Saturday, March 2, 2019

~ Friends of Unity March Blog Hop ~

Hello there! It's time for another fabulous hop with Friends of Unity!! Our cue for this month's hop is Creativity... at first I thought I would make a card focusing on one of the cute crafty stamps that Unity carries, but I decided to go another direction for this hop. 


For last month's hop, I tried out some new watercolor markers and mentioned that I wanted to use them in different ways to see how well they work. Well, that's exactly what I did for this hop! So let's get to it!


So these are my cards using the Staedtler Marsgraphic Duo Double-ended watercolor markers -
two ways! I just had to ink up the gorgeous and surprisingly huge Blooming Peonies! I love these beautiful flowers!


For my first card, I used the watercolor markers directly on the Canson XL watercolor paper. I started with the darkest color near the bottom of the petals and then using a lighter color I tried to blend the colors out. This didn't work very well... and the paper ended up pilling! Not cool! Once I realized this was going to be an issue, I didn't try to blend the colors out as much. I went over the areas just twice with two colors and it seemed to be working okay. I continued with this method throughout my coloring and then decided that I would only do two colors for the leaves so they would blend easily and I wouldn't have the same issue. That actually worked out really well. So, I'm thinking blending two colors is okay as long as you don't go over the same area more than a couple times.


For my second card, I used the same method I used on my card last month. I scribbled the markers onto my acrylic block and then picked up the color using my watercolor pen and painted away. With this technique the colors painted beautifully and blended well. I did notice the color was much lighter and took more applications to achieve a darker color... But I didn't have any pilling of the paper. So... what have I learned? Well, first of all... the tips on these are really like a marker, not at all like the brush tip on the ZIGs. That is a huge difference in the direct to paper watercoloring in these two products. Secondly, they watercolor beautifully when applied with a watercolor pen and I do really love the assortment of colors in the pack of markers. So, if you are looking for watercolor markers that are reasonably priced, these are great when applied with a watercolor pen or brush.


I couldn't help but stamp this gorgeous bloom again inside the cards. I colored the inside with Prismacolor pencils. I blended the colors with the pencils and the colorless blender pencil. I tried to use similar colors to the front of the card... and I think I did pretty well. I love how it brings some of the pretty on the front of the card to the inside of the card!


One more look here with both cards... the direct-to-paper watercolor on the left and the watercolor pen watercolor on the right. The sentiment for these cards is found in one of my favorite sentiment kits called Abundant Blessings. I hope you found this post inspiring, informative, 
and, of course, creative!


Now, let's get to the hop!
A few of my friends are having giveaways so be sure to hop and comment on each stop for your chance to win a fabulous prize! 


Crystal <--- you're here

up next ---> Joyce









Thank you friends for checking out my blog post!
See ya next time.

Inky Hugs!
Crystal




49 comments:

  1. I love that if you try these out into different ways. I have this set of pens and I’m not quite comfortable with them yet. My favorite of the two is using the watercolor brush pen! It turned out beautifully! Had you not said that the inside image was used with a different coloring medium I would’ve never known! So well done, my friend. So well done.

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  2. I love your beautiful designs!

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  3. Both cards are lovely! I love the brightness of the first card, but would be frustrated by the pilling, too. Thank you for the info from your testing. 😊

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous, inside & out. Gorgeous coloring.

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  5. Your cards just keep getting better and better! Simply beautiful!

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  6. Thanks for sharing your experiments with the markers. I love both results

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  7. Your coloring has always been beautiful, and it really shows in these cards!

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  8. These peonies are just beautiful! Love the colors you used on this pretty card!

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  9. So beautiful Crystal and love the inside too!

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  10. So beautiful, friend. I would not have guessed you did both cards and the inside differently, but because you did take the time to explain the differences, I can slightly see them, but they match beautifully. Thank you for the tips. That stamp is stunning! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  11. Gorgeous cards! Such beautiful coloring and layouts. Love that you repeated the image on the inside. It is fun to see the different results from the markers and the pencils. Thanks for sharing your experience with the markers.

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  12. Your creations are so vibrant and beautiful. Your creativity with the coloring turned out fantastic! Thanks for sharing your creativity and inspiration!

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  13. This stamp is stunning! Both cards are just great. Love how you tried different techniques. Just beautiful!

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  14. Both cards are great! Sometimes, I find myself in a mood to use markers or pencils, or watercolors.... so I do the cards I'm working on according to my mood!

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  15. Love the cards, both are beautiful. Thanks for all the info as well, good to know!

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  16. Both are beautiful, love the deep, rich-looking color. I like the added addition on the inside.

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  17. Both techniques are beautiful.

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  18. Beautiful card and thanks for the watercoloring tips. I need practice on that and the information helps so much.

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  19. Beautiful cards!! I am also trying to play with different coloring mediums and papers so seeing what you are doing helps me learn more about all of these options. Thanks!

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  20. Beautiful! I need to be more patient and learn to color.

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  21. I love florals so your card speaks to me Crystal. Just gorgeous. Thanks for sharing. 😍😍

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  22. Beautiful..thanks for the tips....

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  23. Simply Beautiful Crystal, love peonies and I can’t wait for mine to peek through this Spring!

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  24. I LOVE the colors you chose for these cards!!!

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  25. Fabulous!!! I love how you also made the inside special too!
    I think a matching envelope would make this more than a card..it's a gift!
    Love it my friend!!

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  26. Both versions are just beautiful but I see the difference in the vibrancy. Thank you for the tips on using them direct to paper vs the water color pen.

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  27. Gorgeous cards, Crystal! The colors you chose and the coloring make these stand out! Love the inside touch as well!

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  28. Lovely cards and I love how you echoed it on the inside of the card too.

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  29. Thanks for the tips
    on these and both
    cards are so pretty.
    Carla from Utah

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  30. Love it! You are so good coloring the flowers...

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  31. These are beautiful! Love the colors.

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  32. The flowers are so. Pretty I think I can smell them!

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  33. Gorgeous cards! I think my favorite one of the two would have to be the one on the left side! I just really especially love how the colors show up on it!

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  34. I so love your water coloring trial- I do not have these pens, but do not have great success with direct to paper when water coloring. I like the vibrant colors- but love the 2nd card! Beautifully done!

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  35. I haven't tried these pens yet but wow are your cards gorgeous! I like both versions equally.

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  36. So pretty!!! U Nailed it!!! Gotta get that stamp set!!!

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  37. Just beautiful! You really know how to color flowers! Amazing

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  38. These are so lovely Crystal! Where did you find time in the midst of your packing to create these?😊

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  39. Stunning.... Love the Florals. I think I have this stamp. Can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing..

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  40. Your card is beautiful and you coloring is equally wonderful. I love how large this stamp is and the color of the blossoms is so pretty!

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