Sweetest Cherries Red, White & Blue Birthday Card

 Happy Wednesday!  And happy pre 4th of July!  I'm starting to plan for our 4th of July celebration.  We are having company next Tuesday evening to watch fireworks from across the street at the 15th hole of the Saddleback Golf Course in Firestone, Colorado.  Perfect spot from our backyard to watch the beautiful fireworks!  Sadly, a tree has grown over the years right in front of the spot from our patio, so we have to move onto the grass near the back fence to see them better!  What are your plans for the 4th?  

Today's Facebook Live showcased the Sweetest Cherries Photopolymer Stamp Set, the Cherry Builder Punch and a palette of Red, White & Blue to celebrate the upcoming July 4th holiday!  We have a friend that is a 4th of July baby - so this birthday card will be perfect for him!  I demonstrated water color wash, ink blending, and both heat and dry embossing techniques during the live.  

Watercolor wash is really very easy if you have the right paper and tools!  I used Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper and Water Painters (the largest brush) for today's watercolor wash.  The trick is to brush plain water over the entire piece of watercolor paper before applying the ink mixed with water onto the paper.  This allows the ink to spread with the water!  I used Blueberry Bushel ink pad for the water wash today.  You can also use ink refill droplets on a clear stamping block.  I just haven't ordered my reinkers yet for the new refreshed colors so I pressed the top of the ink pad case into the ink pad to use ink for watercolor wash today.  Before you dry emboss, use the Heat Tool set on #1 setting to dry the paper.  The Cane Weave 3D Embossing Folder created the most amazing texture on the watercolor wash paper.  

Blending is my most favorite technique using ink and blending brushes.  It's so rewarding to see amazing shaded images you can create when with this medium.  I used Real Red ink for the photo and during the live, I used Poppy Parade ink.  I think I liked the Poppy Parade cherries better as they were brighter against the blue watercolor wash.  I used Garden Green ink to blend the color for the stems and leaves.  

While we were blending during the live, I created a watermelon blended piece by using one piece of paper blended with Poppy Parade on one side and Garden Green on the other side leaving a small space of white in between.  I'll definitely go back and make another one and use for a fun watermelon card at a later date! 

Lastly, I used Versamark Ink and White embossing powder to heat emboss the "wishing you" sentiment.  When you look at the stamp set, you will notice that the sentiment actually is "wishing you a".  I performed stamp surgery by cutting the "a" away from the sentiment.  When you want to use the entire sentiment, all you need to do is realign the stamps together on a clear block.  

Click Here for the free Sweetest Cherries Birthday card tutorial. 

Click Here to watch the replay of today's Facebook Live.  Please leave a comment about the Sweetest Cherries Birthday card by Friday, 6/30 at 5pm and you will be entered into the prize drawing!  Be sure to follow me while you are there so you receive notifications of future Facebook Live.  

I hope you enjoyed this colorful, birthday card today!  Please leave a comment here if you are going to try some of the techniques from today.  I loved to hear from you! 

I hope you have a fabulous 4th of July celebration with your loved ones!  If you have some time to get out of the heat - head to your craft room and create some watercolor wash pieces to dry emboss for future projects.  

Next week's Facebook Live, I'll be crafting with the One Horse Open Sleigh Suite that will be debuting in the Online Exclusives on Thursday, 7/6.  The Designer Series Paper is absolutely stunning - you will want to get your order in early for this DSP as I am sure it will sell out quickly!  It's Christmas in July!  lol!

Have fun and ...

KEEP ON CRAFTING!