Mary is our hostess in the Color Challenge this week, and she has asked us to make a card using Lemon-Lime Twist, Tranquil Tide and Gold. The dessert option this week is to use enamel dots or Nuvo drops. I'm going to ask for a teensy serving of lo-cal dessert this week! I had no enamel dots nor Nuvo drops in these colors, so I pulled out some star elements in gold. Does that sort-of count? Please take pity on me! Although I love the way this card turned out, there were quite a few bumps along the way:
I started out by taping a piece of watercolor paper to a board, and liberally wetting it with clear water. I used my Mijello Mission watercolors, and mixed up what I thought would be a good match for Lemon-Lime Twist. But when I went to put it on the paper, nuh-uh! And this is what I learned: If your watercolor paper is adequately wet, you can add more color and mix quickly with your paint brush, and change the color as you go. I did that, several times, more green, more yellow, etc., until the color matched my cardstock swatch.
When that was dry (the next day), I stamped with this pretty Hero Arts red rubber stamp, using Pine Needles Distress Oxide ink, an almost perfect match to Tranquil Tide. It looked so great! I waited a while (but not long enough!), and then applied some Micro Glaze to waterproof the piece. Y'know, that Distress Oxide ink stays wet for a long time! My first application of a little of the glaze on my fingertip, and, well, you can see that the image smeared. I decided to just forge ahead, and intentionally did the same all over the image, giving it a bit of a smeary look. I kinda like the blending of the two colors on the background! I used some Fine-Tec gold paint to splatter little drops of gold all over the image.
I cut out the image with a stitched circle die. I applied a layer of Stick-It to the gold foil and cut out the happy birthday words. I gilded the edges of the card with Inka Gold on my fingertip, intentionally smearing a little here and there on the card surface. I adhered "birthday," no problem. But y'know what? Stick-It won't stick on a surface that's covered with Micro Glaze! So I had to use liquid glue to adhere "happy" to the circle element. Popped that up, and added the stars.
Oh, and one more thing! When the card was all done, I realized I had failed to center the circle left to right on the card. It was much too close to the left edge. Not one to give up at that late date, I trimmed about 1/4" off the right side, re-gilded and called it good! Whew!
Thanks for stopping by, and please play along with us this week!
Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni Splitcoast Challenge Hostess The Charmed Life
Registered: November 19, 2005 Location: Bethel Park, Pa Posts: 37082
Mon, Nov 26, 2018 @ 8:20 PM
I always enjoy reading your card adventures and how you pull it together - I like how this one turned out - at first I thought the foliage was bamboo - you worked the inka gold to create a great accent
------------------------------ Mary Marsh SCS Color Challenge DT Coordinator My Blog- The Charmed Life
Registered: April 16, 2008 Location: Meridian, Idaho Posts: 8507
Mon, Nov 26, 2018 @ 9:11 PM
Oh Barbara, I love how you bare all in your card creating adventures! I'm there with you sistah, every one of my cards is an adventure in near disaster!! Fortunately it all worked out so well for you with this lovely card! The background color you achieved with the watercolors is so perfect and I love the delicate foliage image.
------------------------------ Stef
Splitcoast Color Challenge Design Team Splitcoast Dirty Dozen Alumni
Registered: January 20, 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 26119
Tue, Nov 27, 2018 @ 5:16 AM
You definitely deserve dessert in my books! Love the look of your watercolored panel. Your description sounds like a litany of very familiar happenings. :-) I think this looks like bamboo as well and I love that touch of Asia! Beautiful card!
Registered: June 29, 2010 Location: Recently moved to the seaside, with views over to the Isle of Wight Posts: 13689
Tue, Nov 27, 2018 @ 8:40 AM
Ha! Your description made me laugh, because we must all have been there at some time ... especially trimming up at the end! Thanks too for all the tips about glue. Your hard work was rewarded - a dreamy, leafy card.
Registered: December 3, 2013 Location: Southern California Posts: 3531
Tue, Nov 27, 2018 @ 8:50 AM
Beautiful card Barbara! And I enjoyed hearing about your trials and tribulations - made me feel not so alone. You did a wonderful job adjusting as you went along!
------------------------------ Jeanne My blog: spectrum-ink