Thursday, July 26, 2018

Watercolored Flowers with Xyron and Derwent Academy

Xyron, Derwent Academy Collaboration, Newton's Nook Stamps

This is a collaboration project between Xyron and Derwent Academy. Derwent Academy sent the Xyron Design Team a set of Derwent Academy watercolour pencils, brushes, and a pad of watercolour/watercolor paper to try out.

Watercolour (Derwent Academy uses the British spelling of watercolor so I'll use this in the post) pencils are quite versatile, they can be used like colored pencils, or like watercolour by: scribbling some on a sheet of scrap paper and picking it up with a wet brush, coloring on watercolour paper then moving around with water, applying a wet brush to pencil tip then to paper, or applying directly to damp/wet paper.

Watercolour pencils may take a little practice to get used to. They can react differently on different types of watercolour paper (I highly recommend watercolour paper if you will be adding water). If the paper has a lot of sizing, layering might prove difficult. In this case, try doing a layer of wet application, followed by a layer of dry.

I thought the Newton's Nook stamp set Peony Blooms (sent to me for a previous collaboration) would make the perfect subject for watercolouring. I wanted a little of the creamy color of the paper to show through so I used clear embossing powder, then watercoloured everything so that the stamping would show. Embossing also gives the paint boundaries, making it easier to color.

Disclaimer: Links, affiliate links, and cookies, including those for personalized ads, may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a (very) small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut watercolour paper from Derwent Academy Watercolour Pad to 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches (keep in mind that there will be a little wiggle room, 3/8" around). Stamp "Thinking of You" in VersaMark ink in the center (leaving a little more space below). I highly recommend using a stamp platform or stamp positioner, plus a powder tool to prep the surface before stamping. Emboss with clear embossing powder and set with a heat tool.

2. Working in sections, stamp flowers around edges in VersaMark ink, filling in empty areas with leaves and buds as you like. Emboss in clear as you go.

Xyron, Derwent Academy Collaboration, Newton's Nook Stamps

3. Use Derwent Academy Watercolour Pencils and Assorted Brushes to color image. To get the center area really dark, start with one layer of pencils, mostly Dark Green, but also some Light Green in places. I used the two green pencils for variation and mottling in the background. Go over area with a damp (not wet) brush - use a paper towel to blot excess water from brush. Add more pencil - experiment with adding to damp paper; the color should come out more intense but you have to use a gentle touch or you may just push aside the color. Once dry, add more color to smooth and darken as desired. You may need to sharpen the Dark Green pencil a couple times to get into detail areas - I used a KUM sharpener (from Germany - super sharp, works great). Color flowers by adding color along shaded edges then pulling color into the lighter areas. Add a few strokes after blending to show veining.

4. Cut green cardstock 4 1/4 x 11 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch top folding card base. Cut purple cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Trim watercoloured image to 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches. Run image and purple cardstock through Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive (see photo below). Rub over top clear sheet before removing to help pick up excess adhesive. Carefully peel backing away from purple cardstock; adhere to center of card base. Carefully peel backing away from image; adhere to card base.


5. Add Limeade Doodlebug Sequins and green rhinestones where shown using strong liquid glue.

Xyron, Derwent Academy Collaboration, Watercolor Pencils

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Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Guest Designer: Karen Burniston and Darkroom Door


This project is a collaboration and blog hop/giveaway with Karen Burniston (in Cahoots with Riley and Company) and Darkroom Door. When Karen asked me if I would like to be a guest designer, I jumped at the chance. I love her dies, plus Darkroom Door has pretty cool stamps - what a great opportunity for fun! The Darkroom Door Fine Butterflies set contains many sizes of butterflies with a doodle sketch look. I decided to color them with bright watercolors to maintain this loose feel.


BLOG HOP AND GIVEAWAY!! Both Darkroom Door and Karen Burniston will be giving away prize packs, with winners randomly chosen from ALL of the blog hop comments received by Sunday, July 29th, 2018. Lots of chances to win some goodies, so just leave a comment on this post or any other blog hop post to enter!

