Hey, there! I have another pair of cards today. I was in the middle of making a batch of Christmas cards when I pulled out my Memory Box Wooden Alpha set and found these letters all cut and ready to go. I knew they were in there (I keep spare die cuts in the envelope with the dies), but had a temporary lapse of memory since I'd cut these back in April. Sheesh, has it been that long since I used this alpha set?
I'm in the mood for fall cards so I designed the first with grocers kraft, wood grain, and autumn leaves. The letters are set against a background from my bag o' backgrounds. It's Neenah paper which was pressed against a watercolor piece as a way of mopping up excess water. I felt the colors could work with the fall card.
The little birds are my first Whittle critters. The birds were sponged with color, then spritzed with water. The leaves were pressed into ink pads, then spritzed. Easiest way to watercolor die cuts! I pressed the leaves into yellow first, then olive green, then rust (all SU inks). I tried to avoid overlapping the colors when pressing dark into light. The water spritzing blended the colors nicely. Note: When pressing the leaves into the ink pads I placed paper over the leaves so as not to get my fingers all inky.
The next card has more of a spring theme with letters cut from something I'd colored. The soft background is from a different area of the same piece I used on Card #1. Green leaves, white card base, peachy designer paper -- all contribute to the look of spring.
I'm playing along in two challenges today:
Dies R Us Challenge #178 (Anything goes with a brand of dies sold in the store.)
Well, this was fun! Not a bit of stamping, but I had great fun with the inks and designs. I hope you enjoyed looking, and I can't wait to get onto the next project. Love this stuff! Take care
Both cards are beautifully created and a great tip on coloring the leaves too!! The whittle dies are a favorite of mine, they are so cute and such a cute size for cards! Thank you for joining our challenge at Dies R Us!
ReplyDeleteDiane DRU DT {Nellies Nest} PS: Mack did okay with his bee incident but I think he blames me still LOL!!
Both cards are so beautiful but I think I love the second one best! It just has colors that draw me in!
ReplyDeleteBoth are great cards. I always love your techniques. THe paper to color is fabulous for your leaves. We have a little fall weather today. No humidity this morning.
ReplyDeleteBoth beautiful cards -love the dies -and the p.papers you used on the second card
ReplyDeleteCarol x
Both are really pretty. LOVE them. You don't want to know how many little die cuts I have laying around... Have a great day
ReplyDeleteSuch nice cards1 I like how you can change the colors up and get different looks! Isn't it nice when you reach into a drawer and find goodies you can use! Your birds are so cute! Great technique!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and a great tip for the coloring of the die cuts.
ReplyDeleteI'm running behind on my comments! I love the patterned alpha diecuts! And of course, your coloring of the details is spot-on.
ReplyDeleteOH WOW Leslie ... these are both just FABULOUS! What awesome designs, colors and choice of papers! Of course anything that is colored is colored to perfection lol ... I've come to expect that lol! LOVE the addition of the little birds ... such a smart idea!
ReplyDeleteNow I want to make cards like these but I don't have those large letter dies ... hmmm you'd think with all the dies I do have I would have purchased these along the way but NO ... thanks for enabling lol ... a shopping I will go!
Hugs & Happy Day my friend!
Don't you just love re-discovering hidden gems, just waiting for the perfect time to use them. Loving your cards and especially how you sponged those sweet birds! ♥ Sue Kment
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness these are just adorable, so nice to have the letters already to go, they work great for Autumn and oohhh those little whittle birds are just adorable, I like the way you have colored them and the leaves, such neat ideas! such pretty combo of your papers and backgrounds!
ReplyDeleteThose little birds are so cute and I shall have to try your method for watercolouring die cuts, looks like it works a treat. Both cards are wonderful and full of little details. So nice to use up some leftovers too xx
ReplyDeleteOh, Leslie, how remiss I am in not keeping up with my comments these last months. Today's visit has shown me I'm missing wonderful inspiration like these beautiful cards! I love the blended die cuts, the smooshed pastel backgrounds and the bold and colorful letters. Gorgeous cards, I love seeing what you've been up to. And the whittle birds - so so cute and versatile!
ReplyDeleteTwo wonderful cards, Leslie! Love the polka dot letters, richly colored leaves and sweet whittle birds on the first card! The Spring card is just as pretty! Love the pattern of the letters and again those whittle birds!
ReplyDeleteA great set of fal card! i really like how the birds turned out...you use inks so well!
ReplyDeleteYou are one of my top go-to designers when it comes to coloring, Leslie, and now you are my TOP go-to designer when it comes to my BOB and how to bring all those bits together to make stunning cards! Love the warm and cozy autumn feel you achieved with both! Thank you for sharing with everyone at NBUS! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteI never think to protect me fingers and the ink is so difficult to clean! I adore your cards Leslie, the leaves and birds are perfection and the mix and match of your papers and colours are always divine
ReplyDeleteI always love your mix of papers and beautiful watercolouring, Leslie. These two cards are so fabulous!! I especially LOVE the HELLO cut from a piece that you colours. The letters are really gorgeous. I have a LOVE set of letters done the same way and have them sitting waiting to be used. Maybe I could get them onto a card. :) Always inspired by you, my friend! xx
ReplyDeleteHow cute and fun. Love that you did 2 different seasons with the same design by just changing colors and paper patterns. I love them both.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, these are both beautiful cards. I absolutely love all the layers of papers, die cuts etc. in which you used to create these. Great idea in how to colour your leaves. Love the letters - a nice surprise to have them already previously done! The birds are so sweet, love how you coloured them as well. 2 fabulous cards, love them both. Sorry for the late comment - Bill and I just got back from up north - Algonquin Provincial Park - it is sincerely a piece of heaven. It was a fabulous get-a-way from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
ReplyDeleteOkay off to look at your most recent card. Hope you are having a wonderful day!
Oh my two very attractive cards and so different entirely because of the papers and colours used. Thank you for the explanation about water colouring die cuts. x
ReplyDelete