Happy Trails...

You're already singing it, aren't you?

I know.
Me, too.
It can't be helped :)

You can sing it while you read this post and then later on when you stamp with these stamps :)

Speaking of... today's Papertrey Ink design team post brings you a new set from Nichole... enter Happy Trails.

I'm realizing over the course of crafting for so long that sometimes I need a change.
Which is funny because in real life... I am so not a huge fan of it.
But somehow, when I'm crafting... it can be easier to tackle change.

Because it really just comes in the form of doing something I've never done before.

I used to think that I wasn't artistic because I couldn't draw.
But then a friend of mine showed me that what I could do was stamp.

And sometimes I wonder what else I could do but that I have no idea I can because I've never tried it.

I have that running list in my head of "man... I'd really love to try that."
Silver smithing.
Glass blowing.
Painting.

The "you color my world" sentiment in Happy Trails challenged me to try one of those things on my list... watercoloring.

And it was fun :)

It was by no means a study in perfection

There was Try #1...

This was my original idea and I enjoyed making it, but when I stepped back and looked at it I realized...
it's way too linear.  It totally showcases my perfectionistic nature in crafting and that is exactly what I'm trying to get away from with trying new things :)

So, no to that one.

Try #2...

I started experimenting a bit... combining colors, getting used to the process...

Try #3...

I'm starting to hone in on a layout idea here. 
Still trying to figure out how exactly watercolors work, though :)
Take away on this one - too much water = bad.

Try #4:

Finally getting somewhere!

One thing I started to understand a bit about letting wet colors blend and letting other areas dry.  Letting an area dry lets you come back with more color or a different color and add some detail.  The details really end up making a difference in terms of depth,

Full confession... it's possible that there were other attempts that are not being shown here today :)

I'm ok with my attempts, though.  I basically have zero idea what I'm doing with watercolors and you know what?

THAT'S OK :)

I just walked into Michael's, purchased myself a fancy $4.99 set of watercolors, a fancy $4.99 set of brushes, and a pad of watercolor paper and went to experimenting at my work table.  No rhyme... no reason.  Just me trying to let myself attempt something outside of my comfort zone, to relieve myself of the pressure of perfection... to just do.

And I did.
And I have to say... I actually loved it :)

And this is the result.

It's a whimsical little watercolor finished off with one of my all-time favorite sentiments, a funky butterfly, and a winding little tail behind him.

To make the tail fit my layout a little better, I added the two longer tails in the set together. I just positioned the stamps so that they overlapped a bit (right between the two small loops) then masked both trails near the overlapping point. I also made small pencil pencil marks at the end points of each trail to make it easy to position the inked stamp.

I wanted the butterfly to be extra special so I started by embossing it with black powder on a piece of vellum.  As the black powder heated and melted, I sprinkled some yellow embossing powder over it.  I repeated that until I got to the point above.

Although there is a set of matching Happy Trails dies for the images in this set, I went ahead and emossed it on a small panel of vellum and then hand cut it out after embossing.  With this embossing technique, I just find it easier to do it on a panel that can be easily held on to.

One nice thing about using vellum for this was that because the vellum is more pliable than cardstock, the embossing caused the trimmed butterfly to curl up naturally and just perfectly for this project :)

To give this project some presence and depth, I adhered it with foam tape to a simple artist's canvas base.  To draw the eye straight to the colors I painted the canvas black. 

Putting it on a canvas means that I can move it around the house and mix things up from time to time as I like to do.

For now, it's made a home on the entry way table where Eli's study of Picasso is on the right and a single line drawing of mine from a college art class is on the left.

I think it fits right in :)

I really have to say... I totally recommend giving the good ol' watercolors of your youth a try. 
Truly.
I found it really freeing and fun.  Honestly, it felt like free art play from grade school.
Good times.
There is zero perfectionism in watercolors. You have to release that expectation right from the start, friends.
It's a good thing :)

One thought... if you love the color Copics can give but find them a little daunting... this would be a great way to experiment with fun color with only a few dollars. 

I was totally taken with them so there are more watercolor techniques to come with the rest of my release projects from this month.

But in the meantime, be sure to check out all the other Happy Trails projects from Papertrey Ink's design team!  I had a tough time trying to decide what image to work with... I cannot wait to see what the rest of the team worked up with the little paper airplane, the ink pen, the quill pen, and on and on and on!

Nichole Heady
Betsy Veldman
Erin Lincoln
Maile Belles
Lisa Johnson
Dawn McVey
Heather Nichols
Melissa Phillilps
Michelle Wooderson
Danielle Flanders

Thanks for stopping by today!
As always, I hope you enjoyed it!



{Happy Trails} canvas
Stamps - Happy Trails
Ink - True Black
Paper - Vellum; watercolor paper
Ink - watercolors (Artist's Loft from Michael's)
Other - Rhinestones; canvas (Artist's Loft from Michael's)