Creative Cards & Crops

Thursday's Technique: Watercolor Painting with Ink

Watercolor painting is the perfect technique to use with stamps.  It is easy to do and very quick.  When using watercolor, there are a couple things to remember:

Always use Watercolor Paper – watercolor paper resists buckling when wet – ever get a drop of water on a card or scrapbook page?  Then you know that this is rather important! 

Always use StazOn Ink – this ink permanent, doesn’t need to be heat set and is perfect for water-coloring.

Here’s a couple options you can use to watercolor with stampin’ Up! Classic Stampin' Pad.

1. Dip the tip of a blender pen on to the corner of a Stampin' Pastel, then apply to the stamped image
   - OR -
2. Brush the tip of a Blender Pen, Aqua Painter, or wet watercolor paint brush directly on the tip of a Watercolor Wonder Crayon, then apply color to the stamped image
   - OR -
3. Dip the tip of a Blender Pen, Aqua Painter, or wet watercolor paint brush into the ink on the lid of a Classic Stampin' Pad (just press the closed lid of a Classic Stampin' Pad down against the ink pad, creating a small pool of color in the lid; then open the lid)
   - OR -
4. Outline a section of the stamped image with a Watercolor Wonder Crayon or Watercolor Pencil, then use a Blender Pen, Aqua Painter, or wet watercolor paint brush to pull color where desired.
   

 QUICK TIP:  For more saturated colors, watercolor with Classic ink refills.

To purchase any of these items you need for watercolor - click the product link and be connected to my online store.

Watercolor – you don’t have to have an art degree!

Do You think watercolor art is hard? You couldn't be further from the truth! Today's technique share shows how easy it is to use your Ink Pads to create a gorgeous Spring Card. 

As a watercolor artist, you will need a couple Classic Stampin' pads, watercolor paper and an Aqua Painter all from Stampin' Up! Remember as a child, when you colored with watercolors, how fun it was? It was a little messy and that cup of water was really gross when you finished, but with the Aqua Painter and a paper towel – Mess BE GONE! 

Become a Watercolor Artist in 3 Easy Steps!!

Step 1 Take a flower from the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set and using Black StazOn Ink stamp the flower on your watercolor paper. Remember to use StazOn ink which is a permanent ink and won't bleed when water is applied to your image.

Step 2 Squeeze your Classic Stampin' Pad together in the middle so that some of the ink from the pad will stick to the lid, then open the Stampin' Pad and use the ink in the lid as your pallet.

 Step 3 Fill your Aqua Painter with tap water and give it a little squeeze over a paper towel to wet the brush, gently apply the ink from the lid of your Stampin' Pad and "paint" your image. Begin with your ink in an area of your image that would naturally be shaded and spread the ink outward, adding more ink as needed. Once you have finished with one color squeeze your Aqua Pen and brush it on a paper towel until the water has cleaned the tip (did your brush stain a little? No Worries – this does not affect the quality of the Aqua Painter and will not bleed on your next color). Once your ink has dried, you can add other details or shading as you like.

3 Steps and you are finished! Just add your image to a card and make someone's day with this beautiful card.

Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral

Ink: Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, Old Olive, YoYo Yellow, Black StazOn

Cardstock: Kiwi Kiss, Pirouette Pink, Watercolor, Urban Oasis Designer Paper (DP)

Accessories: Crop-a-dile, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon

Technique: Watercolor with Ink Pads

Call me today to order your "Walk in the Park" Designer from the Occasions Mini Catalog which is perfect for all the spring cards you are planning. Then add the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set, an Aqua Painter, Watercolor Paper and a couple Classic Stampin' Ink Pads to finish your order and become a Watercolor Artist!

Stampingly,

Malinda