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8/15/2013

Watercolor

Hello & thanks for popping by to visit. My morning got started very late and it was delightful to just doze as long as I wished. Talk about lazy.

There's a water theme going on this week at Jo's Scrap Shack for the Friday Funday Challenge #12 and I wanted to play along. I also wanted to use the Rising Bubbles stamp on the project. I like the look of all the water color cards that I see done with different w/c media, so pulled out the Ranger Distress Markers to give it another go. Slightly wet the water color paper and laid down some blue, lavender & greeny shades as I saw on this video. Unfortunately my attempt didn't turn out so well as Darlene's did!  I made this card instead, with my trusty copics to submit to the FFC #12.

My usual practice with an effort that I feel was a total failure is to let it hang around on the desk for a few days. Decided to cut this watercolor attempt into pieces to see what possibly be salvaged.
 
 

The salvaged bit was from the center slice. The image was from a stamp that did not stamp out well at all, even using the stamp press. I do like the waving fronds, but the coral and shells on the sea floor, just don't show up well. I stamped this after using a water brush over the DI markers, not a lot of water all at once. Just going back over to blend in the layers.  Hunted up a little sea horse stamp to add to the scene, then used the lovely bubbles stamp - which I thought was the best feature on this effort. Still wasn't happy with what was happening. So back I go to stamp it out again, and this time I embossed the paper first, then did the DI marker layering. Added some funky looking fish  which I embossed first, then used the DI markers to color. This try was even worse than the first one. (That's when I went back to the copics).
 
After slicing the seahorse scene, I cut out the funky fish & seaweed from the 2nd attempt. Just kept redesigning and this effort is when I finally said "Forget it, go with this one". I hate to admit defeat, as I'd really like to improve my skills at water coloring... but, folks, I'm close!
 
Diecut the frame with S/Binders Curvy rectangle and layered it over the seahorse piece. Punched the corners with an MS sand dollar corner (NBUS- Never Before Used Stuff. Adhered to some green glitter paper, added the fussy cut embossed seaweed  & funky fish from attempt #2. I had another fish I planned to add top left, but decided to leave it off.
 
This is one of the Warts! I'm thinking of starting a Wart box ....which I can review later on, if I ever feel like I'm getting a handle on this water color stuff. I have to keep reminding myself that it was the same when I was learning to use copics...I had a lot of failures (still do!). It takes patience & time to become proficient with any medium. I hope sharing my attempts & failures will encourage someone who is having the same issues. If so, please share with me any insight you find that might help us both!!! Thanks for listening, and come back again when you can. Hugs
 
PS...I think I'm going to submit this to the Fun Friday Challenge anyway...what have I got to lose???


22 comments:

  1. Awesome failure! I think it turned out great, me thinks you are too hard on yourself! waving hi from cool hills of North Carolina ♥

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  2. Hi Mary, I love your underwater panel, the rising bubbles are so effective! I agree with you on the practice to get things how we want them to look! I often try new techniques and sometimes fluke it and when I try it again it just won't work!
    TFS the video link too, I had a look and would love to give this a try too. (Darlene makes it look so easy!!) Cathy x

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  3. Beautiful new card, love how you used the stamps. I'm fascinated of the sea card below, I leave a comment there.
    Dear Mary, thank you so much for your visit and lovely comment, it means so much to me:-)
    xox Anja

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  4. Hi Mary,

    I am now a follower of your blog! Thank you for following mine. And your watercolor project turned out darn good. I have yet to attempt that technique. Also, the card you colored with your Copics is beautifully done!!!

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  5. Go you for not giving up! This is lovely, such a cute underwater scene, and the shaded blue background is just right! Someone once told me that there's never a failure in crafting, only a new opportunity to create!

    Thanks for the video link, too!

    love Mags B x

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  6. This is an amazing save, Mary! I have some warts in my UFO box! Once in a while I just trash something, but most of the time I at least keep it in the UFO box for a while. I love this underwater scene! What a magnificent seahorse and the bubbles are perfect!

