Saturday Sketch 809 - Using Watercolor Pencils

While I'm awaiting my Holiday Catalog pre-order, I've been digging into my retired stash.  This past Thursday, I made a Double Panel Gate Fold card and used Garden Impressions Designer Series Paper.  Well, for this week's Saturday Sketch, I used the Lilypad Lake stamp set.  However, I used my Watercolor Pencils to color the images.  These are SUCH a fun product and they get overlooked quite a bit.  Check out the video to see how I colored the images, then check back next week to see how I used them to make ocean and sunset backgrounds.

Splitcoaststampers Card Sketch 809 - Pin it!

A fantastic feature of the Watercolor Pencils is the ability to add soft color or intense color.  It's a matter of layers and pressure upon application.  Color lightly and use a single layer of color for a soft look.  Color more heavily and apply more than one layer of color (letting each layer dry before progressing to the next one) for a more intense look.

There are 2 assortments of Watercolor Pencils in my store, both containing genuine Stampin' Up! colors.  HUGE plus because it means your project's colors will coordinate which means your project looks more polished.  That's a great benefit if you don't feel confident in your design skills yet or if you love a seamless look.  Or if you are an impatient crafter and want to skip to the good stuff - creating! - without fussing over color details.

I've stuffed all kinds of extras into this post for you - a video, a written tutorial, and a pinnable color inspiration graphic!

Watch the video to see how to make this

Grab the written tutorial for today's card

This week's color inspiration graphic

Shop from now through August 3 to earn $5 coupons - no limit!  And you can earn Joyful Stamper Rewards, too!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Request a catalog package here, if you don't already have a demonstrator you love.
• Subscribe to Stampin' News, a weekly email that delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a sign-up thank you!
• Shop my store and to save money check out the Clearance Rack and Discounted Bundles.
• Use this month's Reward Code to earn points towards a $50 shopping spree - read the details here.
• Join me every Thursday at 11 AM ET for my weekly Happy Half Hour Live stamping show on my Facebook page.  

Joy in being creative, community in sharing a common interest, purpose in what we make - this is stamping at its best!  Thank you, friends, for choosing me as your demonstrator!

Happy (Half) Hour Facebook Live Stamping Class

Reminder!  The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News is now delivered via a weekly emailed newsletter.  Subscribe and you'll get an exclusive pdf tutorial as a thank you.  You will not see this published anywhere else.  Thank you for your support of my business!

Every Tuesday at 2 PM ET I go live on The Joyful Stamper Facebook Page.  Everyone is invited - those of you curious about stamping, new to stamping, experienced at stamping, or already a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!  

Watch the replay below

You can find the project sheet for today's Happy (half) Hour Live projects here.

Remember, any order of $35 or more (before shipping and tax) receives the project kits for today's Live!  You can order starting now and be sure to use Reward Code AHKD9ZWS for orders under $150.  Orders over $150 will get their own Stampin' Rewards plus the project kits.  Place your order by Midnight ET this Friday!

If you are enjoying The Joyful Stamper site

• Want a catalog and don't already work with a demonstrator you love?  Request a free catalog package by emailing me at nicole@thejoyfulstamper.com or via this form.
• Never miss a beat in the stamping world - subscribe to The Joyful Stamper Stampin' News, a weekly email that specially delivers fun, tips, and specials right to you.  Sign up and get a free exclusive Stampin' News Subscriber pdf tutorial as a thank you!
• Stamping is more fun with pretty products you can count on.  Shop my store anytime to give yourself the best crafting experience.
• You'll love my crafting videos on The Joyful Stamper YouTube channel!  Subscribe while you're there and click the bell so that you always have fresh inspiration.
• Looking for community, a hobby, or a way to make extra money?  My team of My Joyful Stampers has a place for you (and the Starter Kit is the especially ULTIMATE bargain right now)!  Read more here.

Thank you for choosing me as your demonstrator!  I appreciate your business!

Another TGIF Challenge!

Aren't you in love with these summer colors?!?! They are the challenge colors this week at TGIF Challenges.  I couldn't wait to use them with the Lilypad Lake stamp set.

I stamped the water multiple times with Bermuda Bay ink, overlapping the images.  Then I took a blender pen and colored over it to slightly smear the color.  That's one of my favorite ways to use a blender pen.

