Monday, February 11, 2019

Watercolored Vital Rose

Why, yes, I was just here yesterday, but I do want to pop in to help introduce Marcella's latest digital stamp set at Power Poppy.  It's called Vital Rose, and a beautiful thing it is!

It's been a while since I sat down to any kind of serious coloring.  I've been hurrying to get ahead with certain things and making more cards than usual.  I always think I need to keep them simple in order to move things along, but I'm wrong about that.  As much as I love the look of it, CAS is a struggle for me.  Much quicker to color and forget about the white space.  However, a card with a large colored image can still be a simple design, so that's what I've done.  It's simply a painting on a card.




The stamp set is pictured below.  It can be printed in black, or no line, with or without the poetry.  There was no question that I'd use it with the poetry as I find it as beautiful as the rose.




Quick version of what I did before printing:

  • Opened no line image in Photoshop Elements 7 and used magic eraser to remove white space from around the image.  I believe it was just one click.
  • Opened black line image and then superimposed no line image over top.
  • Decided it looked kind of cool, so I printed it.

I know you probably won't want to goof around with it like that, and it's totally not necessary, but it's something I enjoy.  Sometimes it turns out, sometimes not.

The watercolor...  I used my old Stampin' Up! Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  Scribble on a palette, pick up with a wet brush, voila!  That's how I use them.  You could scribble on the paper for a large background, but for this type of image I use them like a pan watercolor.

Closer...  loose watercoloring means if you get some paint in approximately the right spot it will look good.  Ha!  Okay, not really, but almost.  I colored the larger words with Prismacolor pencils and smoothed with odorless mineral spirits.  Finally, splattered white Gansai Tambi paint and Rose Red watercolor crayon paint.




No embellishment, but I popped up the painted panel on a mat of Pale Plum and a natural-ish white card base.

Are you still with me?  Well, if so, I want to wish you a happy week, and if you love crafting I hope you'll find plenty of time for it.  Be well!



28 comments:

Glenda said...

You are totally correct, this rose is a thing of beauty. Love the subtle bit of yellow you used as well!

Sherri said...

WOW, Leslie!! Once again you have proven that you are the best coloror of flowers I have ever seen !! By the time you finish with your flowers I swear you can almost smell them !

Verna Angerhofer said...

Oh, my! You really made a beautiful card and the soft colors are so perfect looking. I love that gorgeous rose.

Nanny's Pansy Patch said...

What a pretty stamp! You do such a wnderful job with coloring your flowers! They always look so real that one feels like they can reach out and touch them! Joe is plowing the driveway with more snow/ice to come. UGH! Have a great week crafting!

Yogi said...

Beautiful. Love your coloring on the rose. Interesting quote. Have a great day

nancy littrell said...

Beautiful painted rose, Leslie. TFS all your technique painting steps with different products. Your digi images are always amazing. Hugs..Nancy

Darlene said...

BEAUTIFUL! WOW you are not only a beautiful colorist but even though I have a new version (still old by today's standards) PSE9, I would have no clue how to do what you said you did! Guess I need at some point to get some lessons on PSE ... I know it does a LOT that I have no clue where to begin on.
Your colors are just gorgeous and you've certainly brought this flower to life! Great job and thanks for all the details ... very helpful and inspiring!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

WOW!! Leslie, this is gorgeous!!! the colors that you mixed on this rose are amazing, the sentiment around this flower is beautiful, love the white and red splatter, it gives this beautiful card a very elegant vintage look.
Now you made me want to get this digi, sigh!!😊
Sending hugs.
Maria.

Mac Mable said...

Popped in to say that I think your card is stunning, unique and striking....love it x.

Kathy Krug said...

Gorgeous, Leslie. I love the sentiment.

ChristineCreations said...

Leslie it looks so luminous and dreamy. Your light source and the purple is amazing, and I agree you’ve given the letters as much beauty as the rose. Completely beautiful!

crafty-stamper said...

WOW stuuning card love the beautiful image and fabulous watercolouring -love the sentiment too
carol x

aussie aNNie said...

