Bonus Watercolor Weekend with Simone Carr

 Hello Ai fans!

We’re so lucky that August has 5 Sundays!

That means a bonus Watercolor Weekend which means even more inspiration for you.

Let’s welcome Guest Designer Simone Carr and see what pretty things she’s created.

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Hello fellow crafters!

I’m excited to be back on the blog to share my latest cards with you. Since fall is right around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to create a project that could work as either a Welcome Fall card or even a Thanksgiving card.

For this design, I reached for one of my favorite sets from last year—the Woodland Critters Set. I knew right away that the sweet little hedgehog needed to take center stage!

I started by inking the wheelbarrow (from the Harvest Wheelbarrow Set) with Tombow 565 and 969. I stamped it first onto masking paper, then onto Canson watercolor paper. To make room for the hedgehog, I left off the second handle when stamping the wheelbarrow. After cutting the wheelbarrow mask, I placed it over the stamped image.

Next, I used the stamp positioner to tuck the hedgehog perfectly into place and inked him with the same 565 and 969. Then I added in the small pumpkin, creating another mask so I could easily layer over it. Using the stamp positioner again, I built up the scene with pumpkins and apples, inking them with 565 and 969 (stamped off) for a softer look.

Once the stamping was complete, I removed the masks and began adding color to bring the entire image to life.

Materials Used

Tombow Dual Brush Pens:

856, 905, 925, 946, 933, 055, 098, 026, 312, 879, 947, 027, 992, 526, 177, 969, 565

Stamp Sets:

5597 Harvest Wheelbarrow

5059 Harvest Set (Apples + Grass)

4051 Foliage Set

5487 Front Porch Halloween Set (Small Pumpkin)

5953 Woodland Critters Set

5063 Rectangle A2 Die Set

5838 Fall Patterned Paper

For my second card, I went with a more wintery theme—not necessarily Christmas, but something versatile that could work as a birthday card, a thank you card, or really just a cheerful design for the colder months. It’s also a fun way to use up those paper scraps we all have on hand!

I began by stamping the sleigh image on Canson watercolor paper using Memento Toffee Crunch ink. For coloring, I used:

Sleigh: 026, 947, N55

Mouse: a mix of 969 + 565, plus 725, 025, 296

Hedgehog: 992, 947, 555

Present: 493, 195 + white gel pen for highlights

The finished card measures 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″. To build the background, I ran a piece of white cardstock through a snowflake embossing folder, then trimmed it down to 3″ x 4 1/4″.

Next, I dug into my scrap pile and pulled out a few pieces from the Winter Woodland patterned paper pack. I cut them into flags and arranged them over the embossed panel to decide on their placement. Once I was happy with the layout, I glued them down, then added a thin strip cut from the leftover embossed paper on top for a clean finish.

The top panel is 2 1/2″ x 4 1/4″, and I popped the die-cut critters up with foam tape for extra dimension. To finish the card, I cut a small tag, stamped my sentiment (masking part of the stamp so it would fit), and tied a bit of string to it. I tucked the string under the present so it looks like part of the image, which adds a fun little detail.

Materials Used

Dies & Stamps

5133 Flag Double Stitched Dies

5953 Woodland Critters Set

5566 Christmas Sentiments

5543 Journal Template Set

5963 Winter Woodland Patterned Paper

Markers & Paper

Tombow Dual Brush Pens: 026, 947, 992, N55, 555, 493, 296, 195, 725, 025, 969, 565

Canson Watercolor Paper

Bonus Card

I wanted to share a little extra inspiration to show another way of creating this second card using the same methods. For this version, I used the 5191 Feast Mode set. Instead of patterned paper, I stamped my image on Bristol Smooth cardstock and simply adhered the flags underneath.

It’s a quick variation that gives the design a fresh look—and a great reminder that you can easily adapt these techniques with the supplies you already have on hand.

I hope I’ve inspired you to give it a try!

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Thank you so much Simone for these darling cards.

We hope you’re inspired to try something like these. While you’re here, be sure to enter our Bi-Weekly Challenge. The theme this time is “When One Door Closes.” Make something with a door on it, whether it’s stamped or die cut.