The Paper Players are featuring a color challenge this week. The challenge hostess, Jaydee, selected the classic color combination of Real Red, Basic Black and Whisper White. Plus she provided us with this beautiful inspiration photo.
I substituted Cherry Cobbler for Real Red, and decided to use the “Cardinal”, from the Stampin’ Up set, A Cardinal Christmas, as my focal image. I had successfully resisted purchasing this set until recently, and this is the first card that I have designed with it. I was feeling nostalgic, remembering how the cardinal had been my mother’s favorite bird. Isn’t it funny how certain stamps can awaken long forgotten memories?
The Stampin’ Schach Design Tips:
- Emboss it! Don’t be afraid to heat emboss images that you are going to watercolor! The embossing keeps the colors from “bleeding”! The Cardinal was stamped in Jet Black StazOn, and then embossed with Black Stampin’ Emboss Powder.
- Water color it! Using Blender Pens and inks is my favorite method of watercoloring. Real Red, Always Artichoke and More Mustard inks are all it takes to finish this image in a flash!
- Brayer it! Basic Gray ink was lightly brayered across the surface of the Vintage Wallpaper embossing, accenting this lovely pattern even more.
- Bling it! Basic Pearls bling up the berries, while an Always Artichoke bow, made from Stampin’ Up!s new 1/2″ Seam Binding, adds the finishing touch! If you need a refresher on how to make quick and easy bows, please Click Here to review my video tutorial.
I hope that you will join The Paper Players this week! I look forward to seeing your beautiful creations, and of course, leaving you comments! Speaking of comments, your comments are very important to me, so please, won’t you leave one before you go? And remember, if you ever have questions about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use, I am only an email away. Until next time…
Stamp Set: A Cardinal Christmas (111760); Ink: Jet Black StazOn (101406), Basic Gray (109120), Always Artichoke (105219), Real Red (103133), More Mustard (103162); Paper: Whisper White (100730), Basic Black (121045), Cherry Cobbler (119685); Tools: Big Shot (113439), Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (120175), Brayer (102395), Blender Pens (102845); Glitz and Glam: Always Artichoke 1/2″ Seam Binding (121000—Holiday Mini), Basic Pearls (119247); Other: Nestabilities
btw, this set works well with the baby oil technique…it really makes the colors rich
Just LOVELY!! I borrowed this set from a friend last year to make a few cards and a shadowbox frame for one side of the family that lost a Grandparent. Cardinals were his favorite bird and we used to find little ornaments every year and send them to him.
I love your pearl accents!
Beautiful as usual…cardinals are one of my favs too. I shied away from this as I was afraid it would take too long to color!!! You did an awesome job.
wowza, just beautiful !!
Ann, this is spectacular. The black really makes this such a striking card. As always, your little touches make this card so special.
Hugs
Jaydee
Gorgeous!!! I’ve always admired this set and you set it off perfectly!
Gorgeous and rich, Ann! I love the way you brought out all the details of that beautiful bird. XOXO
You always add something special and new artistically. Love how you highlighted the texture. Gorgeous coloring and the touch of pearls are lovely. Hugs, M
Very pretty card, love the touch of pearls.
Your card is beautiful Ann. I love cardinals. We have them during the summer and the winter as well. Try as I might I have yet to get a good photo of one. They are a very nervous bird. I am always in awe when I see one because they are so beautiful to look at and even more so when they are sitting on our feeder with the white snow all around them.
Mary
Beautiful work as usual, Ann! Love the brayering on the wallpaper–it just POPS!
ann, this card is beautiful! when you said cardinals had been your mom’s favorite bird, you struck a nerve with me as it was my dad’s favorite bird too. we lost him a few weeks ago and your card reminded me of the one i made him last christmas. thank you for all of your beautiful inspiration.
Beautiful card! Love the pearled berries
Beautiful, Ann! I love how you brayered the embossing! It really does add so much. ~Bonnie~
Gorgeous card Ann! My mom loved cardinals too. I have not touched this set after I chose it with some of my hostess award money – now maybe I will try it out! Love all the details from the pearls to the brayering! Again, thanks for the inspiration!
Chris R. from Iowa
So rich and elegant!
This is so pretty!!! Love it.
Ann I love the way you pay attention to EVERY detail. Brayering the embossed image really does make it pop.
Ann, how beautiful. I love all the rich details, especially the berries! Hugs,
Very elegant! I love Cardinals!
What a wonderful effect you have created here. The colors really set off the cardinal.
Great blog! You do beautiful work! Following along from VA! 🙂
beautiful striking card! love it’s strength! tfs! R 😉
I love this! So beautiful! I do like to emboss my image before watercoloring, but usually don’t think to do it.
Beautiful card Ann… I love those colors together,so classic…The bow really sets it off… The inspiration photo looks like my house, minus the snow…lol
hugs
Darlene-Joy