailing edge of fall, much of it withered.  However, the hothouse contained many exotic plants and so I'm sharing some of these with you today inspired by Our Beautiful World's word prompt which is White.

You must forgive the quality of photos - I only had my cell phone with me.  The white poinsettias were stunning and filled various locations throughout the house.  There were also many Christmas decorations, but I thought I should share this one with white icicles which was way more stunning in person.

If you get a chance, the tour is not inexpensive, but was a wonderful way to spend the day.  Definitely shows you how the other half lives at Christmas time!

Why don't you stop by Our Beautiful World and see what everyone is sharing when prompted by the word White!

A Set of Thank Yous

I had mentioned that I used my Hero Arts September Monthly Kit including the grateful stamp set to create a bunch of card fronts.  I'm stopping in to share the cards made with you.  I used my MISTI to repetitively stamp the images in the wreath shape by creating a template with the first card front.  Then I placed the stamps in the appropriate location using the template and inked and stamped multiple Bristol paper card fronts.  I'm really pleased how these cards turned out - using up various ribbons from the stash.  I can't say as I found a ribbon that I liked best, though the ombre ribbon is probably the most stunning all all the ribbons.

These cards as so pretty and easy to make once the template was made.  I think I ultimately made around 11 - 15 different cards with this design.  There's so many different reasons to give thanks this time of year and I am feeling abundantly blessed, so I couldn't help but give them all away this week.

What are you feeling blessed by?  Have you sent your wishes to them?  In this season of thanksgiving, I'd encourage you to do so.