Hello Friends!
It is time for a new challenge at A Vintage Journey and our talented Amanda is hosting a Watercolour Wonder Challenge. Here is what Amanda has to say:
'There is so much versatility in Watercolour, making it possible to create art that can be gentle, washy and light, or bold, full of colour with definite lines, and it comes in a variety of guises; pens, tubes, sticks, inks, markers. So for the challenge we would like your project to include some form of watercolouring or watercolour techniques and be in keeping with our favoured styles; vintage, shabby, mixed media, art journalling, industrial, timeworn or steampunk'
Amanda's challenge gave me a much needed push to get out my watercolour inks, my new watery wash stamps, Oxide inks and used lots of painty washes to create a colourful scene inside an inexpensive recessed frame.
The frame was painted with DecoArt Cobalt Teal Hue before adding a coat of DecoArt Crackle Paint.
Once the crackle was dry, a very watery wash of DecoArt Phthalo Blue, mixed with Titanium White was applied to the frame. Once dry, the frame was lightly sanded to give a more 'distressed' look. I later applied a little Quin Gold paint to add to the aged look.
The background was stamped using my Darkroom Door Watery Washes stamp set. Distress Oxide and Distress Ink were applied to my craft sheet and watered down slightly. The ink was picked up and applied to watercolour paper.
Some chippies (a gift from my lovely friend Sandy) were painted in hues of green and blue. The seahorse and starfish were hand drawn onto watercolour paper. I applied drawing gum where the 'spines' of the seahorse would be and then Ecoline inks were diluted with water and then applied the seahorse.
A view of the finished picture before I added it to the frame. I gave the seahorse a coat of Clear Rock Candy Distress Paint, it reacted with the inks as you can see, but I was happy with the result. Real sand and a few glass pebbles were added along with some clay elements.
While I had my inks out, I used the drawing gum to draw some freehand flowers and used the Tanzanite colour to watercolour them....
I was quite pleased with the way they turned out and I added a quote from our hugely talented DT member Alison's wonderful new stamp set, stamped with Wilted Violet Distress Oxide.
We hope you will join in Amanda's challenge at A Vintage Journey where our Sponsor for the month is Craft Obsessions who are offering a £20 voucher to spend in their wonderful on-line store!
Do please go over to visit A Vintage Journey, if you can, to see the amazing projects created by the Design Team. Thanks so much for your visit, I always appreciate your comments!
I was really pleased to see that Country View Crafts blog challenge is 'Blues and Greens' for August so I would like to enter their challenge with my sealife frame.
I would also like to join in That's Crafty challenge which is Anything But Cards, with my sealife frame.
Keep on Crafting!
Hugs, Anne xxx
Oh wow Anne, amazing projects both of them!!! The underwater scene looks wonderful and how clever to drraw that sea horse from scratch yourself!! The addition of the pebbles, shells etc make it into a wonderful 3D scene, super!!! Your hand drawn flowers are amazing!!! You should do more of that, love them, they are so full of life!!
ReplyDeleteWOW! These are gorgeous Anne. I love your little underwater scene, the seahorse looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd I didn't know you could draw ... those flowers are stunning. Like Astrid says, you should do more. Have a lovely weekend xx
Oh Anne both your projects are absolutely fabulous. Your Underwater Scene is a real treasure with so much consideration given to 'watercolour'. Love it !
ReplyDeleteYour card and tag are so beautiful. Such a lovely sense of movement in those radiant flowers. I think we need to see more of those drawing skills you have kept hidden away .
Thank you so much for joining in and creating such fabulous projects for this challenge Anne .
Have a lovely weekend
x
Anne, you hold such hidden talent, but it has definitely come to the forefront today with both of these stunning projects! Your hand drawn seahorse is so beautifully colored! Your flowers are oh, SO stunning! I am GOBSMACKED! Truly a favorite post and pair of projects from you! Sending big hugs!
ReplyDeleteDouble loveliness here - what a post full of watercolour inspiration! As you know, I always enjoy your plunges underwater, and this time with your own hand-drawn seahorse - he's magnificent! I adore the shimmering colours in his spine which shift in tone as the light hits them underwater, and you've given him such a lovely setting in which to hover.
ReplyDeleteAs for the flowers, I'm blown away - they are simply magical. Such stunning simplicity and such vivid colour. I'm honoured to see my quotes in the company of such beautiful blooms!
Alison x
Oh my goodness, these are all so amazing, Anne!! The frame is so stunning!! That is the most beautiful seahorse I've ever seen!! I love the colors!! The cracked frame is perfect to showcase it!! The seashells and bubbles are perfect touches!! And I am in awe of your hand-drawn flowers!! I want a stamp just like them!! They are so gorgeous, my friend!! Your talent is incredible!! I hope you have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Loving your seahorse in his watery world and those purple flowers are gorgeous. You should definitely do more watercolouring!! Elaine xx
ReplyDeleteWow, Love your water colour home for the wonderful Seahorse - it looks so gorgeous and your hand drawn seahorse is beautiful! Your flowers are awesome, you could design stamps! Both are your usual masterpieces my friend! Hugs. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet and colorful underwater scene Anne! (what a surprising and unusual topic for you!!??!! NOT!!) I feel like I'm underwater with that sweet seahorse! and I LOVE your wonderfully inked flowers - what a gorgeous purple and Alison's sentiment is lovely!
ReplyDeleteAn underwater delight Anne. A beautiful way to display your clever use of colour washes and your Hand drawn Seahorse is adorable. Thank you for sharing your talents over at That's Crafty and joining our *Anything but Cards* Challenge. Best Wishes Tracey.
