should you choose to accept...

Mission: complete birthday card for 6 yr. old boy.

Mission failed.

notes:  I did complete a card... it just ended up being more of a baby card than a 6 yr. old boy card. 

 This adorably sweet stamp is by Crafter's Companion. It was colored using Tim Holtz Distress Markers. 

 I was going to add the phrase "Birthday Wishes", but it still didn't really fit the mission requirements (or the 6 yr. old).

 The shooting star was stamped twice.. once on the card, and once on another sheet of paper. The second one was painted, glittered, cut out, then attached over the first star with a foam square. It gives it nice dimension and  draws your eye to the main star.

The stars were all painted with Ivory Creative Inspirations paint, so they twinkle and glow when the light hits them. A very effective touch if you ask me. =)

I was once asked how to add color to a background after you have stamped and watercolored an image... 

my secret: masking.  

I stamp the same image on a second sheet of cardstock, then cut it out just barely inside the outside line. (this helps avoid a "halo" of white surrounding the image). I then cover the back of the cut image with a re-positionable adhesive. After that, it is just a matter of lining the mask over the image and adding color to the background. Just be careful not to let any color bleed under the mask. For this card, I mixed a drop of Pumice Stone reinker, a little Stormy Sky stain, and quite a bit of water to create a nice pastel wash.

Mission: attempt to complete birthday card for 6 yr. old boy again. 

Enjoy!

~Kassi

Supplies Used

Paper: Kraft, watercolor paper

Ink: Archival, Distress ink

Stamps: Crafter's Companion "Shooting Star", Kaisercraft "Grid"

Creative Inspirations: Paint (Ivory), Resplendence (Angel Dust)