Want to learn how to watercolour like this?

I made this card last weekend on my crafty retreat. The starting point was a sketch or layout challenge from Splitcoast Stampers:

For those unfamiliar with a Sketch Challenge, it is a suggested layout for paper-crafters to follow. In my card, the main flower image on the watercolour paper is part 4; the Rose Red Prints Designer Series Paper is part 2 and the Regal Rose Wide Grosgrain Ribbon is part 3 while the base Pretty in Pink cardstock stamped with leaves and the "for you" greeting is part 1.

The stamp set, Bloomin' with Beauty, is from the new Stampin' Up!® Spring Mini Catalogue and for fans of watercolouring, it is perfect. Not confident of your watercolouring skills? Well consult Cambria Turnbow's tutorial Watercolouring for Cheaters. Still not convinced? Consider coming to one of my watercolouring classes (details to follow soon or please email me).

I'm often asked by customers what the larger holes in the Mat Pack template are for? The Mat Pack is famous for its use with a piercing tool and soft foam cushion to embellish a card with a row of pierced holes or faux stitches.



So what are those two sets of larger holes for? Have you tried to set 2 or more eyelets or brads in a straight row and failed? It sounds simple but if the eyelet or brad is out by a mm or 2mm, your eye can see it. So in the card above, I used my Mat Pack to ensure the three Pretty in Pink brads are in a neat vertical row.

Now for a quick bit of fun...the first person to leave a comment with the name of the other stamp sets used in this card wins a surprise gift. Please note this competition is open only to Australian residents and excludes Stampin' Up! demonstrators.

Love from Crafty Kim