Clear Block Watercolor Background, Handmade Cards, Reflection/Mirror

Feb Nacho Average Blog Hop-In the Meadow

February 15, 2016

Welcome to the February Nacho Average Blog Hop featuring stamp sets found in the Occasions Catalog!

I chose to feature the stamp set In the Meadow. This stamp set is perfect for my surroundings here in the mountains of SW Colorado!

So here’s my first project using Reflection and Masking Techniques:

For this card, I started out by stamping the mountain scene on a Post-it-Note and then cutting it out to use as a mask. I positioned it on my Whisper White card front and then sponged on Marina Mist and Pacific Point inks above the mask to create the sky. I removed the mask and stamped the mountain scene using Basic Gray Archival ink. Luckily, I was using a clear-mount stamp so lining it up was pretty easy. A Stamp-a-ma-jig would be necessary if you were using a wood-mount stamp. Laying the edge of another Post-it-Note along the bottom of the of the stamped image, I sponged a line of Basic Gray ink to create the shore. Then, I turned the mountain stamp upside down and stamped the reflection without reinking the stamp. I colored the trees and bark using Old Olive and Early Espresso markers and stamped them full strength to the left of the reflection. I cleaned and reinked the stamp in Basic Gray, stamped it off, turned it upside down and then stamped the reflection of the trees and grass. I then sponged in the water using Pool Party ink. To create the small island, I used the ground image from Sheltering Tree using Basic Gray ink. I inked it up, stamped it off, then stamped onto my card front repeating as necessary until I got the effect I wanted. The greeting is from Picture Perfect stamped in Basic Gray.

A few steps, but totally worth it!

For my second and third projects, I used the clear-block stamping technique,one of my all-time watercoloring techniques.

For this card, I tapped Marina Mist and Mossy Meadow inks on my clear block “F” and lightly spritzed it with water letting the ink run and pool. I then placed the block down on watercolor paper and let it sit for a minute or so, allowing the ink to absorb into the paper. I lifted the block and set the paper aside to dry completely. Once dried, I simply stamped the trees and extra clumps of grass in Mossy Meadow and the deer using Soft Suede inks. I lightly colored in the deer by bringing in the the edges of the image using an Aqua Painter. I added some Old Olive Baker’s twine wrapped around the front and stamped the greeting from Picture Perfect in Mossy Meadow to complete.

For the next sample, I used the same technique as above, but with an added step of heat embossing.

I tapped Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Crushed Curry and Pear Pizzazz inks onto my clear block “E”, spritzed it with water and stamped it onto watercolor paper as above. After the paper dried, I stamped the flower and butterfly images in Basic Gray Archival ink, then heat embossed them using a heat tool and clear embossing powder.

In the Meadow has quickly become one of my all-time favorite stamp sets!

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to continue on through the Hop and see the beautiful creations of our talented Design Team!