Afternoon all. As we are over halfway through May already, its time for a brand new colour duo from Color Hues. Here's my take.
I was walking around the garden the other day whilst my pooch was on a sniffari and I noticed that the iris I split up 2 years ago were about to burst into full bloom. Last year they seemed to resent their splitting up and didn't make much but this year they have gone mad! Although as of the time of typing this they are still in tight bud, they should soon be in full bloom!
So as I was looking through my stash for inspiration for the latest Color Hues challenge, I landed on Altenew's Build an Iris stamp and set too with my watercolours. Of course the blooms had to be violet but the throat is usually orange or yellow but that's NOT ALLOWED, so I improvised with dots of white toned down with some of the lime green paint I used on the stems and leaves. I'm not sure which iris the designer was looking at for this stamp but mine don't have curly leaves, I suppose it's artistic licence! As usual I painted each petal and leaf in turn as in the peony from last month, keeping away from the last until it was dry to reduce bleeding, adding a little bit of neutral Paynes Grey for the shadow. The papery bud wrappings, are a mix of Burnt Umber and the Violet
After fussy cutting, I mounted the blooms on a panel of embossed white card and then added a die cut stamped sentiment, also Altenew.
So that's me done, but there's lots more inspiration from the rest of the team for your delectation! Looking forward to seeing your makes in our gallery.
Joining in over at:-



What a beautiful iris! Your watercoloring is fabulous as is that embossing behind it! So happy you played along at Just Us Girls!! And I have to add that I love your term: Sniffari!!! It made me smile!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job on your watercoloring, the iris look fabulous! Thanks so much for sharing this with us at Just Us Girls!
ReplyDeleteA beautifully colored, Iris, Julie. You have once again shared your mad fussy cutting skills. Well done! I hope that by now the blooms are opening on your live Iris' too.
ReplyDeleteYour watercolored irises are stunning! They are so pretty against that embossed background. Thanks for playing along with us at JUGS!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely phenomenal, Julie! I sure wish I still had my irises - they didn't manage to move with us!
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I love irises and these are some of the prettiest I've seen, Jules! Such an elegant card!
ReplyDeleteAmazing watercolouring of the lovely iris images, Jules. I've never seen irises with curley leaves. Agree, artistic license by the illustrator. They do really compliment the blooms. xx
ReplyDeleteSadly, iris have never done well in our yard. But if I could have some, I'd choose ones that look just like yours on this wonderful card! Your watercoloring is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteYour Iris are absolutely BEAUTIFUL Julie and look so real the way you've colored them! I really like the white embossed background you set them on too as it really makes the blooms POP! Beautifully done my friend!! Hugs. :0)
ReplyDeleteThat's a glorious colour combo Julie and the embossed background sets them off a treat x
ReplyDeleteJules how wonderful that your Iris came back round this year. You never know when you split if they will be fine in a year but sometimes two! Beautiful card and your Iris is watercoloured beautifully!
ReplyDeleteSuch a gorgeous coloring of the iris Julie! I like your solution for the otherwise bright colored beard. I can imagine how beautiful your flowers are now! In our previous residence, we had beds full of iris until my husband thinned them down and traded the bulbs for others, but they do make a grand presence in the spring!
ReplyDeleteYour iris is so realistic that for a minute, I though they were dried flowers! Gorgeous watercolouring; gorgeous card!
ReplyDeletehugs~c