
Sending you Sunshine. A Step by Step with Ken Oliver Bursts.
Hello there!
Beautiful day here in the south!
What’s it like where you are?
And you should see our house!
It’s like walking into a florists!!
So many flowers everywhere!
I was certainly spoiled on my birthday yesterday.
Thank you so very much for all the birthday wishes,
the beautiful birthday cards, the presents and flowers.
Much too much for one person.
But I am very grateful xxxx
Monday’s blog is Flowers and Trees, which is perfect.
So I shall send you some sunshine methinks,
and a bunch of flowers too !
So I shall send you some sunshine methinks,
and a bunch of flowers too !
I think I’ll use Ken Oliver’s Bursts!
They will brighten up ANY artwork!
There are 2 different sets on our website:
Here’s a very nice flower set too:
positive and negative stamps.
The fills sit inside the line art perfectly.
These have been around for a while,
but I think they are soooo versatile!
Bouquet Set
We could go in so many directions with the flowers
and the Powder Bursts.
Here, I have stamped the Lineart onto Watercolour paper using a Black Archival (Permanent ink pad)
You can see how I have painted the flowers with water.
Then when you lightly puff the powder at the bouquet,
it will only catch the watery flowers.
I just moved the colour around with a paintbrush,
to fill the flowers.
Or we could try the background first….
available from our website:
Cut a piece down to about 4″ x 3″
Spritz the watercolour paper with water
and then lightly puff the powder at the paper.
Let it move and spread.
You pick which colours !
I went with orange and Phthalo Green.
I sat the paper on its end and lightly spritzed with water again.
Thought I’d let gravity help out…
…and it did.
If you are impatient like me,
you can speed dry the artwork with a heat gun.
Once the background is completely dry,
stamp the lineart flowers into place.
Use a good paintbrush and water to lift colour out of the leaves.
Magic xx
We sell a top spec No. 6 Sable Hair, which is ideal for most work.
It can cope with washes, but can also be twizzled to a very fine point for tiny places.
Use the same paintbrush to add a little interest to the flowers.
Either by moving the colour around from petal to petal with a tiny amount of water, or adding a little zest
with red or orange powder+water.
Add water to a small amount of green powder to create a watery washy undercoat for the leaves.
While the undercoat is still wet,
go back in with a more concentrated amount
on the tip of the paintbrush.
Watch it dart when it hits the wet leaves!
Stop when you think you’ve done enough.
I flicked water at the work with a big stencil brush.
It gets you that grungy, distressed look very easily.
Let it just air dry.
The water colour paper buckles with all the moisture,
but a sheet of double-sided adhesive will straighten it out in a jiffy.
I added a little light and shade with some pencils too.
Now for the message and the mounting.
Very very simple greeting card.
Mounted on Kraft Card.
A bit tatty, a bit distressed.
But oh so addictive!!
Have fun.
Love and Hugs,
89 thoughts on “Sending you Sunshine. A Step by Step with Ken Oliver Bursts.”
Glad you had such a good birthday and had time to get together with family. Today's card fits the weather out there perfectly. Thank you for doing such a great step by step. Hope you manage to delegate a few things to allow you to spend more time with Dave and your family. xxxx Maggie
How did I manage to be no 1 today. xxx Maggie
Because you are a star – good feeling to be first isn't it.
Thank you, Anne. That is a lovely thought, and, yes, it is good to be first sometimes. xx Maggie
Weather has been lovely here today too (Yorkshire). Love using the color bursts for backgrounds but must try the painting technique as well. So pleased you had a good birthday. If you can't be spoiled then, when can you be?! Mxx
Love your card, and your blog. Glad you had a lovely birthday, and that you got to visit you mum and dad. I think birthdays are as special for the mother as well. Tried to send a message yesterday, but got the password wrong.
