Watercoloring - Forget Me Not

Before I take my new computer in for a fix-it job...again, I thought I'd try to create a quick blog post.  I still have some organizational tutorials to post, but I've not been able to spend time on the computer long enough to finish them...so they'll be up and coming again when I get my pc back.  In the meantime...

I was sorting through some of my stamps the other day and decided to go through my wood-mounted stamps.  I rarely buy the wood mounted, just for lack of space, but I love the ones I currently have -- I just don't seem to spend much time using them.  For some of the more detailed stamps, the coloring methods can be a bit time consuming -- but this day I was in the mood for some watercoloring, and dug out some of my older stamps.  One of my favorite stamps, that I rarely use, is my "Forget Me Not Bouquet" stamp by All Night Media...which some of you may remember is also my all time favorite flower. 

Watercoloring with Distress Inks is actually a fairly simple technique (even for those with no formal training...such as myself):

1. You can watercolor on regular cardstock & use a heat gun to dry between colors, but for this project I used watercolor paper.  You'll want to begin by stamping your image with a waterproof, permanent ink directly to the paper -- I like to use Archival Inks by Ranger which now come in a variety of colors.

2.  Using a non-stick craft mat to protect your work surface, swipe the inkpad colors directly to the mat so they aren't touching each other.  Then spray a mist of water directly onto the mat, NEXT to the already swiped ink.  By not adding water directly to the ink you'll be able to control the intensity of color.  It's best to only work with one color group at a time.  For instance, I started with the green leaves by swiping Sage & Pine Tree colors on my craft mat. 

3.  Dipping a small paint brush into the wet ink, swirl the brush into a small bit of the water, combining ink & water until the depth of color is what you're looking for.  Then paint directly over the already stamped image, according to your color scheme.  It's usually best to start with the lighter colors first, then strategically add accents of the darker colors. 

4.  After each color grouping is completed, wipe off the mat with a paper towel or soft cloth.  The Distress Colors I used for my card are:  Bundled Sage & Pine Needles (leaves), Stormy Sky & Tumbled Glass (flowers), Spun Sugar & Victorian Rose (rose, stamp, & sleeve), Tattered Rose & Tea Dye (envelope), Tattered Rose (hand). 

After I looked at this closer I realized I missed one small corner
of the envelope, which I'll be correcting.  =)

To finish my card I matted it with blue cardstock.  I used a foam applicator to dry sponge Stormy Sky around the blue mat...then, without wiping off my craft mat, I turned over the card with the watercolor paper already attached and rubbed it around my craft mat to pick up just a bit of the Stormy Sky I had left on the mat from the foam applicator.  I just thought it added a bit to the vintagey look of the paper.  Tied a bit of ribbon around the mat, curled up one corner of the watercolor paper, then adhered the mat to a lighter shade of blue to complete the notecard. 

I had enough fun watercoloring this card, that I decided to do another -- which I'll plan to post Thursday. 

Thanks for bearing with me while I fight with my computer.  Wish me luck!  =)  Lisa