Darkroom Door / Rachel Greig
Karen Burniston & Tanya Kostynuk
Belinda Spencer
Summer Hills-Painter 
Teresa Abajo
Karen Aicken
Anneke De Clerck
Frances Byrne
Godelieve Tijskens
Shelly Hickox
Anna-Karin Evaldsson
Mary Prasad  <--  You are here!
Robyn Wood
Fran Sabad
Connie Mercer
Kelly Booth
Autumn Clark
Helen Cryer
Kymona Tracey

Disclaimer: Links, affiliate links, and cookies, including those for personalized ads, may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.


Making the Card

1. From lightweight watercolor paper (Bienfang Watercolor Paper, Lightweight 90lb/146gsm), die cut main card die from Charm Accordion. Cut in half on fold line - one will be used for the inside of the card and one for the back, opposite the one inside. Note orientation. Stack one on top of the other lining them up such that the top and bottom hinges (top/bottom of square) have the curve towards the left. Holding the pieces together lined up (as if they were glued together, but don't glue them yet), make a small pencil mark "s" on the front and back so you know which ones to stamp later. Cut another piece the same size as these but without die cutting holes. This will be used for the front of the card.

2. From the same paper, die cut 1 bee, 3 leaf branches, 4 large flowers, 5 small flowers, 3 large center circles, and 3 small center circles (Flower Pot Pop-up). Watercolor flowers, leaves, and bee as shown (Hint: Google flower images as reference). I used Jane Davenport watercolors plus a number 4 Silver Black Velvet brush. Some flowers are double layered - color 2 layers the same and layer offset from each other. To shape: use a ball stylus to rub behind petals, flower centers, leaves, and bee body/wings (lightly); use a die pick to mark lines down the centers of petals and along leaves as veins. Shape in different directions by again using ball stylus on back tips of petals/leaves and/or along length. You want some flowers to go forward and other to go back, plus a mixture for the leaves on the leaf branches. Glue flower layers together then add centers (Lineco pH neutral adhesive in a Fineline bottle and applicator).

View from back when card is open
3. Using Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink, stamp butterfly (Fine Butterflies - on packaging, left side butterfly, 2nd from top) three times on same paper leaving at least half an inch in between. Rough cut each keeping the spaces equal around them - keep extra space for wiggle room. Cut around one of them leaving at least an eighth of an inch around - you will be cutting the other following this outline. Use a small piece of removable tape or washi tape to tape this to the back of one of the other butterflies - use a window or lightbox to line them up as best as possible. Cut around so they will each look good as they turn in the circle charm. Fussy cut around the last butterfly, removing antennae. Watercolor butterflies, including back of fussy cut butterfly in case it is seen when wings are bent up. I used a couple of the same colors as I used in the flowers. Die cut 3 butterfly bodies (Circle Charm Pop-up) from black cardstock. Adhere one to each butterfly, making sure to line up and cover printed antennae, if any. Set aside the two that line up. Go around edges of fussy cut butterfly from back side using Tuxedo Black Memento marker to hide white edges. With a ball stylus, rub on the back of wings to give them shape. Gently bend wings up near body.


4. Cut green cardstock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. Center the piece that was die cut in step 1 marked with an "s", with the curves to the left, inside the card, right side - 1/2 inch from top and sides (there will be a bit more space at the bottom). Temporarily tape in place. Put the circle charm die with the metal "wing" (Circle Charm Pop-up) such that the wing butts up against the fold and centers on the square (see photo). Use a pencil to mark around the inside edges of the largest rounded corner square - this area of the green card back will later be die cut away to allow the inside square to move. Before removing the circle charm die, also mark on the left side of the card the position of the wing (two tick marks) so you may place the die exactly when cutting the front of the card later, then remove the die.

