WATERCOLOR WEDNESDAY, Red Roses Blooming...

This is the last of my July Creative Crew Challenges from Splitcoaststampers.  I saved this one for Watercolor Wednesday, a new feature on my blog occassionally.  This challenge was to use new catalog products.  Unfortunately, I did not do a preorder until the third week of July and won't receive it until today.

We have had some major problems with our house come up (structural damage, hvac system problems, etc.) that were recently discovered.  We have been getting estimates, refinancing our house to pay for everything, etc.  So it was the last thing on my mind.  Since I didn't have any new products to play with, I was stumped.  However, I had punched out a scrap of Real Red card stock with the brand new Lace Ribbon Border Punch (and we all know punches are my weakness!) at my upline's a couple of weeks ago.  So I decided to cut it up and use that in my card along with the prettiest stamp (IMHO) from the Summer Mini Catalog:  the flower vase from On the Grow.

It started out very simple as Jenni has been encouraging me to keep it easy, but after it was done, I just couldn't do it.  :(  I ended up adding the Fancy Flower Rose.  Now, I'm thinking it kind of overpowered it and I should have just done a sentiment... hmmm....  What do you think?  Click to enlarge as it looks a little off in the smaller in post picture.

For the watercoloring, it was all done with Real Red ink and an Aquapainter.  Some flowers, I kept light with a pale coat of color.  Others I added more coats and picked up more color on the brush.  Still others I added a tiny bit of Cherry Cobbler to the very centers.  After they dried, I added a bit of VersaMarker to the center of the flowers and embossed with Clear Embossing Powder.  Not too much, just a bit to make them look more dimensional like they were standing out from the leaves.

I wanted to add Crystal Effects to the Vase, but mine had gone cloudy (It will do this after a year or so - then I use it as all-purpose glue which it is GREAT for).  So I used the VersaMarker/Clear Embossing Powder on it, too, but I would have much preferred the Crystal Effects.  The VersaMarker blurs the image just a bit and dulls the watercoloring.  It washed out some of the blue.  But, it will do in a pinch.  The red bow around the vase is actually our White Baker's Twine died Real Red. 

Here are some closeups:

If you would like to play along, here is the challenge info:
CCREW0711CF, CreativeCrew, SUO or SUM -- Catalog focus: Show off your favorite new catalog or mini catalog item. Any stamp set or accessory will work here! Have more than one? Use them all! Just use whatever you have that's new to you and enjoy creative license to do whatever your muse wants

RED ROSES BLOOMING SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – On the Grow (W#123075 $15.95, C#123077 $11.95)
• Card Stock – Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Confetti White, Pear Pizzazz, Watercolor CS
• Ink – Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, VersaMarker
• Ribbon – White Baker's Twine (#124262, $2.95)
• Punches – Lace Ribbon Border (#122362, $19.95), Fancy Flower (#118073, $16.95)  
• Accessories – Basic Pearl Jewels Accents (#119247, $4.95), Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder, Mini Glue Dots, Tombow Multi Glue, Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430, $3.95)
• Tools – Aquapainter, Blender Pen, Sponge Daubers