It's time for Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #107: Make Your Mark, where you're invited to make 'your' mark with pens, pencils, paints or chalks, or, as we saw in the previous challenge, even sewing.
I was in a bit of a dither trying to figure out what 'mark' to make, and finally narrowed down to two things I *had* to use: my new Tim Holtz Stripes Stencil and...butterflies, specifically my Clearly Besotted ones. I decided I'd give water-colouring with my distress inks one more chance. Just one. So, off I went, scoping out ways to use the TH stencil, eventually arriving at this post on his site and aiming to achieve the look found on the bottom right.
It seemed "me" do-able when I read through the tutorial...but the end result: haahahahahahaha! I'm pa-thet-ic with water-colours (actually, maybe I need water-colour paints, not just distress inks, and a craft mat. And a tutor. On the list). Anyway, I found a section of *ahem* lines (loosely defined. Very loosely) that I liked from my various trial runs, water-coloured two butterflies then die cut and placed them on a card, following the sketch from FUSION #31
My "Make Your Mark" card...
My stencil 'stripes' are nowhere to be seen, but the 'splotchies' are kind of cool. Maybe I should have just
used the stencil as it was meant to be for my first try, rather than striving to get all fancy with a new technique.
I'm also sharing over at AAA Cards Game #14: Watercolour is Back
Over at ATSM, you'll see how the rest of the DT made their marks - and you'll be dazzled, as am I! Once you check out the gallery, let your inspiration soar, make a card, and come over to play! Winners will receive 5 free digis from
NOTE: Honoured and delighted to be selected as an AAA Cards Challenge Honourable Artist. THANK YOU!!
Thanks so much for dropping by; your visit and comments add sparkle to my day!
47 comments:
Those beautiful butterflies look great on that textured and splattered background!
Just gorgeous, ,carol - love that background paper you created! You are too hard on yourself - I just LOVE it!
I.JUST.LOVE.THIS!!!!! The colours, the splatters, the split panel that highlights the sentiment so beautifully! You have outdone yourself! Or should I say, you have Made Your Mark! And it's bold and beautiful!! Absolutely, drop dead GORGEOUS!!
I think the background really allows your butterflies to pop! The watercoloring with a stencil technique is one I have found frustrating too. I've had my greatest success with just the right amount of water (scrap paper experiments galore!) and smooth watercolor paper for even smooshing.
Don't be so hard on yourself! It might not what you envisioned but to me you card looks absolutely perfect and beautiful!
Carol, just love the background! The colors are subtle and the effect is awesome, and the butterflies you are an expert to work with!! Beautiful card!
Beautiful card, your watercolouring looks perfectly good to me!
It's a beautiful card, Carol! The colours are gorgeous and whilst the background may not be what you envisioned it really does look wonderful.
Excellent !! Beautifully done Carol. Those butterflies are beautiful. Superb creation. - Jim
Wow Carol, I really love this. Your background is fab, I love the splotches and the butterfly deep colours really work with the softer background greens. You know I get most success with water colour pencils. I have the paints but for us beginners I find the pencils easier. My are Derwent, given to me so very old but still work well xx
Don't give up just keep on playing. My tutor once told me that there were never mistakes just happy accidents! Just put your attempts to one side and come back to them at a later date. If you still don't like them then bin them.
Anyway this is great so don't knock yourself! Love the contrast between the soft background and the darker butterflies. I have this stencil and not used it as yet, must have a go.
PS key to watercolour is in the word- water and don't be frightened of it! xx
This is lovely.....don't know what you are fretting about! :)
You crack me up Carol! lol First off don't give up because I'm telling you, you might not be getting the results you want, but you are getting some mighty fine results and that is all that counts right?!! I am really in love with your background even though there isn't a stripe in sight. I think it looks really cool looking and makes the perfect backdrop for those gorgeous butterflies. I love, love the color combo too. Now what's this about not ever seeing any corn fields up close?! lol You need to come here my friend, and you will see them up close and personal. lol I will take some pictures and put up on my blog for you. Usually only one ear of corn will grow on a stalk, but in good years with lots of rain, you will get two ears on a stalk. Usually the second ear isn't as nice or filled out as the first though. If you want to email me, I can send you the pics or put on my blog, doesn't matter to me. My email is bsl60 at embarqmail dot com. Thanks for all the lovely comments, I think we are two peas in a pod!!! lol Hugs, Brenda
This is really pretty Carol! The splotches look fantastic! I like how you added the sentiment below the splotched panel. The butterflies are a great addition.
