Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Winter Blooms

Oh, happy day, I was, at last, able to print one of my Power Poppy digis on watercolor paper!  All that beautiful open space makes the watercoloring so much easier.  I tried to use a free hand with this and not get too mired in the details, but I'm a detail kinda gal, so it took some discipline.  The longer I look at it, the more I want to touch it up, but, no... let it go...



The image I used is Dancing with Daffodils, truly one of my all-time Power Poppy favorites.  I enlarged it quite a bit and printed just a corner of it in a lightened outline.  It's watercolored with Stampin' Up! inks -- dropped from reinkers into a palette.  The background is a somewhat random mix of a few of the same colors used in the flowers -- yellow, amethyst, and crumb cake.  Finished up with splatters of crumb cake in varying degrees of dilution.



The stamped sentiment is from another Power Poppy set -- Dynamic Duos:  Foxglove and Ranunculus.  The images from that set are available in digi format, too, and I'm thinking I'll enjoy enlarging and watercoloring those later.  I wanted to keep it simple, but give the card a little something extra, so I stitched the watercolored panel onto a die cut mat, and adhered that to a pale green card base.

I should mention that my printer is a simple, inexpensive Epson XP-310.  Nothing fancy, but I don't need anything fancy as I don't print photos.  It's only for digis and recipes, etc.  It's only the second printer I've had in my whole life, and maybe they're all this way now, but I've been surprised to find that its ink is waterproof.  It can also be used with Copics and is undaunted by the odorless mineral spirits I use with Prismacolor pencils.  Oh, happy day, indeed!

Okay... to finish up here...  the daffodils and periwinkle will start popping out here in late winter, so this image is perfect for Power Poppy's Winter Blooms challenge:


More details below.  Have a happy day!


Stamps:  Power Poppy Dancing with Daffodils digi, Dynamic Duos:  Foxglove and Ranunculus clear stamp set  Paper:  140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah white, pale green Bazzill  Ink:  Printer for image, PTI  chocolate brown for sentiment  Coloring:  Watercolored with Stampin' Up! inks  Dies:  Cheery Lynn Dutch Daisy Boutique Stacker A2 Frame

30 comments:

Hannelie said...

Leslie you did a superb job! This is so very beautiful... One lucky person to receive this one!
I have a very old little HP Printer that serves me so well. I really take my hat off for it for the amount of work it has done for me printing digis. Always ready and willing after 12 years and not too fussy about the kind of paper I feed it too :)

Ros Crawford said...

Oh my GOODNESS! This is so jaw dropping... Beautiful painting Leslie and that daffodil is so vibrant and alive! I love Daffodils and I can't wait to see them popping up in the garden ... This really made me smile...It's wild and windy here and the promise of Spring is in your creation...

Glenda said...

Dancing with Daffodils...Your card definitely makes me want to dance! Picture an fat old lady outside in the sunshine trying to be delicate and dance with the picture perfect flowers! Well done my friend.

Stacy Morgan said...

Gorgeous Leslie! I adore the larger daffodil, awesome lacey framing underneath and wonderful stitching.
See this is why I asked for those water color pencils for Christmas. I see what you do with watercoloring and just oohh and aaahhh.. Yet mine does not turn out the same? Been playing with the pencils on a few cards. This technique with the palette and dropping the ink in will be my next try again.. I tried before and didn't quite finish my training. ;-) Keep inspiring me girl!

Sherri said...

Oh, Wow!! This is amazing! My watercoloring NEVER looks like this! Awesome job, Leslie! I'm just drooling over this gorgeous card! I am counting the days until I see daffodils come up here! All we have is snow, freezing rain & lots of ice! You gave me a wonderful taste of spring today!

Melanie Ann MacKenzie said...

Leslie this is just stunning. The lacy edging sets it off just perfectly, as does that simple line of stitching. Really beautiful work. I am sure you are inspired by your wonderful garden. Alas where I live the daffodils will not be showing their lovely heads several months yet. Enjoy the sunshine with Wally and Lulu. Cheers.

Kathy Krug said...

This should be framed. I am in awe of your coloring ability. It is always jaw dropping, and this fabulous daffodil is no exception.

Yogi said...

beautiful!! glad you're having a happy day. I'm messing with accounting stuff... Have a great day

pam said...

Gorgeous spring flowers on this beautiful card image Leslie, stunning colours and details! cannot wait for spring.. so cold here in UK, have had really strong winds since last night and now snow is forecast..
Hugs Pam x

Pauline said...

