Monday, July 28, 2008

Faux Watercolour with Markers (& quilted envelope)


I wanted to make a special card & envelope for dear friends of ours who are getting married. The envelope turned out to be the most exciting part (to make anyway) because thanks to Noreen (aka Swedie but I think should be called Sweetie!) I have a Scorepal!!!! She sent it to me as a surprise (how sweet is that!?!) After opening it, I had a happy little cry at her extreme generosity and sweetness. (I'm still in shock I think!) Thank you Noreen! :0) Then I set straight to playing with it. Now I'm hooked. It was so easy to make this quilted envelope:


A little unusual to have so much colour on a wedding congrats card maybe, but they're extraordinary people & I wanted to have some colour on here to express how happy we are for them. The envelope just slides right off, so no need to untie all of those double knots.


Here's how the envelope looked before I tied it shut:


Here's how I made it:


1) Cut the 12x12 Naturals White cardstock for the "envelope" (just a little larger than my card: 6 by 12 inches)
2) Scored it using the grid technique (the folds were SO easy to score too--Noreen you're the BEST!)
3) Cut two strips of matching cardstock & added 7 eyelets to each of them
4) Put a narrow strip of double-sided tape on (cleared the tape away from the eyelet holes)
5) Cut the two colours of satin ribbon (from Michael's) & sealed the ends of them with a lighter
6) Slid the ribbon through the eyelets & added more adhesive.
7) Folded the ribbons over and stuck the eyelet piece on.
8) Finally, the score lines were the perfect place for little seed beads to sit. (They're glued on there with Crystal Effects.)

You could replace the beads with little gems or with Stickles (which mail nicely too I imagine) :0)

The image is clip art that I printed on gesso cardstock. It makes faux watercolour with markers a dream (You won't believe how easy it is.) You can also use watercolour paper, but I like that you can emboss by printing out clip art.

I used my new Close to my Heart markers (that I bought from my friend Annapurna. Lurrrve them SO much!) & Lumiere on gesso paper with clip art from this great site.

It was really really really easy to colour this. Just leave a little bit of white, maybe layer a bit of colour here or there then let an aqua painter or a wet brush do the work. The bride is painted with some Lumiere to give her some sparkle. And that's all she wrote!


Hope you're having a fantastic day, :0)

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your card is beautiful! I still like to color, too, and isn't it nice to have such a grown up way to do it. :0) I like the way you did the envelope and the ribbons are just the color it needs.

Swedie

K Hutchinson said...

WOW this is the most gorgeous card and envelope I have ever seen! I could not be without my scor-pal! I love it!

Lisa M. (aka. Lisa @ Farm Fresh) said...

Mel~ This one absolutely amazes me! My cards are absolutely piddly compared to this work of art! BEEEEutiful my dear! And I love that envelope...I might just have to try it out...

Janine said...

This is beautiful Mel.. I love that envelope. What a fabulous idea.

Anonymous said...

Another Wow, you are just so awesome.

Michelle Pearson said...

wow...awesome coloring and what a beautiful presentation in the envelope!! Lovely!

Donna Baker said...

WOW! that was sweet of Noreen! Your card is stunning - what a great picture, seems like it should be framed - LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your quilted envelope!! you're a Genius, woman!

Annapurna said...

Oh my my! If I got this piece of art, I wouldn't know what to do with it, should I frame it and put it on my wall, should I add it to my wedding album. So glad I am not the recipient, so I don't have to make that decision. Gosh look at all those seed beads and the work you put in. Your coloring skills are to die for. They must be really special people.

LOVE... LOVE...LOVE...LOVE it. I will pick up my jaw later :-)

AnnMarie said...

Beautiful as always, Mel!! Love that envie!! So pretty! I guess I am the last person on the face of the earth to not own a Scor-Pal! LOL It is next on my to buy list! Have a blast with it!

Belinda said...

Hi Mel,
love the card, love the envelope! Love the technique! Score pals look pretty good too.I will faux watercolor this week. Thanks for the inspiration

Deb Neerman said...

Omigosh, Mel-a-licious, you're startin' to scare me!!! How on earth do you keep comin' up with these amazing projects?!?

This is simply stunning ... and so unique! I absolutely worship this card and envelope!!

Mel-a-licious? I want to marry this project and take it home ... where we will live happily ever after ...

~Signed, Speechless in Seattle*

*umm, I lied about Speechless ...

Deb Neerman said...

*Ummm, also about 'Seattle ...

Cindy Haffner said...

Wow so so beautiful.

Penny said...

Wow, that's a drop-dead card and envelope. How clever!!

Yesterday's Tomorrow said...

awww... that is sweet!! :)

I'm expecting a TON of ideas and samples now on what we can do with our scor-pals ;)

ps.. have you coloured with sharpies yet? I just picked some up today, not sure where to start? and I need a blender pen? do you know what kind?
apparently we can get similar effects as copics?

Risa said...

Your card and envelope are beautiful Mel! I love the embossing and seed beads on the envelope and the watercolor technique is awesome!!!!

valita said...

Hi Mel youve been awarded..go to my blog.....Luv Valita

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Truly gorgeous!

Teri said...

Just beautiful!! I love this, so much work. I'm glad you made one so we can all see.

Lorraine said...

Love my Scor Pal. This card is just gorgeous, I wish I was receiving it,the lucky person who does.

Maria said...

Okay. . .this is the most beautiful card I've ever seen! The colors, WOW!! GORGEOUS!! Your envelope is also the most prettiest. . .love the quilted look. . .and the beads! FABULOUS!!

Keep all the fabulous ideas coming, Mel!! It's just fun to just look at all the creative stuff you come up with!!

Maria

Anonymous said...

Wow! Mel, this is absolutely stunningly gorgeous! Can't think of enough adjectives to give you the credit you deserve for this beautiful creation. The recipients of this card should be ecstatic in getting this lovely card and envelope! TFS

Sheila said...

Oh WOW........what a stunning piece of work. I love everything about it......just beautiful!!!

debinicol said...

Mel-what do you mean by this?
but I like that you can emboss by printing out clip art.

HOW do you emboss by printing it?
inquiring minds need to know! IIA
DebiNicol

Erum Tasneem said...

Oh Mel! This is absolutely stunning!!!! Beautiful work!
Congrats on your ScorPal. I might try this without a scorpal. There is a big chance that the spacing wont be as neat and clean as one gets using ScorPal, but then I have to try something! lol