Category: Watercoloring

Soft Florals & Bold Color: A #GDP533 Challenge Card

This week we’re jumping into another color challenge for the Global Design Project challenge #GDP533, featuring Strawberry Slush, Petal Pink, and Pretty Peacock. When I look at these colors together, I love them—they’re soft, fresh, and so pretty. But if I’m being completely honest, once I sat down to actually create with them… I struggled more than I expected.

Perfect timing though, because my most recent Stampin’ Up! order arrived, and inside was the Lovely Florals Stamp Set #166797, which has been sitting on my wish list for quite a while. I was a little sad to realize it’s now on the Last Chance list (along with the Texture Notes Dies #165555), but it turned out to be exactly the inspiration I needed for this card.

A handmade greeting card featuring a pink floral illustration on a white square, accented with blue and coral geometric patterns and a pink ribbon.
Logo for the Global Design Project featuring a globe with a heart, and color swatches labeled Strawberry Slush, Petal Pink, and Pretty Peacock.

I started by stamping the floral image in Black StazOn Ink #101406, then pulled out my Water Painters #168253. I dipped them directly into my ink pads and watercolor-painted the image, which allowed me to control the intensity of each color while still keeping that soft, artsy feel.

For the background, I stamped the grid image onto white cardstock and used my water painter to flick ink onto the paper, creating a fun speckled effect. I then went back in with a Blending Brush #160518 to add more color. This technique was such a win—I could leave some of the white showing and create multiple shades of color, essentially making my own custom DSP.

Close-up of a handmade card featuring a pink flower illustration with green leaves, placed on a textured pink background and accented with a pink ribbon.
A close-up view of a metal cutting die positioned over a pink cardstock, with an embossed texture visible beneath the die. The setup appears to be on a craft table, including a clear base plate.

One of my favorite little tricks on this card came from a happy workaround. I wanted a square layer behind my focal image, but the dies I had were rectangular. Instead of cutting the full die, I partially ran it through the machine so it only cut part of the image. Then I lined it up and cut the opposite side. The result? A square cut with that same cool patterned edge—problem solved!

To finish things off, I added Adhesive-Backed Gems #165615 and Faux Linen Ribbon #165274 for a bit of texture and sparkle.

You’ll notice there’s no sentiment on this card—and yes, that was intentional. I originally planned to add a “hello,” but in the end I decided to leave it off. Sometimes it’s nice to have a card ready to go, so you can add the perfect sentiment when the moment calls for it.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Be sure to check out all the beautiful projects shared by the designers over at the Global Design Project—this color combo definitely sparked some gorgeous creativity this week. 💕

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
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A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

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Day 25 – Yule Be Amazed – Color combo

Playful Woodland Critters + Witty Wordplay + Color Challenge #5

Today’s challenge brought together two fun themes: Yule Be Amazed—full of playful woodland critters and witty wordplay—and Color Challenge #5 using the Concord & 9th palette of Wildberry, Lakefront, and Harbor.

To match this with Stampin’ Up! colors, I chose a bright, cheerful combination of Lost Lagoon, Balmy Blue, and Melon Mambo. At first, I wasn’t sure how to bring both themes into one card. Woodland critters made me think browns and greens… not exactly what this color combo offers!

So I turned to my wall of retired stamp sets in search of inspiration—and that’s when the answer practically jumped off the shelf.

⛄️ When Snowmen Become Woodland Critters

I spotted the retired Spirited Snowmen Set (#148072) and instantly thought of one of my favorite children’s books—
“Snowmen at Night” by Caralyn Buehner, illustrated by Mark Buehner.

In the story, the snowmen come to life and play outside in the woods after dark. And that’s when it hit me:
If snowmen can play in the woods at night… why can’t they count as playful woodland critters?

With that little spark, everything fell into place.

A handmade card featuring a whimsical snowman skating on ice, surrounded by a soft, snowy background with blue hues. The snowman is wearing a colorful scarf and a hat, and there is a sentiment that reads, 'your friendship warms my heart.' The card is adorned with a sheer ribbon and decorative elements inspired by a playful woodland theme.
A greeting card featuring the phrase 'winter cheer' in bold red text on a light blue banner, surrounded by decorative snowflakes.

🎨 Coloring the Scene

To get a soft, playful look, I stamped the snowman in Black StazOn (#101406) on Watercolor Paper (#149612).

Then I used my Water Painters (#168253) and the ink pads in my three challenge colors to bring him to life. Watercoloring gave the image a gentle, whimsical feel—perfect for the theme—and made it easy to blend shadowing under him so it looks like he’s skating on ice.

For additional details, I used:

  • Pumpkin Pie (nose)
  • Pecan Pie (arms)
  • Basic Gray (skates)

A touch of Wink of Stella on the snowman and skates added the perfect shimmer.

