Watercolor Inspiration

Today's inspiration challenge is from Mizue Hirano, a Japanese watercolor artist.  I found her work to be both interesting and soothing.  Here are some pieces that I found to be inspiring:

 

I love the colors and the way they all flow together. 

Here is the result of my playing:

I took the inspiration pieces a bit literally.  I also ran with the Japanese theme.  Hence the Japanese stab binding and the sentiment (From Rubbernecker).  I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks for watercolors.  I used: Mustard Seed, Worn Lipstick, Fired Brick, Aged Mahogany, Dried Marigold and Spiced Marmalade.  I thought it could use a bit of glimmer so I added a bit of Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls to my paint tray and highlighted some of the areas.

It is out of my usual pattern--for certain---but I had fun.

Now, about the baby card.  The results of the poll can be seen HERE.  Thanks for the opinions!

I have decided to send the sleeping baby now--and the Blessings for the baptism.  That idea was inspired by Broni.   Thanks all for tolerating my indecision AND my flirt with blog toys!

Hope you are having a fabulous fall weekend like we are having here!!

 

Arigato for Treasure!

Arigato is Japanese for thank you. I know this because I have my son and he has streeeeetched my horizons and perspectives as few other people in my life have. Because of my son, I have been to Karate lessons, learned various Japanese phrases. Because of my son, I have learned more than I would ever want to know about Japanese culture. Because of my son, I HAD to have this Samurai stamp!!!

The Samurai was stamped with Frayed Burlap Tim Holtz Distress Ink. The distress ink stays wet (wetter than most dye inks) enough to heat emboss--so I heat embossed it with clear ink. I then watercolored with various colors of distress ink. I like the aged look of the result--little spaces of white around most of the lines. In my research of Japanese paintings (using Google Images) I saw a distressed look--as well as MANY shades of blue.

Materials:

Stamps: Samurai, Arigato & bamboo background by Rubbernecker;
Ink: Walnut Stain and Frayed Burlap for stamping Tim Holtz Distress Ink--and more for watercoloring;
Paper: watercolor paper, Chocolate Chip (SU!); DP by Basic Grey;
Accessories: Adirondack Paint Dabber-Gold; sponge, brads, foam tape, Coluzzle;

Well, it’s Tuesday and you know what that means – it’s Treasure Hunt Tuesday at Rubbernecker. Make sure you visit the Rubbernecker BLOG to find your clue to the treasure and to check out the weekly sale products. You’ll also want to visit my fellow Design Team Members to see what they’ve been up to:

• Bev - Savor the Journey (Blog Candy)
• Broni - Splashes of Watercolor
• Candy - Candy's Land
• Sherry- Walkin' on the Bad Side
• Kittie - Kittie Kraft (Blog Candy)
• Linda - Linda’s Works of Heart
• Shelly - Stamp with Shelly
• Tami - A Walk on the Mild Side

Arigato for stopping by here today!!

Asian Fall and Treasure Hunt Tuesday

First.....
Arrrrrrr ye mateys, it be a Tuesday and ya know what that means. It’s Treasure Hunt Tuesday at Rubbernecker Stamp Company. Put ye swashbuckling skills to the test and plunder all the treasure that be waitin’ fer ya. Set sail along with me mates and join us fer the first clue. Along ye way, there are a few ports ya need be stoppin’ at. There be some extra to be found today – set sail now and visit Broni and Linda for a chance to win a $10 Rubbernecker Gift Certificate! After ye stops there, head on over to Rubbernecker where ye will find the first clue and more deets on how ya may claim ye bounty! While ye are sailing around today, make sure ye stop and visit the rest of me mates, Shelly, Tami, Kittie, Sherry, Bev, and Candy.
You’ll also want to take note that the MINI SCOR-IT and Colorbox Fluid chalk Full size pads are on sale. And all orders containing $25 in product (not stamps or cushion) will receive a 10% rebate (rebate based on subtotal after all discounts taken) on the entire order.
Now for today's card...

To make this card I used the chalkboard technique for the main image. I colored the tree, leaves and moon with colored pencils, and the clouds with chalk (pastels). The background is made using the faux dry embossing technique.

Materials Used:
Stamps: Asian Fall by Stamp Oasis; Bamboo Background by Rubbernecker;
Paper: Black, Basic Gray, and Chocolate Chip (SU!);
Ink: White pigment ink; Weathered Wood Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger);
Accessories: Prismacolor Pencils (Sanford); chalk (SU); White Gel pen (Inkssentials); ribbon; foam tape;

Have a great Tuesday!! Thanks for stopping by!

Challenged Dragon

This is my submission for this weeks Rubbernecker Blogger Challenge (#16) and the SCS Color Challenge (#173).

The RBC #16 asks for the use of Grungeboard or chipboard.  I used some flourishes from the  Grungeboard Minis set.   I inked them black and then spritzed them with a mixture of Black Soot ink, Perfect Gold Perfect Pearls and water. The flourishes are VERY sparkly IRL--Trust me!

For the color challenge (Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, and Certainly Celery) I substituted Old Olive for the Wild Wasabi, since I don't have any WW.   The border is watercolored with varying saturations of old olive ink and then some certainly celery ink.  The Dragon is watercolored with Pure Pomegranate ink--for depth it is tinged with black soot and worn lipstick (TH Distress ink) in some places.

I had a lot of trouble photographing this--I have not perfected my photo set up at the new house.  The contrast on the dragon is a little greater--but again, you have to trust me on that one. ;)

Materials Used:

• Stamps: Asian Stamps from Rubbernecker;
• Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Old Olive, Certainly Celery (SU!) Black Soot and Worn Lipstick Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger)
• Paper: watercolor paper, Old olive, certainly celery and black from SU!; light celery (Colorbok)
• Accessories:  watercolor brush, grunge board, mini mister, perfect pearls

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

Asian Summer

I was just playing with my RubberNecker stamps in between packing boxes and organizing clutter (yes, organizing clutter is much akin to herding cats).  So this card took me about three days to complete.  Until after the move--this is the way it is going to be for me.  I am truly grateful to have stamping to help me release, though!

I am NOT happy with how the sky turned out.  I need  a sky blue pencil (not even sure they make such a thing)--I am kicking myself for not raiding my kids' colored pencils (SURELY they would have such a color).  The blue I used is too violet to go with the sea (which I am more happy with).  BUT this is my first time coloring this stamp and I was NOT about to throw away a couple of day's efforts.  SO--what color is the sky in YOUR world???

I would hope not this grayish-violetish-light blue!!

There is also lots of shiny stuff on this card: Diamond Glaze, Stickles, and Liquid Pearls.

The layout evolved from the size and shape of the scraps in my scrap drawer. 

Materials Used:

• Stamps: Asian Summer and Takeko from Rubbernecker;
• Paper: GP white; Teal, Celery, Olive, and Black (SU!);
• Ink: StazOn Jet Black; Black Soot Distress Ink (Ranger);
• Accessories: Diamond Glaze (Judikins); sticker pearls; Stickles; Liquid Pearls; Prismacolor Pencils + baby oil;

Well, it may be a day or two before I am back--I will see how many boxes I can get packed.

Thanks for stopping by!