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Do y'all know what a Bradford Pear tree is? It's like a practical joke that Nature played on Texas.
We don't have the right climate for cherry trees and their beautiful blossoms, so some dingleberry came up with the idea to substitute a non-native tree, that is covered with WHITE blossoms in the spring, which fill the air with.... WAIT FOR IT - the stench of dead fish. I kid you not. There are some days I can't even go outside without gagging, because someone on my street made the poor choice to plant this.
I long for the death of that species. It should be eradicated from the earth along with our "cedar" tree - the juniper death star with its murderous pollen.
I would like them to be replaced with a heat and drought-tolerant Texas version of a beautiful, sweet smelling cherry tree. I remember a trip to Washington to visit my grandmother when I was little and how bewitching the cherry blossoms in DC are. Sigh.
Until that happens, I have beautiful cherry tree stamps to bring you today, along with a video, a coupon code, retreat info and a giveaway - basically everything but a kitten today! And I have a few more videos coming over the next few weeks too, thanks to a productive weekend a few weeks ago.
When I saw this month's stunning Japanese-style My Monthly Hero Kit, I remembered a technique I learned very early in my stamping career, and I wanted to try it with the stunning cherry blossom trees in the kit, and I love the results.
Do you remember the "thumping" technique? This was developed back in the days WAY before photopolymer stamps, when layering stamps weren't even yet a twinkle in a manufacturer's eye! So I thought it might be fun to do with a color-layering stamp like the ones in this month's kit - and I have a video for you below along with a coupon code for the markers I used!
So here are the two versions, side by side. On the left, I used Cotton Candy, Pale Tomato, Lime and Moss ink to create the scene with the layering stamps in the kit. I love the little stones scattered throughout the grass - they are beautiful, and they are your easy peasy visual cue for lining up the layered images. Then on the right is the version where I did all that again, but then I used the thumping technique with Karin Markers! I love them both! One more way to stretch a layering stamp in just seconds! So stay tuned for the video and the coupon code on the markers.
Just for this month's release, too - they came out with a beautiful cherry blossom pink Hero Hues pigment ink too - Rose Quartz. I don't have this one yet, but I love their other pigment inks.
So enjoy the video for those two cards, but come back after for more Asian-themed goodness!
I love those markers ever so much! If you want to try them, I do have a coupon code for you. Click here and use Understandblue15 for 15% off sitewide! This code also works on the XPress It Site, Tommy Art Paint, and Terial Arts, or any Imagination International site!
I'm a sucker for koi - real or stamp versions, so the latest Bold Prints background is my jam. I took the EXTREMELY dreamy new Daniel Smith Blue (if you're in my split group, where we split watercolor to make it more affordable, this is now in Split A), and painted it over the image I embossed in white. Then I stamped it again in black and watercolored just one fishy. I covered it with Glossy Accents - you can see the shine! The sentiment is from Zen Messages.
The simplicity in the Tranquility set is very appealing to me. I think the images lend themselves to clean and simple cards. I stamped the cairn/water image and just watercolored it simply with the same DS Blue I used above. I let the water fade out and spill down over the sentiment, which is from the same set.
Finally, I took the beautiful Cherry Blossom Fancy Dies and just watercolored them and put the die cut on black cardstock for a little pop! The sentiment is from Zen Messages, stamped in Unicorn.
The add-ons will stay in the store, and you can get them all at a discount here. Take note - over the next week or so, I will have two more videos, featuring the following sets. Click the images to see them on the Hero site. The first is Soy Awesome, and I have a masking and reverse masking video coming with this set and the Waves and Clouds Bold Prints below. **Please note, because of manufacturing impacts across the globe right now, these products will ship a bit later than normal, so please be patient - the wait is worth it!
Then the third video will feature this ADORABLE Kittens in Kimonos set! So cute. I combined it with the Parasol Patterns Bold Prints in a video about using a template for perfect background stamping! so be sure and subscribe and turn alerts on for my YouTube channel to be notified when they go live!
Here are what all the add-ons look like this month - so cute:
Now one more exciting watercolor development - I bought myself an anniversary present this week - it's the AMAZING travel watercolor kit from Expeditionary Art! This year is Expo in Santa Fe, and so I was looking for a good travel kit for all the classes, and man - this is it. It comes with everything you see in the photo - a watercolor sketchbook, tiny magnetic palettes, one with watercolor, and the rest blank - I bought extra palettes and pans so I can take a smaller version of my Lydia Split from my split group to classes with me. It comes with the water brush, ruler, pen, pencil, syringes and spray bottle! If you are in my group I did a Facebook live walkthrough, but they have them on the website too. I'm not affiliated with them in any way, but was so excited about my purchase that they offered me a discount code to share if you're interested - they have several products and you can customize what you get at their website. The code to use is WCSPLIT and will get you 15% off through March 31. So fun, and so nice of them to do that for my watercolor-loving community.
