As much as I don't want summer to come to an end, this card may be the last summer-themed one I create this year as I shift my focus to the upcoming seasons. Here’s how I brought this summer card to life using simple watercolors and creative embellishments.
Watercoloring the Die Cuts
Using simple watercolors, I painted the die cuts to bring them to life. For the palm leaves, I used varying shades of green to add depth and dimension. The trunks of the palm trees were colored in a rich, textured brown to mimic their natural appearance.
Creating the Sunset Background
To create the sunset background, I die-cut a circle from masking paper and used that to mask the area for the sun. I started by blending shades of yellow, orange, and red inks onto a piece of watercolor paper. The sun was softly painted with a blend of warm oranges and yellows, creating a glowing effect as it sets behind the palm trees. The bottom portion of the card was painted in a sandy beige, resembling a sun-kissed island.
Assembling the Scene
Once the background was ready and the die cuts were dry, it was time to assemble the card. I adhered the palm trees first, positioning them so that the sunset appeared between the leaves. The dimensional aspect of the palm trees was enhanced with foam tape, giving the card a three-dimensional feel.
Adding Rhinestone Coconuts
The most delightful part of this card was adding the coconuts! I used large rhinestones of different sizes to mimic the look of coconuts hanging from the palm trees. Using a brown Copic marker, I colored the rhinestones to achieve a natural coconut shade. Once dry, I adhered them to the palm trees, adding a fun and sparkling element to the card.
Finishing Touches
To complete the card, I added the sentiment "Sending warmest wishes" from the Sun Kissed Summer stamp set using Bee Creative Intense Black Ink. I stamped it directly onto the card beneath the palm trees, keeping the focus on the serene scene above. For a faux splatter look, I added some black dots to finish the background using a micron pen.