Happy Wednesday! Just a reminder, tune into HSN on TV or online and watch me do a ScanNCut presentation at 1 pm EST and 10 pm EST today. Also, there are five seats left in my Stamp Carving 101 class on February 7 in New York City. I'm teaching at an extremely discounted rate for the Brown Club of New York, but those last five seats are available to anyone who would like to sign up. More information here.
Hello! It’s Natalie here, aka One Scrappy Doctor, waving at you from sunny Melbourne Australia (sorry if that’s just rubbing it in for all you Northern Hemispherians!) I’m super excited that Julie is letting me share on her blog today and I thought I’d take the opportunity to show you a little technique for creating some watercolour feather embellishments. I turned mine into the basis of a card, but these could be used for anything and everything!
To begin with I’ve taken a piece of smooth white cardstock and covered the entire surface with gel medium (you could also use clear or white gesso for this). I’m using a palette knife because it spreads it on quickly and in a nice thin layer. The reason for this first step is to make the cardstock more waterproof. Later on this will help the watercolours to blend more easily and stop the cardstock from warping too much.
Once it’s dry you can barely see it at all but trust me, that invisible layer will make all the difference. Next I’ve taken my favourite Peacock Feather Stencil and scraped on a nice thick layer of Texture Paste with my palette knife.
Because I’m making a card I need the feathers to be reasonably small so I’m using the 6×6” version of the stencil. I lift up the stencil and move it over so I can create even more. The white-on-white effect looks delicious and I ponder whether I should keep it just like that, but the colour-lover in me can’t resist the temptation to splash on some bright hues!
My watercolour medium of choice at the moment is the Peerless Transparent Watercolor Papers because I love how easy and mess-free they are. But you can obviously use any kind of watercolour, or any kind of paint for that matter, the point is to get a whole bunch of colour onto those feathers. Make sure to go right to the edges, or in fact, paint beyond the borders of the feathers because when we cut them out you probably don’t want any white edges.
Allowing time for drying is always the most boring part isn’t it? Certainly feel free to cheat and use a heat gun to speed it up! Next I’m adding some glitter. Everything looks better with glitter in my opinion. And because we all know how difficult cleaning up loose glitter can be I’m using some glitter glue instead. A couple of different colours of this doesn’t hurt either. I literally just smear it on with my finger.
I’ll be honest, I’m not the world’s most patient and particular fussy-cutter. Near enough is good enough for me. But I’ve managed to cut out 9 whole feathers here with my fine scissors and it wasn’t too tedious. And that’s the embellishment part done. Now it’s up to you what to do with all of them.
For me I’m now turning them into a quick card. I start with a blue card base and layer a piece of white swiss-dot cardstock on top. I begin with positioning a few of the feathers near the top and I stick them in place.
My sewing machine is one of my go-to tools for practically every project I do. Not only is it part of my signature style, but I use it because I feel more secure that things won’t fall off down the track. So I sew each of the feathers into place with a simple line of thread down the middle. I keep on layering on more feathers until the whole card is full.
I left just enough space to add a simple sentiment. Nothing too distracting because I want those peacock feathers to be the main focus. I figure this is one of those all-purpose cards that could work equally well for a thank you or congratulations, or so many other occasions.
Supplies:
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Natalie hails from Down Under in Australia and has experienced the best of both country and city living in her time. She’s the lucky wife of The Trophy Husband and the mother of The Elphie Kids – two girls aged 8 and 5. She currently works full time as a doctor specialising in Obsteterics and Gynaecology but uses any spare time to create crafty messes instead. However, their world is about to be turned upside down by the arrival of a baby boy in March!
Natalie is a Contributing Team Member for Studio Calico, one of the Jot Magazine Girls, and part of The Makers Collective. She blogs about all her adventures at One Scrappy Doctor, but you can also find her sharing on :
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/natalieelph
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onescrappydoctor
- Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nati/
Beautiful card. Could you just use watercolor paper for the base? The colors would blend well on that surface and it would be nice and sturdy.
Beautiful card. Could you just use watercolor paper for the base? The colors would blend well on that surface and it would be nice and sturdy.
