Simon Says Stamp Blog Hop - Day 1 - Fresh Bloom Release

Today is the first of a two day Simon Says Stamp blog hop for their newest product release called Fresh Bloom. I have a new set of watercolor cards in this release called You're Tweet. Here is an image:

I think I mentioned last month that I got a new iPad for Christmas, so this is my first official set of watercolor cards that are drawn digitally. This means they are cleaner and more graphic with solid lines instead of thin messy doodled lines. What I am trying to say is they look better. So if you haven't liked them in the past, try them again and I think you will like them better. I'm a pro now - or learning to be one haha. With no digital art training, I am doing my best! Here are all 12 cards colored with close up images of most. At the end of all of these photos, I'll give you some basic coloring tips I use on them!

CARD 1:

CARD 2:

CARD 3:

 

CARD 4:

CARD 5:

 

CARD 6:

 

CARD 7:

 

CARD 8:

 

CARD 9:

 

CARD 10:

 

CARD 11:

CARD 12:

Here are some tips to use when coloring these watercolor cards:

• These are printed on the smooth side of Ranger Watercolor Paper which is pure white. The paper works well for any coloring medium, not just watercolor. I use a combo of watercolors for the backgrounds and larger areas and colored pencils for the smaller more detailed areas. Copic markers or any other markers work well on this paper as well. Or you can combine them all on one card!
• I die-cut all of the cards with a large rectangle die that makes them just one size smaller than a card base. This allows me to attach them to a colored card which frames the designs. 
• I use a wet on wet technique for the backgrounds. I wet the paper first on the entire area I want to paint and then I apply more saturated color closest to the image and let the color move outward. You can see that many of my backgrounds don't go all the way out to the edge of each card. 
• I use two types of colored pencils, but any type will work. I have Prismacolors which are wax based and are very smooth and blend well. I also have Polychromos by Faber Castelle which are oil based. They go on more like a regular pencil and the tips stay sharp longer. They don't build up a waxy residue like the Prismacolors, so you can blend them in more layers. But they don't blend as well as Prismas. I like working with both as I use the Polychromos first and then use the Prismacolors over them to make the color smoother and lighter. Too much info?!!! haha (((I am a colored pencil connoisseur and really want the Pablo's and Luminance ones next because I can never have enough!)))
• I watercolor larger areas of the cards and then I add shading and depth with colored pencils - so most areas of the cards have both on them.
• I use Tonic Nuvo Drops over many of my colored areas - you can put just a thin coat over anything. I think you can see many of them on my close up shots. I prefer the glitter ones and my next favorite are the jewel ones as they are transparent. They add great texture to the cards. I also like using drops of the Nuvo Drops around my images to decorate them instead of sequins.
• I often add shadows behind my letters so they have more depth. I use a light gray colored pencil or a gray Copic marker such as an N2. Sometimes I use color for the shadows as I did on the egg card. 

Here are some details about the blog hop:

• SSS is giving away a $25 coupon on every stop on the hop from each blog comment section. They will choose the winners over the weekend and post on the Simon Says Stamp store blog on Wednesday, the 13th of March. If you win, you can email SSS to claim your prize :).
• Make sure to add any of your projects to the Fresh Bloom gallery! You can visit it anytime to see all of the creations from this 2 day blog hop in one place!
• Here is a list of the blog participants - next on the blog hop is Lisa Addesa

  Simon Says Stamp Blog 

  Jennifer McGuire

  Kristina Werner

  Cathy Zielske

  Nina-Marie Trapani

  Nichol Spohr

  Jessica Frost-Ballas

  Suzy Plantamura

  Lisa Addesa

  Amy Rysavy

  Lea Lawson

Thank you all so much for visiting today and for all of your nice comments and support! I look so forward to SSS Blog Hops as the comments I get just make all the hard work so worth it! I hope you enjoyed this new set of watercolor cards! I'll have a "one stamp, five ways" post up in a few days using the brand new Pretty Peonies cling stamp. Here is an image of my first colored image using colored pencils:

Here is a supply list for all of the products used in this post! Thanks for visiting!!! Suzy

Comments

[Pennie]

Beautiful cards!

[Shari Czerwinski]

Oh my! You really went above and beyond! Love the cards. Such bright colors, and great shading!

[Karthikha Uday]

Super beautiful set of creations!! :)

[Jill W.]

Oh my! What amazing cards! I really enjoyed scrolling through them and loving their detail!

[Amber P]

Beautiful projects!!

[Jeannie Boudet]

Love all your coloring! SSS releases are always awesome!

[sally Sherfield]

Wow so many amazing cards, love your colouring.

[Lynne Dillard]

Great cards! Thanks so much for the tips for coloring your sets.

[Teresa Doyle]

Suzy, you have ALWAYS been a PRO! These cards are as great as all the rest. Your colouring is amazing as well. I have to tell you, I am going away for a week in early Apr. and have a bundle of your panels packed and ready to colour! They are my go to for when I am away from home and have time to kill. They are the most convenient way to go for colouring on the move! ♥ them!

[kre8tivekate]

I think it's time to revisit some supplies I nearly forgot about... I love the dimension!

[Allison Waibel]

These are adorable! I want to color them all.

[Dee Earnshaw]

fabulous designs and awesome coloring - thanks for sharing:)

[Evs N]

This is a fun set of Spring designs! Love your coloring and very much appreciate your instructions on how to get such great depth & shading.

[Jane McGill]

All your cards are so beautiful. I especially appreciate reading your tips on how you created these card. It is very heplful.

[Teri S.]

Suzy, you are one talented artist! I'm sure you must have been told that in the past, just a few times. lol That spring chick just made me grin! Your drawings & colouring of them is outstanding. Thanks for the tips on shading. That's one thing I haven't even come close to being able to do. Love the large tulip!

[Kelly Ornelas]

Beautiful Cards. So vibrant.

[Shirley Robelotto]

So pretty! Your coloring is flawless.

[Linda Kunsman]

your designs and cards are sooo pretty!

[Cindi F]

These are all so pretty! I love your coloring.

[Susan Carlson]

This is the first I’ve found you! I will be getting some cards to try. Thank you for your creativity!

[Val Quitral]

Love the five ways

[Jean Marmo]

Simply gorgeous cards!Those dies are amazing and beautiful colors!

[Debbie Rumpza]

Gorgeous coloring as always, Suzy! My grandkids love your watercolor panels!!

[Louanne Collins]

This card set is so stinking adorable! What fun to sit and color or paint these! Being from the Northeast, we are ready and waiting for some Fresh Blooms!

[carol ann]

I so enjoy seeing your creativity. Ah-may-zing!