This week's Blogger's Challenge Friday challenge is watercoloring. This is a technique I do on almost all of my projects, so for this challenge I thought I'd try something a little different than my usual watercolor process.
My friend Crissy is an artist for High Hopes Rubber Stamps. She's an outstanding illustrator, and she's also amazing when it comes to giving her illustrations life through color.
I recently asked her about the technique she uses to watercolor her images using water-based markers. I encourage you to visit her gallery on SplitCoastStampers to really see just how wonderful the results of this technique can be.
I stamped the snowman and sentiment images in Timber Brown Stazon ink on cream cardstock. I watercolored the snowman with Crissy's technique using water-based markers. I used markers by Stampin' Up and Tombow.
Once the image was dry, I added a bit of additional color and shimmer to the image by watercoloring some areas with Twinkling H2O's. If you're not familiar with Twinkling H2O's, they are a hard caked pigment color infused with itty bitty shimmery particles. Ooooh sparkles... In the close-up of the snowman you can see the watercolor detail, and the sparkles. (Click the image for a larger view.)
Big thanks to Crissy for recently sharing this technique with me! Perfect timing for this week's Blogger's Challenge Friday topic!
Stamps on this card by Stampin' Up (Wishing You Cheer); Designer paper by BasicGrey (Figgy Pudding).
Wow! What a great looking snowman! You are so talented with watercoloring.
Posted by: Lori | December 11, 2007 at 08:52 PM
WOW! I wouldn't have ever thought to color a snowman brown. But you can bet your hiney I'll be doing it now!! Thanks for the awesome idea! :)
Posted by: Lindsey (jacksonbelle) | December 08, 2007 at 07:01 PM
This is stunning, Anna!
Posted by: Lisa B | December 08, 2007 at 06:14 PM
Ok, STUNNING as ever but where do we learn this technique?
Mwah!
Em
Posted by: emily | December 08, 2007 at 05:44 PM
This little snowman is just WAY cute. Great job on the coloring as always ;-)
Posted by: Claudia | December 08, 2007 at 08:09 AM
always amazed by your watercoloring, it's awesome!
Posted by: Kim Howard | December 08, 2007 at 07:47 AM
oohh too cute - never would have thought to use brown to color the snowman in. love the vintage-y look to it!!
Posted by: Karen (stampin3) | December 08, 2007 at 07:15 AM
This snowman is just adorable. Great coloring job of course that was expected from you! Very nice, is it watercolor paper?
Posted by: Mary Jo Price-Williams | December 08, 2007 at 05:41 AM
Could you or your friend, explain how to do the watercolor technique with the markers...the technique is gorgeous and I would like to learn how to do it.
Thanks....
Posted by: Kerry Fitzpatrick | December 07, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Gosh what can be said that hasn't been said, this is just so darn cute & adorable. Imagine a "brown" snowman, looking so dapper & festive! Great card Anna.
Posted by: Ida | December 07, 2007 at 05:12 PM
ohhhhh, I wanna' w/c like you! So very adorable...tu for showing us yet another "how to w/c"...I am learning so much.Gotta' go see how to do it...hugs
Posted by: Gerrie | December 07, 2007 at 01:38 PM
I would NEVER think to color a snowman brown, but you make it look great! Mine would end up looking like he rolled in the mud ;)
Posted by: Jennifer (jkincolorado) | December 07, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Twinkling H20's...now that's something I don't have! What color did you use on your snowman? Do you have multiple colors? Guess I need to make a trip to CHF! Love your snowman!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | December 07, 2007 at 08:19 AM
Beautiful as usual Anna! I love the vintagey look you gave the snowman by coloring it in shades of brown.
Posted by: Stefanie (ssummerer) | December 07, 2007 at 07:57 AM
The snowman is really cute and your coloring is great. I have really been enjoying all of your galleries! Danielle
Posted by: Danielle Kennedy | December 07, 2007 at 07:05 AM
Just love your watercoloring Anna!
Posted by: Lisa Somerville | December 07, 2007 at 05:12 AM
Oh I knew you'd KILL this one. Love your colors for this card too Anna.
Posted by: Lauren (mytime) | December 07, 2007 at 05:12 AM
Amazing, you can even make a dirty little snow man the cutest thing EVER!! LOL
So cute! :)
Posted by: Karrie Baker | December 07, 2007 at 05:01 AM
Love this one! Why is it that I think brown snowmen are so adorable!? Maybe it's the vintage lover in me. Then again, you coud probably color this guy lime green and you'd make me love him!
Posted by: Heidi | December 07, 2007 at 04:46 AM
Oh holy cow! I love this card! Cute, cute cute! (did I say cute?)
The technique used is wonderful, and again with the Figgy Pudding? That reminds me. I'm hungry. And I need to buy more of that lovely paper!
Posted by: kayjaydee (Kelli Doubek) | December 07, 2007 at 04:31 AM
This is wonderful! I am going right now to check out her technique. Thanks to you, I placed a huge order for High Hopes stamps....can't wait to get them! At this rate, I may be living in my car....with all my stamps! : )
Posted by: Michele | December 07, 2007 at 04:25 AM
No one can make watercolors look quite so fabulous as you! I love this little brown snowman and your designer paper looks awesome as well!
Posted by: Lynn Mercurio | December 07, 2007 at 02:48 AM
Beautiful! So what exactly is the technique?
Posted by: Andrea | December 07, 2007 at 02:22 AM
Love the Snowman and of course your watercolouring!!!! The DP and Ribbon are great as well
Posted by: Vicki | December 06, 2007 at 10:13 PM