Watercolor Chicken by Jackie

I'm using a "non stamping" day, to post another 

artistic effort.  My friend Deb Smart at ThistleDesigns.ca

is doing some wonderful artwork, 

and "forced" me to buy some paints to try watercoloring. 

Actually, she is wonderfully supportive, has some amazing

art on her blog, with lots of tips and links. 

I've always loved to look at watercolor paintings.  
I had an aunt (May) who was an artist and 
started taking watercolor classes when she was in her 70s.  Fortunately, I now have the time

to look at YouTube videos and do some experimenting.

This painting was CASED from this video,

by Cousineau Art Here

Moving the paint, by blowing through a straw is
great fun and a technique used in card making.  
I also had some iridescent paint, that I really liked
around the chicken's eye.

Stamp Off Challenge Arrange a Wreath

Welcome to another Friday Stamp Off Challenge.  I think 

that I can speak for Susan and Buffy, saying that we tend

to enjoy color challenges, if the colors are right!

These are great colors, and we can pick 3 out of the 4

if that is our preference.  Any combination of these 
colors would work, for masculine or feminine cards.

I have to say that Arrange a Wreath (page 127) is one of 

my fav new Stampin' Up! bundles.   I love

the coordinating Wreath Builder dies on page 173.  This 

combo is so brilliant because the two wreath options are 

both different and beautiful.  The huge number of "accessories"

to go with the dies, make this an incredibly flexible

product grouping.  Obviously, these flowers could be switched
to red, in order to create a Christmas look.

The sentiment stamps in this set are varied and useful.  I cut

this one out with a die from the Hippo and Friends Dies

on page 176.  This set of dies, with dies for layers, is

just dandy.   The background layer was run through the
Subtles 3D Embossing Folder.  The dots in the flower
centers were colored with So Saffron Stampin' Blends

Thank you for stopping by.  Please enjoy the projects 
offered by Buffy and Susan.

Birds and Branches

From goats to birds.  Birds and Branches (page 120),

with the Birds and More dies, that is.  I just find it

so easy to create with this bundle.  You can make a simple

card that is still elegant and able to impress the

recipient.  I hope that you give this bundle the

second look that it deserves.

Way to Goat

I hope that you are not bored with the goats from Way to Goat

(page 105), because I'm not.  They are fun because of

the likely scenario that I would buy someone a treat,

and then end up eating it myself.  I'd offer apologies,

but they would be pretty lame.

This goat was colored with the Stampin' Blends.  They are

just the greatest coloring tool, for beginners or experienced

artists.  I had to add a strip of In Good Taste DSP (p 148).

It pairs perfectly with the goats.