Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Technique Tuesday - Brushless Watercolor Stamping

Today's techique is one I taught at my store a few years ago.  I learned it from Tim Holtz, and it's called brushless watercolor.  Basically it involves dabbing the corner of several colors of ink pads onto a large stamp, spritzing with water, then drying quickly with an embossing gun.
I used Adirondack ink pads for their earthy, rich colors.  The tops come off of the pad base with just a little twist, and snap back on.
I choose my colors, depending on the stamp.  For this sunflower, I chose two shades of green - oregano and pesto.  I also chose butterscotch and rust for the flower part.  Start with the lighter shade. For the flower, I inked the entire flower with butterscotch.  Then, using the corner of the rust pad, I tapped color here and there on the flower.  I also added some espresso to the inside.  For the stem and leaves, I inked the entire area with oregano, then tapped here and there with pesto.  Then, use a fine mist spritzer to lightly spritz the stamp.  Stamp onto cardstock, and hold the stamp down for a few seconds before removing it.  Using your heat tool, set the inked image by heating it right away for a few seconds.                                                                                                                                                                                   Finally, use a glue pen to apply touches of glue for embossed highlights.  Add gold embossing powder, which will stick to the glue, and heat.  Do not overdo the glue/embossing powder, as you want the rich colors to show through, and the gold to just be highlights.

Hope you enjoyed this technique.  I showed some close-ups so you can see how the colors blend together and look like watercolor.  It may take a little practice, but it really is worth it.

I am entering these cards in the following challenges:
OUR CREATIVE CORNER http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com/2010/10/our-creative-corner-sketch-challenge.html
Sunflower card - The theme is a sketch challenge

PENNY BLACK AT ALLSORTS CHALLENGE http://pennyblackatallsorts.blogspot.com/2010/10/october-challenge.html 
Both cards - The theme is Colors of Autumn,
and
SATURDAY CHALLENGE http://thesecretcraftersaturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/ 
Both cards - The theme is Distressing.

Hope you find some time to check out these challenges and maybe enter some.  You never know, you just might win some great prizes.  I won last week's House That Stamps Built challenge with my fall card, and got a certificate for $25 worth of Repeat Impressions stamps!!!!  I'm so excited, and can't wait to go shopping for my freebies!

I finished another image, which I didn't make a card for yet.  Hopefully, I will get it made tomorrow, so stop back soon to check out that card.  Also, I posted a couple of posts since last Tuesday, so you might want to scroll down and check them out.  There is a fall card and a halloween card.

Blessings and peace,

lynda

19 comments:

  1. Fantastic technique, Lynda! What a beautiful effect it has on both of your cards! Very cool!

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  2. WOW, your cards are awesome!! Love the look of that technique, I'll have to give it a try! Thanks for playing along with 'Our Creative Corner' sketch challenge this week!

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  3. These are sooooo pretty! love the looks of the technique. Will have to try it soon.

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  4. Wow, Lynda these are both amazing.
    Love the different shades of color on these. Thank you so much for sharing the technique! I will have to try this.
    Many many thanks also for joining us at Penny Black @ All sorts this month. Good luck with the drawing. Be sure to check back again next month for another fun challenge!!

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  5. Hi Lynda

    Two lovely crds.

    It is a super technique isn't it and a really good one to demo as it always brings tge ooooh and wow factors.

    Thank you for joinig us at Penny Black at Allsorts again.

    B x

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  6. Oh wow Lynda .. .. how amazing do these cards look!!

    I love the technique very much and will have to give that a try. Thank you for the inspiration.

    Those baubles look awesome!

    Thank you for sharing again with Penny Black at Allsorts this month.

    Love Jules xx

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  7. An oldie but goodie that I had forgotten. The fall colors are fantastic. Congrats on your $25.00 certificate. Happy shopping

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  8. An oldie but goodie that I had forgotten. The fall colors are fantastic. Congrats on your $25.00 certificate. Happy shopping

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  9. Great tutorial, lovely like watercolour effect and embossing. Beautiful sunflower stamp and autumn colours.
    Thank you for sharing this with us at Penny Black @ Allsorts, welcome again and good luck;-))m

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  10. Great tutorial Lynda and what a gorgeous card. The effect is lovely and is is so pretty.
    Thank you for playing along with our challenge at Penny Black at Allsorts and we hope to see more of your lovely work in our future challenges.

    Shirley

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  11. Great cards, so creative and love them to bits especially the distressing bits
    Hugs Kate xx
    SCSC GDT

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  12. Great technique! Love the fall card - colours are fabulous!

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  13. They came out really well superb :)
    Von x

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  14. Stunning cards!

    Love them both, thanks for sharing the technique. Especially the part of the glue pen and embossing powder, it really gives a wow effect. They are so beautiful!!!

    Thanks for joining us at Penny Black at Allsorts and good luck!

    Hugs
    Maarit

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  15. It's one of my favorite techniques....but I've never added the glitz! Beautiful!

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  16. thanks for sharing. I like this technique. please join my challenge
    http://createdbyhandchallenge.wordpress.com/
    I post a new theme each Monday eve.
    Blessings,
    Robyn

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  17. Wow what beautiful cards, love the gorgeous effect you've created
    and the colours you have used
    Thanks for joining Penny Black @ ALLSORTS this month, hope you will join us again, good luck
    Hugz Fleur xXx

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  18. Both stunning cards fabulous technique. Thank you for sharing with us at Pennyblack @ Allsorts xx Zoe

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  19. this is just lovely. I'm so glad you joined the Penny Black at Allsorts challenge this month and good luck!

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Comments are welcomed and appreciated!