Sakura Koi Watercolors; 6 of 6: Jill

Deep pools of aquamarine, ruby red and citrus orange (just to mention a few) are being splashed around the Studio.  Come jump in with us and get inky as we explore the wonderful palette of Sakura Koi Watercolors.

For more information about the Sakura Koi Water Color 

Field Sketch Travel Kit click "here".

Today I'm combining dies with watercolor...definitely a technique I will be trying again soon!

How about a step-by-step?

1. Die cut Penny Black 51-131 Harmonious three times from Neenah Solar White Cardstock.

2. Adhere all three layers together using Tombow Mono Liquid Adhesive.

3. Adhere thick die cut piece to Canson 140 Lb. watercolor paper.

4.  Paint directly onto watercolor paper and die cut.  Add additional layers of paint to darken die cut outlines. TIP: Use a small brush for small areas like the thin stems.  (Oh, and don't forget those splatters. :) )

5.  Stamp sentiment, Penny Black 30-283 Snippets, onto circle using VersaFine Onyx Black ink. Distress Edges with VersaMagic Wheat ink and Ranger Archival Tree Branch ink.  Adhere to card with dimensional adhesive.

6. Embellish with May Arts Twine.

7. Adhere watercolor panel to notecard using dimensional adhesive.

Thanks for joining us over the last couple of weeks as we painted up a storm here in the STUDIO.  We hope you were inspired to grab your favorite watercolors, stamps, and dies!

Sakura Koi Watercolors: 5 of 6: Elizabeth

Deep pools of aquamarine, ruby red and citrus orange (just to mention a few) are being splashed around the Studio.  Come jump in with us and get inky as we explore the wonderful palette of Sakura Koi Watercolors.

For more information about the Sakura Koi Water Color 

Field Sketch Travel Kit click "here".

One of the things I enjoy about art which makes my heart sing is that anything goes!  I get immense pleasure from pairing up different coloring mediums and building intense color.

Today I am combining the translucency of Koi watercolors and the opacity of Faber-Castell PITT Pastel Pencils.

I started by stamping the flower (Gentle Whisper 40-331 / Penny Black) in Desert Sand Memento ink on watercolor paper.  With the application of Koi watercolors the flower began to blossom into shape.

The addition of the PITT Pastel Pencils gave the flower definition. 

Gel medium was painted over the flowers to 

seal the colors and provide a subtle sheen.

The design was matted on Fall Festival Mix & Match Cardstock and attached to a white card base with dimensional foam tape.

A sentiment (Heartfelt 30-286 / Penny Black) stamped in Onyx Black VersaFine transforms this card into a birthday greeting.

Have a colorful day!

Sakura Koi Watercolors; 4 of 6: Jill

Deep pools of aquamarine, ruby red and citrus orange (just to mention a few) are being splashed around the Studio.  Come jump in with us and get inky as we explore the wonderful palette of Sakura Koi Watercolors.

For more information about the Sakura Koi Water Color 

Field Sketch Travel Kit click "here".

There is just something about the watercolor look that I fall in love with more and more each time I stamp.  I especially love how easily I can use the Sakura Koi watercolors for both painting in an image AND also for painting backgrounds as well.  

On today's cards I first painted my primary images/tags (Penny Black 40-328 Butterfly Party) and then cut them out.  I also added a few swipes of coordinating colors for the backgrounds...quick, easy, and fun!

I sure hope you are enjoying our puddle-y and splatter-y watercolor fun here in the STUDIO... I can't wait to see what Elizabeth has in store for us next week!

Sakura Koi Watercolors; 3 of 6: Elizabeth

Deep pools of aquamarine, ruby red and citrus orange (just to mention a few) are being splashed around the Studio.  Come jump in with us and get inky as we explore the wonderful palette of Sakura Koi Watercolors.

For more information about the Sakura Koi Water Color 

Field Sketch Travel Kit click "here".

Watercolors are a great way to bloom flowers in the winter!  

A quick splash of Koi watercolors on this blossom (Penny Black's Rain or Shine 30-236) and a little bit of fussy cutting and your flower is ready to go.  Simply layer it on a smaller piece of white cardstock with a free-style cut swoop, a sentiment (Rain or Shine) and an organza ribbon.

For my designs, I like to stamp the image in Onyx Black VersaFine on watercolor paper and heat emboss with clear powder.  It gives a nice, definitive edge to the fussy cut image. 

In the center of the bloom, a black brad was added for an embellishment.  The top accent strip is a white piece of cardstock that was water colored in blue and stamped with the butterfly from the same set in Cactus Green StazOn. 

Jill will be "fluttering" by soon with more colorful fun.

Sakura Koi Watercolors; 2 of 6: Jill

Deep pools of aquamarine, ruby red and citrus orange (just to mention a few) are being splashed around the Studio.  Come jump in with us and get inky as we explore the wonderful palette of Sakura Koi Watercolors.

For more information about the Sakura Koi Water Color 

Field Sketch Travel Kit click "here".

Oh, how I LOVE my Sakura Koi watercolors!  For my first project, I am using a new (and gorgeous) Penny Black brushstroke stamp, 40-332 Pure Iris.  

This was a two step technique. First, I colored directly onto my stamp using Tombow Dual Brush Pens. I lightly misted the stamp and then pressed it onto Canson 140 Lb. watercolor paper.  Now, here's where I grabbed my Kois... In order to add additional shading and dimension to the flower and background, I painted right on top of the stamped image using the Sakura Koi watercolors.  These paints blended beautifully with the original marker color beneath.  To finish things off I added a few paint splatters and also some subtle background text stamping (Penny Black 30-238 Footnotes) using Ranger Archival Ink in the color of Tree Branch.  I removed some of the ink from the text stamp with a baby wipe before stamping for a light, vintage look.

And stay tuned, in a week or two I will have a video demonstrating this technique using another new brushstroke image from Penny Black.  

Sakura Koi Watercolors; 1 of 6: Elizabeth

Deep pools of aquamarine, ruby red and citrus orange (just to mention a few) are being splashed around the Studio.  Come jump in with us and get inky as we explore the wonderful palette of Sakura Koi Watercolors.

For more information about the Sakura Koi Water Color 

Field Sketch Travel Kit click "here".

Today I am jumping in the pool of watercolors with two approaches.  One is traditional and the second is abstract.

The fashion girl (Penny Black - 4391K Dressed to Impress) was done in a traditional approach.  After stamping the image on watercolor paper in Onyx Black VersaFine and heating embossing with clear powder, the Koi watercolors were applied with a paintbrush.  A second dress overlay was created for added dimension.

The second approach was more abstract.  Clear gesso was pounced on the cityscape die cut (Penny Black - 51-017 Downtown) and (after drying) the die cut was "smooshed" into a puddle of blue Koi watercolor that I created on my craft sheet. 

A few crystal gems and a simple sentiment complete the design.  

Up next, Jill dives into our Koi palette!