Monday, November 5, 2018

I Can BEARLY Contain Myself + Giveaway

Y'all know I love me some watercolor. And if you're not from Texas and are concerned about my grammar - I do have an Master's Degree in Linguistics, so I want to comfort you with the reality of dialect, which is quite different from grammar, and makes it okay for me to say I'm fixin' to drop some watercolor madness on you. :)

My friend Nina, the owner of Waffle Flower, is one of the most fun human beings I've ever met. She's crazy intelligent, and actually she and her husband run a business that would absolutely blow your mind, in addition to her stamp company, which is like the best thing ever.

But aside from all that, she's this fun, smiley, positive, curious, creative ball of fun who is so generous with her knowledge about cultural differences between China and the US (some of which she totally makes up, as I would, when it comes to trying to pay everyone's check or other underhanded deeds), and also about her creative process when it comes to her designs and how she tries to fill certain needs in the stamping community.

I sort of feel like I've polluted her mind with some of my watercolor needs, but also I'm super proud of that, so it's complicated, because at the end of the day - no stamp company has done more for watercolor addicts than my sweet Nina has.

So in August, she came out with this swatching bundle that I absolutely lost my mind over.

But now - she has a companion set for MORE swatching options, so basically I will not be cooking or doing laundry for the next ten months, because I love to swatch, and now I have these fun new templates to do it with.

HOWEVER - because, in my ongoing effort to help people do something other than what they are supposed to do (why I spent so much time in detention), I wanted to show you something SUPER DUPER FUN you could do with her newest swatch set.

I LOVE all things miniature, and miniature landscapes are near and dear to my heart. I actually took a miniature landscape class in Santa Fe that I loved - it's my favorite format. While I love the expansive spaces of Texas and the desert Southwest, I am straight up terrified of a piece of paper that's bigger than a card front. So I took this new stamp set, stamped it in Fadeout ink on this coldpress watercolor paper, and had a wee bit of fun using the circles as tiny globes of fantasy. All watercolor is Daniel Smith, and the sentiment is stamped in Nocturne and it's from this set. You could also mask these and stamp critters like they are windows - so if you are NOT into watercolor (I can provide counseling) these stamps are incredibly versatile. See what I did there with the sentiment? AROUND? :)



Color Swatches for Watercolors -...
[ WFF ]
Flora Cat Play Stamp Set –...
[ WFF ]
https://waffleflower.com/collections/...
[ WFF ]
Fadeout No Line coloring Detail Ink
[ INK ]
VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Nocturne -...
[ ELH | SSS ]
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors
[ BLIC ]
Escoda Versatil Brushes, Travel Round...
[ UTR | BLIC | INK ]
Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White
[ GNK ]
Fabriano Extra White Cold Press...
[ BLIC ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT ]
Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045
[ SSS | ELH | CST | ART ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
Nesting Porcelain Bowls - BLICK art...
[ BLIC ]
My Favorite Watercolor Sketchbook
[ UTR ]
Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two...
[ SSS | MFT ]
Absorber - Synthetic Cleaning Cloth
[ AMZUS ]
Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding...
[ AMZUS ]
Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675
[ SSS | ART | AMZUS ]
Essentials by Ellen Storage...
[ ELH ]
Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC
[ ELH | SSS ]
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
[ ART | BLIC | ELH ]
Ink Off Cloth
[ INK ]

Remember how I told you she was sweet? Well at the retreat I went to in October, she gave EVERY HUMAN BEING this next stamp set, which made me squee. I love this busy and slightly chaotic bear getting his Christmas prep on. I stamped the whole scene in Nocturne, and watercolored him with Daniel Smith. He's so dedicated to what he's doing. He's also clearly a bookworm, which I greatly respect.
Merry Christmas Watercolor Bear by Understand Blue
Holiday Thanks Stamp Set –...
[ WFF ]
VersaFine Clair Ink Pad, Nocturne -...
[ ELH | SSS ]
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolors
[ BLIC ]
Escoda Versatil Brushes, Travel Round...
[ UTR | BLIC | INK ]
Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White
[ GNK ]
Fabriano Extra White Cold Press...
[ BLIC ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT ]
Lawn Fawn STAMP SHAMMY Cleaner LF1045
[ SSS | ELH | CST | ART ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
Nesting Porcelain Bowls - BLICK art...
[ BLIC ]
My Favorite Watercolor Sketchbook
[ UTR ]
Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two...
[ SSS | MFT ]
Absorber - Synthetic Cleaning Cloth
[ AMZUS ]
Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding...
[ AMZUS ]
Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675
[ SSS | ART | AMZUS ]
Essentials by Ellen Storage...
[ ELH ]
Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC
[ ELH | SSS ]
Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue
[ ART | BLIC | ELH ]
Ink Off Cloth
[ INK ]

Head over to her site to see her whole new release today - and please know that if you purchase Waffle Flower stamps, you are supporting such a sweet, kind, and smart woman trying to make a life for herself in a country so far from home. I love this lady.

She is giving away three shopping sprees for this release too - just leave her a comment on her blog to be eligible. 

Loveyameanitbye.

54 comments:

  1. I always love your work--so beautiful!

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  2. This is so fun! I love your tiny scenes!

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  3. Two great looking cards. That Bear scene has become a must have.

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  4. I adore your tiny landscapes, but I am in love with the bear image. It doesn't get much better than that.