ReplyDeletewow wow wow...that seahorse is just amazing and your watercolour flowers are gorgeous too...hugs kath xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Anne, love your seahorse and the background using the Darkroom Door stamp set works so well. Gorgeous colouring on the Seahorse. Your flowers are truly stunning on your card and that colour....wow. Tracy x
ReplyDeleteSaw these on Facebook and had to come and have a proper nosy! WOW they are stunning Anne! Love them!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Linda xxx
Anne, Your frame is lovely! I am a fan of seahorse so this caught my eye instantly!
ReplyDeleteAnd WOW!!! Those purple flowers- knocked my socks off! Absolutely deliciousness!! Gorgeous for sure!
Jackie xo
Your scene is gorgeous Anne - what a wonderful idea and I am tickled pink that I had a little hand in your delightful creation. I am saving this to my computer - good tutorial!! I don't know what drawing gum is. Your flowers are really a joy to look at - I knew you were talented I just did not realize how talented!!!!
ReplyDeleteBravo pretty lady!!!
sandy xx
Your beautiful hand drawn flowers are gorgeous Anne and of course I just love that amazing Tanzanite colour WOW!
ReplyDeleteLove your pretty little sea horse swimming in his under sea frame too!
Hugs Lottie xx
Excuse me, Annie? Why have you been hiding your talent for drawing magnificent flowers under a bushel or have I been missing this part of your repertoire somehow?! I am in love with your brilliant Tanzanite poppies and think you should design your own line of stamps now!!! Love, love, love!! Of course, before I saw your stunning card and tag, I was enchanted by your newest sea life frame! I really love how the distress paint reacted with the vibrant seahorse colors and all the sweet details you always add! I'm sure you'll find it in the winner galleries of the challenges you've entered! Hugs, Darnell xxoo
ReplyDeleteAnother underwater beautiful scene, Anne! And the flowers are delightful. I love this colour, the whole is gorgeous, in addition with Alison's stamp.
ReplyDeleteOh!My!Goodness! This really is wonderful Anne! Your drawing of the seahorse and the way you have given him such a fabulous colour is incredible! I love the setting you have created for him too! Your flower drawings are beautiful and the sentiment of course is perfect! Hugs, Chrisx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to use the watercolors! I haven't figured out what to do yet, but I love this concept. I do think that watercolors in general are perfect for sea and sky. I always enjoy your projects.
ReplyDeleteFabulous Anne... love those Darkroom Door stamps and wow you have used them to perfection here to achieve that beautifully balanced background. Your details, as always, are amazing and the seahorse is brilliant. In awe of your watercolour flowers too - elegant and beautiful xx
ReplyDeleteYour box frame project is adorable and I love the flowers you did whilst playing with your inks - lovely.
ReplyDeleteToni xx
Beautiful ! Thank you for joining my challenge over at Country View Crafts !
ReplyDeleteCorrie x
You are filled with surprises at every turn my friend! I just LOOOOOOVE the way you have used the DD stamps and must have that set! Gorgeousness! The hand drawn seahorse has my jaw on the floor - WOOOOW! His coloring is amazing and I love that you used a liquid mask, something I have yet to try. Lastly, your painted petals mixed with Alison's stamps makes me smile from ear to ear! I know she must be thrilled to see this and I certainly am! Love this post and you my friend. Hugs, Autumn
ReplyDeletetotally fantastic scene Anne and I just love how you created the background...wonderful make for Amanda's wonderful challenge theme xx Your watercolour flowers are simply stunning and something you should do more of....Love it.
ReplyDeleteSending my best wishes and hugs
Annie xx
Yet another artistic skill unveiled Anne, you are so talented! Absolutely love all your sea themed makes and this seahorse outdoes the others as it is beautifully hand drawn and wonderfully decorated!!! Then your flowers are stunning indeed. Wonderful hue. As someone else said above, they would make for a fantastic stamp. Lovely to see you play with Alisons fab stamps too. Sorry to be mia, life still awfully demanding timewise! Ive never heard of drawing gum so off to youtube to learn more... Nicola xx
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Anne another lovely seahorse, you must have quite a collection by now. Have a great crafty week, Angela xXx
ReplyDeleteAnother gorgeous, stunning project Anne...the seahorse is Amazing!!! Thank you for your sweet comment...huge hugs! XXX Simona
ReplyDeletelove all the bright colors! Well done so bright & cheery
ReplyDeleteGorgeous creations Anne, I love your watercoloured underwater scene with your beloved seahorses taking center stage and your freehand watercolour flowers are just gorgeous, adore that colour combination and the addition of Alison's lovely quote stamp was the perfect addition. Thanks so much for sharing, Deb xo
ReplyDeleteHi Anne - I don't seem to be able to link to your Eilleen Hull book post even though it is in my sidebar! Hugs, Chrisx
ReplyDeleteYou created such a beautiful tableau Anne, so inspirational! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJust popping by to congratulate you Anne on being chosen as one of the top 3 at That's Crafty. Well deserved my talented friend . hugs x
ReplyDeleteOh Anne - I am so very glad this was one of my numbers for CVC.... I love this and can remember seeing it on FB but I think it was when I was on holiday so I had missed it! Don't you just love it when you see something you missed the first time around. Amazing frame and I adore the seahorses. This makes me smile lots. Big hugs and thanks for joining us at Countryview challenges and good luck! Rachel xx
ReplyDelete