Watercolor

by Katherine Elliot

Technique trends offer fun ways to expand your creativity.  Watercolor techniques are some of the hottest coloring trends out there, so I’m excited to share some terrific examples from some extremely talented people showcasing this fun technique.  Take a look…

Card by Susie Wittwer, image source ProCraftination 

Using water based inks, markers, misters, aqua painters or water brushes will help you create beautiful swirls of color like shown on many of the cards featured today.  Stop by the artists’ blog posts to find details on how they created their masterful works and the various tools they employed.

a little birdie told meCard by Virginia Lu,  image source Virginia’s View Challenge

Blending many shades of ink can give you a wonderful rainbow of color to display, or you can choose just a couple colors to create a water swirled landscape.  Heat embossed designs that will resist the color added to your project are also a favorite technique to combine with your watercolor effects.

Card by Jo Nevil, image source Splitcoast Stampers

Hero Arts Faux Watercolor Background by Jennifer McGuire 2Card featuring heat embossed stamp and faux watercolor technique using Distress Ink markers by Jennifer McGuire, image source Hero Arts

Card by Nicole Picadura, image source Scraps and Stamps

Card by Lyndal Higgins, image source Ideas and Paper

Precision may not be necessary when playing with a watercolor technique, but creating the perfect background can take some practice.  It can certainly help if you find some tools to  help make your project come together effortlessly.  Look for stamps like My Favorite Things’ Watercolor Backdrops and Papertrey Ink’s Watercolor Wonder that allow you to very easily ink up a perfectly painted shape.

Watercolor-Backdrops-1---OHSCard by Cindy Lawrence featuring DC Watercolor Backdrops from My Favorite Things, image source The Creative Closet

Card featuring PTI Watercolor Wonder stamp set, stamps and image source Papertrey Ink

Products can make a difference when you are playing with water and paper.  Look for watercolor paper or cardstock, aqua painters, and gelatos that can offer you some of the best results in the watercolor world.

Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Ranger Ink Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock

Bonnie Klass’ instructions on using re-inkers with a Stampin’ Up! Aqua Painter, tutorial and image source Stamping with Klass

*Faber-Castell YELLOW Gelatos Clear Stamp and Brush 4pk 770157

Faber Castell Gelatos, image source Simon Says Stamp

So-sweetScrapbook page by Emilia van den Heuvel featuring watercolor effects using Gelatos, image source Faber Castell Design Memory Craft

Drips, drops, smears of color make the most natural watercolor effects unique.  A stenciled patterned peaking through Chrissie Tobas’ next card shows off more trendy effects you can use with this technique.

Card by Chrissie Tobas featuring stamps from Newton’s Nook Designs, image source Harvest Moon Papiere

You can use your colorful watercolors as a background for many different springtime or any time occasions.

Card by Donna Mikasa, featuring stamps from Mama Elephant, image source Three Umbrellas

Spheres of  soft colors set very simply behind a bold sentiment on JJ Bolton’s card below shows another unique way to play with watercolors.

Card by JJ Bolton, image source Ribbon Girls

Scrapbook pages and mixed media projects can also embrace the beauty of watercolor effects.  Your layouts and creations take on additional artistic qualities when you try any painterly effects and watercoloring is no exception.  Check out these beautiful examples…

LoveRightNowScrapbook page by Lisa Dickinson, image source Gettin’ By, video tutorial at  Inspired, Two Peas in a Bucket

Scrapbook page by Bernii Miller, image source Weekend at Berniis

CreateYourselfSinglePageBlogMixed media Art Journal Page by Andrea Walford, video tutorial and image source The Art of Simple

By now most of us can sense the snow melting and rainy season approaching. Why not capture some of that moisture and turn it into something creative?!  Go ahead, give some watercolor techniques a try.  Happy crafting, everyone!

13 replies on “Trendy Tuesday – Watercolor”

  1. Love these watercolor cards!! So pretty and so much fun! Wish the snow was melting away instead of growing! Someday soon it will melt and I will be a happy girl!

  2. FAB collection of watercolor works! Some I’ve done, some I’ve seen but many are new to me. Great post, most helpful! 🙂

  3. Super fun! I bought some gelatos and haven’t worked with them much but after seeing that adorable layout, i’m going to get at it this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration.

  4. These water coloring techniques are so inspiring – thanks so much for sharing. I haven’t done that much water coloring, but am planning on doing some soon.

  5. Lovely — ALL of them! I haven’t water colored since grade school, but have certainly been inspired to try again. Thanks for the wide array of inspiration pieces.

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