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  5. So beautiful card! Love coloration on the white background.

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  6. These are amazing! I love your watercoloring! Just incredible little scenes!

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  7. You continue to amaze me with your creativity. Using the circles for small paintings look beautiful. Love the bear stamp and his books, Christmas and that ball of yarn on the floor!!!
    Kellie

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  8. Wonderful cards. Your water coloring is fantastic. This is a great release. Thanks for sharing your talents!

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  9. The Big Guys room looks a tad bit like mine at the moment! So wonderful, Lydia!
    =]

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  10. I am in love with both of your cards--the first one is so unique and what a great way to use that stamp set! I need to take that water color class! Thanks for sharing your great projects.

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  11. what beautiful watercolor imagery... So vibrant and fun!

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  12. Chaotic and craft room both start with the same letter.... I can relate to his space. Nicely done.

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  13. You may have heard my jaw hitting the floor when I saw that polar bear! Oh Em Gee - he looks just how I feel every holiday season! Its' frustrating to be in Canada, and see all the amazing stamps only sold in the U.S. *sigh* With what I pay in duties, I feel like I'm supporting my country single-handedly!

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  14. This bear is the best all in one stamp! makes its simple just stamp and color! Thanks for sharing!

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  15. such lovely work - thanks for sharing:)

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  16. Loving your swatch circle scenes, the colouring is exquisite. Bear is becoming my favourite character as you can make him totally your own.

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  17. These little water colored scenes are amazing! What a fun use for the swatch set. And this bear set is so cute, love that you made him a polar bear. TFS.

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  18. I have no words. *jaw on the floor*

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  19. Love your cards. That bear is just fantastic.

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  20. Cute bear card and love the miniature landscapes!

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  21. Your mini scenes
    are fun and I love
    your bear card!
    Lovely coloring.
    Carla from Utah

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  22. Love the mini landscapes, and the big bear is so adorable! Charming cards!

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  23. Everything about these cards is amazing. And the bear is so freaking adorable.

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  24. Super cool and fun cards! Fabulous and creative inspiration.

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  25. I agree, this is an awesome release.... yep I want it all (of course lol). Your use of the swatch circles is awesome and your watercoloring on them is even more awesome, I love that card thanks for the inspiration. Thank you for sharing both cards and your BTS about Nina, it's always fun to learn about the people behind the companies and blogs. (mardy14@bellsouth.net)

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  26. Awww!!! Your cards and your colouring technique are really amazing!!! <3

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  27. Your water coloring work is amazing! I so enjoyed you giving such thoughtful praise to Nina. There needs to be more of that in this world. Thank you!

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  28. Thanks for sharing these lovely cards. I love your coloring.

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  29. Awesome cards. Love the fun landscapes on the first.

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  30. LOVE these cards! They are so awesome!

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  31. Yep, love how you did the first card with the sentiment.
    The bear image stamp is fantastic! That looks like me at
    Christmas time, too.

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  32. Awesome cards! The first one is so creative :)

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  33. I must say that your excited post about the new release definitely enabled me!!! I abs9,Ute ly love the cards you did and cannot wait to get the swatch sets and that adorable Holiday Thanks set! Thank you Lydia...although my bank account may cry a bit I’m gonna be a happy girl! 😁

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  34. Here's another LOLcat - I love the first card - what a great way to use the circles! Your bear card is fabulous too!

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  35. Love the little vingnettes on the first
    card. Partially coloring the second
    card makes the bear pop. Great cards.
    thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  36. Wow, love that card with the circles. I think this bear scene is one of my favorite images.

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  37. I love what you did with the circles! So beautiful!

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  38. Everyone did such a beautiful job with these stamp sets!

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  39. WOW! I just love the landscape scenes you created! They are amazing. I wish I had just a little bit of your talent. I also love that bear and the cute scene. I can't believe you water coloured it. It looks so perfect!

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  40. Super adorable bear, my craft room looks kinda like that too! Beautiful mini landscapes with the swatch circles. Now back to regularly scheduled swatching, lol. I love me some swatch coloring too.

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  41. Wow, those mini watercolor landscapes are amazing! Great job on the busy bear card too. I always enjoy seeing your creations.

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  42. I love the card with the little scenes on it. Its very cool!!

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  43. Your watercoloring is awesome!! I love the bear stamp too. He looks so serious sitting there. Wonderful card!!

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  44. Wonderful watercoloring and release. Thanks for sharing.

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  45. Nice cards with lovely cards. I really like the first card with the circular landscapes. Lovely idea.

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  46. I am loving your cards! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  47. What am I supposed to do with this awesomeness? The vignette card is just gorgeous, and the circles remind me of some of the hand-painted ornaments my parents have had for years. And I'm pretty sure that bear is my patronus: clutter and all. I love how your mind works (I still think about that little jailbird bunny you made a while ago), so I always enjoy seeing your perspective on products.

    (Also, I might have squeaked in happiness when I read about your linguistics background. I also studied lx, and I will cosign your analysis. I love me some linguists!)

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  48. EEP! "luv me some" miniatures!!! just sayin'!!

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  49. Wow! These are both beautiful! Love the circle scenes!

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Every time you leave a comment, a new LOLcat is born. ALSO - don't panic if you don't see your comment right away - I moderate my comments to keep those spammers out, so your comment will show up in short order. Unless you're linking me to Russian brides or Nigerian princes.

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