Watercolour technique

If you want to try the watercolour technique - take a look at this card. It is much simpler to make than it looks! We made this sample at the Stampin' Up Convention and as someone who didn't particularly like the watercolour technique (I've always found it fiddly and usually a bit of a mess when I am confused with which inks to use etc) I have to say it's converted me now!

This card uses the 'Just Believe' stamp set from the catalogue - you get a massive 8 stamps in this set and it's really pretty. And this is used with the Stampin' Up inks which work well with this technique.

To create this card you ink up the stamps (either in one full colour or colour different parts like I have here using my ink marker pens in Old Olive green and another blue) and then simply 'spritz' the inked stamp with a water bottle. Not too much or the ink will run too much, but enough to make a difference, and then stamp onto some 'watercolour card'. The ink blends into the special card a little and gives a watercolour painted effect.

The sentiment was then stamped on and the entire white card was spritzed with the new colour spritzer tool - this is such a brilliant gadget for adding splodges of colour to enhance the background of something. (If you look closely you will see the splattered blue effect behind the flowers). I've torn the edges of the white and blue card for some texture too and added that all to the card blank with a strip of ribbon and the button.

This is such a versatile set and I've barely touched it yet to maximise it's potential. If you don't have a Stampin' Up! catalogue but love inspiration I'd strongly recommend taking a look at one online or getting hold of a real copy which is so much better - it's full of so many free project ideas for each stamp set and they can be adapted to use with other materials too quite easily, I love mine and I turn to it more than magazines now.

It's lovely to add some detail to the envelope with one simple stamp too!

Don't forget my next stamping craft class is Saturday 26th March - you can book using the paypal button to the right. It's perfect for Mother's Day as we are making a large card, a treat box and decorating a candle - but can be adapted for any theme, I'll show you how. Bookings close Monday 14th so don't miss your chance!