Friday, September 12, 2014

Watercoloring with Distress Inks

Hello Friends! Happy Friday. I decided to create another card using Persian Motifs by Altenew. I think it may be my new favorite set; it's sooo pretty and very versatile. On my previous card, HERE, I watercolored the images with Peerless Watercolors. This time, I used Distress Inks. I used the same color palette, so I could enter it into the Altenew September Challenge.

For this card, I used the 'no line' watercoloring technique, demonstrated HERE, by Altenew owner, Tasnim Ahmed. It's a super fun technique, you just have to exercise a little patience.

Here's my card...

click to enlarge
I started out by stamping the images onto the smooth side of a piece of 140lb watercolor paper, using Antique Linen Distress Ink. As noted in the video, the lighter color ink allows for the lines of the stamped image to 'disappear', so that the end result looks hand-painted. After stamping, I brushed clear water onto the image and then, dabbed dots of color onto it and let the water do the blending for me. I find that it's best to let the image dry naturally, rather than to use a heat tool to speed up the drying time...that's where the patience comes in. After the image was dry, I was able to go back in and add more water and ink in the areas that were still a bit too white for me.


Once the focal panel was finished, I mounted it onto a piece of brown card stock and then gave it a good blast of my shimmer spray. I love my Wink of Stella glitter brush, but sometimes it can re-activate the Distress Ink and cause it to move around, so that is why I used my shimmer spray instead.  I just love all that sparkle!



And, it may be a bit difficult to see in the photographs, but I random stamped the floral image on the card base for a little added interest. Then I adhered a strip of patterned paper and mounted the focal panel onto the card base. Next, I stamped the greeting, die cut it and mounted it with dimensional adhesive and added a few gems to finish the card.

I love the look of watercoloring on cards...it's so fun and really easy to do.

*I am entering this card into the Altenew September Challenge - From the Craft Room: Lime Lemonade

That's all I have for today. Have a wonderful weekend.  Thanks for the visit!

Blessings~





supplies~
stamp set: Persian Motifs(Altenew)
card stock: Crushed Curry(Stampin' Up!)   Dark Chocolate(Papertrey Ink)
patterned paper: Origins Collection(Basic Grey)
specialty paper: 140lb Cold Press Watercolor paper(Strathmore)
ink: Antique Linen, Mustard Seed, Squeezed Lemonade, Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint Distress Inks,(Ranger)  Chocolate(Close to My Heart) Versamark(Tsukineko)
punches: Scallop Trim Border Punch(Stampin' Up!)
dies: Bitty Banners Framelits(Stampin' Up!)
bling: Assorted gems(Me and My Big Ideas)

6 comments:

Kristie said...

Your flowers are gorgeous!! Great job with the watercoloring.

Jeanne said...

Absolutely stunning!! I want to be able to do that, too. It's gorgeous. Whoever receives this card will be so lucky. Your watercoloring skills are excellent. Thank you so much for sharing! :)

Patti Willey said...

Been eying this particular stamp it's so pretty! Just watched the video tutorial nice to hear the Ocean in the background! I like the tip of taping your watercolor paper down to prevent it warping! Nicely done Barbara!

Life and Knits said...

Barb,
Your cards are lovely!!! I absolutely love the yellow. Great design too.

Susie

Sheila H said...

Another beautiful design, Barb. Your water coloring is exquisite. Love the card!

Tasnim said...

Another beautiful card, Barbara. The coloring looks perfect! I feel so honored that you gave this technique a try :)