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3/27/2017

Watercolor Pencils from a Postcard Book

Good evening, and welcome. Let's start off by welcoming a new friend:

Marjeta(Margaret) of Marjeta's Workshop
 
I'm so happy you found my blog Margaret, and after not gaining any new followers for a while, I've been doing the happy dance to see the numbers increasing. I hope that my old friends will pop over to another new friend, and get to meet you and enjoy your work too! Thanks for becoming a new follower.
 
BLOG CANDY #2 WINNER: #257 ---Congratulations Sherry of Loose Stitches and Unraveled Threads.
 
Please contact me with your mailing information by Thursday, March 30, so that I can get your goodies in the mail. Moderate comments is on, so no one besides myself will see your personal data. 
 
Now, today's card:
 
 
The image for this card came from a postcard book found in our local Hobby Lobby - a sale item. So many of the adult coloring books have such 'busy patterns', are larger & may not be designs that appeal to me. When I find the smaller sized ones, and if it's flowers, usually I'll look through the book to see what is in it. This was done on watercolor weight paper, has flowers.
 
 
Decided to try using watercolor pencils, and a tiny brush. I keep trying to improve my w/c skills, and this one -- well, it was ok. After finishing all the coloring, went back with the pencils, used a damp brush touched to the pencil lead, to add some darker shading. After doing that, used a white gel pen to add some 'dots' over the flowers. Lastly added some Nuvo Jewel drops for a little accent.
 
Edged the image with a dauber and some green ink. After adhering to a purchased aqua card base, thought "why not do a vellum sentiment so that the flowers show through?". Of course then had to try to lift the glued piece without damage, and it was just easier to get up the area where the embossed hello is. The vellum is just folded under the card and used a bit of wet glue to stick it down again. I think it would have been placed best lower down the card, but ...it is what it is...(what a cliché!)
 
Here's a few pictures taken before the weekend of the thrift blooming on our retaining walls by the driveway. I think the proper term for this plant is Phlox, but around here folks call it thrift. The few little tulips blooming by the steps are all the bulbs left from Fall 2003 planting. I've been too lazy to plant more!! Wanted to snap these before the weekend rain flattened them...we only got a drizzle, but the rain is welcome.
 
Thanks for visiting, and Big hugs. Come again when you can. I'll try to take some pictures of the clean up progress...it's slow, but it's coming along. DH said he couldn't tell I'd done much cleaning of anything! I moved the furniture around, and I don't think he's too happy with that! Oh well.
 
Also, don't forget to keep visiting...I'm finding plenty of things as I sort, that I loved enough to order a couple of times! I may just have another candy draw, so watch the sidebar. AND if you are interested, please do show the thumbnail. Or if you are kind enough to post the thumbnail, but don't want the goodies, that's ok, just let me know when you comment..Thanks. 
 
 

High retaining wall, right below front porch

Walkway by the retaining wall, coming down from front porch

Low retaining wall. The thrift is creeping into the mondo grass that covers this area
Tulips by the front porch steps. Bulbs planted in Fall 2003. Not much left of those!
 

 
 
 

46 comments:

  1. What an outstanding job you did on this, Mary! I too have to "fix" everything with pencils but you shaded this so beautifully. And I envy you that wonderful sunshine and beautiful blossoming flowers!

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  2. This is so beautiful with color and what a great find from HL! I love the added vellum embossed sentiment panel which shows up perfectly without covering up those beautiful flowers! Lucky you to be enjoying that explosion of pink color around your home! Spring is definitely in the air!!

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  3. This is a very beautiful bunch of flowers, you coloured them so well!! Love your details of shedes and white dots! And the vellum stripe with the sentiment looks great! Well done!
    Fab flowers also outside your home (that wish you clean early, so you have more time for you :) )
    Congrats to the winner!

