Sixth Street Sundries

Emily Midgett

gouache

April Showers Bring May Flowers: Hibiscus Mixed Media!

This post was sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks, Simon!

Hi friends! I am back with another watercolored embossing folder project for you today, this time using another folder from Simon Says Stamp that has been sadly neglected in my craft room: Hibiscus Cluster embossing folder. This project started out as a typical no-line watercoloring project for me, but ended up looking a bit like those color-saturated ink swiping projects. I used a mixed-media trick to achieve that stark black background behind the vibrant watercolored hibiscus flowers, so let’s get started with the details!

I started my project by running the Hibiscus Cluster embossing folder  through my die cutting machine using an A2 panel of Arches cold press watercolor paper. Arches is my go-to watercolor paper for nearly every medium. It hardly ever lets me down! I particularly love it when paired with embossing folders, because the rich details from the embossed images are made even more exceptional on the thick, textured watercolor paper. After I had embossed the background, I pulled out a few of my favorite rich red and vibrant green watercolors from my Daniel Smith watercolor palette. The key to no-line watercoloring with embossing folder backgrounds is to treat it like you would a no-line stamped image: keep the wet sections separate until dry in order to prevent bleeding and to keep your lines crisp.

To add the delicate stamens to the center of my hibiscus flowers, I pulled out some gouache from Altenew. I had not paid much attention to the delicate lines of the stamens while watercoloring the petals, so they needed an extra strong medium to allow them to stand out. Gouache is an opaque watercolor, which means that it will have excellent coverage over most watercolors, even vibrant red! I simply painted the stamens with yellow gouache (tip: mix white gouache with your regular watercolors to create a multitude of gouache options!), keeping the paintbrush quite damp to ensure that the color flowed smoothly onto the paper.

After I had finished watercoloring the jewel-bright tropical blooms, I pulled out my black OLO marker to create that stark black background. I selected my OLO marker because they are exceptionally juicy alcohol markers and thus work very nicely with the thick watercolor paper. I covered the entirety of the white sections with this crisp black marker to create maximum contrast and allow those vibrant florals to really stand out!

After spending so much time watercoloring and adding the black alcohol marker to my background, I wanted something simple for the greeting. I die cut the delicate scripty “hello gorgeous” sentiment from white pearl cardstock using the Hello Beautiful Gorgeous dies. I trimmed down a thick rectangle of vellum, then used my scissors to notch the ends and create a flag, then used my scoring board to score the edge so that I could tuck the leftover section behind the card front before placing the whole panel on my card. I added some clear dimensional adhesive in tiny strips behind the solid die cuts, then added a few Cherry Pawsitively Dazzling Gems for a bit of sparkle!

Well, that’s all for my project today. The fabulous embossing folder sale is still happening over at Simon Says Stamp! You can get all Simon-branded embossing folders (including the ones with coordinating dies!) for 25% off until May 27, 2024. Simply click HERE to see all of the embossing folders, then add code EFLDR at checkout to take 25% off of your embossing folder purchase!

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a marvelous day!

Simon Says Stamp Dream Big Blog Hop-Day 2!

Hi there! Today, we are hopping along to celebrate the Simon Says Stamp Dream Big release! (You can check out the Day 1 blog hop HERE.) You should have arrived here from Barbara Tarayao, and your next stop is Miriam Prantner. I am extra excited about today’s hop, because I have a fun video to share using my newest stamp illustration: Magnolia Apple Blossom! You can check out the video below or click HERE to watch it on YouTube.

For this project, I wanted to create a bright, vibrant bouquet featuring my new favorite medium: gouache! I was able to experiment with pairing white gouache with liquid watercolors earlier this summer, and it was such a blast that I had to try it out with this giant Magnolia Apple Blossom bouquet.

