Happy New Year!!! Are you ready for 2017?? I am, and I'm kicking it off by announcing that I'm very excited to be joining Happy Little Stampers' Design Team for their brand spanking new Watercolor Challenge!! It is a monthly challenge, every 1st of the month, so be sure to play along.
This month's challenge is Anything Goes, with an optional twist to use a stencil. Those who link up will be entered to win $15 to spend in the HLS shop!
For the challenge, I created a 4-bar (5" x 3 7/8") card. I cut a panel of Arches Cold Press watercolor paper to slightly smaller than 4 bar and using my MISTI, I stamped two of the butterflies from HLS Butterfly Birthday in Versamark ink. I then heat embossed them in white embossing powder.
I then used my Daniel Smith watercolors to create the splotchy background. I wet the paper first with clean, clear water with my largest flat brush. I then used a large round brush to drop various pinks and purples (including Moonglow, Rhodonite Genuine and Hibiscus). I dried it with a heat gun and then did the same again (without the clean clear water this time) and dried it again.
It is hard to see in the pictures but if you look carefully you'll see some stenciled butterflies. I used an old butterfly template and sponged Distress Spun Sugar over the dried card - as this didn't show up very much, I then tried Hero Arts Unicorn White and that worked! (See one of them under the sentiment strip).
For the gold splatter I used a smaller paintbrush to flick gold from the Finetec gold watercolor set. I then mounted the piece onto a SSS Fog Gray card base using double sided tape. For the sentiment I used a strip of the same Fog card and stamped the Happy Birthday sentiment from the HLS set in Versamark and heat embossed with The Ton's Rose Gold embossing powder. I cut a flag on the end and mounted it using foam squares.
To finish I scattered some Pretty Pink Posh sequins in Sparkling Clear, Rose Gold and Marshmallow.
Another twist on this card that you could think about is ironing off the white embossing powder before mounting the piece- I left as is but I might try that next time!
I do hope you'll join in with this fabulous challenge. The DT have lots more inspiration over at the HLS blog, and we also have Barb joining us as Guest Designer this week with a FABULOUS card. Make sure you check it out.
I hope you have a wonderful 2017 and I will see you again very soon for another challenge!!