Hello everyone!! It is Lindsay from the Design Team here with you today sharing one of my favorite techniques to use with watercolor. Watercolor washes are a great way to add a quick background to your stamped images and really allow them to pop and be the focal point of your card but allow for more interest. Today, I also added some intense watercolor splatters to add even more interest. If you want to see how I masked my stamped images and created my watercolor background be sure to watch the video tutorial below or continue reading!
There were quite a few steps involved in making this card and so many components, but every piece on this card was created with one stamp set! I used the brand new Be Brave stamp set and it has 13 amazing stamps included in it! I started with the large feather stamp in my stamp positioner and a piece of watercolor paper that measured 3.75" x 5". I stamped two feathers, masking off the first so it appears as if both feathers are connected by one bead and double stamping each stamp since I was stamping onto the textured side of watercolor paper. For my stamping I used a waterproof black dye ink. In order to achieve the best look for my watercolor wash I needed to mask off the stamped feathers. I used a cheap paint brush and Liquid Frisket, which is a masking fluid, to mask them off by simply painting a layer of the Liquid Frisket over each of the feathers. Because I needed to give the masking fluid time to dry I wanted to be sure to do this step first, and then I could work on other components of the card while I waited for it to dry.
While the masking fluid was drying I started working on a card stock panel that would eventually be layered behind the watercolor panel. I cut a piece of cobalt blue card stock that measured 4" x 5.25" and mounted the four small arrows included in the Be Brave stamp set onto acrylic blocks. Using a dye ink that matched the color of the cardstock I stamped the arrows repeatedly to create a patterned paper with a tone on tone look. I love making my own patterned papers with stamping! The masking fluid still needed time to dry, so I cut a white card stock circle and stamped "The Lord is With Me" sentiments using the same waterproof black dye ink so I could then go in and color parts of the sentiments with watercolors!
When I was positive the masking fluid was completely dry I moved onto the watercolor wash. I mixed a blue color that matched the blue card stock and after wetting my paper with clean water I started dropping in color. I found that when making a wash, it always turns out better if I drop and dot my color instead of swipe. Also, when I had an initial layer down I came back in with a more intense color and less water and applied that closer around the feathers that I stamped for more depth. After drying the wash wish my heat tool, I mixed very intense yellow, navy, and black watercolors and started splattering each color individually. If you don't completely dry the wash before splattering the colors will mix and your splatters will spread so be sure to not skip this step or get a bit impatient! I heat set the splatters, added a bit of gray colored pencil to the feathers and then started putting the card together. Starting with an A2 top folding white card base, I adhered the blue card stock panel directly onto it with double sided adhesive. Next, I popped up the watercolor panel with fun foam and double sided adhesive and completely finished off the card by popping up the sentiment circle panel with more fun foam and double sided adhesive!
I normally don't make cards with so many layers, but there were just so many fun stamps in this set and I wanted to use them ALL!! The watercolor wash and splatters were such a fun way to make the feathers on this card pop, without adding any color to the actual stamped images and I couldn't be happier with the way it turned out! Thanks for spending some time with Joy Clair Stamps and myself today!! Happy Crafting!!
Comments