An Experiment: Day Twelve

My original intent was to post two cards today, but one met with the unfortunate fate of being catastrophically ugly.

These things happen sometimes.

Anyway, the card that DID turn out was completely inspired by my friend Audrie (she of the Inspiration Challenge at SCS). She has sent me a number of cards that feature black bases...and they are so lovely! As I examined the completed watercolor panel, I realized that a white or watercolor paper base would simply not do it justice. I thought of Audrie and pulled out some black card stock. The background colors pop right off the black.

4.25" square card; raised panel is 3.25" square

Thanks to Audrie for the inspiration!

A few loose ends. Several questions have come in. First, yesterday's card base is watercolor paper...the same paper used for the painted panel. The watercolor paper isn't stark white but is a softer off-white, and that set off the pinks and golds beautifully.

Second, the brush I used to paint these watercolor panels was a Crayola children's paintbrush...very large and round, with a tapered tip. Most of my nice watercolor brushes are too small to work this big because I collected them back when I was painting illuminations, which generally require very small brushes. When I found a pack of four Crayola brushes my son hadn't opened even though he's had them for a year, I stole them.

He's not noticed.

The brush worked great.

And now we say goodbye to the experiment with Papertrey's Life stamp set. When we started, I was in a creative slump, but this exploration of different products and techniques...using stuff I already had in my stash...jolted me out of the slump spectacularly.

This is a good idea to tuck away for future slumps, don't you think?

Tomorrow we'll move on to something completely different. Oh, my. What fun!

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Life, My Favorite Things Cheerful Blessings
ink: Memento Luxe black
paper: watercolor paper, StampinUp black
accessories: Twinkling H2Os, craft foam, glue