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  4. Gorgeous flowers Mary outside your house and on your card.
    Hugs Veerle x

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  5. I haven't spied anything like this from HL but will look now. SO pretty and I love the vellum sentiment. Love your coloring on the flowers with those pencils! Fantastic.
    Beautiful real flowers too!
    Lynn

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  6. Beautiful watercolouring and congrats Sherry
    Carol x

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  7. What an awesome card. Love the coloring job and the vellum sentiment is just perfect. What gorgeous pictures too! We should be getting that in about three weeks I'm guessing! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. This is stunning, Mary!! The flowers look amazing!! I love the colors!! And the real flowers are so beautiful!! We still have a few daffodils hanging around!! Have a great evening!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  9. Firstly congratulations to Sherry for winning the 2nd blog candy and your watercoloured flowers are beautiful Mary, and I love the vellum wrap with the nice large sentiment on it. Those Phlox and Tulips are the most gorgeous pink colour, and really brighten the garden up this time of year. TFS. x

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  10. Great water coloring job. It is beautiful and life like looking. The vellum is very pretty on there also. Love those buds coming out for you. We will be getting a bit warmer this week but right now there is still a pile of snow on our front lawn. Have a good night.

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  11. Gorgeous card, Mary. The flowers are beautifully coloured and I love how they show through the vellum panel.

    TFS the photos of your garden - what a wonderful blaze of colour. xx

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  12. Oh my, Mary this is just gorgeous. Your colouring of the flowers looks fab. Love the end result. hugs Mrs A.

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  13. Oh my goodness Mary, I came here to see what crafty goodness you have been up to...what a Surprise to find I won your wonderful blog candy! First time winning any candy for me, happy happy dance! :) Thank you so very much! Thank you ladies for the congrats! :)
    Big Hugs x

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  14. Such a gorgeous card Mary, I love the colors you used! The vellum looks wonderful too! I got some watercolor paper the other day, as I have some pencils. I am hoping I can figure out how to use them, lol.
    Thank you for sharing pictures of your flowers, they are beautiful! I miss having flower beds, so seeing yours brightened my day. :)
    Big Hugs, Sherry xx

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  15. This is so pretty,Mary. I love the water coloured cards that are so in style now...and yours is no exception! It looks wonderful The vellum sentiment is perfect with this!n

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  16. So pretty! Beautiful flowers on your card and outside your house.
    Congratulations to the winner!
    Valerija xx

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  17. Great card, love the colors.
    Hugs, Chantal S

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  18. Your floral card is a sheer delight Mary, it's a dull foggy morning here so your card really brightened the start of my day.

    I hope all is well with you, so sorry I don't get here often but hopefully you did see my explanation a few weeks ago.

    B x

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  19. Hi Mary, I am loving your pretty card.

    Your garden photos look lovely.

    Hope you have a nice day. Sue

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  20. Thanks for introducing my blog. Once more I found beautiful card here. Lovely flowers and great coloring.

    Marjeta

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  21. What astunning card Mary. Your water coloring skills are coming along nicely! I love the mixture of colors and it really screams spring and summer. Phlox was one of my Mom's favorite flowers. I love the color and that it comes back on its own every year. Beautiful landscaping. We have had rain the last 3-4 days. So I'm ready for some sunshine and some pretty flowers. Well, at least I got the pretty flowers today. Have a wonderful day.

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  22. Oh this is stunning Mary! Gorgeous coloring!
    xoxo olga

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  23. I've never seen coloring pages like this, Mary. I'll have to keep a lookout. Your watercoloring is FANTASTIC! You've shaded beautifully! I think you can say you're getting the hang of it! Love your spring flowers! The tulips are a gorgeous color and the phlox is such a pretty sign of spring!

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  24. This is such a beautiful card AMry, beautifully done, love the "hello" it suits it so well. As for your garden the phlox look wonderful and outline the wall beautifully. Love the tulips too. Keep up with the cleaning and one day he will look in and say this looks different LOL.
    Hugs
    Faith

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  25. A lovely card and such beautiful flowers. Congratulations to Sherry too.
    Kath x

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  26. Hi Mary
    congrats ot Sherry on her win,
    Oh my word this card is gorgeous and your colouring is excellent.
    Love that card and that wonderful image also.
    I agree about the vellum may have been better lower , but it still looks really nice in the middle.
    I love how you have used a emphasized the flowers with a white gel pen.
    Have I mentioned how much I love your Birds on the top of your blog.
    Love and big hugs from my house to yours.
    Have you blog friend called Pamellia from Canada.
    She puts superb photos of Cardinals on her blog.
    It's
    mycraftylittlethings.blogspot.co.uk
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  27. Hi Mary,
    sorry that should have been.
    http://mylittlecraftthings.blogspot.co.uk/
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  28. Your card is just beautiful Momma Mary! I didn't even know they had this size of "coloring books". I love that it is printed onto watercolor paper. You have done a beautiful job coloring with your watercolor pencils!! I love your sentiment on the vellum too, it looks so pretty and lets the flowers show through. Love the gardens as well, you do have beautiful ones Momma Mary! Love the phlox or thrift as you call it down there, so pretty!!! Love the retaining wall too, such an elegant look! Those tulips are amazing too! I so need to do something with my flower beds. They are a mess. Hugs, Brenda