Beautiful card …must go and try this ..glad you had good birthday
Nice weather in Stoke today too. Pity I was in the office though. Missed most of it. Glad you had a nice day yesterday and I love today's project too. I have not tried the Colour bursts yet – not sure my bank balance can take it right now. Lol xxx
So lovely and cheerful. Been to the dreaded dentist. By gosh did that hurt my pocket. Came home and thought I would "groovi" or "parch" Well traced a Clarity Egg stamp. Put it in the octagon frame and then used the leaf groovi plate. Do I prick and cut – jury is out. Think a bit of white work first. Bit dodgy in places but pleased with myself. Think it must be the medication in the injection – I just threw caution to the wind. Maybe try wacky baccy next! Plenty of it outside my place of work! Happy week to all the bloggers out there.
Love Anne (Reading)
Oh Anne that made me laugh! I like the idea of the Easter egg stamp with groovi, I might borrow that one. Hope you are not too sore after the dentist xx
Aah,sounds like you have had lovely birthday Barbara. Well deserved!! Love this card, it is so vibrant and cheerful. The Colorbursts (along with the Groovi starter kit) are on my wishlist but I have a few month's wait until my birthday.Maybe I ought to start dropping hints now and gradually wear my family down ha ha.xx
Aah,sounds like you have had lovely birthday Barbara. Well deserved!! Love this card, it is so vibrant and cheerful. The Colorbursts (along with the Groovi starter kit) are on my wishlist but I have a few month's wait until my birthday.Maybe I ought to start dropping hints now and gradually wear my family down ha ha.xx
Weather beautiful here in the Staffordshire Moorlands too. The Color Bursts look really easy and fun to use. I think I would have to start with the backgrounds first though.
Wonderful, I have some colour bursts but not used them yet. Think I need to get creating. Glad you had a brilliant birthday, very well deserved. xx
Hey Lynne – remember you persuaded me to buy them at the Open Day last year….I can vouch for how great they are! Enjoy using them……little by little is my tip – don't squeeze too hard! 🙂 xxx
So pleased you had a good day and received so many lovely flowers. Thank you for the step by step I look forward to them each week. Not got any colour bursts yet but on my list to buy.
So glad you had a lovely birthday yesterday. Lovely artwork to go with the beautiful day here in sunny Bedfordshire
Very gorgeous. Love the way you can colour with the powders in different ways and they are so vibrant. Great that you had such a lovely day yesterday – you deserved it and it's nice to be spoiled now and again.
Tonbridge Sue
Hello Barb,
Love it when you go all arty and this is beautiful. Glad you had such a good day and were spoiled. We all need that now and again.
Maureen xx
Beautiful, lovely to see such a splash of colour
Beautiful, lovely to see such a splash of colour
Hello Barbara! It's been a bright and sunny day here in Stockport but cold! It makes everything that much better when it's sunny! And the lighter evenings mean I get to see some daylight!
What a wonderful card! That bouquet stamp is so cheery isn't it! And the bursts really make a fabbie background! I love using them.
Glad you had a lovely birthday… You deserve it. And if you can't be spoilt on your birthday when can you be!? Enjoy your cards and flowers.
Love and hugs xxxx
Beautiful. Xxx
It was good to hear that you had such a lovely Birthday Barbara. You absolutely deserve it.
A beautiful sunny card, one that I will definitely be giving a go! xx
Good evening Gilly, Sheila, Brenda, Donna, Dorothy, Pam, Diane and Alison.
