A blog devoted to the cards I make in my tiny upstairs space. When my sister stays there, she calls it an "artist's garret". I'm not an artist, but am an enthusiastic cardmaker - hence the title "Cardmaker's Garret".
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Monday 11 December 2017

An Old Cardinal Two Ways

Merry Monday has a colour challenge this week:


I chose the red, the darker green, and the light blue.  I used one of my first Christmas stamps from many years ago.  I'm looking at my stamps critically in an attempt to weed some out, especially the older ones.  But this one I still love!


It's stamped and watercoloured with a pierced frame (cut twice for more dimension) over it, and the panel popped up on fun foam. I added Glossy Accents to the berries, though it doesn't show in the photo.

I'm also going to add it to CAS Watercolour where December's challenge is "Anything Goes" and CAS Mix Up for "Stamping and 2 Items of Your Choice" (mine are watercolouring and die cutting).














While I had the stamp out, I decided to make a second one:


Same stamping and watercolouring, but die cut with a stitched circle and mounted on fun foam on a green cardbase.

Which layout do you prefer?





Supplies:
Stamps - SU Cardinal Christmas, Rubber Soul sentiment
Ink - Ranger Archival Jet Black
Paper - watercolour paper;  linen cs for the first;  green Bazzill cs for the second
Size - A2 (first one), 4.75" square (second one)
Accessories - Gansai Tambi watercolour paints, fun foam, Glossy Accents;  first card - MFT Pierced Rectangle Frame;  second card - Lil Inkers stitched circle die



15 comments:

  1. Gorgeous watercoloured cardinal image on both your cards, Susan. Love your CAS designs too. Both beauties. TFS my friend and Happy Holidays.

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  2. Susan, both are gorgeous. Your watercolouring is just getting better and better. I do love the white CAS framing of the first :)

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  3. Both of these are absolutely beautiful Susan! I love the simplicity of the first one though with the white framing especially.

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  4. Such a glorious cardinal on both cards and beautifully coloured x

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  5. Hi Susan,
    I absolutely love that cardinal image and you've inspired me to use it again. Your cards are so lovely, the watercoloring is beautifully done!

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  6. Both are beautifully painted and designed, Susan. Your watercoloring is fabulous, something I still struggle with. Weeding through stamps is hard. I no sooner get rid of some then spend time regretting it.

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  7. Just a beautiful card, colors are awesome, way to go, thanks for playing our challenge at Merry Monday.

    Leanne DT/MM

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  8. Both cards are really lovely! I especially like the stitched frame on the first one. You have inspired me to get out my stitched dies and make a frame...

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  9. Your coloring is awesome, Susan! And what a detailed and realistic image! No wonder you can't get rid of the stamp. Especially with the white frame and the card base, your cardinal looks beautiful and noble! Hideko xx

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  10. Your watercolouring is awesome!! Great work! Both cards are really beautiful, but if I HAD to pick a favourite, I'd go for the white on white framing. :) xx

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  11. Gorgeous cards and fabulous watercolouring as always. I am partial to the stacked white pierced frame though.

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  12. WOW...these are both GORGEOUS Susan and I can see why this stamp set is a favorite of yours! And such beautiful water coloring too! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Merry Monday!! :0)

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  13. Superb coloring. The image is so pretty! Thanks for playing Merry Monday with us this week!

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  14. Love this cardinal both ways, Susan! The cardinals always stand out beautifully in the winter landscape! Great job of coloring and layouts!

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  15. Oh wow!! You did a fabulous job coloring in this cardinal. STUNNING design!

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