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

[Darcie Granquist]

Thank you for all of the tips! I'll have to try these!

[Heather Nelson]

Fabulous!! Your coloring skills are amazing!!

[Vivian]

Beautiful cards. I love the bunny with the big feet. He is so cute.

[Alice Turak]

I really appreciate your tips with information on how you color. Thank you.
Love the variety in your cards.

[Peggy]

Such cute and colorful ideas!

[Marty B]

Your watercolor cards are amazing! Another home run Susie!

[Nana Griffin]

These are all very lovely.

[Giselaine Ellison]

Your cards are so cute. I especially liked the Peony card.

[Becca Yahrling]

Oh my, these are all just so adorable. The 'You're Tweet' is my fave - how adorable!! And your cards - fabulously fun.

[C Rietzke]

Love the peonies stamp you colored! Your digital art making skills look plent advanced to me. Cute images.

[Lauryne Cunningham]

The images on all of these cards are so sweet! Your coloring with every is amazing- love all the spring colors!

[Judy B]

I adore your little images Suzy! I have some of your older ones that I colored up. Your coloring is awesome. Thanks for all the tips on your blog, they will come in handy.

[Shannon Hinders]

Love all the cards

[Lisa Achilles]

Gorgeous cards. Your coloring skills are amazing.

[Tami B]

You have really got me in the mood to go color! These are all so cute and cheerful.

[Sue D]

Cute and pretty. Love your coloring.

[Brenda Kuder]

Great coloring! I am very impressed with the amount of work you did!

[Sharon Sienaski]

These give me spring fever!

[Melissa Creamer]

Beautiful cards!

[Jen Petersen]

I am always in awe of your coloring. Stunning and beautiful!

[Karen A Evans]

Your coloring is fantastic! Thank you for the tips.

[Jennifer]

WOW! So many detailed and beautifully colored cards. It's hard to pick a favorite... I'll pick two :) "Wishing you all the Joy of Spring" and "Hello Spring" OK "Your Tweet" is adorable too!

[Debbi Smith]

Wonderful colors and shading! Makes me impatient for spring.

[Monica Linerode]

Wow. Beautiful cards and great tips on coloring with color pencils that i never thought of before. Now I’ll try our kids crayola pencils that are at least 20 yrs old over my newly acquired polychromos pencils. Love your cards. Thanks

[Gayle Bartholomew]

Love this card set, so adorable and your coloring is awesome.