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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Watercolored Hydrangeas

Hello, sweet friends!  Today I finished a card and posted it for this week's Featured Stamper and Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers. After church today, we enjoying relaxing and made it a day of rest. We even got to swim today after I finished my card.

I started this card on Friday (my first attempt at watercoloring) and then saw Saturday's Inspiration Challenge. Audrie gave us a wonderful Pinterest board with an amazing collection of postage stamps. This week's Featured Stamper is Francie, who has a beautiful gallery filled with cards using vibrant colors and amazing designs...and she is such an encourager. I used a hydrangea like she did with a different layout and gilded my edge rather than sponging it. This sentiment has special meaning for us, since we both have lost our moms and were recently sharing about missing them.


Jumbo Hydrangea by Stampendous, Simply Camellias by Power Poppy for sentiment, Watercoloring with distress inks, Designed by Cheryl Scrivens, CherylQuilts

I stamped my hydrangea with Versamark ink and used a variety of Distress Inks. My friend Becky and I decided we would try it together on Friday, and this is my third try (don't think the first two will ever "see the light of day"). I started to enjoy being "free" to swish the water around and add ink both from an ink pad and reinker onto acrylic blocks. On Saturday I looked at this piece and decided to add more depth with darker colors, and that seems to have helped. I'm so used to Copic markers, that this was a real stretch...but it's good to get out of our creative comfort zones. I added this wonderful sentiment from the Simply Camellias stamp set, gilded the edges, and matted it with blue on a cream-colored card base...and it was done. I do think I will try watercoloring again, but it is definitely easier to use images that are larger in scale. I hope to try a digital image to see how that works...stay tuned (smiling).

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought or question, and I hope you have a wonderful week! And may we all rejoice today and celebrate the beauty God has given us in His magnificent creation!

Blessings,

Stamps:  Jumbo Hydrangea (Stampendous), Simply Camellias (Power Poppy)
Paper: Watercolor cold press paper (Strathmore), Marina Mist (SU)
Ink: Black (Versafine), Distress Inks - Shaded Lilac, Spun Sugar, Seedless Preserves, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Chipped Sapphire, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn (and perhaps a few I missed?)
Tools/Accessories: Gold leafing pen (Krylon), Perfect Layers, red tape
Techniques: Watercoloring
Card Size:  5 3/4"


29 comments:

Caly Person said...

This is beautiful, Cheryl!

Kelly-Anne said...

Oh, dearest Cheryl! What a beautiful card you have created and the colours are simply gorgeous! Well done on trying out a new technique - you did a fabulous job!
I am sorry to hear your heart has been heavy with missing your precious mother... May our wonderful Lord uphold you and comfort you always!
Hugs and lots of love,
Kelly-Anne

Vicki Burdick said...

This is beautiful Cheryl, I love your water coloring on this. Beautiful tribute to your Mom. Hugs to you my sweet friend.

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my that is just stunning, you did a wonderful job on this, not only on the flower but the background is just lovely too!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Brilliant work, Cheryl ... You've created a masterpiece.. And yes instil miss my darling mu, but rejoice greatly she knew the Lord, and is with Him now... Comfort indeed.
Re watercolour, recently had play on this card here.. And spritzing adding water etc is fun with Distress ink if you have it.

See here below, Shaz in Oz.x

http://calligraphycards-shazinoz.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/woyww-watercolour-distress-ink-ink.html

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

Wowzer Cheryl!! Your water coloring is beyond beautiful!! Love your background and lilac!! Stunning coloration my friend!!

Your Sunday sounds so relaxing. Glad you could enjoy the day!!
hugs,
Chris

Leslie Miller said...

No, this is NOT your first attempt at watercoloring! You've got to be kidding! It's amazingly beautiful, Cheryl! I'd say you have a real feel for it. Just look at the color and shading. You did a fantastic job and I hope to see more in the future. A larger open line image is definitely easier. I can't watercolor on my inkjet printer ink. Hmmmm... at least I couldn't on my old printer. I just assumed I couldn't on my new printer, either. Maybe I'll give it a try. See, you just inspired me! Thanks!

Becky said...

wow, this came out gorgeous Cheryl ! Beautiful colors. I did my first water color and had the nerve to post it at Split coast, it was a mess :)...

