Happy Fall, Y'all! A Bugaboo Stamps Tutorial (Tutor-y'all?)

Hello, fellow stamp lovers!  As part of my duties as a guest designer for Bugaboo Stamps, I have the honor of making a monthly tutorial.  This month, being in full Fall mode (it is officially Fall now, right?!?), I'm sharing a technique I like to use for embellishing leaves I use on cards and 3D projects.

First, I'll show you the finished card, then, I'll take you step-by-step through the process of embellishing the leaves.

This card uses the digi, Pumpkin Crow (only $1 in the shop!!!!):

Now, for my secret in creating this (hopefully) realistic looking leaves.

I make a bunch of these at a time because it is a bit time consuming.

Cut your leaves out however you prefer -- electronic cutter, with dies, whatever your preferred method is.  I happen to have a Sizzix die that cuts a bunch for me at once.  I ran it through twice to get all of them that I painted for this demo.  It's probably enough to get me through all Fall.  You'll also need watercolors of your choice  -- this can be watercolor pencils, crayons, actual watercolors, it doesn't matter.  I used watercolor crayons here.  

Here's a picture of my supplies:

You can see my pile of leaves and twigs that I'm going to paint.  I just cut them out of white card stock.  They are so small that they don't really warp, so I save my watercolor paper for larger projects. There's my watercolor crayons (I prefer Caran D'ache Neocolor II) in the colors I used on the leaves, a couple of brushes, a glass of water, and some liquid pearls to add some sheen to my leaves.  There's also a piece of glass on the bottom of it all.  That's my palette.

Now, let's get painting.  Here's my palette, and my first leaves, ready to paint:

I really like using this piece of glass for a palette.  I can scribble my crayon colors on it, and have my liquid pearls there ready to apply.  When I run short of a color, I scribble some more down.  When I'm ready to switch to another color palette, it cleans up quickly with a sanitary wipe.  

This can all be done with a water brush, but I prefer paint brushes because I keep my bush fairly dry.  I either pinch it dry with my fingers, or keep a towel in my lap, and dry it with that.  

OK!  First leaves -- painted.  After I apply the color, I put a THIN coat of Liquid Pearls on the top with water and a paint brush to give the leaves a nice sheen.  You can used this same technique with glitter glues like Stickles.  It looks really nice on snowflakes!

I start out with my lightest colors first so I don't need to change my water.  I work in the basement with no sink, so I don't want to have to keep running up and down the stairs.  Starting light and working to dark saves me steps.  

Here's all my painted and pearled foliage: 

Unfortunately, it's hard to see the pretty pearl sheen on the leaves in the pictures, but when you see the card in real life, it adds a very pretty touch.

Here's the card once more, then a few details about the card itself:

I colored the Pumpkin Crow with Lyra Rembrandt colored pencils.  It had been awhile since I broke out of the Copic mold, so I figured it was time! 

Papers and sentiment on this card are from We Are 3 Digital Shop. The sentiment is from the Itty Bitty Fall Sentiment set.   Papers are from the Thankful paper collection (pumpkins) and Birthday Bouquet.

I hope you visit the Catch the Bug blog often.  There is soooo much going on there!  Challenges, Oldies but Goodies, Humor Me Wednesday, New Releases, and of course, Freebie Friday! 

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
Always Fun Challenges -- ATG
Crafty Cardmakers -- Autumn Colors
Cutie Pie Challenge -- Shades of Autumn
MMM Challenge -- Fall Colors
D.L. Art -- September Linky party

Fabulous Friend -- for Scribbles Designs

September 23 -- that means it's the day I post on the Scribbles Designs blog.  It's my day for a little Scribbles Designs inspiration.

I found this really fun owl in the shop, complete with sentiment and frame, and I decided to color it up and create with it.  I really like how it turned out! 

I used Fab Friend to create this: 

I colored Fab Friend with Lyra Rembrandt colored pencils.  I colored the leaves with Caran D'ache Neocolor II artist crayons and Liquid Pearls.  They were cut out with a die from Sizzix.  The papers are from Echo Park.  

There are many wonderful designs in the Scribbles Designs Store, and they are priced VERY reasonably (plus, lots of freebies!).  Check them out!  There's also a monthly challenge to check out on the Scribbles Designs Blog.