Lovely day today, isn't it so good to see the sun shining! I hope you are all having a good day. Looking forward to meeting up with you tomorrow Alison. xxx
Hello morag enjoy your day with Alison it will be lovley for you both sending lots of hugs xxx
Hi Morag, sunny here too but really cold. Have fun with Alison tomorrow, are you both carrying a Clarity product so you know each other? Xx
Hi Morag,
Looking forward to tomorrow too. Just to clarify its Patisserie Valerie in the Prince Bishops opposite BHS? Xx
Hi Morag – glorious day here in Cornwall too. Another day in bed for me, but feeling heaps better for it. Enjoy your time (and cake!) with Alison tomorrow! Hugs Gilly xxx
Hi Gilly, pleased you're feeling better today. Sure we will enjoy tomorrow, especially the cake! Xxx
Yes that's the right one Alison. See you there xx
Great xx
Been lovely down south today too. Have a lovely meet up and cake tomorrow you two xxx
Hi Morag, yes another lovely sunny day here too, hope you're ok and have had an enjoyable day. My day was good and made it even better by putting in an order. Enjoy tomorrow with Alison. Love and hugs Pam xx
A lovely sunny card for a lovely sunny day. A bonus of retirement is being able to enjoy the weather. I am tackling the garden this week. It is at the stage where I look at what I have done and how long it took me, then what there is left to do and wonder if I will get to all the weeds before the growing plants grow too much, or never quite manage to get it all cleared.
We have a friend who says he just does what he can when he can and views life as a big jigsaw with every day being one more piece in it. Methinks that is a good outlook!
Glad you enjoyed your birthday, may many more follow xx
Hi Barbara
So glad you had a great birthday.
Loving the burst of colour,will Ken Oliver be coming to our TV's soon or is it canceled for good.
So glad you had a lovely day yesterday Barbara. Love today's card xx
Glad you had a great day yesterday. I love my powders so was dismayed when I thought they wouldn't be available, but a slight change of name and hey presto the best powders are back. Yay!! Xx
Evening Brenda, Sheila, Diane, Pam, Dot, Morag and Gilly, hope you are all OK and have had a good day. Xx
Hello Donna are you crafting tonight ? Crafting hugs xxx
Evening Donna – another day of rest for me. Weather here in Cornwall beautiful again today, Gilly xx
Hi Donna
It's been a lovely day here too. Hope you are ok, we've just had a lovely weekend with Emma, even had a sunny day at the beach yesterday! Xxx
Hi Donna, had a good day thank you, nice and sunny and thanks for lending me the cushions, put an order in last minute today. Had to resist some of the items I needed, the list was long enough, so saving up for Ally Pally now. Hope you've had,a good day too. Love and hugs, Pam xx
Lovley bright card so pleased you had a fabulous birthday lots of hugs xxx
Hello Diana Dorothy pam gilly Brenda sending lots of hugs your way hugs to all on the blog xxx
Hi Sheila, hope that you have had a good day, with plenty of sunshine! I have had another day in bed, but now really feeling the benefit, I am aiming to go out tomorrow, fingers crossed.
I need to ask you – is it possible to do your Groovi whilst in bed? I really do want to have a go at it, but I need to be able to do a little bit when I have these days in bed. I have been thinking that would also be better than trying to get out my die-cutting machine etc, on my 'in between days' as I don't have a craft room. Many hugs Gilly xxx
Hi Gilly,
Yes it is possible to use Groovi in bed . Actually it's very relaxing. Just have a go and see how you get on, it's easy to do little bits at a time . Have fun, Hugs Alison xx
Gilly have you got a lap tray? They are fab and quite cheap in a certain Swedish store 😀. I can't think of the name of the other board you can get with the bands that go round it, that always looks useful.
Hi Sheila weather has been fab here today too. Just had a weekend with Emma and stocked her up with cuddles and food! Did shed a tear as we left her again though but that's what mums do! Hope you are ok xxx
Hi Sheila hope you've had a good day and been pacing yourself and having rest in between crafting. Did an order today just managed it before they finished for the day. Poor Ann had to put the computer on again. The staff are so lovely. Love and hugs Pam xx
Hi gilly yes I use my groovi in bed I have a buddy board I use it all the time in bed as it has bands that keep everything in place I bought it when it first came out mine came with a bag and paper ect don't know how much they are now but would recommend for bed or anywhere in home as I'm more often in bed don't be getting out your die cutting machine for bed that would be so difficult I have an e bosser as I cannot turn handles no more e bosser is far too big and heavy for bed which die cutter do you have ?
