Handmade Watercolor Christmas Card

This month, I challenged myself to transform the stunning leafy branch from the In Our Hearts Always stamp into a handmade watercolor Christmas card. There is something so satisfying about finding new ways to use a favorite stamp set. Pajama Crafter Stamps products mix and match beautifully, and I love how the lovely branch image became a Christmas branch for the March Splitcoaststampers Fan Club Christmas Challenge and this week's Featured Stamper! 

For my card, I began by stamping the elegant leafy branch from the In Our Hearts Always stamp set by Pajama Crafter Stamps onto watercolor paper. I painted the leaves in rich Christmas greens, allowing subtle variations for depth and movement. It’s amazing how different this branch feels depending on how it’s used—it looks completely transformed compared to my Sweet Baby Under the Leaves card, where it takes on such a soft personality.

To turn the branch into a holiday image, I stamped ornaments from the Wienerful Christmas stamp set hanging below the leaves. I painted the round ornaments a rich Christmas red, adding a touch of green at the base for shadow. The other ornaments were a mix of deep blues, again with subtle green shading to give dimension and cohesion.

Once the watercolor was completely dry, I used a ruler and a fine liner to “hang” the ornaments with straight ink lines. 

I added generous paint splatters in blue, white gold, and yellow gold for a festive sparkle. The splatter brings energy and texture while still keeping the card elegant.

For the finishing touches, I stamped the sentiment “Happy Christmas” from the Woodland Christmas Eve stamp set onto a rounded-edge square. A gray card base and a thin navy layer beneath the watercolor panel add contrast and sophistication.

I love how mixing Pajama Crafter Stamps sets creates an entirely new look. If you’d like to see how I used the same sentiment and other elements from the set differently, take a peek at my Cozy Woodland Holiday Card, where I used patterned paper and markers for a warm party feel.

You can find more inspiration from the recent Pajama Crafter Stamps release here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Fall Watercolor

Hello!  It's Watercolor Wednesday at SCS and Brenda has chosen a striking tutorial for us to follow. I diverged from the path when I saw this week's FB Art Nudge Challenge. I changed the oval setting to a circle and changed the winter scene in the tutorial to a fall scene. I thoroughly enjoyed the tutorial. Perhaps at a later date, I can paint four seasons!  

The Watercolor Wednesday Challenge and the FB Art Nudge Challenges are free  and we would love to see your beautiful work at both challenges!  

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

 

Cotton Swab Berries

For Watercolor Wednesday we are using cotton swabs to make berries! 

I painted a branch and then added the berries.  

The sentiment is from one of the beautiful stamp sets from IO.  

The set is Winter Hello and it's 50% off while supplies last!   

Impression Obsession store link.

Thanks for taking a look!

 

Pop the Bubbly for IO Team Favorites

 "Pop the Bubbly" is a fun sentiment and included in the Wine Sayings stamp set.  This is a sweet set for celebrations regardless of whether you celebrate with non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages! We enjoyed delicious sparkling grape juice in fancy glasses last Christmas. 

 I love the delicious feeling I get when I watercolor so I had a lovely time coloring these glasses from the Wine Sayings set.   

Stop by the Impression Obsession Blog for a list of all the Team Favorites! 

Cute Ballerinas

Hi!  Today I am featuring two cute ballerinas on the My Sweet Petunia Blog.  The MISTI tools are essential when stamping on watercolor paper! Stop by the My Sweet Petunia Blog for all the details.  If you love these sweet ballerinas you can find the Tutu Cute stamp set at Impression Obsession!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Peace & Joy for Watercolor Wednesday

Hello!  This week's Watercolor Wednesday Challenge at SCS is to paint a beautiful winter scene inside an ornament by Harriet De Winton. I added a sentiment from Joyous Christmas and die-cut it with the Coordinating DIE.  

 

Thanks for stopping by. We hope to see you in the SCS Galleries!  

 

It's Ornamental

This week, we are painting branches with ornaments for Watercolor Wednesday. We followed this video. I enjoyed the process. After this practice, I realized I needed to purchase a different brush to paint better pine needles, but I had fun.

The challenges at SCS are free and never expire, so stop by and join us!

Thanks for stopping by!  

 

Watercolor Wednesday - Water Tips

This week, for Watercolor Wednesday at SCS, we are painting bodies of water.  At SCS the challenges are free, and members even have their own gallery to feature art projects!  I hope to see you there!  

I used the beautiful Cattails & Geese Slimline stamp set by IO.  This is a two-piece stamp, allowing lots of variations for greater creativity. Today, I chose to use just the ducks.  

