Monday, February 29, 2016

12 Kits of Occasions - February '16

Welcome to another month of The 12 Kits of Occasions!  This month was a really fun one.  The theme is "Watercolor Wonder", and our oh-so-generous host Nancy really created a kit chock full of all things watercolor related.  She included so many cool things in this kit beyond the typical papers, die cuts, and embellishments like watercolor pencils, masking fluid, and rock salt to name a few.  She even sent us all watercolors and water color brushes.  So nice, huh?!  So many of these items were new to me, and this kit really stretched me to say the least.  I love the watercolor look but struggle with it and had many do-overs.  I'm not totally sold on any of my cards, but I did enjoy what I learned in the process.  And that is what is important right?  We can't grow if we don't stretch ourselves.  And I can't think of a more beautiful kit to help inspire me to stretch.
A card for a purple-loving sister of mine. :) I had to leave and come back to this one a few times, but I'm hoping she'll like it.  I know she'll appreciate the effort. :) I'm also linking this one up to the Simon Says: Anything Goes Challenge.
There was a really fun butterfly die in the kit, and I used the negative as a stencil to watercolor my butterfly on the next card.  I topped it off with some gold shimmer and some of the fun sequins from the kit.
This next floral card was inspired by ColourQ #330.  I was inspred by the colors, floral arrangement, and even the black accents.
I used the watercolor pencils on the flowers and the palette watercolors Nancy sent us for the watercolor wash.  I was trying to channel the fabulous Dawn McVey on this one. 
Nancy also included Papertrey's beautiful Butterfly Cover Plate die cut, but I wanted to think of a different way to use it, so I placed it behind this circle window.  I watercolored the background and put the rock salts on it, which created the fun big splotches.  I'll be honest...I'm a little unhappy with how it turned out.  The sentiment is off.  Sigh.  
I really love the simplicity of this last one.  It was completely inspired by CAS(E) This Sketch #161.
I think Alenew's Magnolia's are beautiful and I thought about adding pink watercolor, but decided the gold embossing was pretty fabulous on it's own.  My gold stem was the leftover piece I trimmed of the birthday Swoosh die on the card above and the the leaf (it seemed like it needed one) was a petal I trimmed off another magnolia.  No matter how hard I tried, I could not capture the beautiful shimmer on the navy blue birthday die cut.  It's the prettiest paper! 
Phew.  We made it!  I barely scratched the surface of the goodies in this kit, so make sure you visit the 12 Kits Blog so you can see how the other 12 Kitters and our guest were inspired.  They are amazing!  I'll leave you with one last shot of them all together.  Thanks for stopping by!

17 comments:

  1. Wow! These are all absolutely stunning Lindsey. I love, love, love them...think my favorite is the white butterfly die cuts with the soft background.

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  2. Your cards are all beautiful! Your water coloring skills are fantastic and no one would ever think you weren't a pro. What a treat this kit must have been! I've never tried salt and water coloring. I'm so inspired to give it a try!

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  3. Oh Lindsey, these are all so beautiful, soft and sweet, and perfect coloring! Not sure what you don't like about the circle of butterflies, framed to perfection, btw, cuz I love the sentiment with it. And your 'channeling' of Dawn is right on! Gorgeous background for those colorful blooms!

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    1. Thank you Nancy! I think I was just a little disappointed feeling like the size wasn't quite right...but now that I look at it, I think the biggest thing was that it's stamped a bit crooked. So silly of me, I know. I guess I just thought that everything you included was so beautiful that I really wanted my cards to turn out just right. Funny thing is that that particular cards seems to be everyone's favorite. (I changed my post a bit...after reading I realized that part sounded way too negative...sorry!)

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  4. Love them all but that butterflies in the circle looks great and you did think a different way! The beautiful negative butterfly is gorgeous, love that color too! Loving that tiny butterfly you cut and added to the first card, I am sure your sister will love it!

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  5. These are all so beautiful! Love the water coloring!

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  6. I am amazed at each little work of art!! Stunning coloring! : )

    Patti

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  7. Beautiful cards, Lindsey! You did an amazing job with the watercolors. Love your creative use of the supplies. The magnolia on your last card is gorgeous! And I love your butterfly designs. Wonderful idea to use the negative and I think the circle with the die cut is awesome!

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  8. Oh, these are all gorgeous, but the last one if my favourite! Wonderful take on the sketch!

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  9. Hi sweet girl!!! You are far too hard on yourself! Lindsey your cards are so wonderful ... that little circle window you used for the butterflies in genius! I never touched the salt and LOve what you've achieved with it - I'll be going back for second sessions because I ADORE those navy die cuts, too!!! Must check to see if there is a source listed for the paper! xxoo
    =]

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  10. You worked magic with this kit, Lindsey ... all your cards are simply lovely! The delicate die cut butterflies against the soft background are particularly delicious ... that's my fave! Hugs, Anita :)

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  11. Your watercolors are amazing! I'm smitten with that pretty soft butterfly in contrast with the gold sharp clean edge die cut! The little butterfly with the flowers? Brilliant! And the peek a boo circle die cut for the butterflies is amazing too! Love your vision of the kit!

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  12. I am amazed at all of your beautiful cards Lindsey, but I'm agreeing with every one else that my favorite is the butterflies with the stitched circle die over them! How simple, and yet absolutely perfect! I will definitely be CASEing that one!! Really like how you used the negative from the butterfly as a stencil too...very creative and oh so pretty!! I have been very honored and humbled to play along side each of you today, and have learned SO much! And how fun to see how we all came up with such different cards using the exact same supplies!! Thank you, thank you!! :0)

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  13. What a pretty post!! Great idea to use the negative butterfly as a stencil, so pretty. These are all oozing with spring, so soft and lovely!!.

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  14. You have done great with all the watercolouring, Lindsey!!! Love all your cards!!! Beautiful!!!
    Hugz

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  15. You totally rocked this kit, Lindsey. I love everything you made. I think my favorite is your card with the circle window for the butterflies. I have that cover plate, and have never thought to try to find a different way to use it--expect a CASE before too long.

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  16. How brilliant that you added the butterfly to that first card! Now watercolouring the butterfly sillouette is just gorgeous and the way you used the butterfly coverplate with the stitched circle was another genius idea! You watercolouring is fabulous. You did so many lovely things with the kit. Love the display at the end . I haven't done the lineup shot since we moved to our new house, still searching for that perfect spot. Hubby it installing a new shelf in my studio next time he is home and I have a feeling that is going to be the place.

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