I'd like to enter this in the following challenges:
D.L. Art -- September Linky Party
Crafter's Castle -- optional Fall 
Send a Smile 4 Kids -- Fall Cards 4 Kids

You Got This! an MHKDesigns New Release

It's our second day of featuring one of this month's new releases at MHKDesigns.  Today, you'll find inspiration for Flutter & Fly, starting on the MHKDesigns blog.  You'll find it, all the new releases, and much more, in the MHKDesigns Etsy Shop. 

I used 2 of the butterflies in the Flutter & Fly digital stamp set to create this: 

I printed the butterflies on watercolor paper, then used Caran D'ache watercolor crayons and a water brush to color them, then fussy cut them out.  The sentiment is also from the Flutter & Fly set.  Papers on this card, also from MHKDesigns are the Flower Power Brights Digital Paper Pack. 

MHKDesigns sets used on this card:

Flutter & Fly Digital Stamp Set

Flower Power Brights Digital Papers

Have you joined the challenge yet at MHKDesigns?  It's anything goes if you use an MHKDesigns image, and there's so many great ones to choose from in the MHKDesigns Store.  It's a month-long challenge, so you have plenty of time.  Check out the awesome Facebook group, too!  You'll find us at MHKDesigners & Friends. 

Botanical Thank You -- for Pickled Potpourri

Hello, and happy Friday!  June already.  Wow! 

I've been working on thank you cards and using watercolor mediums.  I have a card to share with you today using the fabulous Pickled Potpourri Botanical Minis and artist crayons.  I also used some digital papers from the Pickled Potpourri shop for the designer papers in the background.
  

Here's a close up of the image.  This is one of 4 that comes in the Botanical Minis digital set. The sentiment is one of many beautiful ones in the Rose Sentiment Digital Set. 

The papers I used were Pickled Potpourri Distressed Black & White.

Botanical Minis

Distressed Black & White papers

Rose Sentiment Digital Set

I hope this card inspires you to try the fantastic digis  and papers at Pickled Potpourris Designs.  There is truly something for everyone in the store.  

Happy Bird Day! for MHKDesigns June Challenge

My mother-in-law celebrated her birthday yesterday.  She loves birds.  She's one of those fanatics that travels the world to add birds to her life list.  So, I made this card for her birthday, and for the new challenge that starts today at MHKDesigns. 

This card uses several sets found in the MHKDesigns Etsy Shop: 
Sea Creatures Digital Stamp Set  and Serene Seaside Patterned Digital Papers.

I colored the bird from the Sea Creatures set with Caran D'ache Neocolor II artist's crayons and a paint brush. 

Sets used on this card:

Sea Creatures Digital Stamp Set

Serene Seaside Patterned Digi Papers

MHKDesigns challenges are always anything goes, if you use an MHKDesigns image.  If you choose to use something else, here's a mood board for inspiration: 

The challenge runs all month, so you have lots of time to join the fun!  There's great prizes to win, and I'd love to see what you make!

You Touch My Heart -- for Path of Positivity

Greetings, and happy Monday!  It is a very happy Monday for me as I return to work.  I've been off for 5 months, battling cancer and recovering from chemotherapy.  I'm so happy I'm feeling good enough to return to the job I love and to the people I love at the nursing home!

It's time for a little mid-month inspiration at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog. The theme this month is "Present, not Perfect".  We want you to step out of your comfort zone a bit and try something you wouldn't normally try.  For me this month, I've been experimenting with different types of watercolors.  

One of our sponsors this month is Pickled Potpourri Designs.  I used one of the 4 images in the Botanical Minis set and watercolor crayons to create this:

I only had 12 watercolor crayons.  They were Neocolor II, from Caran D'ache.  I really liked how easily they blended and dissolved with water.  I put them on a palette, then used a fairly dry paint brush to paint the image.   The sentiment is also from Pickled Potpourri. 

I'm really enjoying the theme, 'Present, not Perfect' this month.  It has given me license to try new things and not worry if they don't turn out as great as I'd like them to.  How else to we grow, if we don't challenge ourselves to new adventures?  I hope you'll join us at Path of Positivity Challenge Blog, and try something new, too.  You have until June 4.