The sentiment is from the Chili Peper Sayings, which is an adorable set that pairs beautifully with the Chili Pepper die.  This little sentiment set is a great value that can be paired with the die or stand-alone!  

Cattails & Geese

Chili Pepper Sayings

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Not Rushing, Just Painting!

Hi!

Don't get spooked by the Thanksgiving greeting; as a cardmaker, we get ahead of ourselves so our cards are ready for sending! This week, for the SCS Watercolor Wednesday, we are painting pumpkins! Brenda chose a Dina Kowal tutorial. I enjoyed painting my pumpkin with her pumpkin lesson. Since I have the same paper pack Dina used for her card, I decided using the same background paper she did would be fun!

Here is what I used:

Fall Sayings (sentiment)

Fall Floral (paper pack)

You can check out what's new at IO, HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Mini Abstract Watercolor

Hello! It's Watercolor Wednesday at SCS. We are taking instruction from a beautiful video from Karen Rice Art this week.  

I titled the painting in the foreground, Make a Splash. In the mini painting behind the first one, I was drawn to the scarlet moving into the gold, which made me think of change.  So I titled it Bravery in Change.  

I decided against titling them on the cards because these might evolve into backgrounds for stamped images.  Or I might add a stamped sentiment at the spur of the moment when a recipient comes to mind.  

I taped off three sections and followed many of the techniques in the video. However, I forgot several steps from the video as I was immersed in the process! 

I used Daniel Smith Watercolor, Scarlet Brusho, salt, and white Gouache.

Thanks so much for taking a look!  

 

Watercolor Wednesday - Water Line Shadows

Hi, It's time for a new Watercolor Wednesday Challenge at SCS, and it's my turn to host.  Recently, I saw a new video from Lydia that would be perfect for this week.  I am still tired from all the wedding excitement, and our next event is a college graduation, so I enjoyed the relaxing exercise of painting water!  Our focus for the challenge is to paint the object's shadow below the water line.  I also added Lydia's fun technique of adding a surprise color to the image. 

SCS is a free online artist community.  When you join, you have your own gallery to add photos of your projects.  I have been a member since 2011!  I love the gallery, daily challenges, and friendships that SCS allows.  If you haven't joined, we would love to have you!   Let me know your username if you are, or become a member so I can follow you!  

Fishing and More - IO May Limited Edition Kit Release Hop & Giveaway

**Affiliate links are used when possible at no charge to you!**

The IO Team is sharing the May Limited Edition Kit Release this week. The new Release is full of outdoor images!  It's perfect for the outdoor enthusiasts in your life!

I had fun stamping the lure images for this card to make the background paper.  I used the Oval Labels and Stitched Slimline Layers for the sentiment.  

On May 1st & 2nd, the Impression Obsession Team will share new projects with the May Limited Edition red rubber stamp set. You can find a daily list of participants on the Impression Obsession Blog through the event.

Two lucky customers who place an Impression Obsession order during the Limited Edition Set release week (May 1st– 7th) will be chosen and will have a special Impression Obsession prize package added to their orders!

IO Stamps Blog

Angela Bode

Anna Wight

Dina Kowal

Giovana Smith

Jeanne Streiff

Laura Fulcher

Water Techniques - IO January Release & Giveaway Day 2

Today, I am featuring three simple water techniques for Day 2 of the IO January Release! 

The first card was ink-blended and then sprinkled with water. The technique is simple, but it adds a lovely textured look.  

Featured Items:

  Rose Outline Stencil

  Knit Together, Sock Friends 

For the next card, the background was created by swishing cardstock through a puddle of watery ink.  

The Hold it Together stamp has large office desk images that are fun to use. I stamped the clip once on the background and a second time on cut cardstock in the shape of notepaper.

 

Featured Items:

Hold it Together

The last technique is watercolor.  I had great fun scattering the images and then painting them with watercolor.  

Featured Item:

Paint Power

New this month are 15 beautiful BASICS Patterned Paper packs. CLICK HERE to see all the colors!

To shop the complete January Release, click HERE.

January Release Hop Details!

• On January 15th and 16th, the Impression Obsession Team is sharing projects with the NEW Limited Edition Red Rubber Kit! You can find a list of participants on the Impression Obsession Blog every day through the event.
• We are giving away Three $25.00 Gift Certificates for the event; the more you comment through the Kit Hop, the more chances to win!
• All comments for the event days will be open until January 24th at 8 PM CST.
• All winners will be announced on January 26th on the Impression Obsession Blog.

IO Stamps Blog

Giovana Smith

Jeanne Streiff

Laura Fulcher

Laura Williams

Angela Bode

Dina Kowal

Good luck with the giveaway!

