Apr 30 2009
Flourishes Friday Focus: Watercolor
It’s that time of the week again when one of our Flourishes gals chooses a stamping subject to focus on and the rest of the team pitches in with samples. Today, Julie has written a post about creating art on watercolor paper. You can read all about it on the Flourishes Newsletter.
My card today features Sweet Violets (oops - temporarily sold out, I guess) which I watercolored with water-based markers. I use this method most frequently when watercoloring images like this, and have mentioned it often in the past, such as in this post with the Sweet Peas. Today I was attempting a particular shade of pink-violet and didn’t have the exact marker shade to accomplish that. However, just as you can mix ink colors on a palette before applying to your paper, you can overlay marker colors on your paper to achieve a desired shade. I painted these flowers in pink first, and then orchid to end up with a fair match to one of the varieties of violets that grow in my garden.
I used one of my pre-made layouts for which I’d already cut the watercolor image panel and mat. I love the versatility of a large, detailed stamp like this since any area of it can be isolated for a different look every time. The simple layout was dressed up with Flourishes’ pink crochet ribbon (also out of stock?) which, in turn, was trimmed with some plum taffeta ribbon I had on hand.
It all added up to a rather vintage-looking, lady-like card, so I decided to turn it into a sympathy card, stamping “In remembrance” inside. Perhaps it’s not so much a sympathy card as a sweet and respectful acknowledgement of the life of a beautiful and well-loved woman. In the medical center where I work, we grow fond of our patients and all too often have need of a card like this.
I’ll leave you with this photo of my own sweet violets. I regret to say my good camera’s software and compact flash are not currently compatible with my laptop’s Vista, so I’m not sure what kind of garden photos I’ll have this year. We’ll just have to wait and see, I guess. Now… I know you’ll enjoy what Julie is sharing on the Flourishes Newsletter, as well as some beautiful watercolor creations by these folks: Christine, Faith, Julie, Laura, Stacy
Thank you for your time. Have a beautiful day!
Stamps: Sweet Violets Paper: Certainly Celery, Pale Plum, watercolor, retired SU! designer paper (Enchante?) Ink: Palette Umber, Pretty in Pink, Orchid Opulence, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pale Plum Accessories: Ribbon & crochet trim, ribbon slide, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
This is gorgeous.. the lay out the dp and the water coloring is fabulous.
I so love this image. It reminds me of my Mom and her love of this flower and of all things colored violet or purple. I have yet to find the time to try out your wonderful idea of pre-made layouts. It certainly worked beautifully for this card. I have wild violets everywhere in our yard, too. I allow them to grow anywhere they desire. I even love their green foliage after the color is gone.
Your card is gorgeous! I love your violets, too! I remember my mother having lots of violets in her yard…white and several shades of purple! Thanks for bringing back that memory!!
Such a beautiful card Leslie!
Leslie - you’ve done it again! I just love love love your card. I love it. Have I told you how much I love it? Well I do. Love it, that is.
Beautiful! Our back yard in New York was entirely violets in the spring. So lovely!
Oh my goodness — this is beautiful, Leslie!
Your violets are colored so beautifully and so perfectly, Leslie!! I love the pretty papers, and your trim & ribbon/slide!! Gorgeous!!
Leslie, this is just so beautiful!! You truly have a talent for colors and design. You may have convincee me to pre-make the layouts. I may even try it this weekend:) TFS
This is amazing! I just love it when you color with your water based markers…You are so very proficient at it! Wish I could come to your house and learn to color like you!! I had a feeling you worked in the medical field…you are always so kind…and it takes a very special person to work in this field
Leslie, I am such a big fan of your coloring technique. You can always find a medium between making an image look soft and subtle to vibrant. This one is no exception! Love the softness of the papers and the bold colors of the flowers make the whole card just POP!
Hugs,
Alma =)
Leslie this is beautiful! I love the soft colors, your layout and the great ribbons. I like the violets in your garden too.
Your card is absolutely gorgeous!! The stunning violets look so life-like. About 50 years ago my grandparents raised indoor violets as a hobby and when I was at their house I would help tend to them. This card brings back so many good memories…thank you!
Be still my heart! This card is absolutely breathtaking! Loved the photo of your beauties as well!
Oh Leslie, you have such a gift! Such beautiful composition! I love the colors, the partial image, the gorgeous coloring, the lace, the combination of papers. Sigh, you just make beautiful things girl! Always a day brightener to come and see them!
So delicate and pretty. Like the lace on the card. tfs
Cannnot believe that you have achieved such an incredible card
from a premade layout! WOW! That crochet lace may be out of
stock for awhile! It is so delicate! I will have to order lots of it!
Your card is stunning as usual! You always blow me away with your awesome watercoloring!
Do you have a photo editing program, like Adobe Elements? I never heard of an operating system, such as Vista, not working with a CF card. I bought a new laptop in the fall and it uses Vista and I installed Adobe Elements 6.0 at the time of arrival and I don’t have any issues. I also use a the Canon Rebel XTi. I use a Delkin Express Card reader. You put your CF card into it and then insert the reader into the laptop. Email me any questions…I’d love to help you out!
Another gorgeous, gorgeous card, Leslie!!! I love how you have your beautiful watercolored violets matted on the soft DP and that lace is just perfect!!
Leslie this is outstanding.
Gorgeous watercolor violet image Leslie. They look like one of our violets that have naturalized everywhere. Happy May Day my friend
We are sure enjoying our May (blue) month. Our blue bugle is in full bloom along with lethodora, veronica, blue violets, pulmanaria, etc. Blue everywhere 
The blue looks stunning with our flowering cherry trees. Love this time of year and……your stunning card 
TFS
So so pretty Leslie!
I really like this layout and the placement of everything. Isn’t the lace wonderful, it adds such a nice texture to the card.
Your card is stunning! I love the watercolored flowers! They look like real! And I amazed how nice the layout worked!
Your violets looks so beautiful! Hope your new computer will not dissapoint you!
This is so beautiful & cheerful. Thank you for sharing it.
Beautiful, lovely coloring and like the effect of the paper behind the stamped image!
So beautiful, Leslie!!! Such a smart idea about the layouts too (previous post)!!
racing through google reader…lots to do and then here comes this card…your watercoloring cards always stops me in my tracks and I just say WOW out loud…literally. Beautiful!
Absolutely gorgeous, Leslie — I LOVE when you watercolor!! What a fabulous sympathy card … absolutely wonderful in every way!
So beautiful! I love that you used one of your premade layouts…and did it turn out WOW!! Perfect colours and colouring, and I love the crocheted ribbon!
This is so stunning Leslie!! Oh and that lace is magnificent!
So very beautiful Leslie, a stunning design, your watercoloring is absolutely gorgeous!
Oh my Leslie! I can always count on you for a beautiful spring pick-me-up!! Your florals and watercoloring are always over the top! Just gorgeous!
This is so gorgeous! I love your watercoloring and beautiful embellishments.
Oh wow! This is beautiful, Leslie! So soft! I love the lace! (And your garden is lovely!)
This is a gorgeous card. Your watercoloring is so pretty! Great blending of the colors. Such a stunning card!
Gorgeous card Leslie and your flowers are beautiful!!
BTW I’m playing catch up with all my blog comments, from not having a computer for a few days, had to get a new one….ugh!!
This is a beauty as is the “pale” birthday card which sold at work…..I love the floral cards as I can no longer garden as I would like so I pour my floral fantasies into cards.