❄️ Building the Background

To create the snowy nighttime feel, I used the Snowy Delights Decorative Masks (#165808) with a blending brush. The soft Balmy Blue and Lost Lagoon inks blended beautifully behind the snowman and tied the entire color combo together.

🎀 Finishing Touches

The final details pulled everything together:

  • Balmy Blue Sheer Ribbon (#165767)
  • Three Banner Punch (#167050) for the sentiment
  • A soft matting layer in challenge colors

The finished card is sweet, whimsical, and full of playful charm—perfect for sharing a little holiday cheer.

A whimsical snowman with a pink and teal scarf and a carrot nose, smiling while skating. The image is outlined with glitter for added shimmer.
A promotional image for the 30 Day Christmas Card Making Challenge, featuring color challenge #5 with swatches of Wildberry, Lakefront, and Harbor.
A graphic displaying 'Day 25 Yule Be Amazed' for a card making challenge, featuring a snowy background with blue and white snowflakes.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #christmaschallenge

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Day 19 – Hope & Light Meets North Pole Workshop?

Today’s Christmas Challenge brought two themes that couldn’t be more different: Hope and Light and North Pole Workshop. Instead of trying to force both themes into one design, I decided to lean into the contrast and create two separate cards—each with its own mood and message, but both built using the same layout and the same product focus:
Watercolor Pencils (#161700 & #149014) paired with Water Painters (#168234).

This turned out to be such a fun creative experiment—one layout, two techniques, and two completely different looks!

The Shared Layout

To keep a unified feel between the two designs, I started with a simple, versatile layout:

  • Horizontal card base: 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″, scored at 4-1/4
  • Accent strip behind the focal point: 1-3/4″ x 5-1/2″
  • Focal image panel: Die-cut using the Textured Notes Dies (#165555) — a perfect little frame for any image
  • Layered background: 4-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ with the sentiment stamped along the bottom

It’s an easy formula that works for just about any stamp set or technique, which made it perfect for today’s theme split.

⭐ Card 1: North Pole Workshop

For my first card, I reached for a fun retired favorite—Christmas Crowd. It’s full of cheerful, whimsical North Pole characters, and it was the perfect set for a bright, playful look.

A festive holiday card featuring Santa and a group of cheerful North Pole characters, adorned with a vibrant color palette and playful design elements.
A graphic promoting Day 19 of a 30-day Christmas card making challenge, highlighting the theme 'North Pole Workshop' with decorative winter elements.

Technique: Coloring In the Image

For this card, I used the watercolor pencils in the most traditional way—coloring the entire image before blending it out slightly with my Water Painter. This gave everything a soft yet vibrant finish without overwhelming the line art.

Finishing Touches:

  • Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine (#164051)
  • Real Red & White Peppermint Embellishments (#164050)

These little elements really pull together that Santa’s-workshop, peppermint-candy vibe.

⭐ Card 2: Hope & Light (Silent Night Style)

For the second theme, I chose the retired Come to Bethlehem (#120591) set—a beautiful, solid-image stamp that has always felt powerful and peaceful to me.

A handmade Christmas card featuring a watercolor silhouette of three camels journeying across a hillside, with a bright star above and a village in the background, paired with a black accent strip and black twine.
Graphic promoting a card making challenge for Christmas featuring the title 'Hope & Light' and 'Day 19' with a snowy background.

Technique: Background Shading with Watercolor Pencils

Since the main image is a silhouette, I used the watercolor pencils differently for this card. Instead of coloring in the image, I lightly shaded a glowing backdrop behind the figures. With a soft wash from the Water Painter, it created a beautiful halo of color that makes the silhouette pop.

Finishing Touches:

  • Black Baker’s Twine (#155475)
  • Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#144220)

A little sparkle keeps the “light” theme present while keeping the card simple and serene.

⭐ The Result: One Layout, Two Techniques, Two Totally Different Looks

It always amazes me how using the same basic card design can produce completely different moods depending on the stamp set, colors, and technique.

  • North Pole Workshop → bright, fun, colorful
  • Hope & Light → soft, meaningful, peaceful

Both simple.
Both beautiful.
And both incredibly easy to create with supplies you already have.

👉 You can shop current Stampin’ Up! supplies and tools here:
Shop with Me Here

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Contact me today to place your order!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

💕 Let’s Stay Connected

📺 YouTube
📘 Facebook
📸 Instagram
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#StampinWithCandice #StamperCandi #ACardADayInNovember2025 #30DayChristmasCardMakingChallenge #ChristmasCards #HandmadeCards #CreativeTechniques #HolidayCrafting #cardmaker #cardmaking #christmascards #handmadecards #papercraft #sketchchallenge #christmaschallenge

CandiceLeave a comment

Gather Together Class

Join me for my online technique class – Gathered Together

Spend a little time crafting this fall by joining me for my first online technique class. This class is designed around the “Gather Together” stamp featured in August – December 2020 Stampin’ Up! Mini Catalog. This is such an elegant set paired with the Brushed Metallic Paper and heat embossing/watercolor wash technique I think you will fall in love with this set as much as I have.

