Faux Watercolor Note Cards by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

Other people (AKA my husband) take pictures of buildings and scenery, but when I’m on vacation I like to take a lot of close-up shots, especially flowers. I print and frame favorites for my studio wall, some of them go into an album. Sometimes I use them as references for watercolor paintings or cut paper shapes inspired by what I’ve recorded with my camera, but other times when I’m feeling lazy I turn to an app called Waterlogue instead. It does all the work of turning an image into a painting! The program has a variety of options - softly rendered shapes, outlines that look like pen work and more. It’s also incredibly easy to use, a perfect activity for a rainy day or chilly evening. It is those computer-altered photos that are the basis for today’s tutorial.

Here’s a look at two pairs of photos - original image followed by a ‘painting’ done in the Waterlogue app:

I could have made photo cards out of the original images as I often do when making note cards or postcards, but thought it would be fun to use the altered versions for a change. I matted them to patterned paper and then onto a simple white 5x7 card base, and in the case of the iris onto a card base made from bright, patterned cardstock. 

Best of all, the drugstore where we get prints was having a sale: Fifty 4x6 prints for six dollars. I couldn’t pass it up! My Faux Watercolor Notecards cost only about twenty cents each to make.

Now it’s YOUR turn! 
1. Take some close-up photos of things that interest you. Alter them in a computer and get 4 x 6 prints. Alternatively, draw and stencil directly onto the original (realistic) prints.

2. Choose patterned papers to coordinate with the prints. Mat prints onto the patterned paper, leaving a border measuring 1/8” to 3/8”. Adhere matted print onto a 5 x 7 white or patterned card base.

3. Write or stamp something inside; mail the cards! (Resist the urge to keep them in a box - you can always make more!) 

Supplies:

• 5x7 white note cards  (Purchased, or make your own from good quality heavy cardstock)
• 4x6 photo prints  (Original photos or computer-altered)
• Assorted patterned papers to coordinate with prints
• Double-sided adhesive tape (To secure the layers)
• Paper trimmer, craft knife, straight edge, cutting mat

Label It by Judi Kauffman for The Queen’s Ink

A week ago a friend shared some unwanted office supplies with me, knowing that I like to incorporate light color labels on dark or heavily patterned envelopes. Alas, the adhesive on the labels (a box marked 1975!) didn’t have enough tackiness to work on envelopes, but there was just enough of a hold that I could stick them together a different way - as collage sheets!

Yard and estate sales are an excellent place to find boxes of labels! Just be sure to check the adhesive before making your purchase.

Here are the first five sheets, each of which began with a piece of pale yellow cardstock. Labels are lined up in a pattern or overlapped at random, ink smudged onto all of the pieces. (Don’t forget to use the little strips that were between the labels.):

Here is another direction - labels stamped at random in two colors while still on the sheet; removed from the sheet and lined up onto a piece of black cardstock:

It was fun to make the sheets, and even more fun to turn them into projects! 

I created laminated bookmarks and coil-bound notebooks with laminated covers. (Bookmarks and notebooks need to stand up to wear and tear and I didn’t want to risk that the labels would peel off.) I also designed a batch of cards.

What would YOU make??? 

Here is a photo gallery for inspiration:

Supplies:

• Labels
• Cardstock
• Inks
• Tim Holtz stickers
• Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher stapler
• Pattern stamps (optional)
• Die cuts (tag, tabs, rabbits)
• Scissors
• Binding system 
• Laminating machine

Coloring With Copic Markers - Meet the Oddballs - May 28, 2019

Join Nancy for a new coloring with Copic markers class featuring the Oddballs from Stamping Bella. In this class, you will make three cards, with emphasis on basic Copic techniques such as ink blending. Details are below. All necessary techniques are taught in class. Seats are limited, so sign up today! CLASS FEE $25

Tuesday, May 28, 2019, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Register online or call The Queen's Ink at (301) 497-9449

COPIC MARKERS: The list below reflects the Copic markers that Nancy will use in class. You can follow along using the same colors OR substitute colors based upon your personal Copic collection.

Please bring all your markers to class and make sure your Copics are marked with Washi tape or some other means of identification. Markers are available for purchase at The Queen’s Ink. Students will receive a 10% discount on Copic markers. Nancy will be available prior to class to help with selection.

PLEASE NOTE: You must bring your own markers to participate in class. If you need markers, please contact The Queen’s Ink in advance of class. If you wait until class time, you may not be able to purchase the markers you need.

• BV31: Pale Lavender
• BV34: Bluebell
• YR04: Chrome Orange
• YR09: Chinese Orange
• R35: Coral
• R37: Carmine
• R59: Cardinal
• B02: Robin’s Egg Blue
• B05: Process Blue
• B39: Prussian Blue
• E000: Pale Fruit Pink
• E01: Pink Flamingo
• E11: Barley Beige
• E04: Lipstick Natural
• E59: Walnut
• C3: Cool Gray No. 3
• C5: Cool Gray No. 5
• C7: Cool Gray No. 7
• C9: Cool Gray No. 9
• 0: Colorless Blender

OTHER SUPPLIES

Please bring:

• Sakura Gelly Roll Pen in Silver (Note: this not silver ink like the Uniball Gel Pen, but a silver sparkle)
• Scissors suitable for fussy cutting
• Foam adhesive squares
• Tape runner adhesive or double-sided tape