Matching Plaids, Dots and Stripes with Watercolored Images by Anne Thompson

Now for something completely different...I am not going to show you a finished project.  Instead I'm going to show you how I approach using a variety of papers together with watercolored images because I love mixing up multiple papers on one card.  This past week I received Memory Box  6 X 6 paper pads in the mail that I had ordered--CHRISTMAS PLAID PP1009 and GARLAND STRIPES AND DOTS PP1011.  And this is what I did with them:

Let's see how I got to these ten envelopes.  You can guess from just the front covers of these paper pads how many designs and color combinations are possible:

I began by taking all of the plaid papers out of their binding and laying them out in pairs, front and back.  Then I began matching up combinations in much the same way that I play with fabrics as a quilter, considering colors, tones, patterns, textures.  As I worked through the sorting process I stopped occasionally to look for papers in the Stripes and Dots collection that I could add in for more interest.   As I worked I also began cutting the papers into standard sizes I use most...4 X 5 1/4, 4 1/4 X 5 1/2, 3 X 6, 2 X 6...and included whatever smaller scraps were left over as well.  I placed each paper collection into an envelope and set all ten of them aside.

Next I stamped a bunch of images on Memory Box WATERCOLOR PAPER WP101 using VersaFine Clair Nocturne (black) ink.  I chose the cardinal, holly leaf and berries branch, and poinsettia with coordinating dies from SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS CL5261-D.  I stamped both the smallest and the medium-sized mistletoe sprigs from MISTLETOE SWAG CL5247.  (You may have this stamp set or MERRY AND BRIGHT MISTLETOE CL5246 in your stash.  They are no longer available in the online catalog.)  And I used the smaller leafy branch and its die from BERRY WREATH CL5260-D.  With the envelopes of papers close by I chose colors from my pan watercolors that coordinated with the papers and used waterbrushes to paint the images.  I spattered some of the images with watery gold paint once they were dry.

This is one of my favorite combinations:

And another:

And just one more:

I now have ten envelopes of coordinated papers, cut to sizes I use most often, along with some already prepared watercolored images all ready to assemble into at least ten, and probably lots more, cards.  All I need to do next is pull out the box of white and holiday-colored note cards, some coordinating cardstocks if I want to layer anything, adhesives, and some sentiment stamps and inks and I'll be ready to go.  Maybe I'll start with this envelope: 

Happy Crafting!

Comments

[Nancy W]

Great inspiration! Thanks

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Great ideas as usual.