Memory Box's Grateful Autumn Stamp Set

Hello, Everyone!  Vicki here with you today, sharing a card I made last week for today's post using the Memory Box Grateful Autumn Stamp Set.  In case you haven't noticed, Black Watercolor Paper is all the rage right now.  I saw Kristina Werner working on some with her Pearlescent Watercolors and decided I had to try that out.  A couple of years ago, I got the Finetec Pearlescent Watercolors from Simon Says Stamp during a Steals & Deals Weekend.  I have never been too happy with my personal results from them on regular watercolor paper, so when I saw Kristina using them on black, I had to order some of that paper, right away.  I have the Legion Stonehenge Black in 10 x 14 so I cut one sheet down into 4-5 x 7 pieces.  You can find it on Amazon here.  

Before my paper even arrived at my house (2-day delivery), I saw another video on YouTube using this paper again. Mine arrived the very next morning - early for a change - since I had so many other packages.  Once I had a bit of time to play, I really loved the results on the Black with the Pearlescent Watercolors and decided I just had to try it on these beautiful fall leaves from Memory Box.  I'm not an "artist" by any stretch of the imagination, but I can do Watercolor for Card Makers.  It's a class offered by Online Card Classes - co-owned by Kristina Werner and Jennifer McGuire.  I took the class about 3 or 4 years ago.  Someday, I might want to pursue it more in-depth, but for what I do, this class was great.  You can sign up anytime, and you will always have access to the classes you take there.  

I started by prepping my black watercolor paper with a liberal dusting of powder tool.  I like using talc-free baby powder with a fluffy brush for this.  The little pouch is too chalky feeling for me and the little brush tool doesn't hold up to use, so this has been my solution for about 4 years now.  You can also use cornstarch if you want to find something that you already have at home.  This is the most important part of heat embossing.  Otherwise, you end up with little bits of embossing powder where you don't want it to be.

For my images, I used Versamark with Simon Says Stamp Antique Gold Embossing Powder.  It's my favorite as it isn't a bright yellow.  Use whatever you have even if it's clear embossing powder. I just happen to like and use a lot of gold in my work.

Next, I used a wet on wet technique for the watercolor.  Starting with a large brush, I wet each leaf, one by one.  Using the Pearl Gold color, I started adding in little bits of color at the base of the leaves and worked out.  Then using a size 4 round brush, I started at the tip of the leaves and added Red Pearl color and worked my way in toward the base.  Then I used Orange Copper for the center area with a bit more water and just let the color travel and settle how it wanted to.  I worked my way around each of the leaves, and let it dry almost completely before adding in the Amethyst, just kind of dabbing here and there with my brush.  I am so happy with the way this looks and that it looks as if I actually know what I am doing with my watercolors.

I let it dry overnight and then cut it with the Rectangle Basics in the 2nd largest size. I also cut a mat for behind it from a shimmer cardstock called Garnet Plum that I get from PaperPapers.com.  I chose the sentiment I wanted and prepping the surface again in the area where I wanted to heat emboss, I stamped with Versamark and then heat set the Antique Gold Embossing Powder.

I use a microfiber cloth to remove the excess powder from the surface and I give the cloth one mist of Water to help remove it.  It is a very fine mist, and I'm careful not to tear the paper.  I attached the watercolor piece to the mat piece and then that to a white card base.  I added the three little gold hearts and some sequins in a similar plum color then a little gem in the center.  I have no idea where I got the sequins, but I'm going to have to start looking for some more soon as I am nearly out. I call this color "Sugarplum" and along with pink, it's one of my absolute favorites.  I love how these fall leaves turned out, especially on the black paper.  It was surprisingly easy to do.  In fact, for me, the hardest part is walking away to let it dry and not mess with it too much as I have control issues. *Ü*

If you've been visiting my blog, you may have noticed that I have been heavily into Christmas and Holiday Cards, so I was glad for a chance to take a break and do something a little different.  I hope you enjoyed my card today!  Thanks for stopping by!

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