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  29. Love this spring time card Mary, such pretty colours and I am most impressed with your watercolour pencils. Your thrift looks beautiful, what a gorgeous colour xx

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  30. A beautiful card Mary, pretty flowers and lovely colours.
    Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
    x

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  31. You did so well with the coloring and shading here, and the vellum sentiment is a great choice as it's not covering up the image and it's a nice design detail as well.

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  32. This is absolutely beautiful, what a gorgeous image, wonderful colour choice and a great design.

    Kath x

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  33. Mary I love the coloring on your card. I am learing to use watercolor pencils and a water brush. Lots of fun. Your so lucky to have some tulips and Phlox growing and blooming now, we got nothing yet!!! I too have some coloring books for adults and some of those pages are so busy for sure,lol. I did find a postcard coloring book at Barns and Noble last summer, so nice. I always enjoy my visit to your blog.

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  34. Your watercolouring looks wonderful to me Mary, I think the sentiment looks great exactly where you put it too. The garden looks so pretty, I do love it when the tulips are in full bloom, ours are not quite out yet, but it won't be long now, I hope! Hugs, Anne xx

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  35. Lovely colouring of these wonderful blooms Mary ... they're so fresh and spring-like! What a gorgeous blanket of colour in your garden ... the phlox is amazing! Hugs, Anita :)

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  36. It's taking me a while to visit everyone, but I'm here now. I love your beautiful water-coloured card. Certainly brings a feeling of Spring to mind and so does your lovely garden photos. The vellum stamped sentiment is definitely on trend right now and looks lovely placed here across your card.
    Lorraine

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  37. A great card Mary! And I love your photos: everything in bloom..! It's springtime!!
    Lia xx

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  38. I've seen these little books and been tempted, but seeing your beautiful coloring really makes me want to grab one up! Love your entire design! Hugs, Autumn

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  39. Lovely card Mary, beautiful flowers on the card and in your garden.

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  40. Wow your coloring turned out so beautiful here Mary!! I really love the blooms and how you've shaded them! Your garden is so stunning too! Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos! I look forward to getting out in my garden soon if this darn rain would quit!! :) Hugs & Smiles - *Vicki*

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  41. Congratulations to Sherry!

    Wow Mary your card is stunning. What a beautiful job you've done with the colouring. Just perfect for the lovely weather here today. Your garden is looking lovely. Barbxx

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  42. What a beautiful card Mary! I agree with you about the colouring books, I find the patterns to be quite busy and sometimes odd as well, but this one is just fantastic! Your colouring is amazing and I love the cheery spring palette you used! The strip of vellum is a wonderful way to add a sentiment, love it!

    Your flowers are just beautiful, never seen this kind before! I see all the empty pots that line your driveway there, boy it must be just breathtaking in the summer once everything is in bloom! Hope to see pics of that! hugs :)

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  43. What a gorgeous card, your coloring is outstanding and like the Hello on vellum! Your garden is beautiful, things are beginning to bloom here in Missouri too but not like your garden.

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  44. Your phlox are gorgeous, Mary! They used to grow here every spring - all the highways and road easements were loaded with pink and white phlox. They reseed themselves, and then continue blooming year after year. After the highways were redone, the phlox stopped blooming :-(

    The watercolor pencils are beautiful! What a great technique for your beautifully colored flowers! And the strip of vellum is the perfect way of adding a sentiment without masking the flowers. It's a wonderful card.

    Thanks for sharing the pretty photos of your yard! I love the pretty brick in your retaining wall.
    love,
    de

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  45. Oh Mary, I'm doing the "Happy (Sitting Down) Dance"! I am so very excited about it, inspired with what I found in the box and feel very blessed to have received your wonderful blog candy! Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart! I truly appreciate all these wonderful goodies that arrived here today! :)
    Big Hugs, Sherry xx

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  46. Congrats to the second winner! This card is just lovely. Your watercolor skills are really great. Your flowers and your beautiful yard is just amazing. I love the pump. It reminds me of my grandma's house. I loved going there and pumping water into the blue enamel cup hanging on a nail.

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