Jaw dropping GORGEOUS!!! WOW, this is amazing Leslie. Your water colouring is exquisite. Beautiful winter blooms. I'm always in 'awe' of your colouring, not only do you make your flowers look so real, you always have the shading in the right places. Love your layout with the die cut in the background, and all the splatter. I love splatter, it's a perfect way to finish off your piece. Again, a stunning creation Leslie. Thanks for inspiring me - I feel like I'm still in a slump from before the holidays. I'm struggling to get back at it. I tried colouring a piece the other night, but it ended up in the garbage! Have a good week!

Essie said...

What a stunning watercolor--wish I was half that good!! Beautiful work and perfectly executed!

Karren said...

This is stunning! Beautiful image and such a fabulous idea to enlarge it and use only a portion.

Lynette said...

Oh Leslie - I don't know how you could "touch it up" to improve it! I love that you stitched the image panel to the die-cut panel - so awesome. What a beautiful card!

Darlene said...

Stunning! You are such a talented artist and the coloring is FABULOUS! Your over all design and that stitching ... uugh ... just amazing! Snow is all melted here with it raining the past couple of days and it was even 61 degrees yesterday. But I'm not letting it fool me ... MORE winter is yet to come so I was extra thrilled with this beautiful springtime creation! Made me smile ... thanks!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my, Absolutely stunning!!! I just love your coloring of flowers and these are just wonderful! Love the yellow and blue together and your printing just part and off to the side is so pretty, love the way you did the watercoloring around the flowers too and the added splashes are just the perfect touch.
I have been having problems with my printer unless it is very thin paper because my paper doesn't go straight through the printer it turns the paper around in the machine so it has to bend and thicker paper gets stuck in there.

Tina Z. said...

wow, this is stunning, I love it, perfect card!

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

I love daffodils and you did such a wonderful job coloring. It makes me feel like spring! Thanks for making me feel so warm and comfy!

ChristineCreations said...

Ah Leslie, you always know how to bring the beauty! So warm and inviting and cheerful! Such a pretty colour pairing too! Thanks for playing along with us this month again :) Miss you!

Robyn Oliver said...

Gorgeous Leslie

Donna Ellis said...

ooooooh! Loving how you enlarged the digital image to use a portion of it, Leslie! Beautifully watercolored. What printer are you using? the newer inkjets no longer enjoy any permanency, and smear at a hint of moisture! Even my HP smears with COPICS after the cartridge has been used a few months. It's quite exasperating!

Your lovely garden just makes me think of your own soul, so giving, so accepting, so patient. It's a beautiful creation! Hoping you have a great week-end! hugs, de

Linda Meisner said...

Beautiful, Leslie! Have a happy New Year!

Evelyn S. said...

It's so beautiful, Leslie! I, too, have used watercolor paper a couple of times. This is so bright and cheerful, and your watercoloring is as pretty as your Copic coloring!

Linda Carson said...

Oh my Leslie this is one gorgeous card! It's truly picture perfect with every stroke of your brush!

aussie aNNie said...

STUNNING! lovely card and yes with digi you can enlarge and do what ever....fabulous water colouring Leslie and big thank you for your comment on mine. xxx
{aNNie}

KimCreate said...

Very very pretty card.. love the watercolor. I can't believe your printer could handle 140 lb paper. Mine won't and I'm so disappointed that I can't paint my digital images. Maybe I'll try again.

Diane said...

WOW, a beautiful, beautiful card and so beautifully colored too! I couldn't get that thick of paper in my printer either..sigh, but lucky you can. I had an Epson before this one and loved it, but it finally gave up and went to printer heaven..lol..but my hubby heard me talking one day to my sister about printers and thought I need one so he bought me one for xmas and it sat for about 2 years before I even had to open it...lol....I also have to add that Daffodils are one of my very favorite flowers, I have over 30 varieties planted in my gardens..come on Spring!!

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

Gasp! Beyond beautiful. Who shadow shades with yellow? Leslie of course! She can do anything!!!

Greta said...

Gorgeous watercoloring--gorgeous card! I absolutely love the die cut frame, Leslie!

Karen Dunbrook said...

so gorgeous...I want Spring NOW!

CherylQuilts said...

Well, my friend, I am ever so late to the party, eh? Hehe! But I am going through my in-box to clean it out and found a LOT of posts I've not commented on. And this is one GORGEOUS card! I got a chuckle when you talked about being a detail kinda gal...like me. It's very hard to just let it be, and you succeeded and made a stunning and exquisite card. Your coloring is beautiful, and I love the framing (kinda love that Cheery Lynn die...you enabler...haha). Hugs! xoxo