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Wednesday’s Card: Watercolor Flower

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Watercolor Flower

Hi All!

I want to thank everyone for their encouraging words about my creativity block. It really got my spirits up! Thank you so much!! I’m already feeling better. And my girls have been great too. My 10-year-old gave me a dramatic eye roll and called me “ridiculous” for thinking my cards were less than perfect. My 6-year-old just gave me hugs and kisses. Both special in their own way. 🙂

This week I used the same stamp for the foreground and the background. If you look closely, the stamped flower image toward the left of the background is the same as the blue flower. I “stamped off” the background to make sure it was really light – I felt like my flower would pop more without a dark, distracting background. I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out. Well, except for the water drops. I actually removed the ones I created in my video and re-applied them (which is what you see in the picture). In the process, the paper tore and it was a mess trying to fix it. I should have taken the picture first before messing with it! Oh, well. Live and learn. 🙂

I want to leave you with a little tip. It’s about simplicity. It is SO HARD to stop working on a card. Isn’t it? You want to keep adding stuff to make it better and more interesting. I see so many cards out there in magazines and online that are just so incredibly “busy”. When you are making a card, ask yourself, “what is my focal point?” There should only be one focal point. If there are multiple things the card-viewer would be drawn to, scale back to one. I think this tip is one of the hardest ones for me to follow. If you’re having trouble thinking of “what else” to add to your card, step away from it. Come back the next day and look at it again. You might decide that it’s just perfect the way it is. 🙂

Have a great week!

SONG: “Breakeven (Falling to Pieces)” by The Script.

Supplies:

Comments

  1. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 9:31 am

    DWest

    would love to view, but the video is set to private. 🙁

  2. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Colorado

    Couldn’t view your video. Message said it is private.

  3. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 9:54 am

    Judy

    Love your videos. I had no problem viewing it. Thanks!

  4. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:00 am

    Kendall B

    Your card is lovely! I could not view the video either!

  5. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:02 am

    Brenda

    I am responding to your “walk away” part of the post. I finally learned that idea and I am a much happier card maker because of it. Getting caught up in the “What more can I add?”, “What’s missing?” is soon dissipated, if I let the card/page go and look at it with fresh eyes later.

    I am probably more a clean & simple carder, but I do like some bling and details. What I don’t like is a project is so busy and detailed I can’t appreciate all the work.

    What is the reason for the card…communication with another? A page to display treasured photo moments. NOT the stuff, but the focal point, be it photo or feeling.

  6. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:08 am

    Darlene DeVries

    Hi All – sorry for the video trouble. I think YouTube is just slow in updating the video settings. I made it public again – hopefully that will help.

  7. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:08 am

    Carol B

    See your mojo is back. Although I don’t think it ever left. Love your videos.

  8. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:19 am

    Karen

    Love watching your videos…..they always inspire me. Such a beautiful card.!!! I always tend to put too much on them so I need to learn to stop and keep things simple.

  9. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:32 am

    Catherine

    Loved this card Darlene! I loved how the flower stood out from the background.

  10. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Marsha L

    Thank you!! Great video. I love that it is in fast forward and then you add your voice over. Brilliant!! I’ll be back to see more. Thanks again, M

  11. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Kris

    You’re creativity never left! What a beautiful card. I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts about all the “busy” cards you see in the magazines and such. I have had the same thoughts many times. I am always drawn to the cards that have a single focus. I have been stamping for more than 20 years now and have learned many techniques, but I try not to use too many of them on a single card. Your idea about walking away and coming back later is a great tip!

  12. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 11:02 am

    Kris

    Your creativity never left! What a beautiful card. I agree wholeheartedly with your thoughts about all the “busy” cards you see in the magazines and such. I have had the same thoughts many times. I am always drawn to the cards that have a single focus. I have been stamping for more than 20 years now and have learned many techniques, but I try not to use too many of them on a single card. Your idea about walking away and coming back later is a great tip!

  13. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 11:26 am

    Janet

    What weight cardstock do you use for Neenah Solar White Cardstock?

    Janet

    • wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 2:04 pm

      Darlene DeVries

      @Janet – I use 80 lb.

