Feel Better: Watercolored Background and Inlaid Die Cut Technique
Hi readers! Happy Monday to you! I’m happy to be back today with our monthly feature with the always awesome and creative Andrea Walford of Paper Crafter’s Library. Be sure to view her video for a full tutorial. Enjoy!
WATCH THE VIDEO:
For today’s project I created the “Feel Better” card using some Exclusive Simon Says Stamp products. The card features a few different techniques: creating a watercolor background, an inlaid die cutting technique, and creating acetate embellishments using shrink plastic.
When you open up your little pots of Twinkling H2O’s you’ll notice that they are dry and hard and may even be cracked and have a few air bubbles. That is totally normal! Before using them you need to spritz them with some water and then let them sit for a few minutes to activate the paint – so the paint will soften a little and you can then start picking it up with your paintbrush. Here’s a super important tip for you: when you are finished with them, leave their covers off for a few hours until you are certain they are completely dry. Whatever you do, do not put the lids back on the little pots while the paint is wet. One of two things can happen – if there was any paint on the rim as it dries it will seal making it impossible for you to open it again. The second thing that could happen is it could start to develop mold.
You’ll notice in the video that I first spritzed my watercolor paper with a little water before applying my Twinkling H2O’s with a paintbrush dipped in water. This step is optional, but I have found that the colors seem to move and blend better when the watercolor paper is spritzed before hand.
The inlaid die cutting technique is pretty self-explanatory, but I did want to mention a few thinks about the Shrink Plastic. Remember the days of Shrinky Dink? It’s still just as fun. Because it is a non-porous surface you do need to use a permanent ink when stamping – I used my Ranger Archival inks, but you could also use StazOn inks. For the Feel Better card I chose an outline image and left it uncoloured because I wanted the watercolored background to show through. If you were creating acetate embellishments and wanted to add color to them – you could use Alcohol markers (Copic or Spectrum Noir), you could also dab on colors using an ink blending tool with the felt pads and Ranger Alcohol inks. The only thing to keep in mind if you add color using any of these products is that you absolutely have to make sure you apply the color to the side opposite the side you stamped on. If you try to color over top of the Archival ink or StazOn ink – the alcohol markers and alcohol inks will react, and smear the stamped lines.
So that’s all for today. I hope you enjoyed this video tutorial. I’d like to extend a huge thanks to Simon Says Stamp for having me as a guest designer.
SUPPLIES:
Thanks for reading today and thanks to Andrea for being our guest!
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Love, love, love this technique! This is a stunning card with that fab Twinkling H2O background and those flowers look so fun. Thanks for a great video!
Great card, so many wonderful techniques. Love the video too!
So lovely! Thanks for the video and the shrink dink tips!!
great techniques in this card. . . .
Beautiful colours!
Amazing card, I love it!
Absolutely loved the card and these techniques. I will have to give them a try.
WOW! I love it!
LOVE this card! Gorgeous background, and those flowers are so fun!
Wow- love seeing how you did this! Great card!!
Awesome! Love this look! Great technique, thanks for sharing!
Wow the black circles really makes this card PPP.
This is beautiful! Love the pastels against the bold black – really pops!
Wow–very cool!
Beautiful water coloring!
Love the design and all
the little bling added.
Carla from Utah
Awesome card, Andrea!
WOWZERS! Awesome card! I love the shrink plastic flowers, I will have to try that and the watercolor background is beautiful with the Mod Circle Frame!
Love the shimmer of Twinkling H2O’s. The color showing through the shrink plastic flowers is very pretty. Love how you made your own embellishments.
What a pretty card! I love the black against the watercolor background.
Shrink plastic to make embellishments. Brilliant idea!
So gorgeous! This is a totally new technique for me and I have to try it!
How lovely. These are some of my favorite colors, too. Thanks so much for the video!
Really neat card… thanks for sharing!
This card is simply gorgeous!
I love the pastel colors against the
Black background!
I enjoyed the video! Beautiful card. TFS
I love my H2Os and this video is wonderful, gives me more ideas on how to use them.
What a gorgeous card. Love the colors. Thanks for a great project.
This is awesome!
This is such a beautiful card! I love all the colors and this was a great idea!
Amazing card design and colors!
Fabulous card…will have to give this one a go…and, I have this die already…yippee!!!
This looks super cute and I love the colours :)
Awesome card Andrea! Love your inlaid technique!
Thanks so much for sharing with us!
The colors are so vibrant! And Desing is absolutely gorgeous)
Super technique, et les couleurs sont splendides
What a beautiful background. Reminds me of a pretty dyed easter egg! :)
This card is really pretty.
*rubs hands together in glee* Something new to try!
Love this card, the colours are just gorgeous and now I will have to see how much those Twinkling H2O’s are and try and get myself some to play with! Also that cutting plate now on my Want, Need and Have to Have wish list!! Sorry guys that I haven’t been leaving comments etc the last couple of weeks as Have had a really bad last few weeks in the family!
I love the inset parts, and all the beautiful colors. Another great video . TFS
This is one of those cards that makes me hit my brakes when I’m flying through my email at top speed. I’m so glad I stopped to watch the video and pick up some tips, and I “need” that die so I can try to recreate this card. Awesome work, Andrea!
Ohhh this is so pretty, I’m going to give that a go!
I just love how this card turned out! The colors and the techniques pulled together an awesome result!!
love the colors and the technique !! loved how you added a white element and the shrink plastic flower !!
Gorgeous! Wish I had time to watch the video right now…
Lovely card…Cool colors!
Nice combination of colors!
Very cool card. Congrats to all the winners
I follow the blog by email.
I really like your video. Love the inlaid technique along with your watercolor technique. Beautiful card..
Love your video and your card. The shrink flowers add a great touch! Fun to see you using twinkling h2o’s.