Cards, Love & Friendship, Valentine's Day, Watercolor techniques

Easy Watercolor Valentine’s Day Cards

Hello friends. If you like watercolor cards but think you have to be an artist to create them, I’m here to tell you that you don’t. The great thing about watercoloring is that it doesn’t have to be perfect. Also using the correct paper helps; I used both watercolor cardstock as well as multimedia paper to test them both out and see what I prefer.

I used heart shaped wafer dies as stencils for all of these cards. The only thing hand-drawn on these cards are the stems on the flowers and the bow. Let me show you how easy this can be!

For the first card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create an A2 card base. Then cut another piece of Strathmore 300 Series Smooth Bristol Paper to 4 x 5-1/4″.

Next, I used a heart die to trace the six hearts onto my paper. Don’t go too dark when drawing. It’ll be easier to erase the remaining pencil lines after you’ve colored everything. I used my Ken Oliver Color Burst Brights Powder for this card. I added splatters with the same colors as well as some gold splatters using the Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS.

Once the paint was dry (make sure to let it dry fully), I erased any left over pencil marks and sketched lines around the hearts. Feel free to skip this step or use the dies again to trace around with a pen or marker.

I die cut the sentiment and the border from Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Gold & Silver Kraft Stock Paper using the Lawn Fawn’s Henry’s ABCs and Lawn Fawn Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Frames.

On the inside of the card, I cut a strip of gold cardstock (same as the front panel) to 1 x 4-1/4″ and stamped another sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Henry’s Build-A-Sentiment – Love Stamp Set with Catherine Pooler Designs It’s a Girl Ink.

Dimensions


For the second card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 4-1/4 x 11″ and scored at 5-1/2″ to create an A2 card base. Then cut another piece of Watercolor Paper to 4 x 5-1/4″ and a piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Gold & Silver Kraft Stock Paper to 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″.

I used a large heart die to trace the heart onto my paper. I used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Paint Set for this card. I added splatters with the same colors as well as some gold splatters using the Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS. Once dried, I erased any left over pencil marks and sketched lines around the hearts.

I die cut the sentiment 3x from Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ and stacked them. I also stamped the rest of the sentiment from Lawn Fawn Henry’s Build-A-Sentiment – Love Stamp Set onto Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

I finished the card by adding some Metallic Bright Gold Nuvo Drops.

On the inside of the card, I stamped a sentiment combining the Lawn Fawn Happy Happy Happy and Happy Happy Happy Add-on Stamp Sets with Catherine Pooler Designs Rockin’ Red Ink.

Dimensions


For the third card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/5 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create an A2 card base. Then cut another piece of Watercolor Paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″.

Again I used some heart dies of various sizes to trace them. Then I used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Paint Set combined with the Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS. I mixed the pink color with the silvery watercolor. I added splatters with the same colors.

I used the Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Frame to die cut the frame from the background panel. I added black cardstock behind the panel cut to 4 x 5-1/4″ and popped up the frame using Foam Strips.

I die cut the sentiment from Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ using the Lawn Fawn Scripty XOXO and the shadow from Tim Holtz idea-ology 8 x 8 Paper Stash Metallic Jewels Kraft Stock and the Lawn Fawn Scripty XOXO Outline Add-on Die. I also stamped a sentiment from Lawn Fawn Henry’s Build-A-Sentiment – Love onto Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

I finished off the card by adding some Ebony Black Nuvo Crystal Drops.

I left the inside of the card blank.

Dimensions


For the last card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 4-1/4 x 11″ and scored at 5-1/2″ to create an A2 card base. Then cut another piece of Strathmore 300 Series Smooth Bristol Paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″.

Again I used some heart dies of various sizes to trace them and create a bouquet. I drew sticks for the stems and a simple bow. Then used my Ken Oliver Color Burst Brights Powder and Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Paint Set to color the bouquet. And the Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS to color the bow.

I added some splatters with the pink and gold. I stamped a sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink directly onto the card. I die cut a frame from Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 x 8 Metallic Gold & Silver Kraft Stock Paper using the Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle Frame.

I finished the card by adding some Metallic Bright Gold Nuvo Drops.

I left the inside of the card blank.

Dimensions


Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

Thanks for reading this post. I hope Iโ€™ve inspired you to give these easy Valentine’s Day watercolor cards a try for yourself. Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email.

Cards, Easter, Watercolor techniques

Turning Simon Says Stamp Suzy’s Watercolor Prints Into Scene Cards

Hello friends. I made these two cute Easter cards using the Simon Says Stamp Suzy’s Watercolor Prints. The prints I used are from an older set but I will link to the newer one that was released this year. I created cute scene cards by using them in a non traditional way.I love to just sit and watercolor these prints! It’s very relaxing and fun to me. If watercolor isn’t your thing you can probably use color pencils to color the images.

For the first card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base.

I used my Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set (I love this set!) to color the images. Then cut all the background white areas out and used one of the Egg framelits from Sizzix Framelits Die Set 10PK – Egg (discontinued) to cut out the watercolor print, making sure to not cut his ears. I die cut a piece of Lawn Fawn Stripes ‘n Sprinkles 6×6 Paper with the same framelit for the background.

