CAS Mix Up Card Challenge: Beach

 

My blog this week is for the CAS (Clean and Simple) Mix Up for August 2020:

For those who are not familiar with the rules for this challenge here they are:

CAS Mixed Media Definition:
- clean (uncluttered) cohesive design
- open space
- include techniques
- include art products

I couldn't resist using my favorite Hippo Fun In The Sun Clear Stamps by Whimsy Stamps:

If you follow my blog, you'll have seen this stamp set before, but never water colored with Altenew's 24 half pan watercolor set:

The each little pan of watercolor comes wrapped with a label showing all the details of the color and a color swatch dark to light. I usually don't used the reference sheet that comes with any coloring medium for I want to see the colors in real life. Therefore, I removed the labels and added them to a full sheet of watercolor paper. Next, I swatched each color, so that I could (1) tell for myself how the colors looked and worked and (2) have a good reference for future coloring:

I use a pipette to drop a few drops of water onto the colors that I plan to use. It softens the watercolor to make it easier to paint.

I used the Altenew color, Crystal Water, for the background onto Ranger Inkssential's WaterColor paper, my favorite for card making. I wanted to achieve some movement, like there was the ocean behind our hippo playing the the sand, so I started with a wet-on-wet technique and dropped in color. Before it dried, I splattered with the same color paint and with lots of water droplets of all sizes.

I let it air dry naturally and once it was almost dry, I set in under a few heavy blocks to help flatten it. I also ran it through my Big Shot between a sheet of copy paper to also help it flatten. Finally I stamped the sentiment "Relax & Enjoy" from Waffle Flower's Under the Sea Sentiments:

Our little hippo in the sand was watercolored, as well, with the same Altenew set. I cut it out with my Brother Scan 'n Cut leaving a .4" border. The center panel was popped up with fun foam and our hippo was glued flat and a small strip of 3M foam tape used along the bottom edge to keep it stable.

I believe this will be my last post for 2020 with our cute hippo, but there is always next year!

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