Dreamy Faux Watercolor - Different Product to Achieve the Same Look

Hello everyone!  Yesterday, I shared a blog post for The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store and a technique I am calling Dreamy Faux Watercolor.

Here is a second look at the card I posted.  I also included a tutorial on how to achieve this look.  If you missed the post and tutorial you can click HERE to check it out.

In the tutorial I showed how to do this technique using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  But I know not everyone has distress inks so I took some other products (inks, markers, paint) that I had in my stash to show you how you can achieve the same look using different products.  I also want to say this is not a technique that I came up with people have been doing this for years in traditional watercolor and I first learned to do this technique several years ago when I was taking some watercolor classes.  But watercolor has become so popular in paper crafting over the last year or two so I wanted to share how this technique could be done using other products.  As far as the name of the technique--something I just came up with.  The finished piece looks kind of dreamy to me with the water droplets and the faux watercolor part--well that's just because it's not true watercolor lol.

Sorry I know this picture isn't very big in the post but you can click on the image to enlarge it and see more details.  This is a BEFORE picture to show you how all of the flowers looked once the color was added.  The first picture is Distress Inks (the same inks I used in the tutorial).  For the second flower I used Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens.  On the third flower I applied Memento Dye Inks.  For the forth flower I used Spectrum Aqua Markers and for the fifth and final flower I used Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor.

The Distress Inks and the Memento Dye Inks were both applied the same way layering three different colors of ink and I used a cotton ball to apply the ink.

For the Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens and the Spectrum Aqua Markers you have two different options for applying the color.  You can apply the color to the paper directly from the pen/marker or you could scribble the color on to a craft mat or acrylic block and add the color with a brush--just like if you were going to watercolor it.  For both of the examples I colored directly on to the paper with the pens/markers and I used three different colors for each.  If you choose to paint the color on then you would take out the faux part of the technique--but it's really up to you and how you want to do this technique.  :)

For the last flower I did used the Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor and these are traditional watercolor so there is no faux part here I had to watercolor to add the color to the image but I thought people might like to see the comparison to the other products.

Once again don't forget you can click on the image to enlarge it.  :)  As you can see from the picture I added the different color mediums to the top part of the paper to do the water droplets.   I thought this would also be a good comparison.  So this is the AFTER picture--once the clear water was added and blotted off.  I wanted to show you that this technique can be achieved with different products.  I also want to encourage you to use what you have in your own stash.  Yes, some of the colors look a little different and with some of the products you will be able to blot off more of the color for a softer look and some of the colors will be more vibrant.

But the main thing is to have fun!  Experiment with what you have and don't be afraid to try new things.  Oh and one more thing I just wanted to add--I get asked by a lot of people what kind of paper I used for watercolor techniques.  I have several brands of paper but for paper crafting and especially if I am going to be stamping on the paper my all time favorite is Strathmore Mixed Media Paper from the 400 Series.  It is heavy weight and ultra smooth so it is perfect for stamping on.  Most of the big box stores carry it and I know several online places sell it too and you can buy the pads in a few different sizes.  I usually wait until it goes on sale and then I buy the 11 x 14 pad and cut the paper down to whatever size I need.

I hope you enjoyed this comparison with the different products and I hope you will give this technique a try.  Don't forget if you missed the tutorial on the Dreamy Faux Watercolor you can click HERE for all of the details.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Let me know in the comments if you give this technique a try and leave me a link to your project--I would love to see it!  I hope you have a fantastic weekend and have fun creating!

Hugs & Smiles,

Heidi

The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store - Dreamy Faux Watercolor

Hello blogging friends!  Today, is my day to post for The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.   I have a beautiful card and tutorial to share with you.

Here is the card that I designed.  I am calling the technique dreamy faux watercolor.  The light colors and the marks from the tiny water droplets give it the dreamy watercolor look but in reality there is no watercolor with this technique.  Instead I used water to pull away or remove the color.  This isn't a new technique--people have been doing it for years with watercolor but it has a bit of a different spin on it using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.

To start I used the smooth side of the Ranger Watercolor Paper.  I stamped the image from the JustRite Papercraft CR-02198 Peonies Clear Stamps and the sentiment from the Stamp Simply Clear Stamps SS-Sent005 He Has Risen with VersaMark Ink,  Next I applied Stampendous Super Fine Embossing Powder - Detail White and used a heat tool to melt and heat set the powder.

I started adding color to the flowers going from the lightest to darkest color.  In the picture above you can see I first applied Spun Sugar to all of the flowers (shown in 1st flower).  Then I applied a second layer of ink using Worn Lipstick (shown in 2nd flower).  For the second layers on ink I came in more towards the center of the flower so the edges of the petals would still have the light color for the Spun Sugar.  For the final layer of ink I used Picked Raspberry (shown in the 3rd flower) and I came in even closer to the center with the 3rd ink color.  So once all the flowers are done they would have three layers of ink and all look like the last flower in the picture.  With the photo I wanted to show you how the look of the ink would change with each layer.  When I apply the Tim Holtz Distress Inks I used a cotton ball for each color.  I ink up the cotton ball just like a sponge and start off of the paper and work in a circular motion.  I like using the cotton balls because I can achieve a very smooth blend and when I am done I can just toss them.

The next section I colored was the leaves and stems.  I did the exact same technique as above going from the lightest to darkest ink.  I used Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, and Mowed Lawn for the leaves.

Then I applied the blue inks with the same technique.  I started all the way over on the right with the lightest color Tumbled Glass and worked my way to the middle and created a nice soft blend between the blue and green.  Then I applied Broken China and Peacock Feather ink coming out towards the edge of the paper.  Now all of the inking is done. :)

This is where the magic and the faux watercolor come into play.  I used a round paint brush and just applied clear water over each of the flowers and then I used a paper towel to blot off the ink.  After doing this the colors are pretty, soft, and light.  Then I moved on to the leaves and stems and did the same technique of applying clear water and blotting it off with a paper towel.

Here is a look at the flowers once some of the color was removed.

To create the water droplet I just used the paint brush with clean water and tapped on it.  I let the water sit on top of the paper for a few seconds and then I blotted it with a paper towel.  I think the water droplets give it the dreamy look.

Here you can see the finished piece.  The water droplets give it the dreamy look and by using the water to remove some of the color it gives the piece a water color look.

Here is a close up.

To finish off the card I added some Therm-O-Web Foam Squares to an A2 top folding white card base.  I hope you enjoyed this technique and tutorial and will give it a try.

Stop back tomorrow and I will show you the results of using different inks, markers and paint you might have in your stash to play with and achieve this same look.

Thank you so much for joining me today and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Please be sure to check out The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store for all of the fantastic paper crafting products and the Blog for inspiration from the Design Team.

Hugs & Smiles,

Heidi

Supplies
Stamps:  Stamp Simply Clear Stamps SS-Sent005 He Has Risen, JustRite Papercraft CR-02198 Peonies Clear Stamps
Paper:  Ranger Watercolor Paper
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress Inks - Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Mowed Lawn, Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peacock Feather, VersaMark Ink
Accessories:  Stampendous Super Fine Embossing Powder - Detail White, Therm-O-Web Foam Squares, Scor-Tape, Heat Tool, Paint Brush, Paper Towel