5. Stamping card front: temporarily adhere front card watercolor piece from step 1 to front of card in same position (i.e. 1/2 inch from top and sides). Fold card and put in middle of Stamp Platform. Use light tack masking tape or Post-it tape to cover all green around watercolor piece starting with top; do not cover watercolor paper - butt masking up against each edge. Use enough tape to hold down card. Arrange clean butterfly stamps over entire card such that they will hang off edges (you can rub your thumbnail along taped card edges to better see them). I used all but the largest butterfly. Hint: after arranging, but before stamping on watercolor paper, you may place a scrap sheet over entire card area and stamp to see the arrangement, adjusting any you don't like. Stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Use heat tool to set ink before removing anything - keep heat tool moving and don't get too close - you don't want to damage the platform. Keeping stamps in place, clean with Stamp Shammy or other cleaner, just be sure not to move any stamps. Remove center watercolor piece only (being careful in case any ink is still wet). Optional: after removing, lightly pencil around inside masking tape to easily replace stamped watercolor piece later. Next, remove bottom and side strips of masking tape only, being careful not to shift card (keep bottom tape to use again in a moment) - warning: ink may not dry on masking due to its surface; check hands for ink. Stamp using Shady Lane VersaFine Clair ink. Heat set. Carefully replace tape at bottom and remove top tape. Stamp in Shady Lane VersaFine Clair ink. Heat set. Clean stamps in place. Remove card. While stamps are still mounted, stamp pieces marked with "s" one at a time by adhering to platform with a little double-sided tape. Stamp with Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink. Note: I forgot and removed the stamps so had to replace them again - you could do this to rearrange if desired. Heat set each before removing. Clean stamps and remove from platform.

6. Watercolor all butterflies on watercolor paper (don't watercolor those stamped directly on front of card). I used a Silver Black Velvet Brush number 4 for the butterflies and number 8 for the background. Watercolor is usually done in layers, completely drying each before the next is applied. If you want the color to spread and blend, drop it in while damp. You might notice my Jane Davenport custom palette in the photo (bottom right). I chose colors from three of the sets to create a split primary palette (warm and cool values of each primary) along with some convenience colors.


7. Watch the following video for the Circle Charm Pop-up, but don't assemble yet. The specific instructions will follow but it's good to know what to aim for before doing it.


8. Apply adhesive around only the edges of the watercolor panel for the front of the card as Karen does in the video; adhere to front of card lining up butterflies. Open card and place it on base cutting plate of your die cutting machine with inside facing up, front of card on left (i.e. watercolor panel under left side). Line up pivot circle die's wing with marks you made in step 4 (left side of card to cut through to front) and add some removable tape to keep it in place. From Spinner Square Pop-up, use 2nd largest square (with dots and crosses) to cut just outside marks made on right side of card - line up all four corner marks evenly. Tape in place. Die cut. Clip off front watercolored circle and tabs like Karen does in video. Keeping pieces, cut off tabs at top and bottom of watercolored circle, then cut off rounded parts leaving square part of each tab - keep squares. Train green circle to flip to front of card then glue watercolor circle to the plain green cardstock that was formerly inside the card, lining up with butterflies on front. Glue squares to top and bottom of pivot area (see photo of front of card). To create charm ring inside card (see photo of inside of card), die cut 2 tabbed circles from green cardstock. Fold each in half, lining up tabs. On one circle, tie invisible thread around top and connect to bottom along fold lines. Use glue to adhere other circle on top, sandwiching the clear thread; trim any excess thread. Glue together, back to back, the two butterflies set aside in step 3, one on each side of thread, centering in circle as best as possible to allow rotation.


9. From purple cardstock, die cut circle to frame opening on left inside card (see photo two above); adhere as shown. Glue watercolored panels cut with charm accordion die to inside right and back of card, back to back, lining up all parts. Train hinges. Glue tabbed charm circle (with butterfly) as shown in video to front circle, then to back circle (just glue to back of square as shown in photo above - you will likely have to have the card partially closed). Train card to fold correctly.

10. Cut a strip of purple cardstock 1 x 4 1/4 inches. Stamp Happy Birthday (Party Time) using VersaMark ink; emboss with Wendy Vecchi Fern Green. Adhere leaves, flowers, bee, and fussy cut butterfly where shown.