- Shauna
I love your card and I think your splotches are super cool! Love the effect!! Oh, and I really, really love your butterflies....fantastic card!!!
You did a great job! Love this card. The colors are ao soft and inviting. Thanks for joining in at AAA Cards.
Dang! yet again, girl! Great end results -- a "happy accident!" The spluts and splattery bits are all vertically aligned, so in my world, those are stripes! Well done. And two more gorgeous butterflies. Yum! Bev
Gorgeous card!
Love that sketch & you've used it to perfection, Carol! I adore your splotchy background & beautiful butterflies!
Your watercolour background looks great to me, so persevere. It may not look like you imagined, but that's the beauty of watercolour techniques, you never know what the result will be! Thanks for playing at AAA Cards.
This is gorgeous...great job! Love the background and the butterflies!
Well, I think the card is fabulous - the background looks super and I love the butterflies. Great colours too!
And I do like the watercolour backgrounds you did with the stencils - they look super.
Gorgeous!
Love the way your background turned out Carol ... so pretty. And it really shows off your gorgeous butterflies. I'm with you on watercolored. I have thrown more things out than I care to admit. I'm glad you tried again, because this is really beautiful. Keep it up! :) Loll xx
Wow, what a stunningly beautiful card!! I love how the background turned out - such a gorgeous paper for those butterflies to rest on!! The butterflies themselves are so exquisitely colored!! Good for you - This card is AWESOME!!!!
The background looks mighty fine to me ,makes your butterflies just pop! X
I like how it turned out. Sublime beautiful. Really, I love all your cards. I am so happy you share these wonderful cards with us at AAA Cards. Hugs, Victoria Lavender
Wow! What on earth could you possibly find wrong with this card ????
It is stunning, creative, beautiful, artsy, perfectly balanced, gorgeous colors....FABULOUS work Carol!!!
Oh my, people spend days trying to get splotch-ettes like these, Carol ... they're fantastic! Gorgeous texture, lots of wonderful white space and just the most beautiful butterflies ... rather grand really! Anita :)
Well, I think this card is awesome. It looks amazing! And isn't that the best type of craft - you do something that doesn't quite work out but it looks fantastic anyway? Woo hoo, great card and I love the butterflies! xx
What a great background you created for your lovely butterfly card Carol! thanks so much for joining us in the Fusion Challenge!
Carol this is truly stunning my friend. I agree with Anita, people try to recreate what you did here and do not suceed! I call it a really happy accident and in fact if you had said nothing I would have figured this was the intention, and a beautiful one!
Absolutely GORGEOUS card, Carol! I love your background, and your butterflies are just beautiful!!!
Great technique! The background works very well with all the texture and images :)
The way you write the process of card making is hilarious. I think u did an awesome job, you can keep trying and I am sure u will get the desired results :) After all, we are here to enjoy what we do :) the butterflies u colored are totally gorgeous :) Thank you for sharing with Fusion!
So so pretty!!
Fabulous split panel and water coloring!! Thanks for joining in at AAA!
ADORE this, so gorgoeus, love that you took colors form the watermelon, clever YOU! Thanks so much for sharing at FUSION...!!!
Girl there is no right OR wrong way to use watercolors!! Keep trying!!! I love what you ended up with!! I think its perfect background to show case the gorgeous butterflies!!
Wow! What a beautifully done card! I can see why it's a winner!
You definitely made lemonade out of your lemons! This card is GORGEOUS! Love the subtle colours in the BG and your butterflies are amazing. Biiig cyber hug to you :)
No matter how you arrived there - this is a lovely card. The hints of splattered colors behind those richly colored butterflies is a perfect backdrop!
Love, love love! I'm glad to see your trademark butterflies too! :)
Um, this is so lovely Carol! The texture and butterflies are just wow! You rock girl! Oh and thanks for playing with us at Fusion!
Hi Carol. This is fabulous, great colouring and love your BG. Have a great day! hugs Monika xxx
Such an amazing card really love it. Glad you joined us over at CAS on sunday.
So pretty! Thanks for joining us at CAS on Sunday!
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