Cardmaking Technique: Faux Watercolor

A quick and easy cardmaking technique using inks and water that produces spectacular results. Read on to learn how you can make them too.

Introducing Faux Watercolor Blending

I am so excited to share a technique that I learned while taking Easy Ink Blending Techniques, one of the courses in the Altenew Educator Certification Program. It is so easy and produces such beautiful results.

You begin by embossing images onto an A2 watercolor paper card base with white embossing powder. We’ll use a stamp that has relatively large, line-drawn images because it will provide a nice space to add color to. Once the images are heat embossed then you begin to use your inks to blend the colors over each of the images. To create a more cohesive result It helps to blend outside of the lines of the images and between them. Because where the colors meet, they blend together to add more colors and provide a beautiful soft background.

Watercoloring Cardmaking Techniques

The next step is to select a number of dies to use to watercolor with. Distress ink is perfect for this. You start by smooshing each of the colors onto your media mat. Then dip a large round watercolor brush into the color and then dab it onto the images. I tend to do this where there would be shadows on the images. So if you’re working with flowers like we are on this project I’d add the color to the center of the flower and where the petals meet each other. Once you get the color down on the image then you can pick up some clean water with the brush and use it to move the color that you just put down.

Sentiments and Assembly

Once you’re done with your blending you need to let it dry before going on to the next step. You can stamp a simple sentiment directly onto the watercolor paper.

Then to finish up the card you just die cut the card base using a stitched rectangle die and then use craft foam to give it some dimension when you add it to the white card base.

In the following video, I walk through the cardmaking technique to build a similar card.

For additional blending cardmaking techniques that I learned while taking Easy Ink Blending Techniques check out this post: How to Make Handmade Cards using Ink Blending Techniques .

Cardmaking Techniques Supplies

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Cardstock: Canson XL Watercolor Paper; Card Base – Accent Opaque Digital 120 lb

Stamps: Altenew Wild Hibiscus (no longer available); Simon Says Stamp Handwritten Love

Die: Lawn Fawn Small Stitched Rectangle Stackables

Ink: Altenew Crisp Ink – Ocean Waves, Warm Sunshine, Forest Glades, Lavender Fields, Jet Black; Distress Ink – Spiced Marmelade, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Cracked Pistachio, Peacock Feathers, Seedless Preserves; Versamark Watermark Ink

Embossing Powder: Hero Arts White

Craft Foam

Adhesive: Be Creative 7mm Tape