I began by stamping the large bouquet from Magnolia Apple Blossom onto some Simon Says Stamp Midnight Green cardstock using Hero Arts Unicorn ink. The white pigment ink fades beautifully into the opaque paint and shows up perfectly against the dark cardstock background. I die cut the image with the coordinating dies. I mixed the liquid watercolors with the white gouache to create a variety of shades of opaque paint. The brighter the watercolors, the better, because the opaque white gouache will seriously dilute the color from its original vibrancy. The super thick Midnight Green cardstock worked beautifully with this thick paint; it did not warp or pill at all!

I like to mentally replace the water that I would normally use to dilute the watercolor with the white gouache. The white gouache acts to dilute the intensity and vibrancy of the watercolor, so adding more gouache will make your color lighter, more watercolor/pigment will make it brighter and more intense. I laid down the medium shade in the areas that were more shadowed, then added some more white gouache to that medium shade and painted the petals that were on the top, or curled over on themselves. As with all no-line coloring, keeping the contrast and sharp lines between the edges of each image was key in maintaining the shape.

Once my painting was complete, I used the Magnolia Branches Embossing Folder from Simon Says Stamp to emboss a mini-slimline (3.5″x6″) panel of more of the Midnight Green cardstock, which I lightly splattered with more white gouache to add a touch of artsy texture to the background. I popped up the painted die cut with foam tape, then added a sentiment strip from Magnolia Apple Blossom using a double layer of foam tape for extra height. Finally, I added a few Milk Glass jewels for some iridescent sparkle!

My second card features one of the new standalone dies from the Dream Big release: Lemon Zest. I love that these new dies feature just enough detail that you can use colored cardstock for a chunkier, more graphic effect, or you can use your favorite coloring medium to add lots of detail and shading, as I’ve done here. I began by die cutting all of the components from Lemon Zest from plain white cardstock. I used my Copic markers to add a ton of vibrant color to the images. This would be fun to do with ink pads and ink blending, too!

For the background, I wanted to add a subtle pattern, so I pulled out the Interlocking Circles Stencils. These stencils have a definite Tuscan feel to them, which I thought worked perfectly with the bright lemon die cuts! I blended Lemon Chiffon and Duckling inks to create a subtle, sunny pattern for the background.

I die cut a vellum Nested Domed Arches die to create a smooth area to ground my greeting and lemon cluster. I stamped a greeting using the Well Wishes stamps and Pine Paws-itively Saturated ink, then arranged my die cuts and sentiment over the top of my vellum arch. I added the die cuts with lots of foam adhesive, hiding the foam tape behind the solid die cuts to keep it from peeking through my transparent vellum die cut. Finally, I added a few bright yellow iridescent pearls to add a bit of shine!

My final card today might be tied with the magnolia gouache card for my favorite card from this release. As soon as I saw the new Ice Cream Scoop dies, I wanted to create a festive pastel birthday card with them featuring the Layered Confetti stencils. I began my project by die cutting all of the components for the Ice Cream Scoop die cuts three times from white cardstock. I again used my Copic markers to add lots of color to the die cuts, creating vanilla bean, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip ice creams. (Yum, right?) I adhered all of the components together using both liquid and foam adhesive to create as three dimensional a look as possible.

Next, I created a party background with coordinating ice cream shoppe colors! I combined the Layered Confetti stencils with Guava, Spring, and Goldenlocks inks, blending the stencils on a white background, then randomly blending all three colors around the edge of the card front to create a soft, almost bokeh-effect. I also layered a few Streamer Ribbons cut from white cardstock towards the top of my blended background to add an even more festive feel to the card front.

After the card base had been completed, I adhered the ice cream cones to the card front using foam adhesive. I cut the detailed “happy birthday” from the Scripty Happy Birthday die set from some white glitter cardstock and adhered it to the ice cream cones. So many different elements on this card, but I love how festive and sweet this one ended up! The different looks that you can achieve from just some plain white die cuts is absolutely amazing to me.

Well, that’s all for my projects today! Now, to celebrate the release and the blog hop, Simon Says Stamp is generously giving away a $25 shopping spree from one commenter on each stop on the hop!

To enter, simply leave a comment on each blog hop stop. The more comments you leave along the way, the more chances you have to win! The winners will be announced on the Simon Says Stamp blog on Wednesday the 27th of July. The winners can email the folks at Simon Says Stamp to claim your prize!

