I used water-based Distress Inks to create this popular watercolor look, but this technique would work just as well with your water-based Distress Markers. I have to say this was one of the quickest cards I've made in a long time and I was very pleased with the results, so here is the easy process . . .
1. Stamp the solid roses from My Favorite Things' Blooming Roses with Worn Lipstick Distress Ink onto Distress Watercolor Cardstock trimmed to about 3.75" x 5":
2. Next, stamp the coordinating outline stamps in Picked Raspberry Distress Ink:
3. Finally, stamp the stems and leaves with Shabby Shutters Distress Ink:
4. Now the fun begins! Lightly spray the stamped piece with a water-filled Mister Bottle or Mini Mister and watch the magic happen! The stamped ink will start wicking and spreading, creating that lovely watercolored effect:
5. Have a tissue ready, to dab away too much water and/or to immediately stop the ink from wicking and spreading too much. Case in point -- where the pink/red rose colors met the green leaves, the colors started getting a little muddy brownish color so I dabbed those areas to stop the colors from running too much:
Or if you are not getting enough spreading color, just keep lightly misting the paper with water.
Fill in any splotchy/vacant stamped areas you'd like (such as the lower right petal on the large lower left rose) with a watercolor brush dipped into a little watered-down reinker (or usually just pressing the lid of your ink pad down firmly so it comes in comtact with the ink pad will transfer enough ink onto the lid for you to use), using Tim Holtz Detailer Water Brush or Niji Small Waterbrush.
6. To custom color Tim Holtz Crinkle Ribbon to match the Hero Arts Foliage Folded Card base, I placed the ribbon into a sandwich baggie and squeezed in Copic Various Ink Refills in YG25 and YG95 and was delighted with the perfect shabby results!
7. Next, I heat embossed the "Happy" sentiment from Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments with Distress Embossing Ink and fine/detail gold embossing powder.
8. Tie ribbon around the top of the watercolored piece. To reinforce the watercolor paper, give it sturdiness and to help combat the slight warping from the water and heat embossed sentiment, I mounted it to a piece of heavyweight cardstock (using wide high-tack 1/2-inch tissue tape) cut a little smaller than the watercolor paper, then popped it up on Copic Foam Tape:
The gorgeous "birthday" sentiment was die cut from American Crafts Gold Glitter Cardstock using MFT's Happy Birthday Die-namics, easily adhered with Copic's X-Press It Glue Marker.
I hope you will give this easy, lovely tecnique a try ... Happy Summer! ~ Sharon