If you want to join the waitlist for my Florida retreat (May 15 & 16th on the west coast of Florida) or my Texas retreat (Memorial Day weekend), you can do so HERE for FLORIDA and HERE for Texas.
Now Hero Arts is giving away a $50 Shopping Spree to one lucky commenter on the hop today!
Leave a comment here telling me what your favorite "golden oldie" stamping technique is from your first days of stamping is!
Leave your comment by March 8th, and Hero Arts will announce the winner on their blog the following week!
Here are all the products I used today!
Now for some more inspiration!
If you want to join the waitlist for my Florida retreat (May 15 & 16th on the west coast of Florida) or my Texas retreat (Memorial Day weekend), you can do so HERE for FLORIDA and HERE for Texas.
Now Hero Arts is giving away a $50 Shopping Spree to one lucky commenter on the hop today!
Leave a comment here telling me what your favorite "golden oldie" stamping technique is from your first days of stamping is!
Leave your comment by March 8th, and Hero Arts will announce the winner on their blog the following week!
Here are all the products I used today!
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Hero Arts
Michelle Short
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Caly Person
Channin Pelletier
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Yana Smakula
Daniel West
Jennifer McGuire
Nichol Spohr
Laurie Willison
you are here *** Lydia Fiedler *** you are here
Julee Tilman
Mariana Grigsby
Amy Kolling
Maria Willis
Seeka
Michelle Short
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Caly Person
Channin Pelletier
Debi Adams
Emily Midgett
Ilina Crouse
Janette Kausen
Yana Smakula
Daniel West
Jennifer McGuire
Nichol Spohr
Laurie Willison
you are here *** Lydia Fiedler *** you are here
Julee Tilman
Mariana Grigsby
Amy Kolling
Maria Willis
Seeka
Loveyameanitbye.
Your cards are great. I really love this kit.
ReplyDeleteGreat selection of cards. I like the simple rock/pond. Very simple but unique. And so glad you did a fish card to go with your dead fish tree. hahaha
ReplyDeleteLove your tip for adding the marker with layering stamps! And that koi card, so pretty!!!
ReplyDeleteThe 'Just be You' card is my favorite. Love the message!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the thumping technique before! I like it! I remember trying some CTMH layering stamps way back when...before the Misti...it was not good.
ReplyDeleteYour Positive Vibe card is really awesome. I can just picture this in person and the sound of the water.
ReplyDeleteyour cards are so pretty and inspiring - love the tranquil CAS card
ReplyDeleteamazing cards as always! What a great kit!
ReplyDeleteFantastic cards! Thank you for sharing the video on how to create those extra details.
ReplyDeleteYOU have successfully nailed my decision to buy this months kit and many of the add ons! These cards are amazing! I love the Asian theme so much!
ReplyDeleteThank for sharing the idea of using a water marker to create depth. I really really like your fish card using complementary colors, the blue and orange match really well together. And I love the water effect on your other card (with the stones). :)
ReplyDeleteYour cards are so lovely. I'm going to give the thumping technique a try. Loved your video too. Thanks for the inspirations.
ReplyDeleteGreat card ideas here and colours too.
ReplyDeleteMy fav oldie technique is masking with post-its.
ReplyDeleteI love how you framed then trees on those cards! These are gorgeous! LOVE the colors!
ReplyDeleteSo back in the dark ages when we stamped by candlelight and we felt lucky to have 4 ink pad colors my favorite technique was heat embossing. I used to do it over a hot plate! I loved seeing the reaction from people in my class when the powder melted! (I had invented fire, is how I felt!!!
ReplyDeleteI bought the kitties in kimonos this morning! Can hardly wait to see your spin on them!
Lovely cards ideas thank you
ReplyDeleteI really like the peaceful vibes with these cards. This set is great for that.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards. Love the colors and layout. Gives me lots of inspiration
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun theme! Really enjoying looking at all the cards.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! Love them all. ♥
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards;love them all but "just be you" is my favorite! Thank you for the code for that watercolor kit...awesome!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your video showing that fun technique! Loving this new Hero Arts kit. Your projects are fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteGood video with great tips. I like the koi card.
ReplyDeleteI love the koi in the pond card and how you had just the one stand out. I can see many ways of using this set now that I have seen this card. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove your design, colors and image. So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy fav golden oldie technique is "rock & roll" where you use a solid image stamp (the "rock") and cover it with light ink then roll the edges with a darker ink then stamp - creates lovely dimension.
ReplyDeleteLove the DS blue especially on the Koi card.
Yes, the Bradford Pear the most overgrown tree in the south! My neighborhood and workplace are covered with them because they're hardy and fast growing. Landscapers love them. They are beautiful to see when in bloom, but the stench, ewwwww!!! And they bear no fruit...just ornamental.