Hi pam glad you got to do your order did you have your clarity cushions on xxx☺️
Hi Alison and Diane – thanks for your replies, actually I have got a lap tray – so it sounds as though I just might have to take the leap and get into the Groovi! Hugs Gilly xxx
Hi Diana lovley that you got to see your daughter for hugs and keep her fed lovley to have them caring tears bless xxx
I did Sheila, Donna said I could borrow them ha ha.xxx
Hi Sheila – thanks for your reply, I wasn't intending to try to use the die-cutting machine in bed – but I meant that even on days when I am feeling a lot better, it's difficult to get the machine, the dies and card all out – as I don't have a craft room, I can't just leave it out indefinitely – too much energy needed! My machine is a Sizzix Big Shot by the way.
I am thinking that it might be a good idea to join you all in the Groovi 'Bug' and just concentrate on that for a while – what do you think Sheila? Hugs Gilly xxx
Hi gilly are you a member in any of the clubs ? If your not I would go for the groovi starter kit see how you get on with it before you order more plates I got the pencil covers so that helps with the grip of the groovi tools it's good as you can do a little or as much as you can mannage even if it's only a very little you can re start on any day you want does that help xxx
Hi Sheila – no I'm not a member of any of the clubs yet – I had been thinking that getting the groovi starter kit, and it sounds so good that I would be able to do it in small amounts and keep going back to it. I like the idea of just being able to get just a small amount of things out each time. It would appear that it is easy to take up from where you left off. So yes, you have helped me Sheila, thank you – hugs Gilly xxx
A belated happy birthday Barbara and glad to hear you had a lovely day.
Spring has sprung here too. A glorious day and warm too. Hoping to take advantage of the good weather and roll out our caravan and head off to the Borders for a few days. x
It has been a lovely day here in North Yorkshire with a feeling of spring in the air. Only a few days left till the spring equinox. Lovely bright card Barb. I have been Gelli plating with fairy stamps again today. Have to make a card for my partners birthday next Sunday though which is always a difficult one to come up with a good idea for. Will have to get it done though this week. Haven't used my Ken Oliver powders yet though so I think I might have a go with them and see what creativity gives me! I bet your house smells lovely with all the flowers. Glad you have had a good birthday with your family. Much love Jayne
A lovely card and so great to see the Color Bursts again – I'll have to place my order for the other set as I only have the Brights 🙂 xxx
Evening just love color burst paints. I was very lucky to win Ken Oliver,s blog hop. Fantastic art work Barb.
Been working on the Calander challenge today recovering from too much gardening yesterday. Been another beautiful day here.
Rather stressful with more family / mum/ carer / etc problems today but crafting kept me focused.
Crafty hugs Pen x
Evening Pen – sorry to hear that there are problems again with your Mum's care – sounds like you did the best thing today, to lose yourself in crafting! Hugs Gilly x
Good you could craft your way through the stress hugs pen xxx
Must be a worry for you not living near your Mum, things aren't so easy on the phone. Glad you could craft to take your mind off it, hope things improve quickly. Love and hugs,Pam xx
Thanks Gillyflower sheila and pam, been another "horrid stressful day" today…. but managed to get through it without eating too much chocolate.
crafty hugs Pen x
Glad you had a great birthday and was spoilt you deserve it. The sun has sure been shining what a lovely week so far have a good evening love Joy xx
Glad you had a great birthday and was spoilt you deserve it. The sun has sure been shining what a lovely week so far have a good evening love Joy xx
Hi Barb,
This is gorgeous. I've looked at the Colour Bursts a few times but it looks like I'm going to have to get them – just have to wait a bit.
Been a glorious day today – we went for a lovely walk around Derwent Reservoir and Edmundbyers. Saw 4 Red Kites and 3 Buzzards so Dave was well pleased.
Pleased you had a great birthday. Love and hugs, Alison xxxx
Hi Barbara, We had frost this morning, but the afternoon turned out really nicely and we had sunshine which I love.