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Thursday, July 12, 2018

Screen Time Texting Card with Xyron and Lawn Fawn

Xyron, Lawn Fawn Collab - Screen Time Texting Card with Copic

This is a collaboration project between Xyron and Lawn Fawn. Lawn Fawn gave the Xyron Design
Team a $25 credit to spend on their website. They also sent us a couple sheets of paper and a length of trimmings (twin) to play with. I ordered the Screen Time stamp set and a couple small dies (not used on this card). I bought the other stamps and dies myself. I'm a huge fan of Lawn Fawn and have a big collection of their stamps, dies, papers, and trimmings. They have high quality (not to mention, adorable) products; I find myself reaching for them often!


For this card, I thought it would be fun to do a little Distress Oxide ink blending in the background using colors to match the papers I was sent. I then colored the main image with Copic markers. Since the images were so simple, I just used Post-it removable labeling tape for my masks (if you are careful, you can re-use them; I just stuck mine on the back of the stamp set).

Disclaimer: Links, affiliate links, and cookies, including those for personalized ads, may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a very small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut blue/green cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base.

2. In Memento Tuxedo Black ink, stamp boy and girl from Screen Time and cell phone from Love Letters on Post-it Tape (or Masking Paper). Use detail scissors to fussy cut around images (I cut just inside of the outer line). Stamp again, in arrangement shown, on X-Press It Blending card (or other alcohol marker friendly cardstock), leaving extra room for die cutting around it (a piece about 5x7 inches should allow you some wiggle room). I recommend using a Stamp Platform or Stamp Positioner. Hint: you may want to draw a pencil guide around the second largest die from Small Stitched Oval Stackables, just be sure to erase before inking background. Cover images with masks. Note: check that ink is dry on all masks before proceeding; I used a heat tool to set it.

3. Using a longer piece of Post-it Tape, place the top edge just above the boy's and girl's knees. Use a blending tool with Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Ink to blend background, starting from the middle on the Post-it Tape moving in circles up and out. Use the same piece of Post-it Tape on the clean side to cover the blended area starting at the line (hint: leave a small sliver showing so there won't be a white line when finished). Blend bottom with Evergreen Bough Distress Oxide Ink. Optional: to give the background some texture, lightly flick a little water over the image then dab with a paper towel. This is a little risky as the water may seep under the masks along with the ink - it happened to me in a couple places but I was able to hide it with my coloring.

Xyron, Lawn Fawn Collab - Screen Time Texting, Distress Oxide Ink

4. Remove masks. Use Copic markers B91 and the 0 Blender to add a little shading around inside of cell phone screen. Stamp heart talk bubbles as shown in VersaFine Clair Glamorous Ink. Stamp small cell phones from Screen Time in boy's and girl's hands (I chose to make them right handed so they are holding their cell phones in their left hands).

5. Color images with Copic markers. The list of colors I used is at the bottom of Supplies. In order to make the boy's shirt a similar green to the background, I had to mix a few colors. Once finished, die cut using 2nd largest die from Small Stitched Oval Stackables.

6. Die cut blue/green striped patterned paper (Let's Polka in the Meadow Collection) using largest die from Large Stitched Oval Stackables. Cut small yellow polka dot paper 4x6 inches.


7. Run the die cut/colored image along with the two pieces of patterned paper cut in step 6 through the Xyron Creative Station with Permanent Adhesive (see photo above). Rub around edges before peeling away top film sheet. Carefully remove the striped oval and center it on the yellow polka dot rectangle, keeping the latter on the backing sheet. Next peel off colored image and stick to center of striped oval. Finally peel away the backing from the whole group but don't stick to card base yet; wrap a length of trimmings around this as shown and tie a bow in front and trim excess. Adhere to center of card base. Hint: you may want to use a liquid glue to keep bow in place as well as enforce the ends of the trimmings (I just put a little on my fingers and twist the ends with the grain).

Xyron, Lawn Fawn Collab - Screen Time Texting Card with Copic

8. Stamp "sending Love" (Love Letters) in VersaMark ink on a strip of blue/green cardstock. Use white embossing powder and a heat tool to emboss (I highly recommend first prepping the paper with a powder tool); trim if necessary and add tails with detail scissors. Adhere to card where shown using foam tape (see video below).


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