What wonderful cards, Lydia! I must say my favourites are the beautiful CAS Tranquility card and those amazing die cut cherry blossoms that really do 'pop' off the black background! Thanks so much for the inspiration! :)
ReplyDeleteYour cards are so pretty. Those red trees are especially stunning. Great new kit from Hero Arts.
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful cards! Great kit.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing.
Oh how I feel for you having to deal with the ‘dead fish stench’. All of your cards are stunning, but the cherry blossom on the black background is by far my favorite! You did amazing work! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThese cards are so unique and beautiful! My favorite "old" technique is one you used on the Koi Pond card...heat embossing. It still WOWS me! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards, Lydia! My favorite "blast from the past" techniques are the "rock and roll" and making backgrounds with stamping acrylic blocks...always fun and easy peasy with great results!
ReplyDeleteSuch gorgeous cards! You rocked thiskit!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards! I've never heard of thumping, but I really like the results and will try it. I love cherry trees, we had two tart cherry trees at our house in NM and my mom made THE best cherry pies in the whole universe! And because of that, I have never found a cherry pie that I like, anywhere. Kinda like my grandma's Lemon Meringue pie, she made it extra sour just for me. I 💗 your shiny Koi
ReplyDeleteYikes...prefer the fish (oderless) on your beautiful card. The thumping did create that added sumpin-sumpin, very very nice. The tranquility is almost therapeutic. I love your stories and inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThese are all very pretty. Thanks for sharing the thumping technique. It really did add a lot more interest to the detailing.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...trying to figure out which is worse these trees you talk of or love bugs here in Florida..ugh See that's what happens when Man plays with Mother Nature.
ReplyDeleteThe rocks on a waterfall is so different...I LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your Bradford Pear assessment. Had one in our backyard, removed it and I've never been happier.
ReplyDeleteLovely cards.
ReplyDeleteYour color combination while simple has a WOW factor! Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards. Especially love the blue Tranquility card.
ReplyDeleteThese are all so beautiful!! I Love the card with the stacked rocks; so fun!!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful cards - I just love the calm feeling they all give off. My favourite has to be the cairn in water - so pretty!
ReplyDeleteLove these cards, especially the fishpond one. Great idea to bring one fish in colour to the top. Really effective.
ReplyDeleteWatched your informative video and love the tip about 'thumping' it really looks great on your cards! Thanks for sharing that tip! Carol-Lynn
ReplyDeleteBeautiful set; love the scenes that can be made with it. MY favorite "old" technique is the "kissing" one; been around for a while; but, seems to be coming back or being discovered by new carmakers.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards. I like how you brought back the thumping tecnique.
ReplyDeleteLovely cards! I really like the backgrounds. So dynamic!
ReplyDeleteOh I love the thumping technique! It was so much fun to use it on fall colors with leaves and trees. Now I can see more ways to use this fantastic HA kit! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite old time techniques are paper piecing and the kissing technique although I don't do either one very often! Who knows why?
ReplyDeleteStunning cards - such a great release and awesome backgrounds!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteyour work is such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards and colors. Thank you
ReplyDeleteWould love to be a part of your "split group" for watercolors. How can I join?
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow Texan (I'm writing this between sneezes), I agree with you 100% about the Bradford Pear tree! One is blooming a few doors down from me right now! I, too, was fortunate to visit Washington, DC during Cherry Blossom Festival a few years ago and the trees were absolutely gorgeous. This kit is beautiful and your cards are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI wonderful array of cards that highlight different products from the release. I hadn't noticed the water image in the stamp set. Blog hopping helps me to discover all the aspects of a release. Weird fact about the Bradford pear tree, though. I'll have to Google that.
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteYour use of the new Hero ARTS My Monthly Hero Kit for March along with the add ons made each card unique, and gave us ideas on the many ways to use this kit.I especially liked the Cherry Blossom stamp and die on rhe black background, as well as the orange red koi on the stamped blue background. Really nice work!
Take care, Violet
My Favorite of your cards was
Beautiful and unique cards. I really wish that I also bought the parasol background stamp. I'm loving the examples that I see.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards. I especially love the rock cairn one. Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these wonderful projects!! I love that orange fish against the blue background!!!!
ReplyDeleteOoh gorgeous set of cards!! I lovvve the trees a lot, especially in the pink! :)
ReplyDeleteI love that fish background.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! I love the way the thumping technique enhanced the top layers of the grass and tree top and the tree trunk.
ReplyDeleteYay for the thumping technique! Beautiful cards, as usual. I love your koi fish card!
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of the thumping technique. Your cards are awesome.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully gorgeous cards. I love the simplicity of the rock card! Also love the black background with the cherry blossom. My favorite though is the fish card. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
ReplyDeleteGorgeous creations, great kit! I especially love the Koi pond card!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous creations, great kit! I especially lov the Koi pond card!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards!! Thanks so much for sharing them!!
ReplyDelete