So glad you had a fabulous Birthday.
I love your tutorial today, I must give this a try.
Enjoy your evening.
Lots of love from Patricia xx
Hi Barbara, We had frost this morning, but the afternoon turned out really nicely and we had sunshine which I love.
So glad you had a fabulous Birthday.
I love your tutorial today, I must give this a try.
Enjoy your evening.
Lots of love from Patricia xx
Glad you had a great day yesterday, that's what I call making memories. It has been a beautiful day here up in the Highlands – 14C with not a cloud in the sky. I spent a wee while sitting on the back door step with the cat just enjoying the sunshine then tidied up the front garden, it's lovely to see all the new buds coming through. Lovely card with the 'bursts', very fitting for today.
Right up my street' love it!
Beautifully sunny here in the Midlands! Xx
So glad to hear that you were totally spoiled yesterday – I can't think of anyone who deserves it more! Love today's artwork, and it came through just how much you enjoyed doing it! Hugs Gilly x
Ah, forgot to say that it's been another wonderful bright and sunny day here in Cornwall – quite cold, but beautiful! x
Oh god I so want these. Note to self,must get these soon. If only I didn't need everything I see. If only I had one hobby!!! Sorry I meant to say the colour bursts that I need. Love the art work. Fabulous as always. I was soo disappointed that the promised display with your good self and Ken Oliver failed to materialise due to squabbles over… Well maybe I won't go into that… Hopefully in the future that maybe sorted out. Sorry, I'm rambling. In a nutshell…love the work. Need the paint. Look forward to seeing both you and Ken I'm the future on Hochanda. I think that's it. !! Glad you had a good day on your birthday. Xx
glad your birthday was fab and you were spoilt. this card is fab, hugs xx
Love the card Barbara it's beautiful so glad you had s lovely birthday special gifts for a special lady love June Horrocks xxxx
Super day of sunshine here too near Bristol. Lovely colourful card today Barbara just right for all this sunshine. Haven't managed a go with the colorbursts yet but on my list to do as I do have one set.
So pleased that you had a great birthday with lots of cards and flowers, you so deserve it. Put a nice big order in today have to wait now till Ally Pally. Love Pam xx
Hi Pam hope you are ok, the sunshine helps make us feel better doesn't it xxx
Hi Diane, yes it does, just what the doctor ordered. Hope your ok and have enjoyed the sunshine too. Love and hugs Pam xxx
Hi Barbara
Good to hear you had a fantastic birthday – enjoy your flowers, they always cheer a place up don't they. It's lovely to see the Ken Oliver powders out and about again, they look amazing with this stamp – such a great piece of artwork. It's been a beautiful sunny day here too and I've just had some lovely news from an old friend- she's proposed to her partner of several years on 29th Feb and after thinking she was joking he said yes! She always said she'd never get married but decided 51 was the right age to take the plunge! Must make them a card tomorrow!
Take care
Love Diane xxx
Hi Brenda hi Dot
Hope you are both ok and have been enjoying the lovely sunshine too. Sending hugs to you both xxx
Left you a message in answer to yours on my messages hugs xxx
Evening Dot, Brenda, Gilly and Alison hope you are ok and have had,a good day. Glad to see you've been resting Gilly and that it's paying off. Have a lovely time tomorrow with Morag, Alison. Hope you've all enjoyed the sun. Love and hugs to all,Pam xx
Hi Pam – yes I did rest again, and today I am hoping to be able to go out. hugs Gilly xx
The Ken Oliver Bursts are fantastic Barbara and the colours are so rich and vibrant and your bunch of flowers sits on top so prettily. So glad you had a lovely day yesterday with the family and you deserve to be spoilt. x
A very funky card! Happy Birthday for yesterday! xxx
Hi Barb, such a lovely, bright and cheerful card. I love my bursts (brights), hoping to get the earthtones soon. Take care. Bx
Ab fab artwork, good to hear you had a lovely day , you do deserve it xx