Bleeding Hearts Watercolor Card

My dad grew the most gorgeous flowers, and our house always had hanging baskets, milk-can planters, and pots of flowers adorning the patio and deck.  His garden had prize-winning gladiolus, lilies, pansies, sweet peas, geraniums, and just about every kind of flower you can name.  

He definitely had a knack for growing beautiful flowers, and he was very generous with them.  He would pick bunches and bring them to his co-workers and friends.  When relatives came to visit, they would most likely go home with a bunch of flowers, fresh-cut from his garden. 

I especially remember the striking bleeding heart plants that lined the side of the garage facing our house in the back yard.  They were vibrant, luscious, and dripping with rich shades of fuscia, deep pink, and shades of purple. 
It was probably from my dad that I developed my love for flowers, and gardening.  

My card today features bleeding hearts, in memory of my dad.....

The stamps I used are Penny Black's bleeding hearts from their flowers & wishes clear set 30-047, and Wonderful day from their gratitude clear set 30-105.

I 'inked' the flowers with Tombow markers, and stamped them onto watercolor paper.  Using a watercolor brush, I pulled color from the outline, then added some more by rubbing the markers onto a palette, and picking up the color with my brush, and painting it onto the flowers.  

When the flowers dried, I added some light pink shading around them, fading out to plain paper, then flicked some of the fuchsia color onto the area around the flowers.  
When all was dry, I embossed the verse in violet embossing powder.  I layered the panel onto violet card stock, then onto some mulberry paper, and onto a white top-folding card.

Three Swarovski crystals finish the card.  I kept it fairly simple, letting the flowers take center stage.

We are going 'home' this weekend for my annual cousin's reunion, so I naturally got thinking of my family....my mom and dad, and brother.  They are all in heaven now, and I miss them dearly. But, I have my treasured memories in my heart, always.  And I am looking forward to seeing my cousins, and sharing stories of fun times with our parents and aunts and uncles. 

I am adding my card to:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Fabulous Flowers
Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Your favorite technique (watercoloring
Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything goes with a stamp
   

Thanks so much for stopping by today. 

Be blessed!

lynda