I die cut grass from Simon Says Stamp Cardstock 100lb Green Apple Cardstock using the Lawn Fawn Simple Grassy Hillsides. I die cut two pieces of varying heights but 4-1/4″ in width and popped up the front one with 3M Foam Tape.

For the sentiment I used the Simon Says Stamp EASTER WISHES Sentiment Strips.

I left the inside of the card blank.

Dimensions


For the second card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base and a piece of Echo Park I Love Easter 12 x 12 Pattern Paper (discontinued) to 4 x 5-1/4″. I die cut a window from the panel using the Egg framelits from Sizzix Framelits Die Set 10PK – Egg (discontinued). I also used 2 of them to cut out a frame from Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″.

Once again, I used my Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set to color the images. I then placed the panel behind the window panel.

I stamped a sentiment from the Lawn Fawn Eggstraordinary Easter onto the panel with Catherine Pooler Midnight Ink.

I finished off the card by adding some highlights with a Uni-ball Signo White Broad Point Gel Pen and some Tonic IVORY SEASHELL Nuvo Crystal Drops.

On the inside of the card, I cut two strips of the pattern paper from Echo Park I Love Easter 12 x 12 Pattern Paper (discontinued), measuring 1 x 4-1/4″ and 1-1/4 x 4-1/4″.

Dimensions

  • Card Base = 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″
  • Top Panel = 4 x 5-1/4″ Echo Park I Love Easter 12 x 12 Pattern Paper (discontinued)
  • Inside Strips = 1 x 4-1/4″ and 1-1/4 x 4-1/4″ Echo Park I Love Easter 12 x 12 Pattern Paper (discontinued)

Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

Thanks for reading this post. I hope Iโ€™ve inspired you to give these cute Easter cards a try for yourself. Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email.

Birthdays, Cards, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, Watercolor techniques

3 Easy Watercolor Cards

Hello friends. Here are some easy watercolor cards anyone can make! While I am an artist I am not super comfortable doing freehand watercolor paintings. But these 3 cards were very easy to make. If you cannot draw either use a stencil, die or printable to trace a simple drawing. I used this technique for one of my cards. More on this later…

For the first card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base and a piece to Watercolor Paper to 3-3/4 x 5″. I also cut a piece of Doodlebug Dot Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints 6×6 Paper to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″.

I did a quick sketch for the egg (I actually used an egg shaped framelit die to trace the outside). I used my Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set (I love this set!) to color the egg. I kept the coloring simple – one color and white. You can be as elaborate with your painting as you like though. Once the egg and grass were colored and dry, I added some splatters with some Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS. Then I added some sketchy lines around the egg with a 0.5 Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pen.

I used the Simon Says Stamp Foil Transfer Cards Fancy Happy Easter Splendor with Therm O Web Gina K Designs GLIMMERING GOLD Fancy Foil Deco Foil for the sentiment and fussycut it out. And then also used a sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp REVERSE EASTER WISHES Sentiment Strips.

On the inside of the card, I cut a strip of pattern a paper from Doodlebug Dot Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints 6×6 Paper to 1 x 4-1/4″. And added another sentiment from the Simon Says Stamp REVERSE EASTER WISHES Sentiment Strips.

Dimensions


For the second card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base and a piece of Watercolor Paper to 4 x 5-1/4″.

While I do not have a picture of the sketch to show you, I just drew very basic shapes for the balloons. They don’t have to be perfect. If you feel like you cannot draw them, get an image from the internet etc and trace it or use stencils or dies. Again very simple painting here. This time I used one color plus a White Gold watercolor from the Zig Kuretake Gansai Tambi STARRY COLORS.

I added the balloon strings using my 0.5 Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pen.

I stamped a sentiment from the Stampin’ Up! Endless Birthday Wishes Stampset (retired) and Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink. I finished off the card by adding some highlights to the balloons with a Uni-ball Signo White Broad Point Gel Pen and some Tonic Ebony Black Nuvo Drops.

On the inside of the card, I stamped a sentiment from Stampinโ€™ Up! Biggest Wish (retired) with Catherine Pooler Designs Midnight Ink.

Dimensions


For the third card, I cut a piece of Neenah 100lb Classic Crest Cardstock 8.5 X 11″ to 5-1/2 x 8-1/2″ and scored at 4-1/4″ to create a card base, a piece to Watercolor Paper to 4 x 5-1/4″ and a piece of Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 X 8 Paper Stash Metallic Kraft Stock. to 4-1/4 x 5-1/2″.

The sketch for this card was super simple. I drew 3 hearts and a stem. I used my Kuretake GANSAI TAMBI Watercolor Paint Set again. And finished the background by adding some splatters with White and Gold Acrylic paint.

I die cut the sentiment word from Tim Holtz Idea-ology 8 X 8 Paper Stash Metallic Kraft Stock using the Simon Says Stamp Fancy Lucky Wafer Dies. And added a sentiment strip from the Simon Says Stamp Reverse Lucky Sentiment Strips.

On the inside of the card, I added a strip of metallic paper cut to 1 x 4-1/4″ and stamped a sentiment from Happy Happy Happy Add-on with Catherine Pooler Designs Lime Rickey Ink.

Dimensions


Supplies

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?id=f5e8378456858c916708

Thanks for reading this post. I hope Iโ€™ve inspired you to give these easy watercolor cards a try for yourself. Leave comments or questions below or feel free to email.