Keeping It Simple for Watercolor Wednesday

Hello, for Watercolor Wednesday this week Kia is encouraging us to "keep it simple" by painting a stamped image.  She has selected a lovely video by Lydia Fiedler to inspire us.  In the video, Lydia is painting a Pooh image so I decided to use a Pooh image from the new IO Limited Edition September Kit. There are the sweetest sentiments included in the set and I think I will stamp one on the inside but I decided I just didn't want to interrupt my sky with a sentiment.  

Thanks for stopping by!  

 

Watercolor Wednesday - Night Sky

Hello, welcome to Watercolor Wednesday!  I am hosting this week's challenge at SCS.  We are following a tutorial by Kolbie Blume.  

I painted the night sky and then splattered gouache for the stars.  My gouache splatter was too watery and spread beyond the size of stars in a night sky.  Turns out, I have a snowy night and not a starry one!  

At the end of the video Kolbie Blume, suggests journaling what we LOVE and what we LEARNED about our paintings.  I like that idea instead of pointing out everything that is wrong, as I tend to do.  

What I love: I achieved a bright night sky as well as darker edges to the sky and dark trees.  

What I learned: I need to practice scumbling and making pointy trees.  I need to check the thickness of the guache before splattering.  

The sentiment is from a new set, Anytime Sayings and the die used to cut out the sentiment is from Rounded Rectangle Layers.

 

It's always free to join in the fun at SCS, we would love to see you there!  

 

A Note

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for Watercolor Wednesday!  This week we are painting loose flowers and adding dark lines with pencils.  I definitely stretch myself when drawing instead of using a stamp but I cut myself slack and use stamps for the greetings!  This is from the More Basic Greetings stamp set from IO.  

 

Poppies and a Fancy Paint Brush Holder

Hello!

It's Watercolor Wednesday and a DTGD Challenge combined!  

Our watercolor challenge is Tips to Paint Light.  As usual, I want more practice but I did enjoy painting.  I used the stamp, Wish Flower from Chocolate Baroque that my sweet friend Janine gave me!   I masked off the words because they were not going to work on the watercolor paper.  Then I worked with the goal in mind to keep as much light in my painting as possible. Definitely need some practice.  :)  

I am also playing along with Janine's DTGD Challenge to use poppies.   This year is a fun year for DTGD as it's the 15th Anniversary.  As a gift to the paper craft community, the challenges are open to all and that means a chance for a prize is also open to all!  We hope you will join us!

The cute little paintbrush holder in the staging of the photo is a gift from my dear friend Ceal.  

I am truly blessed with beautiful friends.  

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look.  I treasure your visits!  

 

Butterfly Practice

Hi!  It's Watercolor Wednesday and we are celebrating our 100th challenge! We are following a super fun tutorial with sketchbook ideas.  In this video, Shada Campbell encourages playing around with brushes and not worrying over perfection. This was so much fun; I felt like my practice, although imperfect was good enough to become a card.  We would love it if you joined us!  

If you haven't seen my Going, Going, Gone post, I hope you will stop by.  There is a bit of news and a discount mentioned.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

***Affiliate links used when possible at no charge to you!***

Knit Together Sock Friends ( sentiment)

 

Color blocks for Watercolor Wednesday

Hi!  It's time for this week's Watercolor Wednesday Challenge.  It's my turn to choose our tutorial and I forgot two things.  1) I don't do measuring and aligning well, 2) I don't doodle.  Totally laughing at myself because that is basically what this challenge is!  

My first card uses my less expensive paper.  It really took the water, paint, and salt well, I think.  I would use it again for something like this.  My only issue with it is the hard lines can be seen on the tape lines.  I added Sizzix/THoltz wildflowers.  (because like, I said, I can't doodle)

This version is on 100% Cotton, the good stuff!  This shows the salt better because 100% cotton stays wet longer.  Oh, check out the bursts of color.  Can you believe I doodled on the good one?  Well, here you go.  After trying for light and pretty flowers on a piece of scrap paper, with no success, I might add, I did this.  I looked at the wildflower dies and loosely used one of the dies as a jumping-off spot for my wildflower.  

Thanks for stopping by!  

 

An Exercise in Value

Hello!  It's time for a new Watercolor Wednesday Challenge!  

This week we are following a tutorial by CreationsCeeCee.  Her art is stunning.  I had a lot of fun with this because lately, I am loving circles.  I definitely need more practice but for a first try, it's not bad!  In the photo, the Iridescent Gold paint is really popping but it's a bit more muted IRL, which is more attractive.  

**Affiliate Links are used when possible with no additional cost to you!**

Here is what I used:

Arches 100% Cotton Watercolor Paper

Daniel Smith Watercolor Paint

Thanks for stopping by!