Sandy Allnock-Paint Along Series, #'s 3 and 4

Well, better late than never... Here are #'s 3 and 4 of Sandy Allnock's Paint Along Series. I don't know if I'll ever get around to #5, though. Sandy makes these look so easy!! But they're not.

#3 was to do a mountain scene, and even though we're just painting along with Sandy (read: copying what she does!), it's still a challenge. I tried to use the same bright yellow-green and blue-greens, mixing up the same paint colours--even though I'd prefer more muted, olive tones--but it's all about learning how to mix paint as well as painting.

  #4 was all about painting a forest scene. Here, Sandy used some Daniel Smith paints in colours I don't have, so mixed up my own as best I could. At least I liked the green colours better--more natural, to my eye.

Sandy Allnock Paint Along Series #'s 1 and 2

I'm following Sandy Allnock's "Paint Along" series, found here  She is teaching us how to paint by following along with her, as she paints. She does these paintings effortlessly, while I labour along, taking at least twice as long, and it looks half as good. However, it's fun! And that is what's it's all about.
The barn was the first exercise, and it wasn't quite as hard as I thought it would be. Here's my effort. Oh, and I must admit, I used some "artistic license", and painted the barn additions red, as leaving them white just plain bothered me!

The lighthouse was the second exercise (found here) and I found this much more challenging! Some things I like, other things, like the shadow on the lighthouse itself, and many other things, need much more practice. Again, though, it was fun!

PTI Alphabet Challenge

The fun continues over at PTI with the Paper Crafting Alphabet Challenge. I've missed a couple of challenges, due to lack of time, but was able to put together a card for this one.

Since my first name begins with K A T, here's what the challenge dictated:

K use Kraft cardstock

A add a border

T tie on some twine

And here's what I came up with. The panel was hand painted with watercolour paints and mounted onto Kraft cardstock. The green vellum tag was cut with a Tremendous Tag, and embossed with a sentiment from Embroidered Blooms. A border was added with a narrow strip of gold adhesive sheet, and a bow made of twine was attached onto the tag. The inside says, "I think you're pear-fect".

Thanks so much for looking!

PTI-Create Along With Us

With all the celebrations going on over at PTI, I was inspired to make a balloon shaker card for my granddaughter's birthday. What better way to celebrate?? I used PTI's Shaker Shapes: Balloon, as well as the Hip, Hip Hooray stamp set.

PTI's Sampler Square Challenge

Papertrey Ink's 9th anniversary celebration is here, and to celebrate, they have a few challenges. For this one, we were to create a card with 9, 1.5 inch squares, all done with a different technique, and mounted onto a 5.5 in square card base. So here is what I came up with, using a variety of PTI's Flower Fusion stamps.
And here are the techniques, going across from left to right: 1) ombre sponging with emboss resist 2) watercolouring-no stamps 3) Copic colouring 4) just stamps, with Glossy Accents 5) sentiment & frame 6) lifting technique with Distress Inks 7) spraying inked stamp for a watercoloured look 8) using die cut and dimensional foam 9) freehand doodling over stamps

PTI's Colour Recipe Card

The colour recipe I've chosen is Ashley's, but I didn't use the green. I created this card a few days ago for my Mother's birthday next week. Yes, she's going to be 90, and still going strong!

(Nb.I made this card a few days ago, for the Online Watercolour Class, but it is still a "new" card, and hasn't been entered in any challenges, so I hope it still qualifies for this challenge!

OCC Day 6: Wet-on-Wet Florals

Here is my first attempt at doing a small painting, imitating Swarup. Her paintings are so loose and lovely, but I have a long ways to go in being "loose". However, I was still a little pleased at how this turned out. It might have been better to do a larger painting, but didn't want to "waste" paper! I know, I know, we're not supposed to be worrying about that, but it's really hard to get Arches 140lb Cold Pressed paper in my town. I'm not sure how I will finish this off. I may frame it with an oval mat, placed over top of this panel.

OCC Day 4: Stamped Scenes

Woo Hoo!! I'm happy with how this turned out! I tried to put everything I've learned about watercolouring into this, and "Phew!" It's ok. I'm a detail person, so after the washes in the background were done, I ended up detailing the flowers and grapes, and tried to do grass "Sandy Allnock style". The roses were done the way Dawn showed us, with a series of "C" strokes, and I tried "scrumbling" on the wood arbor, which was the only thing stamped, although I did have a picture to go by, that came with this Art Impressions stamp set. It's a bit unbalanced because I haven't put the sentiment on, yet, which will go in the bottom, left corner. I wanted to get his posted right away :)

OCC Day 5: Expressive Florals #3

This one started out OK when I was painting this yesterday, but in the cold light of morning today, I think it's looking a little amateurish. However, it's something I would have been afraid to even attempt prior to this class, so for a first effort, I'll take it. I'm having trouble making my washes light enough--is anyone else having this problem...?

OCC Day 5: Expressive Florals #2

Here is my attempt at doing a repetitive rose background. I will draw some lines next time, so the roses are more evenly spaced. I used an indigo paint for the flower centers, and so matted with a dark navy paper. The sentiment was die cut and adhered to a strip of vellum to soften the flowers, in order for the sentiment to stand out a little more.