Weekender with Wanda – Mama Elephant Blooms!
Hello, and welcome back to another edition of Weekender with Wanda here on the Simon Says Stamp Blog! How was your week? Happy Saturday! It was a gorgeous week here in Northern California. Perfect weather and lots of Autumn activities happening. I hope you are enjoying the season! It’s really time to start thinking in earnest about holiday crafting. I always think to myself “I have plenty of time to think about Christmas cards” and then BAM it hits me… NO I DON’T! Haha. Maybe I need to get down the bins of holiday crafting supplies sooner rather than later!
Today’s card uses pretty stamps from one of our favorite companies around here – Mama Elephant. Their style is so unique and they have something for everyone, from super adorable cute animals, to elegant florals. Today I’m using one of my favorite stamp sets from Mama Elephant. It’s called Organic Blooms and it is perfect for any type of coloring. I chose to use my Zig Clean Color Brush Markers this time. If you haven’t had the chance to work with these markers yet, you really should! The colors are so vivid and pure and clean. The tips of the markers are tiny brushes so it’s easy to get into tight areas, and just as easy to make a large wash of color.
I started this card by stamping in clear ink and heat embossing in white embossing powder directly onto a watercolor cardstock panel. I let parts of the image go off the side of the watercolor panel for a bit of visual interest. This stamp is one large image and it’s arranged so beautifully.
Here are some tips for watercoloring with Zig Markers. I use a small size brush for water and I generally wet the area of the paper with clear water first. Then I take the markers and color into the wet area. The color will spread nicely into the water. Then I take another, darker color, to add depth and shadow. Once a section dries, I see if I’m happy with it. If not, it’s so easy to go back and add more color! The key is to have fun with it and experiment until you find your own style! I used a few shades of purple and green on the different elements.
When I watercolor, especially florals, I love to have a soft wash of color around the edges. For this card I’ve chosen a nice teal/aqua color for the wash. To do this technique may seem kind of intimidating… But it doesn’t need to be! I wait until all the other colors are perfectly dry. Then I use clean water and wet the area right up to the edges of the flowers and leaves. Once the area is good and wet, touch the tip of the marker into the water. It naturally follows the path of the clean water and will spread and soften as it gets farther away from the edge. Again, here, I will let it dry – and often go back and add more color. I really hope you will try this!
I decided to add a few black paint speckles and also a few clear rhinestone gems. The sentiment was stamped in Intense Black Ink and then cut out by hand with scissors. I adhered the sentiment with a few small foam squares. I made my A2 card base using bright green cardstock. The watercolor panel was adhered to the green card using foam squares.
Thank you for joining me today! Have fun watercoloring!
Beautiful card! Love that stamp. I also love my Zigs.
Hello my friend. Thanks for the b’day wishes that was so sweet of you. I love the colors you used on this floral stamp. So lovely. I have been doing some experimenting with some distress inks and my water brush. I am liking the results. Mama Elephant is a great company and you have represented them so well today. Thanks Wanda and have a great week!
This is a beautiful card. Watercolouring is something I need to do more of.
Wanda, this card is just beautiful! Your coloring is fabulous, as always and I love this fresh color combo!
I will give the wash technique a try, Wanda–you make it sound and look so easy and beautiful. I would love to be able to achieve such stunning results. Thank you so much for sharing your card and your wonderful tips and techniques!! Have a great weekend!
Really Beautiful card!!
Love the vibrancy of the zig brushes…. sweet card.
I really like this gorgeous card with the big blooms on it. Wanda, you always do such a great job with your coloring. Thanks for sharing your techniques with us.
This is lovely, Wanda! Thanks for the inspiration.
Lovely card! I have this stamp but haven’t used it yet. Thanks for the inspiration!
Soooooo beautiful!!!! Just stunning! TFS
Stunning card wirh this gorgeous stamp set.
Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such a beautiful card with beautiful colors!!
Absolutely gorgeous coloring, design & motif.
Gorgeous card. Hugz
I love the white embossing!!
Delightful card, Wanda! Beautiful colour combo and a fabulous stamp.
Lovely card Wanda! And I completely agree with you on how quickly the holidays creep up on us! This year I have scheduled/reserved a crop the first weekend of December. :)
Beatuful Blooms card! Love the color!
Pretty! I love the bright, happy colors!
Oh wow! Amazing colors!!!
This card is so striking. Beautiful colors.
Very pretty, Wanda! I like the blue around the edges, too.
Wow! Your card is absolutely STUNNING!!
Beautiful card – thanks for all the watercolor tips !
What a beautiful card!! The colors are so vibrant!! Thanks for the water coloring inspiration!!
Beautiful card, I LOVE your colour theme! I’m hoping Santa is going to bring me some zig markers, they look fab ;)
Beautiful!
Gorgeous card! Love those pretty flowers and your fabulous coloring!
Thanks for explaining the mysteries of water colouring Wanda. It’s not something I’ve been game enough to try as colouring has always been my nemesis! I may have to try this as your explanation sounds fairly straight forward. I also love how you said to experiment….yes I will! Have a lovely weekend. Cheers Donna Z :)
Lovely card, as always, Wanda. I don’t have that Mama Elephant stamp set [yet]
Beautiful card!
Really Pretty!
Especially like the purple flowers!
Love this card
Stunning! Love the colors, and the surround of teal! Beautiful!
Gorgeous coloring on
your beautiful card!
Carla from Utah
Beautiful–love the colors.
beautiful. . . really like the soft color around the flowers. . .
Beautiful blooms- love the purple.
What a beautiful card. I really appreciated your tips on how to watercolor. Thanks for the great design ideas and techniques.
Love the beautiful coloring.
Pretty coloring job. I already follow by email.
Such a lovely card with beautiful flowers. Very nice watercoloring.Love the colors.
I don’t have any markers yet but I love the watercoloring here. I will have to check into markers. I have just started thinking of Christmas cards. Love making them.
Love your card and the colors of the flowers.
Absolutely stunning as always from Wanda. Love how the watercolor is so soft.
Absolutely gorgeous and my favorite colors. Thanks for the inspiration!
Beautiful card and I love the colors. The new stamp in awesome and will be going on my wish list
Beautiful card. I love Wanda’s techniques and clear instructions.