Simon Says Stamp is also offering a free gift with purchase! Enter code BIGHUGS at checkout to receive the sweet Scripty Big Hugs die FREE with any purchase! This promotion will expire 7/24 at 11:59 pm EDT.

Your next stop is Miriam Prantner. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!

Hero Arts 2022 Mixed Media Release+Blog Hop!

Hi there! Today, Hero Arts is celebrating the release of their new Mixed Media Catalog with a blog hop, and we are hoping to inspire you to step outside of your comfort zone. You should have arrived here from Debi Adams, and your next stop is Ilina Crouse. I will admit, my initial thought was that Mixed Media was a bit too far of a departure from my normal style, but guess what I learned? For a project to be considered “mixed media,” it only needs to mix more than one medium-embossing, painting, stamping, ink blending, pastes, pearls… something that we do frequently as cardmakers!! I combined some of the new products from the Mixed Media Catalog with some older products and art supplies to create this card/tag combo, so let’s get started with the details!

Both of my projects feature the Floral Silhouettes stamps as the base of the projects. I love using colored pencils on vibrant colored cardstock, and thought it would be great fun to combine the Hero Arts Liquid Watercolors with white gouache to do some painting on Nautical cardstock. I stamped the images from Floral Silhouettes onto Nautical cardstock using Unicorn White pigment ink, then created a lovely pastel palette by mixing gouache with Strawberry, Mulled Wine, and Jungle Mist liquid watercolors. The opacity of the gouache makes it stand out perfectly on the dark navy blue cardstock.

Painting with gouache is a bit different than my normal painting technique. I painted the images flat, then added highlights to create definition on the individual areas, which is a bit of a departure from my usual technique of adding shadows to my images. The Floral Silhouettes stamps are solid silhouettes, so they leave some room for imagination when it comes to adding details. I fussy cut the finished images using my sharp scissors.

For my card base, I used White Satin Pearl embossing powder to emboss the new Calligraphy Bold Prints on a full size A2 panel of Nautical cardstock. I trimmed down a thick strip of more Nautical cardstock, adding a thinner strip of silver glitter cardstock on either side, then adhering it to the embossed card base. I added the greeting on a strip of cardstock using some foam adhesive, then arranged my flowers above the sentiment strip like they were exploding from the top of the sentiment strip. I love how the colorful gouache painting pops so beautifully from the dark blue cardstock. This is an experiment that I definitely will try again!

My tag features some of the leftover gouache flowers and another embossed background from the Calligraphy stamp, this time backing a Looking Glass Fine Art Frame, die cut from more navy blue cardstock. I arranged the flowers and foliage, as well as a sentiment, then punched a hole in the top and threaded a ribbon through to create a tag. Simple, and would look so lovely adorning a plain gift bag!

Well, that’s all for my projects today. I so enjoyed stepping out of my comfort zone creating these projects-I can’t wait to try more gouache/liquid watercolor experiments! Solid silhouette stamps are just the foundation for some really fun techniques!

To celebrate this new catalog release, Hero Arts is giving away a super fun prize pack. You can check out the Hero Arts Blog for all of the details on the items included in the prize pack from the new release. Simply leave comments along the hop to be entered to win. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!

Your next stop is Ilina Crouse. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!

Free Shipping Days at Colorado Craft Company!

Hi there! Back again today with another project from the latest Colorado Craft Company release, this time featuring a stamp set collaboration between 3C and another wonderful company, Crafty Meraki! The stunning new Big and Bold Collaboration Orchids set was an absolute joy to paint with my newest obsession- Holbein Artist’s Gouache!

I began by stamping the gorgeous image from Big and Bold Collaboration Orchids onto some Fabriano Artistico Cold Press watercolor paper using Ink On 3’s Fadeout Ink. Gouache is an opaque watercolor, so it covers the stamped lines fairly well, but I use it basically the same way I do with my watercolors, so some of the stamped lines still show through. The Fadeout ink helps to minimize those lines.

