Category: Technique

Water Color Wash – Fall Leaves- InKing Royalty Blog Hop

Welcome to InKing Royalty’s September Blog Hop! This month’s blog hop is dedicated to leaves. As the weather begins to cool, the leaves begin to change colors and fall from the trees. We are excited to share our creations and hope you love them! After you read my post, I hope you’ll hop over to the next person on the list at the base of this post.

Here is the watercolor wash process that I used.

1.Set up- prepare workspace & gather supplies

1. Gather your supplies & protect your work surface with waterproof pad. You will need a large acrylic block, markers and re-inkers, and Stampin’ Spritzers, Thick Basic White cardstock, two leaves from Leaf Label & Amber Gem Combo pack (#159969). Here I used Pumpkin Pie and Daffodil delight. I used a paper towel to catch run off (& also so you could see the block better).

2. Use Markers & Re-inkers to color your block

Step 2. Color your block. I used both marker and re-inkers to make sure I had enough rich color. Try to keep your colors separate as they will blend with the next step. TIP: Sometimes your markers will leave enough ink/color & other times you will need a drop or two of re-inkers. This is dependent on the color itself and the age of your markers.

3. Scribble on block & spritz a light mist

Step 3. Scribble the ink drops around with the same colored marker. Then use your Stampin” Spritzer to lightly mist your colored block.

4. Lay cardstock Face down

Step 4. Lay your Basic white cardstock down on your block. Do not move around as this will blend the colors & make them muddy. You want to mostly keep the colors separate & distinctive.

5. Heat dry with Heat Tool

Step 5. Lift your paper straight up & use your Heat Tool to dry the paper. Don’t worry if your piece if warped; you can fix this later.

6. Loosely apply leaves to cardstock & repeat 1-5 Steps with leaves attached

Step 6. Loosely adhere your leaves to the cardstock in the position that you want. I used just a little bit of Stampin’ Seal in the middle of the leaf. (You will want to be able pick the leaves off the paper. Clean off your block & then repeat steps 1-5.

After you’ve dried the leaves & cardstock for the 2nd time with the Heat Tool, remove one leaf & distress by curling the edges & creating a couple of creases. Replace it in the original spot with more adhesive. Repeat with the second leaf.

I adhered my panel on Crumb Cake using “green” glue or Multipurpose liquid glue (#110755). This will flatten the panel. I added a narrow strip of Crumb Cake on top of the panel and made a little ribbon adornment using Natural Woven ribbon that was colored/distressed with Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie; and then I tied two pieces of Crumb Cake twine from the Baker’s Twine Essential Pack (#155475) in the middle of the woven ribbon knot. Last, I added gems from the Leaf Label and Amber Gem Combo pack (#159969).

We will be making this at my card classes this Friday. If you’re in the St. Louis area, I’d love for you to join us.

Here’s a close look.

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you’ll hop along to the next stop on the blog hop, my friend, Renae Novak at Blessed by Cards . There’s lots of inspiration to be found in this group – and you don’t want to miss it!

Thank you for hopping along with us.  If you get stuck during the Blog Hop, please use this line-up as a guide:

Happy Stamping, Marilyn aka MJ

Brian King at Stamp with Brian

Sue Jackson at Just Peachy Stamping

Lynn Kolcun at Avery’s Owlery

Jackie Beers at Blue Line Stamping

Jan Dufour at Stamp Me Silly

Marilyn Jones at Stamp with MJ <<==That’s me

Renae Novak at Blessed by Cards

Jessica Atchison at Stampin with the Atchisons

Katie Ferguson at Cottage Paper

Ann Murray at Murray Stamps Ink

Robin Myren at Songbird Designs by Robin

Candy Ford at Stamp Candy

Pam Morris at Tap Tap Stamp

  • Supplies: All Stampin’ Up
  • Stamps: None
  • Cardstock: Thick Basic White & Crumb Cake
  • Accessories: Leaf Label & Amber Gem Combo pack (#159969); Natural Woven ribbon (#159611); Baker’s Twine Essential Pack- Crumb Cake twine (#155475)

Watercolor Wash Butterfly

I’ve been practicing the Watercolor Wash technique. I am planning on teaching this to my card class in September; I hope they like it although it is a bit messy. The card will be different, but we’ll use this technique.

The background on the card above is one of practice panels I made. I was pleased enough to incorporate it into a card.

Using Black Stazon ink & my Stamp-a-ratus, I stamped the large Butterfly Brilliance stamp on thick white cardstock. Then I die cut using the large outline Brilliant Wings die. I set aside the diecut butterflies.

Then, I created the watercolor panel by scribbling Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie on my large “F” block using my Stampin’ Write Markers & spritzing it with water using our Stampin’ Spritzer. Laying my cardstock on the inky block, I lightly rubbed the dry side of the Basic White panel so it absorbed the “spritzed” ink. Then I dried it using my heat gun.

Next I picked one of the butterflies & lightly adhered to the Watercolor Wash panel. I cleaned my block & repeated the scribbles & spritzing & laid my panel with butterfly on top. Again, rubbing & drying with my heat gun.

I stamped my sentiment from the Charming Sentiments set using Stazon ink, as it won’t run with water. I picked up a little color that was left on the block for the sentiment to keep it from having a stark white background & to blend better with the watercolor wash background. Then, I die cut the sentiment using the matching Sentiment Silhouette dies.

My watercolor was panel was adhered Daffodil Delight & then the card base of Pumpkin Pie.

I was a bit intimidated by this technique, but it ended up being fairly easy but messy. Stay tuned in September for another card (my stamp class card) & an accompanying free tutorial including tips & tricks.

Happy Stamping, Marilyn, aka MJ