Monday, July 20, 2020

Happy You Day

Hello again, Friends. Hope your weekend's been a good one. Honey and I blurted out random song lyrics a lot, lol. We spend every hour together and so sometimes we get goofy. I'm sharing a birthday card today that I created with some challenges in mind that took me out of my comfort zone and I lived to tell about it!


First off, it's a CAS card (always a struggle) but closely following My Favorite Thing's current sketch helped a lot. Secondly, I came up with a way to do the Stencil Tracing Technique challenge at CAS Mix Up with 2 different stencils. Thirdly, I used some really bright and bold orange shades for the Tantalizing Tangerine Challenge at Rainbow. And I made a watercolor mixed media card for A Vintage Journey's Watercolor Wonders Callenge. There's also the NBUS Challenge and Country View's... they are all listed as usual at the end. :-)

I resized the sketch to 5x7 in PSE. I also shortened the sentiment strip considerably to go better with my peony. I also added the dotted accents. Otherwise, I stuck like glue to the design, even hanging my white mat flush up against the left spine so to keep the design of the negative circle cut out (aperture).

Ok, I took progress shots that will hopefully explain the method to my madness:

I began by clearing up my confusion about the color as I don't eat tangerines and have not seen one for a while. Good old Google helped out. I learned that the diff between regular old orange and tangerine is that tangerine is more red-orange and bolder. I saw this while creating because I chose an SU card stock that was tangerine-ish so I thought I did good but it kept looking pink/red to me in different lights. Just know I absolutely did not use any pink or red! lol

  

I found these on Pinterest to use as reference photos. I learned that there really is a peony grown that's tangerine orange, with yellow and orange highlights.

  
Ok so first thing I did was stamp the peony and stem on Distress Watercolor card with VersaFine Clair Summertime and Shady Lane inks and heat-embossed in clear. Then I cut the peony with my Coluzzle big circle. Then I cut the larger circle aperture with the Coluzzle, I used the cut out piece to draw a circle a bit larger on my orange base. Then I was ready to stencil trace a sunburst on the orange card base with a Sheena 7x7 Rays stencil. I used a very sharp Polychronos yellow pencil to trace. Once it was all traced, I colored the sunburst with pencils and then brushed on yellow Wink of Stella and let it dry well.

Here's a photo of a Coluzzle if you are not familiar:

You put your paper under the clear template and insert the swivel knife into the channel you've chosen and follow it around while it cuts. I was able to stop and work around the leaves with this tool to get the Out of the Box Technique result... easier for me than using a die. Plus, I was going to have to use the Coluzzle for the larger circle aperture since I don't have any dies that large.

Next, I painted the peony using Sennelier Orange as my tangerine color, along with Permanent Orange and a bit of Vermilion. I had some dark yellow that I perked up with some Solar Flare Nuvo Shimmer Powder. I used my reference photos and finally got through it. I need tons more practice and have bought some watercolor-friendly stamps for practice (like I don't have plenty already! Sheesh!)

Okay so at this point I thought it needed some embellishments for accent, but I needed to keep this one flat for mailing, so I decided to get out this Stencil Girl Bubbles stencil and stencil-trace some bubble dots. For this I used an orange Zebra Sarasa gel pen. I let that dry while pondering whether I was finished or not.

I decided that I was not finished. I just had to color the dots with the closest match I had to the tangerine, to ground the design. I found a Spectrum Noir OR3 alcohol marker that matched well, although in these photos it looks red and it isn't. Just a deep bold tangerine orange. And of course, some Wink of Stella to top each dot! And then, in a spontaneous move that shocked even me, I grabbed a white Sharpie paint pen, primed it and tried splattering it. I used self-control (but it was tough not to keep splattering just one more time...). That was cool. I may splatter again sometime! LOL

Now I'm finished. Isn't orange such a juicy and happy color? It definitely lifted my spirits while creating it!

I'm a happy girl as well. I set off to do this (I got a wild hair as we say in Texas) and I did it without messing anything up! Yay! Thanks so much for dropping by and hope your week goes happy, well and safe! XOX

MY CHALLENGE PLAYLIST:
1.  MFT Wednesday Sketch #498 -- sketch is shown above
2.  CAS Mix Up July Challenge: Stencil Tracing -- my process and materials are explained in post 
3.  Rainbow Card Challenge #19: Tantalizing Tangerine  -- After carefully studying the graphic, I used bright orange, yellow, green for the leaves and stem, and white.
4. Mix It Up Challenge #39: AG + Opt. Open Technique -- My optional technique is the Out of the Box Technique on the leaves
5. A Vintage Journey: Watercolor Wonders -- I've made a mixed media card using stamping, heat-embossing, watercolors, stenciling, pencil, glitter and paint splatters.
6.  Ai Challenge #287: Sparkle & Shine -- I've got lots of that, used Wink of Stella in yellow and clear, and also used Nuvo Shimmer Powder in my yellow watercolor.  

