Up, Up, and Away!

Hi everyone!

Can you believe that I'm actually posting a creation? I feel like my blog has been filled to the brim with all these giveaways, which I'm happy to do, but I'm also a bit sad that it's on the empty side as far as cards go.  Today I'm glad to be posting a card :)

This card uses the brand spankin' new stamps from the Little Darling's line.  I'm also entering this into their Little Darlings Challenge/Contest HERE.  I've used the Up, Up, and Away image which is just so cute!  They've been showing the movie "Up" lately and this images just totally reminds me of Ellie :)  I painstakingly colored the hot air balloon exactly how I wanted to color it, but after I covered it with Crackle Accents, it totally smeared my watercoloring and what you see is what happened.  I think it still turned out okay though, I guess : /

I've also used a bunch of other products that is available at the Love to Stamp store, including the Webster's Pages paper, the Whimsy Stamps Everyday Mini Postage Stamps, and the Whimsy Stamps Music Notes background (behind the image).   I cut out the mini postage stamps with the Mini Postage Die.  I'm not sure if the Love To Stamp store is always going to have the Whimsy Stamps products at a discounted price, but right now they're 15% off so go grab the ones that you've had on your wish list!

Oh, and I wanted to share that lately, I've been trying out a bunch of different papers for watercoloring!  I asked the oh-so-talented watercolorist Minna what kind of paper she uses, which was Canson Montval, so I went to go shop for it at Dick Blick, but while I was there, I picked up a whole bunch of others to make sure I wasn't missing out on the greatest paper ever, lol.  I think I have almost all possible watercolor paper now.  For this image, I used Lanaquarelle Watercolor Paper, Hot Press, 140lb/300gsm.  This paper is actually really great, very smooth, but for some reason, I felt like the colors dried to different colors than what I was used to.  I think it might be because this paper is bright white, not off-white like most watercolor papers.  It also was somewhat difficult to work with because it stayed wet for a long time.  I think I will put together my reviews of all the watercolor papers I have and make it available for everyone so that you don't have to waste as much money as I have, lol.  I'm also now using the Zig Water Color Brush (Detailer Tip) which is SOOOO much better than the Sakura Koi water brushes and the Niji water brushes.  I recently ordered the Pentel Aquash Water Brush which is going to get here sometime next week - can't wait to see how that one performs!

Wow, geez, enough rambling from me!  Hope you like my card! 

Stamps: Little Darling Up, Up, and Away, Whimsy Stamps Everyday Mini Postage Stamps, and the Whimsy Stamps Music Notes Background; Medium: Distress reinkers on Lanaquarelle Hot Press Watercolor paper; Paper: Webster's Pages Spring/Yacht/Country 6x6 Paper Pad; Accessories/tools: Whimsy Stamps Mini Postage Die, Tim Holtz Elegant Flourishes die, Sizzix flourish die, May Arts net ribbon, burlap, Crackle Accents

This card is also for the following challenges:

1. Dream Valley Challenges - Stamp Something
2. Emerald Faeries - Anything Goes
3. 2 Sisters - Anything Goes
4. Stamp Something - Use a sentiment
5. Paper Crafting Journey - Anything goes (also used my favorite medium: distress inks!)
6. Shelly's Images - Let it all hang out (hanging flourishes)
7. Cooking It Up With Katie - Swirls, sunny, sentiment
8. Crafting for all Seasons - Anything goe
9. Penny's Paper-Crafty - Summer
10. Litlte Darlings Challenges - Contest