Beautiful card. Could you just use watercolor paper for the base? The colors would blend well on that surface and it would be nice and sturdy.
Beautiful card. Could you just use watercolor paper for the base? The colors would blend well on that surface and it would be nice and sturdy.
Beautiful card. Could you just use watercolor paper for the base? The colors would blend well on that surface and it would be nice and sturdy.
Love those colors and what a sweet and colorful card for someone to receive. Thanks for the details.
Love those colors and what a sweet and colorful card for someone to receive. Thanks for the details.
Love those colors and what a sweet and colorful card for someone to receive. Thanks for the details.
Love those colors and what a sweet and colorful card for someone to receive. Thanks for the details.
Love those colors and what a sweet and colorful card for someone to receive. Thanks for the details.
wow, fantastic technique and fabulous card, Natalie!! Thanks for sharing the details
wow, fantastic technique and fabulous card, Natalie!! Thanks for sharing the details
wow, fantastic technique and fabulous card, Natalie!! Thanks for sharing the details
wow, fantastic technique and fabulous card, Natalie!! Thanks for sharing the details
wow, fantastic technique and fabulous card, Natalie!! Thanks for sharing the details
What a fun post! Not a fan of peacock feathers …. but these are seriously cool AND beautiful!
What a fun post! Not a fan of peacock feathers …. but these are seriously cool AND beautiful!
What a fun post! Not a fan of peacock feathers …. but these are seriously cool AND beautiful!
What a fun post! Not a fan of peacock feathers …. but these are seriously cool AND beautiful!
What a fun post! Not a fan of peacock feathers …. but these are seriously cool AND beautiful!
Love it!
Love it!
Love it!
Love it!
Love it!
Great card and technique! Thanks for sharing.
Great card and technique! Thanks for sharing.
Great card and technique! Thanks for sharing.
Great card and technique! Thanks for sharing.
Great card and technique! Thanks for sharing.
Natalie, what a beautiful card! Thanks for giving me new ideas about how to use MY feathers! And the process is not ‘fussy’!! Many thanks to you down there in beautiful Upside-Down Land. And much luck with the baby!
Natalie, what a beautiful card! Thanks for giving me new ideas about how to use MY feathers! And the process is not ‘fussy’!! Many thanks to you down there in beautiful Upside-Down Land. And much luck with the baby!
Natalie, what a beautiful card! Thanks for giving me new ideas about how to use MY feathers! And the process is not ‘fussy’!! Many thanks to you down there in beautiful Upside-Down Land. And much luck with the baby!
Natalie, what a beautiful card! Thanks for giving me new ideas about how to use MY feathers! And the process is not ‘fussy’!! Many thanks to you down there in beautiful Upside-Down Land. And much luck with the baby!
Natalie, what a beautiful card! Thanks for giving me new ideas about how to use MY feathers! And the process is not ‘fussy’!! Many thanks to you down there in beautiful Upside-Down Land. And much luck with the baby!
Very nice Natalie,
Very nice Natalie,
Very nice Natalie,
Very nice Natalie,
Very nice Natalie,
Julie, I finally saw you on HSN! I actually had the patience to wait for you to come on. If I had the Scan’nCut, I would probably become obsessed with it.
Also, about your guess post … your peacock feather stencil is my favorite of all because you can do so much with it, especially in terms of colors. Hope I can get the larger version one of these days!
Best to you.
Deb
Julie, I finally saw you on HSN! I actually had the patience to wait for you to come on. If I had the Scan’nCut, I would probably become obsessed with it.
Also, about your guess post … your peacock feather stencil is my favorite of all because you can do so much with it, especially in terms of colors. Hope I can get the larger version one of these days!
Best to you.
Deb
Julie, I finally saw you on HSN! I actually had the patience to wait for you to come on. If I had the Scan’nCut, I would probably become obsessed with it.
Also, about your guess post … your peacock feather stencil is my favorite of all because you can do so much with it, especially in terms of colors. Hope I can get the larger version one of these days!
Best to you.
Deb
Julie, I finally saw you on HSN! I actually had the patience to wait for you to come on. If I had the Scan’nCut, I would probably become obsessed with it.