7.  Country View Challenge: Do What Makes You Happy -- I successfully painted a peony to my liking with watercolors and I splattered white paint on a card for the first time! On Purpose! LOL :-) -- I love challenges even if they scare me.
8.  Outlawz Twisted Thursday 7/16-29th: AG + Opt. Polka Dots
9.  NBUS Challenge #16: AAG with Never Before Used Schtuff! -- My NBUS items are the MFT peony stamp and the MFT sentiment and die, all new to me.

21 comments:

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Wowza Aimes!! This is so stunning in the design and the colour. I agree with you--it's a different style. I'm in love with this. Found your research interesting. I didn't know peonies came in orange. As the for the weekend--it was awful for me having to keep my leg elevated. I see a surgeon today to see just how long I'll be laid up and probably will be put off work. I'll keep you posted. Hugs.

ahlers5 said...

Beautiful card. I love the description of how you made it. So bery informative..

Donna Ellis said...

Wow, Aimes! Your new techniques came out fabulously beautiful, especially in those bright, summery colors! Thank you for the thoughtful step-by-step tutorial as well. It's always fun seeing how you put your cards together. Hoping you are staying well, and keep on singing those fun songs! hugs, de

Leslie said...

Love this! You do CAS well! Have never heard of a Coluzzle... very interesting! Great job on this gorgeous card, my friend!

Katy said...

This is fabulous! I'm so glad you went out of your comfort zone! I love how you did the color penciling to go under the orange peony. Beautiful interpretation of the sketch and the tangerine is just perfect! Thank you so much for joining us at The Rainbow Card Challenge! :) Hugs!

Tammy said...

Stunning CAS card Aimeslee, I love all of the orange and that gorgeous flower image!
Tammy x

My Paper Epiphany said...

Wow what a wonderfully vibrant and creative card! Thanks for the detailed info on your process. So happy you joined us at CAS Mix Up:)

Helene said...

Echt gut geworden, die orange Farbe passt auch sehr gut zur Jahreszeit finde ich.Habe es in meinem Urlaub in der Unterkunft Spiez auch probiert.War aber zu abgelenkt von der coolen Natur am Haus.Grüße Helene

Bonnie said...

I do love all shades of orange, Aimeslee! Well maybe not neon, but all the others! I love the senciled sunburst and the orange watercolored peony is gorgeous! Love the addition of the "bubbles" that adds a wonderful finishing touch! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

nancy littrell said...

Wow...Gorgeous mixed media stenciled traced sunburst and Stunning peony for your sketch challenge design. TFS all your photos and step by step description of your design, Aimslee. You sure did your research on tangerine colors, etc. Love that! Especially loved all your photos. So pleased you joined us at CAS Mix Up Stencil Challenge. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Loll said...

Beautiful card Aimslee! Your watercolouring of the peony is fantastic. Love your design with the sunray stenciled frame for your main panel. The bubbles add some whimsy and fun! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

Jo said...

Bright and bold, this is a stunning peony!
Thanks for joining us at CAS Mix Up, hope to see you again soon!

Catnip and Kitty Whiskers said...

So bright and colorful! Pretty card!

Elena C said...

Thank you for joining us at the Rainbow Card Challenge. I LOVE the card!!! Especially the sunburst design in the circle. But everything is just awesome!!!
Glad you joined us. Hope to see you soon again!!!

Elena Rainbow Card Challenge DT

Alyson Mayo said...

Those flowers... SWOON! They are coloured so perfectly and the touch of green sets then off just right. I love the bold colours you used - and the white space is just enough. Stunning work, my friend!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Aimeslee, this is stunning! I love how the peony seems to pop off the card. Thanks for joining us at TRCC and I hope we see you again soon.
Hugs,
Em, DT

foleysfriend said...

Your peony is stunning! The background you created with the sunburst is perfect for your peony. I also love your use of white space. Great card! Thanks for joining us at The Rainbow Card Challenge.

sue n.

Words and Pictures said...

I gave up on CAS a long time ago - it's just not me! - but I think you've done a cracking job here. I love that bold orange given the space to breathe with the white space. Beautiful circular framing of that glorious peony - a lovely card.
Alison x

creativetimewithme said...

Your card is beautiful! Thank you for participating in this month's challenge!

Hugs,
Mary Ellen Driggs, TRCC Design Team
www.creativetimewithme.com

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a stunning card! You painted the flower so beautifully and I love the pop of the orange against the white background - amazing 😁. Thanks so much for joining us at A Vintage Journey! Happy Friday and weekend! Hugs, Jo x

Nandini said...

Gorgeous card! I love the bright colors. And thanks for sharing the details of your designing process. It was very interesting and informative! Great to see you in the Rainbow Card Challenge gallery. Hope you will join us again soon. Nandini, DT