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? :)
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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.
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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.
She is giving away three shopping sprees for this release too - just leave her a comment on her blog to be eligible.
Loveyameanitbye.
I always love your work--so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the bear card! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is so fun! I love your tiny scenes!
ReplyDeleteTwo great looking cards. That Bear scene has become a must have.
ReplyDeleteI adore your tiny landscapes, but I am in love with the bear image. It doesn't get much better than that.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful card! Love coloration on the white background.
ReplyDeleteThese are amazing! I love your watercoloring! Just incredible little scenes!
ReplyDeleteYou 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!!!
ReplyDeleteKellie
Wonderful cards. Your water coloring is fantastic. This is a great release. Thanks for sharing your talents!
ReplyDeleteThe Big Guys room looks a tad bit like mine at the moment! So wonderful, Lydia!
ReplyDelete=]
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.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE both of these cards!
ReplyDeletewhat beautiful watercolor imagery... So vibrant and fun!
ReplyDeleteChaotic and craft room both start with the same letter.... I can relate to his space. Nicely done.
ReplyDeleteYou 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!
ReplyDeleteThis bear is the best all in one stamp! makes its simple just stamp and color! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletesuch lovely work - thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteBoth of your cards are fabulous!
ReplyDeleteLoving your swatch circle scenes, the colouring is exquisite. Bear is becoming my favourite character as you can make him totally your own.
ReplyDeleteThese 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.
ReplyDeleteI have no words. *jaw on the floor*
ReplyDeleteLove your cards. That bear is just fantastic.
ReplyDeleteCute bear card and love the miniature landscapes!
ReplyDeleteYour mini scenes
ReplyDeleteare fun and I love
your bear card!
Lovely coloring.
Carla from Utah
Love the mini landscapes, and the big bear is so adorable! Charming cards!
ReplyDeleteEverything about these cards is amazing. And the bear is so freaking adorable.
ReplyDeleteSuper cool and fun cards! Fabulous and creative inspiration.
ReplyDeleteI 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)
ReplyDeleteAwww!!! Your cards and your colouring technique are really amazing!!! <3
ReplyDeleteYour 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!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these lovely cards. I love your coloring.
ReplyDeleteAwesome cards. Love the fun landscapes on the first.
ReplyDeleteLOVE these cards! They are so awesome!
ReplyDeleteYep, love how you did the first card with the sentiment.
ReplyDeleteThe bear image stamp is fantastic! That looks like me at
Christmas time, too.
Awesome cards! The first one is so creative :)
ReplyDeleteLovely cards with pretty colors !
ReplyDeleteI 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! 😁
ReplyDeleteHere's another LOLcat - I love the first card - what a great way to use the circles! Your bear card is fabulous too!
ReplyDeleteLove the little vingnettes on the first
ReplyDeletecard. Partially coloring the second
card makes the bear pop. Great cards.
thanks for sharing
txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com
Wow, love that card with the circles. I think this bear scene is one of my favorite images.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did with the circles! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteEveryone did such a beautiful job with these stamp sets!
ReplyDeleteWOW! 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!
ReplyDeleteSuper 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.
ReplyDeleteWow, those mini watercolor landscapes are amazing! Great job on the busy bear card too. I always enjoy seeing your creations.
ReplyDeleteI love the card with the little scenes on it. Its very cool!!
ReplyDeleteYour watercoloring is awesome!! I love the bear stamp too. He looks so serious sitting there. Wonderful card!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful watercoloring and release. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteNice cards with lovely cards. I really like the first card with the circular landscapes. Lovely idea.
ReplyDeleteI am loving your cards! Thank you so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteWhat 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.
ReplyDelete(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!)
EEP! "luv me some" miniatures!!! just sayin'!!
ReplyDeleteWow! These are both beautiful! Love the circle scenes!
ReplyDelete