Splashes of Watercolor

Today I wanted to share with you a gift I made for my daughter.  She’s a preschool teacher and will be receiving end-of-the-year gifts very soon from her students.  Consequently, she’ll need a few thank you cards.

I found this set of brightly colored/patterned note cards at Target on clearance for around $2.00!  I knew I could do something with them!  But they were such fun cards to start with, that I didn’t want to add too much or cover up too much of them.  So I just added 1 or 2 new elements to each.  Here is a group shot:

Aren’t they fun?  I almost didn’t want to give them up!

I pulled out several small stamps from different collections that I knew would look great using the fresh colors from the cards.

Gretchen’s favorite is the polka dot card with the pencil cup.  She’s already requested 2 more sets using this Lockhart image for her sons to give to their teachers.  And she wants them by next Wednesday!  Guess I know what I’ll be doing this weekend! 

Besides the image, which was colored with Prismacolor pencils and cut with a circle Nestabilities die, I only added the strip of ribbon.

This slice of lime card is one of my favorites.  I think I just love the freshness and the simplicity of it.  I stamped the lime from Stampin’ Up’s Tart & Tangy set in chalk ink and added the little thanks sentiment from Anna’s Posies for You stamp set from Whipper Snapper.

Here is an example of the third design of note card that I altered.  How about those big, beautiful flowers!  I didn’t want to overshadow them so I just used a piece of ribbon and the scalloped flower image from SU’s So Many Scallops stamped in chalk ink.  I topped it with a clear sticker.

The fourth design in the set of cards was so cute that it didn’t need any added stamped elements besides the thanks sentiment.  I did, however, decide to add a flower with a brad center over 1 of the flowers just for something a little different.

And here are some others, using the same lime and different images from Lockhart Stamps:

That’s it for today!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and a fabulous Mother’s Day!!!

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I’m listing these ingredients strictly from memory, so please forgive me if I forget something or I’m not too specific~

Stamps: Garden Angel, Wildflowers, Pencil Cup - Lockhart Stamps; So Many Scallops, Tart & Tangy - Stampin’ Up; thanks! - Posies for You set from Whipper Snapper

Paper: white, note cards & envelopes - Target

Inks: Palette Hybrid Noir, various chalk inks

Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, Copic markers, ribbon, prima flower, brad, Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, clear sticker, scallop punch

I’ve had a blast coloring these images of Riley enjoying different phases of his summer day.  Earlier he was in his garden watering some new plants, but we’ll save that for another post!

I’ve always thought the way Michelle Wooderson and Lisa Zappa create groups of cards, using one image (or a series of similar ones) and the same DP was a great way to save time and increase the size of your stash.  That’s what I’ve done here, and in the process realized that these cards as a series could indeed depict a day in the “Life of Riley”.

Here’s the series:

To start his day, Riley decided he’d go surfing.  Lookin’ good there, Riley!  I don’t guess he can “hang ten”, can he?? (hehe)

So after lunch and at least a 15 minute rest (…yes, Mom!) he decided to splash around in the pool a little and possibly just float awhile, while soaking up some sun. 

Finally, a nice little siesta with a cool drink is just the way to end his day!

Looking back over the series, can you see how Riley is progressing with his tan?  I didn’t realize I was making him a different shade on each card, but it sure adds to the theme, huh?

I used my new Basic Grey cupcake 6×6 pad (from Jacksonbelle Embellishments) for the patterned paper layers.  All the papers sure are yummy!  The card bases are textured cardstock - one is Wild Wasabi and the others an unknown blue (not SU).  The Surfer Riley card started with Beate’s weekend sketch challenge from last Friday - WSC42.  Then I used the same layers but moved them around for the other 2 cards.  I used the same ribbon for each card and the same Dew Drops but placed them differently.  All of Riley’s faces are raised on pieces of mounting tape.  I also raised the tops of palm trees as well on the last card.  All the sentiments are from A Muse and are perfect to describe Riley’s day!

I hope you enjoyed this little look into Riley’s world!  Making these cards certainly did add a little sunshine to my day!Please come back to visit soon!

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Stamps: Surfer Riley, Swimmer Riley, Tropical Riley - Hanna Stamps, A Muse sentiments

Paper: white, red, textured wild wasabi, textured blue, Basic Grey Cupcake 6×6 pad

Ink: Ranger Distress ink - Black Soot 

Accessories: Copic markers, EK Curvy Cutter, giga Scallop circle punch, white gel pen, slot punch, ribbon, Dew Drops (flame), Tombo mono aqua glue, mounting tape

Hi, all!

This set was made for the Featured Stamper Challenge FS57 on Splitcoaststampers. Actually the card part of the set was. Today’s artist is Paris Otremba and here is her card that I chose for inspiration: the JOY of layers.

I kept the general layout, the theme of layers, the horizontal ribbon element, bright colors and the pop-ups in the main image (her dress is popped up). I changed the theme, the shape of the horizontal layer, added a sentiment, and tied the ribbon into a knot.

I just found this Clearly Wordsworth set on sale at Hobby Lobby. I’ve always thought the little stick people were so cute, and they really make coloring easy! After I made the card, I thought it would be neat to have a little note pad to match.

Here are photos of the pieces separately (click for a larger version):

My daughter and son-in-law are headed to Mexico tomorrow for a week to attend a wedding, so this set will go to them. Hopefully, Jen will keep this note pad with her and keep notes about their trip and about the photos she takes.

The letters on the pad are American Crafts thickers. They have a sticky backing already, but just to make sure they didn’t fall off I added some Tombow mono glue to the back.

As a side note……guess who’s keeping their 19 month old son while they’re away? Yup, me!!! So I don’t know just how much you’ll be hearing from me this week. I’ll try to stay on top of things! (Supportive thoughts and well-wishes requested!!)

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Stamps: Vacation - Clearly Wordsworth

Paper: white, wild wasabi, real red, brocade blue, Basic Grey Mellow 6×6 pad

Inks: Ranger Distress Black Soot

Accessories: Copic markers, rectangle and petite oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, horizontal slot punch, wild wasabi stitched ribbon, American Crafts thickers, Tombow mono glue, mounting tape