Scent With Love

Sending all my love.

Helloooooo!!!  I'm so glad that you could make it back for a visit.

Today I have made this special card by request.  Mostly because many have many of my followers have been asking how to use digital stamps with watercolors.  It's actually very simple.  The trick to this is to use an inkjet printer set to print in a gray scale at about 30% or bringing in the image into word or any other editor and bring the opacity to about 30%. 

The other trick is the type of paper.  Most standard watercolor paper is way to thick.  But I have found that using Canson's Mixed Media Paper is also for watercolor, but very thin and pliable.  

So don't be afraid to use your digital images along with your watercolors!  You now have my secret...shhhhh!

• Scent With Love digital image (3.5" wide)
• Scent With Love Sentiment (2" wide)
• Watercolor paints
• Canson's mixed media paper
• Washi tape
• A2 Card Base
• 2 White cardstock 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
•  1 Light green pattern paper 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• 1 Apple green cardstock 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Frame dies
• Gold ribbon 1/4" 
• Carnation Pink Nuvo Drops
• double sided foam tape
• 3D foam squares
• Tacky Glue
• Cropadile

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Let's get a little color going!

To begin, we will have our images printed out on the mixed media paper.  Because we are using watercolor it is best to tape down the image sheet down to a flat surface (I have my craft mat).  This will help keep the paper from warping much.  Please remember that this paper is not as thick as standard watercolor paper, so do not over saturate your paper with water. 

Here is a little showing of my watercolor piece in progress.  For this part I can't go into much detail as far as how to watercolor as that will be best suited for a separate tutorial I feel may be coming on. 

After all that is said and done, here is my completed water colored peony. 

Now that I have my colored image, I will fussy cut this out this time (all the images in HCP come ready with a white offset using the print and cut feature with most machines).  I repeat the process with the sentiment.

Using an oval shaped frame die from Spellbinders I cut out a piece of white cardstock.  I then blended in some Tumbled glass in the center of the die cut leaving white space around the edges. 

TIP!  I don't have nested dies that would allow for a 1/8" difference between each die so I cheat!  As you can see below that the actual cut from the outer edge of the die are about 1/8" difference.  I traced the outside edge of the die and then fussy cut.  This will give you the perfect offset to your white die cut.

Glue down the white cardstock to the apple green offset.  Here you get a great visual of just how perfect using a trace and cut can work.  This will also give you more bang for your buck on your dies!

Now just prepare the die piece by adding the double sided foam tape and setting it aside for later. 

Moving on I prepared the card front by gluing my printed light green paper to my second piece of white cardstock.  The pattern paper is flimsy so I wanted to add some stability it by using a cardstock base, as it will need it for the next step.

Now using a Cropadile (or a 1/4" hole punch), punch a hole in the upper left hand corner.  Insert the ribbon through the whole once you have wrapped the ribbon around the card like a gift (depicted below)

Once threaded through, tie a simple not and trim off the excess ribbon.

Once the ribbon is in place we can finish up the card.  Adhere the die cut piece to the center of the card front.  Then adhere the Peony in the center over the blended are using tacky glue.  I adhered the sentiment using 3D foam squares and added some a final touch with a trio of Nuvo Drops in the upper left. 

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Here you have it! 

I do hope that you have enjoyed this how to and that you join me again next time. 

Don't forget we have our group monthly challenge.  You have the chance to win a set of the Pegasus release!

​XOXO HeartcraftPaper