Happily Ever After

Posted bymansimakesPosted inWatercolorTags:

I have a soft spot for critters but as you know, if you follow me, I’ve not really had the confidence to paint them without any clothes on. Fur intimidates me. So, I was thrilled when I saw the new “Happily Ever After” stamp and die set from Colorado Craft Company’s June Release. These characters already came with clothes!

As I stamped them on to my Fabriano Watercolor Paper, I knew I needed to turn this into a story. A friend had recently surprised me with these Daniel Smith watercolor sample cards and I was itching to try out all the 238 colors, so making a mini book seemed a perfect fit!

As I started imagining the love story between two girls and their dream to spend a lifetime together, I started borrowing images from previous stamp sets in the Anita Jeram Collection.

Specifically, I used stamps from the following sets:

Given that it is Pride Month it seemed appropriate to introduce some rainbows into the mix. To be honest, I just need an excuse to paint rainbows at all times. Lol.

I got to test out most of the watercolor shades! I now know which ones I absolutely will purchase! I watercolored each page of this mini-book except the wedding page since I wanted that one to stand out…almost like a moment frozen in time.

It wasn’t the original plan, so you can see how I traced over the archival ink stamping with a metallic gold pen throughout. As I was finishing up the mini-book with some stitching details, I decided to make the couple stand out with a black glaze pen outline. I hand-wrote some words and stamped others as needed to bring the story together.

I hope you enjoy this interpretation.

I am no longer on Instagram or Facebook, so please know that the comments you leave here are my only way of connecting with you and I so deeply appreciate your taking the time!

If you’re participating in the blog hop, you arrived here from my coloring idol Sandy Allnock’s blog and your next stop is the extremely talented Kassi Hulet.

Colorado Craft Company is doing a generous giveaway again to accompany the June release. If you’d like to be included in the drawing for one set of the new stamps, you’ll need to leave a comment on each blog in the blog hop. You can enter your comments up until midnight Eastern Time on the 16th and winners will be announced on the Colorado Craft Company blog on June 17. 

Blog Hop Order

  1. Colorado Craft Company- Adrienne Kennedy
  2. Jenn Gross
  3. Bibi Cameron
  4. Jennifer Kotas
  5. Kelly Griglione
  6. Angelica Conrad
  7. Daniel West
  8. Caly Person
  9. Sandy Allnock
  10. Mansi Bhatia <– you are here
  11. Kassi Hulet
  12. Erin Thompson
  13. Melissa Andrew
  14. Donna Hitz
  15. Nichol Spohr
  16. Emily Midgett
  17. Amy Tsuruta

Instagrammers

  1. Joe Syvath
  2. Traci Jenkins
  3. Marci Snee

Thank you so much for being here and I hope to see you again, soon.

Related Colorado Craft Company Releases

Published by mansimakes

Hi there, I am Mansi, a self-taught artist based in Silicon Valley. I was a full-time communications professional for two decades, with a desk job and a six-figure salary until I decided to become a mom. Motherhood, as many will attest, can be extremely exhausting, especially in those first years. Art became my quiet place. It restored my sense of self. It gave me renewed energy. It helped me become a better mom. I was led down the path of creation by instinct and “discovered“ in early 2019 by a fellow kindred spirit at one of my art pop-ups who asked me to join her entrepreneurial venture. While I immersed myself full time in the role of CFO and co-founder of this women-led venture supporting local women makers, I missed experimenting with mixed-media. So, in 2021, I've decided to focus my energies full time in finessing my craft, producing more online tutorials and offering in-person art workshops for both adults and children. Thank you for joining me on this adventure as I experiment, learn and continue creating custom pieces of joy.

124 thoughts on “Happily Ever After”

  1. Pingback: Coloring a stunningly huge yellow moon (plus a new release!) - Sandy Allnock
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    1. Thanks, Laurie. All the stamps from this Anita Jeram collection are too precious to use just once 🙂

      Reply
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  16. I love the idea of a little story book incorporating these wonderful new sets! This is so sweet with wonderful colours and cleverly designed pages! Thanks so much for the great inspiration! Stay safe! 🙂

    Reply

  22. How you take a fear and turn it into something as spectacular as the grooms robes, amazing! You are so humble. I really love your cards Mansi..

    Reply

  25. This was very cute. Different from what i make but that just makes me want to try things out.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Viviëne! That’s what I love about these blog hops — so many amazing ideas to keep the inspiration going.

      Reply

  27. Such a superb idea to make this little booklet into a story line of a couple falling in love & then getting married. This is for sure a gift that will surprise them & touch their hearts. Very well done!

    Reply
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  30. Love the rainbow background and how you customized the stamps to tell a love story. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  41. Such a beautiful use of the stamps telling a love story. ❤️🧡💛💙💚💜

    Reply

  43. Simply amazing work. A storybook! I love it. And your painting is so lovely and delicate and fits these images perfectly.

    Reply

  48. love your rainbow cards. adds to the happy feel. thanks as always for sharing.

    Reply

  50. It is so cool you have made a whole book from the images. I hope you had someone in mind when you made this because I think they will treasure it.

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Roxanne. I actually didn’t have anyone in mind but I know it meant a lot to my daughter to see inclusivity 🙂

      Reply

  51. Your first sentence cracked me up.It almost sounded like you couldn’t paint animals in the nude. OMG I’m still laughing. Okay, anyway your work is beautiful and I love how you incorporated the rainbows in.

    Reply

    1. I really can’t, Bunny. Too much pressure to get it right. Clothes are good…and I can make them fancy. LOL. In all seriousness, though, thanks so much for your kind words.

      Reply

    1. Thank you, Vanessa. She and I had some interesting conversations as a result of this mini-book…she had painted her own set of characters and she promptly went and changed hers into two females as well. When I asked why she traded the tuxedo for a bridal gown, she said, “I like that people have the choice to be with who they want to be with,” she said. So, yes, she loved and embraced the ethos and the creative interpretation 🙂

      Reply

  56. I love the way you painted these images and the mini book you have created using them. I love all the images in this release, but Happily Ever After is my favorite. Thanks for sharing your talent with us..

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much for your kind words, Jeannie. I’m glad you enjoyed my interpretation.

      Reply

  57. Mansi, believe it or not, when I saw so many mice wearing clothes in this set, I immediately thought of you! You are always so brilliant with your animals’ wardrobes! I love the license you import to these happy characters.
    Compiling an album to commemorate the Happily Ever After story is adorably spot on!

    My personal favorite in this release is “A Fox’s Life.” Wouldn’t it be fun to dress up the foxes on the shore?
    Thank you for sharing your joy and talents!

    Reply

    1. Oh my gosh, Kathleen! You made my day! Thank you so much for plastering that smile on my face. Thank you so much!!

      Reply

  58. The colors are so pretty and dreamy! These stamps transport you right into a story every time.

    Reply

  64. I really loved the story card, which I want to try one day with the stamps I have in my stash. Very inspiring!

    Reply

  66. Love the storyline and these absolutely charming critters. I have to admit that I laughed at your relief that the mice have clothing in these sets!

    Reply

  67. Beautiful rainbow mini booklet! Thanks for sharing your watercoloring of these designs, lovely.

    Reply
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