Gather Together and Watercolor Pencils

What an amazing past four days we've had!  I've mentioned our love for the sport of cross country running.  Both our daughters in high school and college had important meets Thursday and Friday and we were fortunate enough to see them.  While the high school girls team did not make it to the state championships, the boys team did so we are heading to Hershey!  Our college-age daughter ran a personal best and held her team position so that she gets to race in the Regionals meet in a few weeks (that is a meet that qualifies people for NCAA Nationals).  It was an exciting couple of days with lots of time outside in the sunshine and cool weather.  It definitely felt and looked like fall.

My card for you today also definitely looks and feels like fall.  I envisioned lots and lots of watercolored pumpkins, so I got out my watercolor pencils and Aquapainter to go along with my Gather Together stamp set.

I wanted a soft, slightly blurred look so I stamped the pumpkins in Pumpkin Pie ink.  Because this ink is dye-based, it will bleed when water is added to it.  After stamping the pumpkins, I used a Pumpkin Pie watercolor pencil to color them.  I like to use a light touch and go in circular motions when using watercolor pencils.  I find this avoids indentations in the paper and coloring lines.  It also makes it easier to get the depth of color I want - it's easier to add color than to take it away!

After coloring the pumpkins, I used a damp Aquapainter to go over them.  The colors of the watercolor pencils and the ink from the stamped images began to soften and blend beautifully!  I used a Dark Soft Suede Stampin' Blend marker to color the pumpkin stems.

Other Gather Together card details:

• The pumpkins were die-cut with the Gathered Leaved dies and adhered using Stampin' Dimensionals.  The dimensionals let me layer and tuck card elements, which I love!
• The leaves were die-cut from Come To Gather DSP, also using the Gathered Leaves dies.
• The wheat bundles were stamped in Crushed Curry ink on Crumb Cake cardstock and cut with Paper Snips.
• The sentiment was stamped in Night of Navy ink on a strip of Crumb Cake cardstock.  The right edge of the strip was folded around the Come To Gather DSP and Champagne Foil layers.
• A strand of Linen Thread was tucked amid the card elements using Glue Dots.

The Gather Together set used for today's card is the one used for my October ordering gift.  Use Host Code GZU4ASKR when you order with me and you'll receive two card kits plus their tutorials as my gift to you (a $10 value).  Shop now and don't forget to add the Host Code if your order is under $150.  If your order is over $150, you''ll still receive the card kits and tutorial PLUS you'll get Stampin' Rewards (free Stampin' Up! product of your choice).