Hello, all! Kristina here! I love creating watercolor backgrounds with Distress Ink, so today I’m showing you two different ways to do so. And the XL Greetings stamp set is the perfect pairing with a watercolor background, too.

The first method is ink smooshing. This is when the Distress Ink pads are pressed onto a slick surface (I used a Tonic Easy Clean mat), spritzed with water, and the watercolor paper is turned over and pressed into the wet ink.

The second method resembles traditional watercolor painting. The ink pads are again pressed onto a slick surface (I used a palette), and then the color is picked up using a wet brush and painting onto the watercolor paper.

I hope you enjoy seeing these two background take shape! You can pick up all the supplies I used on both cards at Simon Says Stamp.

Supplies

Simon Says Clear Stamps XL GREETINGS… [ SSS ] Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad… [ SSS ] Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad… [ SSS ] Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad… [ SSS ] Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad… [ SSS ] Tonic EASY CLEAN MAT 1514E [ SSS ] Strathmore WATERCOLOR PAPER 5.5×7… [ SSS ] Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER Ranger 4… [ SSS ] WOW DUAL SPEED HEAT TOOL WZHT-USA [ SSS ] Jack Richeson 9 X 12 INCH HARDBOARD… [ SSS ] 3M Scotch SAFE RELEASE MASKING… [ SSS ] Art Impressions WATERCOLOR PALETTE… [ SSS ] MISTI PRECISION STAMPER VERSION 2.0… [ SSS ] EK Success POWDER TOOL Applicator… [ SSS ] Tsukineko Versamark EMBOSS INK PAD… [ SSS ] Brutus Monroe ALABASTER Ultra Fine… [ SSS ] Waffle Flower A7 LAYERS Dies 310283 [ SSS ] Neenah Classic Crest 110 LB SMOOTH… [ SSS ] Gemini JUNIOR Die-Cutting And… [ SSS ] 3M Scotch DOUBLE-SIDED FOAM TAPE… [ SSS ] Altenew Self Healing 24 x 18 CUTTING… [ SSS ]