  14. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 11:48 am

    Kathy Rittler

    Thank you for this card video. I love to watch you in action and do enjoy your voice.
    You are an inspiration to me. kathy

  15. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 12:22 pm

    Ayana Posadas

    Another GORGEOUS card! I totally want that background stamp now. It’s so pretty! And I love how you did the water-coloring.
    I definitely agree with what you wrote about keeping cards simple. It’s so easy to get carried away and want to “force” more things onto a card. But I think walking away from it is such a great idea. I couldn’t have said it any better than the way you wrote it! 🙂
    Hope all is well.

  16. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    Rosanne

    I love this, I have not tried the watercolouring with the inks, but I use the watercolour pencils

  17. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    TJ Artist

    I love the card. I have the Aqua painter brushes. They were called something else. I never thought about using them with ink. Any trouble cleaning them?

    • wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 1:56 pm

      Darlene DeVries

      TJ Artist: No trouble at all cleaning them – it’s so easy! You just squeeze a little water like you are going to watercolor with it, then wipe off on a cloth or piece of paper. I’ve been using the same one for about 3-4 years.

  18. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 2:06 pm

    Kendall B

    The video is great! The card is great. Your voice is sensational!!!

  19. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 3:26 pm

    Diana

    Hi Darlene,
    Stunning! I love this card. And you are so right about not making the card so “busy.” I am often guilty of that. I love what you did with that flower.

    Thank you for sharing your ideas with us. You must dream in color.

  20. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    Eveline van Heijst

    What a wonderful card. I like it! That background stamp is gorgeous.
    Eveline.

  21. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Diane

    I love your video…I CAN DO THAT ! Only question is…..where did you get that ruler thingie you used to place your stamp ?

  22. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    Colorado

    Lovely card, Darlene! I was able to watch the video this time. Thanks for the idea to take an image from a background stamp… great idea!!

  23. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 6:18 pm

    Vicki

    Beautiful card as always ! Enjoy your videos and the music 🙂

  24. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    Debbie

    Lovely card great job! Thanks for sharing.

  25. wrote on June 29th, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    BMPG

    Love the card… and so true about the wisdom of knowing when to stop, great advice.

  26. wrote on June 30th, 2011 at 7:37 am

    Linda

    Hi Darlene – I just found your blog a few weeks ago and wait (almost) patiently for Wednesday to roll around. I love your style and I find lots of inspiration from your work. The videos are sooooo helpful. I love that you adjust the speed to highlight a teachable moment or whip through a time consuming step. I’m already looking forward to next week – after I try this technique first!!

  27. wrote on June 30th, 2011 at 8:45 am

    Donna

    Another great card and video! I really like the way you used the flower from the background stamp for the focal point. Thank you for sharing your beautiful card and talents!

  28. wrote on June 30th, 2011 at 10:58 pm

    Melissa D

    Simple, yet elegant. A lovely card.

  29. wrote on July 2nd, 2011 at 4:10 pm

    jeri c

    Found your blog for the first time this morning!!!

    Spent a rainy morning watching all your videos back to March, 2010, rain
    finally stop.

    I LOVE your site.

    I learned at least one thing for each of your videos.

    Thank you so much for sharing your talent.

    peace and health

  30. wrote on July 2nd, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    jeri c

    Follow-up input….

    Love it since you added your voice over, I enjoy the background music too.

    Great appreciate the first forward.

    thanks again!

  31. wrote on July 4th, 2011 at 5:30 am

    Tui Nathan

    Absolutely beautiful ….. love love love it!!!

    Thank you so much for sharing your video tutorial!!!

  32. wrote on July 15th, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    mel mccarthy

    Stunning card! Love the turquoise.

  33. wrote on July 15th, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    cheiron

    This is lovely. That blue flower really pops!

  34. wrote on March 24th, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    Sandy K

    Beautiful!

  35. wrote on January 25th, 2016 at 12:51 am

    CharleneT

    I love how you always come up with something simple but elegant and they are always ideas that I think to myself – wow, I should have thought of that! LOL Great card and great idea. You always inspire me to learn more and be more creative. I have learned more from you than I ever did on Stamp Nation!

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