I also used the blender pen to fill in my boats, flowers, and sun.  This is a fantastic way to color with a variety of hues without owning markers.  You likely have several colors of ink pads.  One blender pen allows you to use all those ink pads as a marker.  Just dip the tip of the pen into your ink pad to pick up color.  When you want to switch colors, scribble the blender pen on scratch paper until it's clear.  

There's more to this card, though!

I decorated the back of it, too!  What a fun surprise for the recipient!  Doesn't this scene make you long for a sunny day spent on the water or out viewing nature?

To create a hint of a sky, I lightly sponged Pool Party ink on the white base.  Stampin' Up!'s sponges are rather large so here's a tip for you to get the most from the package of three:

Here's my card recipe so you can make it:

• Lilypad Lake stamp set
• Thick Whisper White cardstock (5-1/2 x 8-1/2 card base)
• Melon Mambo cardstock (scrap to stamp heron twice - and is that a heron or flamingo, by the way?)
• Regular Whisper White cardstock (scraps to stamp flowers, boats, and sun)
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Melon Mambo Ink
• Coastal Cabana Ink (water)
• Pool Party Ink (sky)
• Daffodil Delight Ink (sun)
• Lavendar Lace Ink (retired) or Gorgeous Grape Ink
• Wink of Stella (applied to boats and herons)
• Paper Snips (for fussy cutting the images)
• Blender Pens
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
• Sponge (to lightly apply Pool Party ink for sky)

Psst!!  My Stampin' Up! Holiday catalog order is on its way to me so look for multiple Christmas, Halloween, and Fall Classes To Go from The Joyful Stamper.  I know you are all eager to get started on your holiday projects!  

  

Lilypad Lake Serenity

Serenity now!  Anyone else remember that Seinfeld episode?  Seinfeld was truly "must-see TV" for me on Thursday nights in the nineties.

Thinking of You cards are ones I always like to have in my stash as they can be used for pretty much every occasion.  The colors used here (Pool Party, So Saffron, and Blushing Bride) create a serene and calm mood that pairs perfectly with the images in the Lilypad Lake stamp set.  My monthly stamp group should enjoy creating this card tomorrow when we meet.  I will be opening up spots in that monthly stamp group soon, so watch for my announcement!  You'll want to join us for the fun and friendship AND to build your own card stash.

Tips and Tricks:

• Warm up cooler colors by adding a touch of gold (notice the Gold Cord tied vertically on my card).
• Add interest to a cardstock panel by tearing the top portion away, as I did with my sentiment piece.

You Can Make It!

• Cardstock: Pool Party, So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
• Lilypad Lake stamp set
• Lakeside dies
• So Saffron ink pad
• Memento Black ink pad
• Gold cord
• Seaside embossing folder
• Stitched Shapes dies

Graduation Cards using Punches

My oldest daughter graduated from high school this past Friday and she asked me to make her cards for all the parties she'll be attending.  This first design is for the guys.

I used Brusho pigment powders on watercolor paper, then punched the shapes out with the Balloon Bouquet punch.  I love that it punches out two sizes at one time!  You could also use a Real Red ink pad swiped over Whisper White cardstock to create red balloons.  To fill in the pattern a bit more, I used a fine tip journaling pen and ruler to draw lines on the white stripes.  The sentiment was heat embossed with white embossing powder.

This next card is for the girl graduates.

The same techniques were used here, but with the addition of a white twine bow.  Don't forget to stamp the envelopes, too!  That just adds to the fun!

You Can Make It!

• Stamps: Lilypad Lake (sentiment), Birthday Backgrounds (envelopes)
• Paper: Thick Whisper White, Basic Black, Neutrals DSP (retired) 
• Ink: Versamark, Memento Black, Real Red (envelopes)
• Balloon Bouquet Punch
• Brusho pigment powder (retired); Use a Real Red ink pad to substitute
• White Embossing Powder
• Journaling Pen
• Heat Gun
• White Twine

Need a Stampin' Up! catalog (a brand new one just came out!)?  If you aren't already working with a demonstrator, I'd love the opportunity to earn your business.  Contact me to request one!