Lisa Lara said...

Hi sweet Cheryl, WOW this is just so beautiful. I love the look you achieved with this technique. Your background is perfect and accents your hydrangea perfectly.

Inkyfingers said...

Oh Cheryl this is so beautiful! I love the softness yet you have great depth of colour. Looks just like my hydrangea from the garden and I love your delicate background. You must be so glad you stepped out of your comfort zone!

Karen Dunbrook said...

love it mf...I think you did a wonderful job of watercolouring that image! I especially love the way the colour flows outside and around...Fab job you did!!!
You are SO!!! lucky to have a friend like Becky to stamp with. Oh, would I ever LOVE to come and join you two. I could really learn a lot about how to add layers and position things on my cards much better then I do.
Hugs and smiles,
Karen

Grace said...

Cheryl this simply CAN'T be your first watercolor??? It's gorgeous!!! I love that you added a little more color to make it more vibrant because I find with watercolor after it dries it often does look washed out and yours totally pops!!! Love the bg you create! Just beautiful!!! Need to catch up... email soon. Sorry... it's been a bit crazy with trips to TN and Dr visits! LOL!
hugs,
Grace

Alshandra said...

Can't believe this is your first try at watercolour! It's fantastic! LOVE IT! So beautiful Cheryl! Gorgeous card!

Traci M said...

Cheryl, this is a work of art!! I love the swirled combination of colors and the depth you achieved. I am glad you kept at it...just shows what happens when at first you don't succeed! I am going to have to try this. Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs!

Susan (rainy) said...

What a GORGEOUS watercolored creation. Oh my... just beautiful. And I love the gilded edge as well.

Katie Sims said...

My. Word! Cheryl.....REALLY, you just started watercoloring and this was your result?! WOW! Yeah, my watercolor attempts always end up the same way...going in the circular file and you can actually hear the splash as it hits the bottom.....lol! Seriously though, I love the colors you used, the beautiful large scale image, and especially the obvious love that went into this dear tribute to your mama. Oh, and love that beautiful heart of yours too! Hugs, sweet friend! :)

ChristineCreations said...

What a beautiful and meaningful design! Such great watercolouring Cheryl! Looks like it’s a new niche for you!

Becky said...

WOW! What gorgeous water coloring..

Monika/Buzsy said...

So pretty Cheryl. Love the fantastic coloring.

Irish Cherokee said...

Excellent water color work Cheryl. A very accurate color job. Blue hydrangeas were one of my grandmother's (on my mother's side) favorite flowers. She had tons of old nails in here beds. LOL. Beautiful work.

Love, Hugs and Blessings
Jim

Graciellie Design said...

Goodness gracious this is stunning! I hope you are doing well!!! Hugs, Gracie.

Barb said...

This is absolutely gorgeous, Cheryl! The depth you've achieved in the colors is amazing!

Tracy said...

What gorgeousness! Love working with watercolor but it does have a bit of a mind of its own. You picked the perfect hues to color with. These are my favorite flowers. Hugs!

Heather T said...

I love your "loose" watercolour style, the tones in your hydrangea are perfect-you have nailed it exactly. (It makes me smile to think of your watercolouring as "free" because it is all still inside the lines not like some of the messy ones I've been posting lately!)

stampingbowd said...

This is stunning!!! Your watercolor is splendid! I love the mix of colors! So striking!!!

Jill Norwood said...

This is so beautiful. My heart goes out to both of you! It is the hardest thing to miss the ones we love....I lost my husband to cancer and was feeling the same way on Mother's Day. He always made my day so special. I pray warm memories comforted you!! Blessings and hugs!

Cindy Beach said...

Cheryl,
I love how encouraged I feel just by a short visit to your blog where your sweet and grateful spirit shines. Of course, I was already in mode from all the lovely comments your left for me. Thank you so much!
I agree, I can't believe this is your first dabbling in watercolor, it's gorgeous! I love the depth and textured jewel tones, and especially your background. You did a fabulous job!

Joan B said...

beautiful!!

Laura said...

So sorry to hear about your mother, no one loves you like your mom.
Beautiful coloring job. I had to buy this stamp after I saw what you did with it Thanks! Laura