May 21, 2015

Watercolored Fun


Had lots of fun watercoloring these butterflies with Tombow markers.



Susan Rahaila at Simplicity has been making cards with butterflies recently, so I am entering my card in the latest Simplicity one-layer challenge, which is Blossom.  Susan's online name is LateBlossom so the challenge permits you to make a card based on one of hers. 
Supplies Needed:

  • outline stamp (these are from Clear and Simple Stamps Butterfly Garden 1). 
  • watercolor paper cut and scored to make an A2 card
  • Tombow markers (or dye markers, although I prefer Tombow for this technique as the ink flows nicely)
  • water
  • brush
  • paper towels
  • sentiment (this is from Essentials by Ellen Mondo Magnolia)
  • black inks for sentiment and splatters
  • masking paper or post it notes
  • scissors to cut masks
  • optional:  black marker
  • optional:  die cutting machine (no dies are cut though!)
Steps:

1.  Color outline stamp with marker and stamp.
2.  Add darker color with marker near corners of image and in center.
3.  Blend colors by wetting the part of the image with NO color first and moving the water into the markers.   Wet the edges carefully so that they do not bleed out.
4.  Repeat for each butterfly (or your image).
5.  Add more ink with markers to deepen color.  Blend where needed.  Added feelers and dots with black marker.
6.  LET DRY.  Go eat a cookie, watch a show, clean up your space. You can dry with heat gun but that will warp the paper a bit.  I hate warp.
7.  Cut masks and then spatter with black ink.  Have paper towel ready if splatters too large.  Yikes, almost ruined the card!
8.   Stamp sentiment.
9.  Run folded card through Big Shot or other die cutting machine in order to flatten.  This will remove any warp and leave a smooth finish.  Love this look.
10.  Sit back and enjoy your creation.  Mail it!!

MOOD WHEN DONE = delighted

10 comments:

Lisa Silver said...

Gorgeous! I love the red and orange middle butterfly because of the watercolor edges and blend! SO pretty! Now I want a cookie.

Harriet Skelly said...

Thanks for the directions you used! This is gorgeous and I need to case this!

jenn shurkus said...

stunning :) love this~~~

Susan said...

Beautiful Joan! I need to use my Tombow markers more!

chinamomxtwo said...

simply stunning! LOVE.

Cardarian said...

Beautiful card, amazing technique! Thank you for sharing!

I Card Everyone said...

Joan you've managed to teach me one or fourteen things with this card! Gorgeous. Running the card through the Big Shot? Who knew?!
=] Michele

Starla said...

SMH!! All these years and it never crossed my mind to run a card through the Big Shot to flatten!! Hummmm. Guess you CAN teach an old dog a new trick!!
Love the butterflies. I am a firm believer there can never be too many butterflies!!

Leslie Miller said...

Very pretty watercoloring! I like your explanation of how you achieved this look. Thanks!

Heather T said...

These are gorgeous butterflies; I love all the blends and little layers in each wing.