The Flower Challenge: Only One Layer *UPDATE*

I discovered a new challenge that I just had to participate in. The Flower Challenge.  Florals must be the main image on the card.

This week’s challenge is to make a one layer card.  Here are the instructions from the website challenge blog:

 

Making a one layer card is a challenge for me.  I love to add a die cut or a scrap piece of card stock with my sentiment embossed on it.  I had to give this a try.

Challenge accepted!

I really found this challenging!

My first thoughts about what I wanted to do went to the new Concord & 9th Grateful for Everything stamp set and the new Altenew Watercolors.

I wanted to use watercolor paper, but folded that would make a thick card and since they were very specific that it be one piece of paper folded, I did not want to attach the watercolor piece to the top of the card base.

Instead, I decided to use a very light hand and watercolor directly on to the white card stock base.  One layer.  I am a rule follower.  (All my friends and co-workers will attest to this.  It may actually drive them a little crazy.)

I used a very loose watercolor style on this card and as little water as I could get away with so that my colors still moved and blended.

And then I was forced to put that pretty sentiment right on the card base!

I love Concord & 9th’s new release this month.  I used other parts of it for my card yesterday.  It’s a beauty.  The sentiments are beautiful with a variety of fonts and the images…well, you can see this for yourself.  It’s pretty.  Then there are the die sets.

I am also loving the Altenew watercolor set.  I love the colors that they selected for the pan set and I really love actually having a pan set.  I feel like a real artist now.  That’s all it takes for me.  Tools to play with.

I also found myself referring to the swatch book that I created when I got the paints a couple of days ago.  What a handy tool to have.  I think I am going to make a smaller version and laminate it.  I am worried that I might drip water on the notebook and damage the swatches.  Plus, that will give me an excuse to play with them some more!

 

You can check out The Flower Challenge here:

 

I have so many floral stamp sets that I have no doubt I will be participating in this challenge some more.  It’s like they designed a challenge so I have a reason to use every stamp set I own.  I love it!

One more peek at my card:

You know that I’m dying to add some sparkle and sequins to this, right?!

I ended up really liking the effect of the loose watercoloring.  I’m trying not to overthink the process of watercoloring as I do it.  I’m also learning to stop and don’t fuss with it.  It dries looking a lot different than when it is wet.

You can always go back in and add more color even after it dries, but you can’t always get that color out of there once you do add it.

I know you have a shelf full of flower stamp sets, so why not give this challenge a try?

I’m delighted that you stopped by today.  Please leave a comment and tell me how I did on this challenge!

Here are clickable links to the products that I used: (These are affiliate links.)

 

**UPDATE**

I was very excited to see that this card was chosen as one of the Top Picks by the Design Team at The Flower Challenge!