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.

55 comments:

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  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.

    ReplyDelete
  11. This will be a fun stamp to play with. Love all the clutter.

    ReplyDelete
  12. what beautiful watercolor imagery... So vibrant and fun!

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

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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!

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

    ReplyDelete
  16. such lovely work - thanks for sharing:)

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

    ReplyDelete
  18. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have no words. *jaw on the floor*

    ReplyDelete
  20. Love your cards. That bear is just fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Cute bear card and love the miniature landscapes!

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  25. Super cool and fun cards! Fabulous and creative inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  26. 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)

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

    ReplyDelete
  28. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Thanks for sharing these lovely cards. I love your coloring.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Awesome cards. Love the fun landscapes on the first.

    ReplyDelete
  31. LOVE these cards! They are so awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  32. 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.

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

    ReplyDelete
  34. 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! 😁

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

    ReplyDelete
  36. 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

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  40. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  41. 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.

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

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  45. Wonderful watercoloring and release. Thanks for sharing.

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  48. 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!)

    ReplyDelete
  49. EEP! "luv me some" miniatures!!! just sayin'!!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Wow! These are both beautiful! Love the circle scenes!

    ReplyDelete

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.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...