The projects are designed to be completed in the comfort of your own home.  There will be a zoom meeting you can join live for tips and tricks that will also be recorded for your use later or if you cannot make the live meeting.  The number of kits and time to purchase them is limited so be sure to order today.

Kit Information:

Includes: Materials to complete 8 cards ( 2 each of 4 different cards)
Colors: Cajun Craze, Mint Macaron, Very Vanilla
Cost: $12.00 per set of 8 cards (2 each of 4 different cards)
Click here for a PDF flyer listing details along with product ordering information.

Gather Together Class Kit

Includes paper materials to create 8 cards (2 each of 4 different cards). Kits are limited so order today before they are gone.

$12.00

To Order additional products needed:

Call or Text: 435-232-2655
Order products needed online at: candiceanderson.stampinup.net
        Use Hostess Code:  VTS62BFU
Email: andersoncandice@hotmail.com

Dates to Remember:

Order by: November 17, 2020
Zoom Live Demo: November 24, 2020
Time: 7:00 PM MST

I will be shipping kits on November 19. When placing your order for additional items needed please keep in mind shipping times from Stampin Up! vary so allow enough time for your products to arrive to you in time. If you are local and would like to order them through me to pick up with your kit call, text or email me. I will place a local order on the 17th and kits will be available to pick up with orders by the 22nd. I will send an email out on the 19th after kits have been shipped that will include the Zoom link as well as instructions for your kit.

Order online
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Contact me today to place your order
or book your party!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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Eastern Palace Suite

We were able to pre-order some products from the catalog so I’ve had some time to play with them.  I hope you enjoy these samples.  They also feature some of the new in-colors.

Here’s some samples that I’ve created with my pre-order and I’m having a difficult time trying to decided what I want to order first now that I can order anything from the new catalog.  I would love to hear what your favorite new items are from the catalog.  All of these samples were created using the new Eastern Palace Suite on pages 18-19 of the new catalog.

This first one is my own creation.  I was struggling with this set so I spent time on-line to get other ideas.  A big thanks to everyone who is willing to share.

If you want to create any of these cards

Colors – Dapper Denim – Fresh Fig – Tranquil Tide – Lemon Lime Twist –Whisper White

The next two were cases from other talented demonstrators.  I’m grateful for all the wonderful samples that others are willing to share for all of us.  I hope you will enjoy my twist on these fun projects.  Sorry I don’t have there names to give them credit, but I do thank them.   For this card I used the Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies to create the circles in the center project.

This last card is created by using the aqua painter to brush ink on watercolor paper.  This is then allowed to show through the intricate designs of the Easter Palace Suites dies.  These dies are fun because there are so many different designs you can make from the few designs just by mixing and matching them.

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Contact me today to place your order or book your party!
435-232-2655 Cell ( Call or Text)
andersoncandice@hotmail.com

CandiceLeave a comment

Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit Fun

I had a wonderful time at Stampin’ Up! Convention and I will be posting fun news and pictures about it soon.  But first I wanted to share with you the project I’ve been working on today.  At Convention I attended a specialty class where we were able to play with the new Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit. I loved this class and getting to work with the watercolor projects.  I came home and just had to finish all the cute cards.  Now while I can’t show you the cute Card Kit or Stamp set yet I can share with you the finished project which is way better anyway right?

So here’s what I came with.  The kit comes with enough stuff to make 5 each of 4 different designs, however I didn’t want the same cards so I decided to see what else I could make with it.  As you can see there is so much you can do with this kit and I still have stuff left over.

Water Color Winter Cards

 

So I thought I would showcase up close one of my favorites.  It’s kind of hard to see but the white has a fun would texture background.  Just so you know all these cards were created using just what comes in the kit along with adhesive and ink.  The stamp set is sold separately as well it’s called Watercolor Winter Too.  I’m entering this one in Stampin’ Up!’s contest.  Please do me a favor and help me win by going here and liking and pining my card.

Joy Card Watercolor Winter Kit

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

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Contact me to order or book your party today!
435-245-5321 Home
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andersoncandice@hotmail.com

Stampin’ Supplies:

Colors:
Pad-Bermuda Bay
Reinkers-Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Smoky Slate & Old Olive

Stamps:
Watercolor Winter Too
Photopolymer- #136819 $11.95

Others:
Watercolor Winter Simply Created Card Kit- #135869 $24.95

Just a reminder both the Stamp Set and the kit will be available in the Holiday Catalog starting August 28th.  Oh and you are totally going to love it!

CandiceLeave a comment