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Watercolor for Beginners: Nature’s Paintings Kit
Hi crafty friends! Get ready to try a ‘watercolor for beginners’ technique that is fun, easy… and produces magical results that anyone can do!
Thankfully, unlike traditional water coloring, there are no drawing skills needed. wooHOO!
Instead, we’ll be using the new Nature’s Paintings Kit by Stampin’ Up! The kit includes 24 all-season patterns- pre-printed on watercolor paper, as well as a Water Painter Brush and eight watercolor pencils. Everything you need to play, except the water!
BOGO Sale – All Retired Products!
See details at the end of today’s post. Sale starts Monday, Nov. 25th- 6 am Pac Time
SHOP RETIRED PRODUCTS
SAVVY PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Nature’s Painting Kit
- Nature’s Paintings Kit includes supplies for 24 projects
- Pad of 26 sheets of 4-1/2″ x 6″ Watercolor Paper with…
- 24 pre-printed images [2 each of 12 images + 2 blank sheets]
- 8 Watercolor Pencils: Berry Burst, Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Flirty Flamingo, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie and Real Red
- Water Painter Brush
- Instruction Booklet
WANT TO MAKE THESE CARDS?
YOU CAN!
For today’s cards, I chose to use my Classic Stampin’ Pads rather than the included watercolor pencils. I wanted to practice the method I’m sharing and enjoy getting double-duty from my products. Simply squeeze the center section of a closed case and the foam pad will press ink onto the lid. The case now becomes your palette. (photo below) You can also dilute Ink Refills for a concentrated color.
If you choose to use the pencils included with the kit, simply color the image first. The harder you press, the more intense the color, helpful for shading. Use the instruction booklet as a guide. Then, use the water painter brush to achieve the finished water color look. Alternatively, you can scribble color on a non-porous surface (like our Glass Mat), add water and use it like ink.
I hope you give them both a try… have fun!
WATERCOLOR FOR BEGINNERS TECHNIQUE
AKA The ‘Wet-On-Wet’ Method
- With a clean brush, apply [clean] water to the image you want to color. You want the water to puddle on the paper, within the lines of the image. Add more water as needed if it soaks in. This is the first ‘wet’. (photo below)
- Now for the second ‘wet’: Load ink onto a very wet brush. Touch the brush into the puddle on the paper; color will flow from the brush into the puddle of water. (photo below)
- Add more ink as needed to fill the image. If you’re using two or more colors, even better!
- Watercolor all the same type leaves on the pattern at one time, since they are separate from each other. Be careful not to touch the wet images while you’re working.
- Now, LET IT DRY (or if you’re impatient, make it dry with a Heat Tool on low). The results will look very different after it dries. The drying process is when the magic happens!
- Here’s what it looked like wet (photo below) See the finished card for the final look.
- Now repeat the above steps with the next type of leaves or images, until the entire pattern is complete.
- NOTE: There’s two of each pattern in the kit, so if you’d like to make four cards, watercolor the second sheet too.
- If you’d like to duplicate the colors shown on my cards, find the list below.
- Psst! Before you move to the next step, make sure to read the Savvy Bonus Tip below! Now’s the time to do it 🙂
- Once the coloring is complete and paper is dry, it’s time to turn the panel into cards!
- Cut on long side at 3″ for (2) 4-1/2″ x 3″ panels
SAVVY BONUS TIP
Splatter it! This adds so much… and is my favorite way to hide any flaws!
- First, splatter clean water across the panel. Let sit for about 30-60 seconds, then remove with a clean paper towel. This ‘lifts’ color off…. the longer the water sits, the more color is removed.
- Next, add a splatter of metallic paint. I used Kuretake Gamsai Tambi-Starry Colors (see it here on Amazon.com) or use Wink of Stella Shimmer, diluted Metallic Enamel Effects or even diluted acrylic paint. Most crafters have some type of metallic paint that will work!
Card Instructions
- CARD BASE: Create (2) A2 card bases from one sheet of [Blackberry Bliss] cardstock.
- Score an 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheet on the short side at 4-1/4″
- Turn and cut on the long side at 5-1/2″
- Fold cards in half and burnish with a Bone Folder
- BACKGROUND PATTERN: Place the Sketched Plaid (or any favorite) background stamp face up on your work surface; ink with a Versamark Pad. Place card front face down, centered on top of stamp and gently rub across surface to transfer image. This method requires no block. Carefully lift off and allow ink to dry.
- COLOR LAYER: (Cut 2) 4-5/8″ x 3-1/8″ [Textured Metallic Specialty Paper – Gold]
- Adhere watercolor panel, centered.
- Wrap twice twine or thread [Gold Twisted Metallic Thread] and secure with tape on back. (photo above)
- SAVVY TIP: Use scrap cardstock instead of foam adhesive to create dimension.
- In the photo above, I stacked scrap strips three high across the back of the metallic cardstock. This gives the main panel dimension, but much less than foam adhesive. The overall thickness of the card still meets the regulation for standard postage, even with the use of foam adhesive on the sentiment label.
- SAVVY TIP: Use scrap cardstock instead of foam adhesive to create dimension.
- SENTIMENT: Stamp sentiment [Autumn Leaves] with Versamark Ink, sprinkle with Gold Embossing Powder and melt with Heat Tool on high. Die-cut [Stylish Shapes Dies] or trim, as desired.
- Tie twine or thread [Gold Twisted Metallic Thread] into bow. Secure on back with a Mini Glue Dot; add dimensional foam adhesive and adhere to main panel… done!
Have fun trying this fun and easy ‘watercolor for beginners’ technique! I encourage you to relax and embrace the organic results, which are unique each time.
MORE IDEAS COMING! I had soooo much fun playing with the all-season patterns in the Nature’s Painting Kit– and you will, too! I recently spent a relaxing afternoon coloring, so look for three more card ideas, plus 4 BONUS IDEAS coming soon.
Enjoy creating these savvulous cards for your own family & friends ❤
️Ink Colors Used:
- OAK LEAVES: Pumpkin Pie & Cherry Cobbler
- MAPLE LEAVES: Blackberry Bliss & Cajun Craze
- FAN LEAVES: Old Olive & Mossy Meadow
- ACORNS: Pecan Pie & Early Espresso
- BACKGROUND: Petal Pink
BOGO SALE – All Retired Products!
Buy One – Get One Free Sale on all Retired Stampin’ Up! Products in the store
…mix-and-match store wide, no limit!
Starts Monday, November 25th at 6am PT
Fantastic card! Love your water technique. Definitely have seen some great cards….yours has convinced me to order. Thanks for sharing one of the ways to water color.
Thanks Kimberly! Have fun trying this simple technique with your new kit! Looking forward to seeing what you make 🙂