Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Memories.....


Dawn at Wplus9 had a wonderful tutorial and example of using stamps and distress inks to make a little watercolor vignette.  I fell in love with her example, and, though this falls far short of hers, I wanted to post it anyway.  

I know I say this about many flowers at various times of the year, but lilacs are so sentimental to me.  Living at home as a child, our long driveway in the country was lined with lilac bushes, and they were also here and there at my grandparents' house next door.  My Mom always takes a bunch of lilacs to put on my grandmothers' graves at this time of year, and as they usually bloom around Mother's Day, they were a frequent childhood bouquet for my Mom from me and my 2 sisters.  This year, they have just opened, a little worse for the hard winter, but still smelling of that gorgeous fragrance like nothing else.  Of course I have a few sprigs here in my craft room to inspire me.

Here I used Wplus9's Fresh Cut Florals, PTI's Garden Variety for the watering can, and a Hero Arts sentiment, along with some distress inks and Hero Arts Field Greens ink on the watering can.  I imagine those pink flowers to be peonies, which often open at the same time as our lilacs do.

Edited to add: soon after I posted this first card, our power went out, and so I decided to play some more.  Here are my results.  Practicing does help me improve; these are much less stamped looking and a bit mor watercolored looking!

Same supplies as my first card, but with an Avery Elle sentiment.


These are all from PTI's Garden Variety and Garden Variety II sets.

Want to see some more examples from some of my friends?  Visit Barb, Nancy here and here, and Dawn!  Just gorgeous, aren't they?

I want to keep working at this technique, because it surely does make me feel like an artist!  Thanks for coming by today - see you tomorrow for a Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!

11 comments:

Barb said...

It turned out beautifully, Lin! I love the pretty blooms and your awesome shadow at the base of your watering can - such a fun idea to use that to hold your flowers! Thanks for the mention, sweet friend! ♥

Cindy C. said...

Lin it's really lovely! I love the soft shadow you gave it too!

Cat Craig said...

Lin your card is beautiful. The softness and yet a bit of definition in the lilacs is perfect, I can almost smell them.

Virginia L. said...

Your result is GORGEOUS!! I am not sure why you think short of yourself !!? I adore that grey shadow especially! Way to inspire, Lin!

Petti said...

Love both cards they are pretty!

LauraJane:) said...

So glad the lights went out..always fun to play some more:) Your water-coloring looks GREAT!

Tracey McNeely said...

So the power failure forces you to explore some new techniques! All of your cards are gorgeous Lin!

Diane said...

Stunning design Lin.

Hugs diane

Dawn T said...

Stunning Lin. thanks for the shout out but mine is no where as awesome as yours. But I did have fun trying out this technique and will be trying some more.

Sarah G said...

Beautiful cards - this painted watercolour effect looks amazing! I am hoping to get long enough to give it a go at some point this week :)

Karen Dunbrook said...

lovely cards...well done.