Oh what a day!!!

   Not only did I have a great day yesterday meeting up with old family friends, today is also awesome because it's Day 1 at my latest  Online Class -- Watercolor for Cardmakers, which I already am loving.

Watercolor for Cardmakers

    I spent a lot of time cleaning up my craft space last night and had all my new "Watercolor" supplies all ready to use bright and early this morning.   I couldn't wait to be done with my morning 'chores' so that I could jump right and get started.    I also totally LOVED all three of the cards and techniques that were shared with us today and had a big laugh listening to Laura Bassen, who was one of today's Guest Designers.  If you know her, then you'll know her videos are always a joy to watch and she has a wonderful sense of humor, making them extra special.

    Now, as is always the case with any of these fabulous online classes, I can't share all the new ideas or techniques with you, or any of the exact class content, as that of course of Copyright protected and provided for those who are enrolled in each class!   But, I can say, that if you love online classes, love the style of Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner and many of the groups they design with, then you will LOVE this class and you still have plenty on time to enroll and not miss even one day!!   If you want to join, just go HERE to to the main classroom, select the Watercolor class and sign up!  

    I'm sharing three new cards today and each one was created based on some of the techniques, ideas and tips I learned from today's videos and the awesome designers who created them especially for class.   Jennifer Rzasa is fabulous with Watercolors and she has already put a lot of time into this class and shared so many great tips and hints all about watercolors and the types etc., before class began.   I really love her teaching and also am loving the brand new stamp line "Altenew" that she and Tasnim Ahmed, recently introduced to the crafting world!
   
    This is the first card I created today and it is roughly based on the ideas that Jennifer shared with us.   I used a new set of really pretty inexpensive watercolors that I had picked up from Amazon and along with some Strathmore watercolor paper that I had in my stash.   My stencil is from from Hero Arts and is called "Tweed Pattern" and I also used a fun set of Paper Smooches stamps for my sentiment and black ink spots.    Of course, I quickly learned why some watercolors are better than others and why using the cheaper brands may not be your best choice if you find your LOVE to create in this style.  I have other sets and had picked this one up, because I loved the purples/pinks, but they did not show up all that well on my paper!  You see a LOT more pink, than purple, which is pretty, but was not the initial color scheme I was hoping for.

   For me next card, I used Ranger's Distress Inks, which I always love because of how wonderfully they react with Water and on this card I used a sheet of Ranger's own watercolor paper and a very intricate new stencil by Memory Box called Flourish!!  I also added on a die cut butterfly that was also water-colored and stenciled, in a class I  had taken previously.  I also added a "thank you" sentiment, from the "Messages with Flourish", Hero Arts Set, and heat embossed it in white, however it's not showing well, so I think I will cover it with some matching paper red or lavender paper and then re-stamp my sentiment.  I'll share an update after I have that done.

   And now for my final card for today, which is my favorite, and also the one that was the easiest to create.  Go Figure?  This was very much based on the card that Laura shared in her Video, which I knew I loved from the moment I saw it.   It too was created using Distress Inks and this time, I knew it would work best if I chose 'deep/darker' ink shades, which is what I did.  I also added in some shimmer by misting my ink with Perfect Pearls mist versus water and again used some Ranger Watercolor paper.  Once it was done and dried, I cut it down and matted it onto a piece of black cardstock and then added it to a yellow "Hero Hues Sunshine" card base!   I finished it off with some black sequins and added my sentiment, which is from Winnie and Walter and was stamped in black Versafine ink.   

   Now, I am heading back to my desk to work some more backgrounds, while I still have everything out.  I'm also going to fix the sentiment (in some way) on the second card, so that it shows better!!   I'm also going to be adding my cards to the Student Gallery and can't wait to see what everyone else created today!!

    Be sure to stop by again tomorrow, as I plan to work on Day Two projects, after I get back from my Chiro adjustment!  I also have more news to share this week and it's pretty special, so stay tuned for the details.