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  7. So glad you salvaged it because it's fabulous!!! It doesn't need to go in the "wart" box at all! VERY PRETTY!!!
    Lynn

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  8. The underwater scene is beautiful! You did a great job with the water colours, I like the different colours. Rising bubbles is one of my favorite Ryn stamps. Take care, Shirleyx

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  9. hi mary, i agree with everyone else - you did a great job on this card! learning new techniques takes a lot of patience and practice, practice, and more practice. you might want to play around with 90 lb. and 140 lb. w/c paper and then you can decide which you like to work with better (just don't buy the 'beginner' w/c pad with ridges). play around with different techniques: apply marker directly to paper and then wet with water and brush; scribble markers on teflon sheet and pick up the ink with a wet brush and apply to dry paper and then apply the same to wet paper to see the difference. once you decide which paper/brush/technique you like the best, then you can practice some more. :) have fun!
    linda

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  10. hi mary, i agree with everyone else - you did a great job on this card! learning new techniques takes a lot of patience and practice, practice, and more practice. you might want to play around with 90 lb. and 140 lb. w/c paper and then you can decide which you like to work with better (just don't buy the 'beginner' w/c pad with ridges). play around with different techniques: apply marker directly to paper and then wet with water and brush; scribble markers on teflon sheet and pick up the ink with a wet brush and apply to dry paper and then apply the same to wet paper to see the difference. once you decide which paper/brush/technique you like the best, then you can practice some more. :) have fun!
    linda

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  11. It is not easy at all to watercolour Mary, it takes a lot of patience and practice but your attempt is wonderful, don't think about warts anymore......this is not one of them. I adore seahorses and I love yours and that cute fish in the corner just made me smile..... love this card. Hugs, Anne x

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  12. I have a VERY hard time doing scenic things . . .I can never get the perspective right! SO . . . I take my hat off to you Mary . . . this is super.

    Hugs
    Sarn xxx

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  13. beautiful scene Mary, and I like the embellishments.
    Kevin xx

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  14. Oh Mary you are so funny because what you consider a failure I consider gorgeous! lol I need to try this technique as I really low how it looks! Love your whole scene, the bubbles are so cool looking! That little seahorse is adorable and I love the punch corners!! I also love how you made it look 3D with the seaweed and puffer fish, which by the way I love! Hugs from your "adoptive" daughter!

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  15. It is a wonderful underwater scene and the watercolour background is perfect! Those bubbles are on my wish list! I think you did a fantastic job, so give yourself a pat on the back for saving it x

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  16. Mary I don't know why you think this is a wort. I like a lot - and you will probably find that when you go back to look at what you think is a wort was really pretty good after all!
    sandy

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  17. Super cute Mary, very fun frame and card design.

    regards diane

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  18. Beautiful card Mary.Hope you are keeping well x Susan x

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  19. hi mary, me again and i'm having a difficult time leaving a comment, but it looks like this will work. i've tried almost every brand of w/c paper and don't find much difference between the brands. the 140 lb., as you know, can take more water, but the 90 lb. is good for smaller images. the paper might feel heavy because you're used to lighter weight paper and colouring with copics? if you use the DI markers directly on the dry w/c paper and then blend with water, the colours will be more vivid than the 'wet on wet' technique, but it depends on the look you want. i hope you have fun playing!
    linda

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  20. This is lovely Mary. Do not under estimate your abilities or talent. That's an order!! We are play cowboys and injuns over in the playground cos Miss has only goe and bought some acrylic paints. Hugs Mrs A.

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  21. WOW Mary this card is so pretty! I am loving seeing your work... I love all the different mediums you play around with... and this card is so gorgeous! Thanks for linking it up over at Jo's FFC!

    Hugs,
    Jo
    xox

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  22. Mary, I think you are being too hard on yourself. I think this card is lovely and the shading of the water looks wonderful.

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