Also, about your guess post … your peacock feather stencil is my favorite of all because you can do so much with it, especially in terms of colors. Hope I can get the larger version one of these days!
Best to you.
Deb
Julie, I finally saw you on HSN! I actually had the patience to wait for you to come on. If I had the Scan’nCut, I would probably become obsessed with it.
Also, about your guess post … your peacock feather stencil is my favorite of all because you can do so much with it, especially in terms of colors. Hope I can get the larger version one of these days!
Best to you.
Deb
What fun! And I love the “messiness” of the painting!
What fun! And I love the “messiness” of the painting!
What fun! And I love the “messiness” of the painting!
What fun! And I love the “messiness” of the painting!
What fun! And I love the “messiness” of the painting!
Wonderful technique. I have to say, I’m very impressed that you have two children, one on the way, are a doctor and still have time to be on design teams and scrapbook….. You are a wizard!!
Wonderful technique. I have to say, I’m very impressed that you have two children, one on the way, are a doctor and still have time to be on design teams and scrapbook….. You are a wizard!!
Wonderful technique. I have to say, I’m very impressed that you have two children, one on the way, are a doctor and still have time to be on design teams and scrapbook….. You are a wizard!!
Wonderful technique. I have to say, I’m very impressed that you have two children, one on the way, are a doctor and still have time to be on design teams and scrapbook….. You are a wizard!!
Wonderful technique. I have to say, I’m very impressed that you have two children, one on the way, are a doctor and still have time to be on design teams and scrapbook….. You are a wizard!!
Yep, I’m sure you could definitely give this a go with watercolour paper! Don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! 😉
Yep, I’m sure you could definitely give this a go with watercolour paper! Don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! 😉
Yep, I’m sure you could definitely give this a go with watercolour paper! Don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! 😉
Yep, I’m sure you could definitely give this a go with watercolour paper! Don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! 😉
Yep, I’m sure you could definitely give this a go with watercolour paper! Don’t know why I didn’t think of that!! 😉
You could definitely do this same technique with any shape. A bunch of flowers would be really cool!
You could definitely do this same technique with any shape. A bunch of flowers would be really cool!
You could definitely do this same technique with any shape. A bunch of flowers would be really cool!
You could definitely do this same technique with any shape. A bunch of flowers would be really cool!
You could definitely do this same technique with any shape. A bunch of flowers would be really cool!
Well the scrapbooking is my way of relaxing… and we all need that right?! So it’s easy to find the time to fit it in 😉
Well the scrapbooking is my way of relaxing… and we all need that right?! So it’s easy to find the time to fit it in 😉
Well the scrapbooking is my way of relaxing… and we all need that right?! So it’s easy to find the time to fit it in 😉
Well the scrapbooking is my way of relaxing… and we all need that right?! So it’s easy to find the time to fit it in 😉
Well the scrapbooking is my way of relaxing… and we all need that right?! So it’s easy to find the time to fit it in 😉
Yep, the way I think of it…. if you’re not a fabulous technically great painter, do it messy and call it a technique! 😉
Yep, the way I think of it…. if you’re not a fabulous technically great painter, do it messy and call it a technique! 😉
Yep, the way I think of it…. if you’re not a fabulous technically great painter, do it messy and call it a technique! 😉
Yep, the way I think of it…. if you’re not a fabulous technically great painter, do it messy and call it a technique! 😉
Yep, the way I think of it…. if you’re not a fabulous technically great painter, do it messy and call it a technique! 😉
Beautiful card! Favorite colors! Thanks for posting re: carving class. I’m coming 🙂 can’t wait!
Beautiful card! Favorite colors! Thanks for posting re: carving class. I’m coming 🙂 can’t wait!
Beautiful card! Favorite colors! Thanks for posting re: carving class. I’m coming 🙂 can’t wait!
Beautiful card! Favorite colors! Thanks for posting re: carving class. I’m coming 🙂 can’t wait!
Beautiful card! Favorite colors! Thanks for posting re: carving class. I’m coming 🙂 can’t wait!
Yummy! Love these!
Yummy! Love these!
Yummy! Love these!
Yummy! Love these!
Yummy! Love these!