Roses, love them and wow this is so pretty, the colours are just amazing, great water colouring.xx

Donna Ellis said...

Such a lovely idea blending the 2 "opposite" colors like that, Leslie! I admire that you've watercolored the two and didn't come out with any "green patches" where the colors touched! Marcella always does a fantastic gift for the rest of us by offering the gorgeous image solo, and then with some sort of wording or adornment to make things easier. The splattering on your finished project is wonderful! Beautiful! hugs, de

Ros Crawford said...

Simply??? It's stunning and those splatters really add something...I love the subtle colours Leslie!

Lynette said...

Oh my goodness, Leslie - this is a masterpiece! Your coloring/painting skills never cease to amaze me. Gorgeous! And yes, I stay with you til the end of the post:) I wish you a good week with more crafty time, too:) Hopefully I will be heading down to my stamping room soon.

pam said...

Stunning card Leslie, love the beautiful image and gorgeous colouring, I always thought you loved making CAS cards?!!! Now I would be rubbish, cannot do one for the life of me..
Hugs Pam x

laurie said...

Your rose is amazing. And that sentiment..so beautiful!

Traci M said...

Leslie, this is so soft and ethereal...your way of printing is interesting. I just need to figure out how to use my software, I love the simplicity, buteven your CAS is full of shading with the splattered color and highlights. The overall look is anything but simple...it’s stunning!

Pauline said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful image coloured so perfectly, love the airiness of this and how soft the colours are, accented with your splatter and surrounded with your words coloured with Primas! It doesn't get any better than this Leslie! Another masterpiece! Love it! You made my day today seeing this, thank you for that. We had nothing but freezing rain about 5 hrs of, turning to rain. Everything covered in about 1/2" of ice and it got worse as it headed to Toronto and Ottawa area! Will spring ever get here! Wishing you a happy week as well, take care.

Loll said...

WOW! Absolutely gorgeous card, Leslie. Your rose is amazing with the different colours and shading, but still very soft and delicate. I LOVE this card! Amazing work! xx

Conniecrafter said...

Oh Leslie, I will have to say that you just keep out doing yourself all the time, You have had a fun play time I see, and with such gorgeous results, I really need to be more adventurous while using photoshop. Your coloring is just amazing and so stunning, love your splashes of color too, wonderful splattering!
Another outstanding creation, LOVE, LOVE!

Diane said...

Beautiful new digital and beautiful the way you have presented it. Colored with su crayons...WOW...I have some but not sure where lol....all the pretty added spattering makes this a stunner!! Have a great week, I am very behind in getting around, it has been so cold I have been cozied up with Mack as a couch potato!

Cindy Beach said...

Absolutely gorgeous. Amazing how pretty the loose watercoloring is and I love the way you arranged the text. It has a light and airy look that 'feels' heavenly! I am always inspired here, Leslie! Thank you.

Stacy Morgan said...

Love love love when you watercolor and purples.... ACK!!! Leslie this is gorgeous! The splatters are perfect, the tones and shades with the hints of yellow and blue are gorgeous. Absolutely love this girl!!

Susie said...

These are the card designs I love best from you. Your no-line, loose watercolor is wonderful Leslie, AND your splatters the best (red no less!). I'm so splatter challenged that I break out in a cold sweat if I am going to incorporate it in the design *haha* And look at that beautiful glow you achieved on and around the rose - perfect! I got all the way through your post (smiling), and loved it all! I have to tell you that I'm impressed with your courage to tackle Photoshop Elements 7 the way you did. I have Photoshop CC and I default to my phone camera every time. I think I'm to lazy to get down to business and learn it. Thank you for the prompt and this lovely card! Hugs, Susie ~

Joan B said...

beautiful!!!!

CherylQuilts said...

Leslie, there are no adequate words to express how stunning this card is. WOW! The colors you've used "shine" and are so beautiful, and I love how you've colored the words. Absolutely exquisite! Hugs and love! xoxo