Next, I watercolored the image using my Holbein gouache using Violet and Dark Green, adding some Permanent White for highlights and to emphasize shadows. It’s amazing the depth that you can create with just three tubes of paint! I used a number 6 round Silver Black Velvet brush for the majority of the painting, adding details with number 4 and number 2 round brushes. The intense colors in the gouache are perfect for this bold image from the Big and Bold Collaboration Orchids!

Once I had finished painting, I didn’t want to add much else to take away from the detailed painting, so I used my trusty T-square to add a black frame around the edge of the panel, then added a heat embossed greeting on a rectangle of black cardstock with some foam tape. The final touch was to finish off the “rule of 3” for the black accents with some black gems!

Well, that’s all for my project today! As you might know, Colorado Craft Company is offering Free Shipping Days to celebrate their newest release! Simply add items to your cart, then use code FREESHIPPINGEM at checkout to receive free shipping! The free shipping code will work from 9/5-9/6, so go and get your shop on!

Well, that’s all for my project today. Thanks so much for stopping by, and have a marvelous day!

Colorado Craft Company September Anita Jeram Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!

Hi there! I’m so excited to be hopping along with my friends at Colorado Craft Company to celebrate their latest Anita Jeram release! You should have arrived here from Daniel West, and your next stop is Mansi Bhatia. The Anita Jeram line is just so wonderfully sweet. If you’ve read the “Guess How Much I Love You” books, you’ll have seen the delightful illustrations. It’s so much fun to be able to create my own little storybook cards with these darling stamp sets in the Anita Jeram line! I particularly enjoy no-line watercoloring these beautiful images… the whimsical storybook feel is right in my comfort zone! Let’s get started with the details.

I have been itching to get more practice in with my Holbein gouache paints. I have a bad habit of collecting various mediums and brands and not getting the opportunity to really dig in and play with them, so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to get some practice in! From what I understand, illustrators frequently use gouache for their paintings because it is opaque and completely flat, and therefore won’t have any reflections when they go to scan their paintings. I wanted to be super authentic (ha) so I thought these sweet bunnies from Flurries of Fun were a perfect match for some gouache practice!

I began by stamping the sweet little bunnies, bird, and snowbunny from Flurries of Fun onto some Fabriano Artistico hot press paper using Ink On 3’s Fadeout Ink. Next, I used Holbein gouache to do some watercoloring on the image, allowing the blue sky to help create plenty of contrast to keep the snowbunny looking white. Gouache is a bit more intense and opaque than traditional watercolors; you can treat it like acrylic paints and keep things thick and completely opaque, layering your colors to achieve shadows and depth, or you can use it more like traditional watercolors and allow the wet paintbrush and water to move the pigment for you. I treated the gouache more like traditional watercolors, but the opacity helps to keep the colors super vibrant. I also found glazing (glazing=adding more color over the top of a dried section to intensify the color or add more depth/shadows) to be much more intense with the gouache. Such a fun medium!

The blue sky was particularly receptive to the glazing technique; I was able to achieve a really fun, artsy background with layers of blue and lavender gouache and lots of water. I splattered the background with some white gouache to create snowflakes, but it kind of sank in to the blue and wasn’t very visible. I think I had diluted it with water a bit too much. (Practice makes progress!) I ended up dotting the background with my white gel pen to create more visible flurries.

After I’d finished my painting, I used some black pigment ink to add a simple sentiment from Flurries of Fun to the card front. This would be a perfect thank you note for a Christmas gift or winter birthday or something! Plus, totally flat, so very easy to mail.

Now, to celebrate this release, Colorado Craft Company will be choosing one winner from the comments on each stop on the blog hop! Winners will receive one stamp set of their choice from the new release. The cutoff for entries is September 6th at midnight mountain time. 3C will pick and announce the winners on the Colorado Craft Company blog September 8th. The more comments you leave, the more chances you have to win!

Your next stop is the über-talented Mansi Bhatia. Thanks so much for stopping by today, and happy hopping!