So Much to be Joyful About Card & Daniel Smith Watercolors

This sweet greeting card is for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up (who doesn't love puppies!). It makes me smile. I put together the scene with some quick masking and a couple stamp sets from Dreamerland Crafts. I used Daniel Smith watercolors to color it. I just love these watercolors. They have some beautifully unique colors, such as Moonglow, used for the boy's shirt, Hematite, used in the shadows, and Buff Titanium, used on the ground. I enjoy making fluffy clouds with the simple technique described in the step-by-step. Now go out and brighten someone's day!

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Making the Card

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

2. Cut My Mind's Eye Boy Crazy 12x12 Stitched sheet to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4 inches. Adhere to card base.

3. From Dreamerland Crafts Stamps, stamp bird, kitten, boy with box, and puppies on masking paper using StazOn Jet Black ink. Fussy cut using detail scissors.

4. Use VersaFine Clair Nocturne ink for stamping: stamp puppies at an angle as shown on watercolor paper - leave plenty of room around it for the rest of the scene. When dry, cover with matching mask. Using stamp positioner, stamp boy with box (it's a little tricky but the stamp positioner will make it a lot easier). When dry cover with matching mask. Stamp bushes as shown. Stamp bird and kitten where shown; when dry cover with matching masks. Be sure masks are stuck down well, especially around the edges.

5. Cover berries in bushes using masking fluid. Have a tissue ready. For my painting, I used Daniel Smith watercolors. Once masking fluid is dry, add water to sky then drop in color (I used Ultramarine Blue) starting with the darkest at top and fading out as you get closer to the bushes. Use crumpled tissue to dab in areas of the sky to form clouds. You may use a damp brush (water only) to go over areas you want lightened more; immediatly soak up with tissue. Watercolor the ground area. Once dry, paint bushes. Work in layers, allowing each to dry before adding more color. Paint shadows. Remove masking fluid from berries and paint them. Once the background is done, you may watercolor the subjects. Again work in layers. To blend, use a slightly damp brush to soften just-painted edges. I use a fairly dry brush to add color when I want smooth blending (blot excess on paper towel or rag).

6. Die cut image using square die. I actually used a Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities 4x4 inch square die but they have been discontinued. See supplies (bottom of post) for replacement. For the mat, cut blue cardstock a little larger. I just eyeballed it by placing the image in a corner, leaving the amount I wanted as a border, then used a pencil to mark where I wanted to cut on the other sides. Note: you may have nesting dies that will cut the desired border instead. Adhere image to mat. Adhere to card where shown.

7. Stamp sentiment in VersaFine Onyx Black ink on Boy Crazy paper (I changed inks because some of the detail was lost with the Clair Nocturne ink - my ink pad is fairly new and a bit too juicy). Trim as shown and add tails. Create a mat for it in blue cardstock. Adhere using dimensional tape.

8. Die cut champagne Deco Sheets and blue cardstock to create stars using Sizzix/Stephanie Barnard Triplits Stars die set. Adhere where shown. Add sequins and star confetti where shown.

Supplies

• Dreamerland Crafts Stamps: So Much to be Joyful About (DCS17040), Mail Box & Wall (M18301)
• Cardstock: Blue
• My Mind's Eye Paper Boy Crazy - 12x12 Stitched #681002
• Masking Paper
• StazOn Jet Black Ink
• Detail Scissors
• Strathmore 500 Hot Press Watercolor Paper
• Fineline Masking Fluid
• Tissue
• Daniel Smith Watercolors
• Stamp Positioner
• VersaFine Onyx Black Ink
• VersaFine Clair Nocturne Ink
• Sizzix Square Dies (657565)
• Sizzix/Stephanie Barnard Triplits Stars (661118) - discontinued but a few available here
• Tim Holtz/Idea-oloby Deco Sheets (#TH93219) - discontinued but a few available here
• Dimensional Tape
• Sequins
• Star Confetti

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Surprise Kiss with Daniel Smith Watercolors

This is such a happy stamped scene by Dreamerland Crafts! I decided to color it with my Daniel Smith watercolors (which I love!). The secret here is to start light then layer. I love the look. The Tim Holtz/Ideaology Bouquet was the perfect embellishment to match the flowers in the image - I colored both with Twinkling H2Os. Doodlebug Design papers and Karen Bruniston dies complete the card look.

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. Cut light blue 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.

2. Cut small red striped sheet (Cream & Sugar) 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Adhere to front of card.

3. Cut a piece of Fabriano Artistico Extra White watercolor paper to about 4 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches (there will be a little extra for die cutting). Stamp Surprise Kiss in Nocturne VersaFine Clair ink using a Stamp Platform or Stamp Positioner. Also stamp image on masking paper (you may want to heat set the image on masking - it may not dry as quickly as usual); fussy cut around mask image with detail scissors. Apply over image on watercolor paper. Stamp bushes - you will have to stamp a couple times to go across card; you may want to mask the first stamped bushes when you stamp the next - if there is a gap, use black Copic Multiliner to connect them. Note: Copic Multiliners come in disposable and metal SP versions; I highly recommend the SP versions as they are refillable and the nibs are replaceable, rather than the plastic disposables that eventually go into a landfill.

