Gosh I’ve got so much to tell you about today! For starters this post is part of a blog hop to give your creativity a jump-start as part of Kathy Racoosin’s 30 Day Coloring Challenge. More on the hop, giveaways etc below, for now let’s crack on with the card. I know I’m punny to the core LOL.

This cutie pie chick is from the soon to be released Chirpy Chicks set from Clearly Besotted Stamps (available 10pm UK time, 5pm EST, 5th February). I stamped him in Versafine Onyx Black on Arches watercolor card and used Winsor & Newton tube paints to color him in. I added a few dots of white and glitter gel pens to the egg shell and then die cut with a Stitched Oval.

PLAID WATERCOLOR

I’ve professed my love of plaid before and there certainly seems to be a strong plaid trend ongoing; check out home decor or the soon to be released plaid papers from Lawn Fawn. Plaid certainly isn’t just for winter that’s for sure.

sources

My plaid was inspired by the latest Watercolor For Card Makers: Intermediate Techniques class over at Online Card Classes. It’s a combination of the glazing lesson which looks at the colors as they layer over one another and a card class teacher Dawn Woleslagle showcased using combinations of red and yellow. I used dilute solutions of Alizarin Crimson and Aureolin to create this pastel, loose plaid pattern combining full and incomplete stripes of color. To emphasise the pattern a little more I drew lines with the glitter gel pen through some of the stripes.

The completed background is mounted on an Ivory card base. I then added the chick oval with foam adhesive, a sentiment from the Chirpy Chicks set white heat embossed on pink card and trimmed to a banner and finally a few sequins to accent.

THE CHALLENGE

Kathy Racoosin from The Daily Marker loves to color and she is hosting her fourth 30 DAY COLORING CHALLENGE in February.  The premise of the challenge is to color something everyday even if it’s for five minutes. It doesn’t matter what you color or what you are coloring with. Yesterday, for example, I got busy with some new Hero Arts stamps and Tim Holtz Distress Markers to prepare a card for Hero Arts official release next week. 

Coloring is so therapeutic and without a little crafty time I can get a bit crotchety so not only is it a great creative outlet it is good for me too :D

Here’s a little more from about the challenge:

THE GOAL IS:  To color something daily even if it’s a few minutes but, certainly not required. It’s  been proven that coloring can lower your blood pressure so it’s worth carving out a little time for yourself each day. You will find that Kathy encourages you along the way to stretch your creativity a little bit more and to feel successful with your coloring.

CAN YOU PARTICIPATE in the 30 DAY CHALLENGE?  Yes! that would be awesome if you want to participate & feel free to jump in at any time during February! Everyone is welcome! If you miss a few days don’t feel like you have to catch up. The challenge is meant to be fun and with no stress. When sharing use #TheDailyMarker30Day so Kathy can find your work

WHAT’S NEW THIS TIME?  Kathy will have a weekly feature that she will be sharing on her blog that showcases some of your work every Sunday.

Read more on Kathy’s blog, “The Daily Marker”  to see how to share you work and if you have questions, how to share, giveaways etc. Prepare to be inspired with daily posts and many videos for 30 days. 

BLOG HOP

Hopefully you’ve arrived here from the fabulous Lydia’s blog, but if not and you want to start from the beginning then check out the full list below :D At the end of the hop you will find an awesome GIVEAWAY AND A COUPON CODE FOR Online Card Classes. If you come across a broken link click here for the full list.

Jennifer McGuire
Kristina Werner
Simon Says Stamp
Shari Carroll
Laura Bassen
Nichol Spohr Magouirk 
Lydia Fiedler
Debby Hughes
Lawn Fawn 
WPLUS9
Kelly Latevola
Kathy Racoosin

GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY : FOUR spots in Copic Markers for Card Makers or Watercolor for Card Makers YOUR CHOICE!

ONE TIME COUPON CODE FROM Online Card Classes: A one time offer $5.00 off the Online Card Class “Copic Markers for Card Makers”  and or for the “Watercolor for Card Makers” class. Both classes will help build up your confidence when using alcohol markers or when you are watercoloring. Each class has so many great videos. (I counted the Copic class has over 35 videos!) You will find the code at the end of the hop.  

HOP ALONG

OK, so now it’s time to hop on over to the creators of the Nessie stamp which will be coming to live with me after their next release along with those plaid papers. Those were a given really!

Lawn Fawn

SUPPLIES

You can find links to the supplies I’ve used below; click on the picture or wording to get taken directly to the product. Where available I use affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support.

Clearly Besotted CHIRPY CHICKS Clearly Besotted CHIRPY CHICKS Dies SSS STITCHED OVALS Dies Arches COLD PRESS WATERCOLOR PAD 9×12 SSS IVORY Card SSS WHITE Embossing Powder VersaFine ONYX BLACK Versamark WATERMARK INK UK Winsor & Newton Professional Water Color Tubes USA Winsor & Newton Professional Water Color Tubes Uni-ball Signo WHITE Gel Pen Sakura CLEAR GLITTER PEN 3M DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE 3M MASKING PAINTER’S TAPE EK Success POWDER TOOL Milwaukee Heat Tool SSS SMALL TEFLON BONE FOLDER Martha Stewart MINI SCORING BOARD Sequins – Little Things from Lucy’s Cards Little Things From Lucy’s Cards JUST PEACHY Sequin Shaker Mix