No-line Poinsettias with Colorado Craft Company+Karin Brushmarker Pro!

Hi there! Colorado Craft Company recently released some absolutely stunning holiday stamps, and I have been enjoying playing with them so much. I have a traditional card for you today, with bold red poinsettias from the Big and Bold-Poinsettia Blessings stamp set that I’ve watercolored with the Karin Brushmarker Pro markers. Let’s get started with the details!

I began by stamping the main floral image from Big and Bold-Poinsettia Blessings onto some Fabriano Artistico watercolor paper using Ink on 3’s Fadeout Ink. I then used Karin markers to do some watercoloring in multiple layers. I prefer to scribble the Karin markers onto a ceramic palette, then pull the diluted color up onto my paintbrush and apply it to the paper. I find that this method gives me a bit more control over the movement of the color, because it doesn’t seem to sink down into the paper quite as quickly, allowing me to maneuver the color and create the depth I want.

I watercolored the image in stages, laying down the lightest value first, then adding a medium value, to add more depth, finally adding the darkest red value only to the areas that would have the deepest shadows. I also used a small paintbrush and a flicking motion to add some pine sprigs to add a bit of greenery.

I stamped the greeting from Big and Bold-Poinsettia Blessings using black pigment ink, but I pressed a bit too hard on the paper and smudged the area around the sentiment. After spending so much time watercoloring the image, I needed to figure out a way to make it work. Splatters to the rescue! I pulled out my black gouache, diluted it thoroughly, and splattered it on the painting with a few flicks of my paintbrush. Problem solved! I added a black frame around the edge using my T-square and a black pen. I trimmed the watercolored panel down a bit, then mounted it on a 5×7 panel of black cardstock. I finally added a few black gems to add some sparkle.

If you haven’t checked out the newest Colorado Craft Company release, you totally should! It’s so beautiful, with so many classy, elegant holiday options, as well as some adorable new sets from Anita Jeram. Well, that’s all for my project today. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a marvelous day!