4. Watercolor image with Daniel Smith watercolors with either water brush or watercolor brush. I used a number 6 Silver Black Velvet brush. Start with light washes; add thin layers (glazes) of color, allowing each layer to dry in between. Note: I used Twinkling H2Os to color the flowers - just leave them for now.

5. Die cut image with largest crosshatch oval without crosshatches. Die cut light blue cardstock with largest crosshatch oval with crosshatches; adhere to card base. Adhere image to blue oval using dimensional/mounting tape.

6. Cut one of the flower bunches off Bouquet. Watercolor these plus the ones in the image with Twinkling H2Os, Hot Cinnamon and Mallard. Once dry, adhere bouquet where shown.

7. Find "You warm my heart!" sentiment in Cream & Sugar pack. Trim away from page then add tails as shown with detail scissors.

Supplies

• Dreamerland Crafts Stamps: Surprise Kiss (D18001), Mail Box & Wall (M18301)
• Daniel Smith Watercolors
• Fabriano Artistico Extra White 9x12
• VersaFine Clair Ink Nocturne
• Stamp Platform or Stamp Positioner
• Masking Paper
• Detail Scissors
• Black Copic Multiliner SP 0.3
• Water Brush or Watercolor Brush
• Twinkling H2O: Hot Cinnamon (28412), Mallard (28412)
• Tim Holtz/Ideaology Bouquet
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company: Ovals - Crosshatch (1055)
• Doodlebug Design 6x6 Paper Pad: Cream & Sugar
• Cardstock: Light Blue
• Dimensional/Mounting Tape

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Colorful Place Fish Card Watercolored with Daniel Smith

These fish have the craziest expressions! The original stamp has a worm on a hook with a sign that says "help" but I decided to use a sentiment on the card that didn't really work well with the desperate worm, so I removed it. Watercolor is the perfect medium for coloring this card - the watery background is super easy to do by working in layers. Stickles and Clear Wink of Stella add beautiful sparkle to the card.

Affiliate links may be included in this post. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program that provides a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites at no cost to you. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. See notice at bottom of blog for a longer description.

Making the Card

1. Cut blue cardstock 4 1/4 x 11 inches; fold in half to form a side-folding 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. Cut dark blue cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 inches. Adhere to card base.

2. Cut watercolor paper (Strathmore 400 Series) to 4 x 5 1/4 inches (you will trim off a small amount later, I usually make it a little larger for wiggle room when centering). Before inking, you may want to cover the worm on a hook area on the stamp with Post-it tape, or just be very careful when inking so as not to get any on that part of the stamp. Remove the Post-it tape before stamping. Use a Stamp Platform or stamp positioner to stamp fish in waterproof black ink (e.g. Archival Jet Black) on the watercolor piece you just cut. I recommend a positioner because the watercolor paper will probably have texture. I stamped my image a couple times. Stamp the sentiment where shown using the same ink.

3. Watercolor image. I used Daniel Smith Extra Fine watercolors. If you are interested in these watercolors, I highly recommend getting the dot chart. This allows you to try all the colors, getting an idea of which you might like best. The chart also includes transparency and lightfast ratings. Eventually I plan to do a review, so stay tuned! Also paint in the sandy sea bottom and some kelp (I did these fairly lightly since I'll add Stickles later).

4. My bubbles got a bit too much blue on them so I used a white gel pen to create highlights. I still wasn't happy so I tried using Nuvo Crystal Glaze on them. This is the first time I've used it. They dried 3 dimensional but they were dull, not shiny. I'm not sure if this was due to the gel pen or paint but I didn't like it so I added Crystal Stickles on top to give them sparkle and cover the dullness. I finally liked the way it turned out.

5. Add different colors of green Stickles to the Kelp. I used a small brush to apply them - the nozzles were too big for precision. I used: Patina, Lime Green, and Distress Stickles Forest Moss. For the sand I used Distress Stickles Scattered Straw. I don't believe they make Distress Stickles anymore, although you can still find them around. You could try substituting Sandstone, Platinum, or Mercury Glass Stickles for the Scattered Straw and Pine for Forest Moss.

6. Optional: add Clear Wink of Stella Brush to the rainbow fish.

7. Adhere image to card base.

Supplies

• Rubbernecker Stamps: Luncheon Meet (86-17), Create a Garden 2 (3009)
• Cardstock: Blue, Dark Blue (These have a turquoise hue to them.)
• Watercolor Paper (e.g. Strathmore 400 Series)
• Watercolors (e.g. Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors)
• Stamp Platform or Stamp Positioner
• Waterproof Black Ink: Archival Ink Jet Black
• Nuvo Crystal Glaze
• Wink of Stella Clear
• Stickles: Crystal, Patina, Lime-Green
• Distress Stickles: Forest Moss (sub Pine Stickles), Scattered Straw (sub Platinum, or Mercury Glass Stickles)

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