On a Whim Watercolor Cards by Carson Riutta | Design Team
I’m going to take a wild guess here and assume that you probably have a thing for watercolor. I certainly do, and sometimes I want to play with paints but I just don’t know what to create. I’ve found that just sitting down and creating gradient washes on a card base can satisfy my watercolor urge and lay the groundwork for some pretty stunning greeting cards.
I did just that for this set of fun and graphic cards using Amy’s On a Whim Collection. When I’m looking for a vibrant wash of color I often grab my Tim Holtz Distress Stains. They are very pigmented, translucent watercolors that always give striking results. I simply dab a small bit of stain on a stamping block, spritz with a little water and begin painting on some watercolor paper cut to size. To achieve the gradient you want to start the paint at one end of the paper and work your way toward the other end adding water to assure a lighter gradient as you work down the page.
Once your watercolor is dry you can add foil die-cuts, translucent stickers, fabulous chipboard phrases and a whole bunch of colorful sequins to make your cards as playful and eye-catching as possible. I love the way all the fun and candy colored elements from the On A Whim Collection really pop off the vibrant watercolor backgrounds.
Getting watercolor paper to lay flat on a card front can sometimes be a challenge, especially if you didn’t take the time to stretch the paper before painting. I’m an impatient crafter and rarely take such precautions, so I chose to stitch the cards onto a false front before adhering them permanently to my card base. The stitching simply helps to keep everything flat and in place as well as adds a wonderful bit of texture to the design.
If you’re new to watercolor or simply looking for a quick and easy fix, I hope you’ll try painting a few gradient backgrounds for your own greeting card projects. Amy’s designs always go so well with watercolor, it’s almost as if she designs it that way :)
Happy crafting friends!
Carson
Pine and Plum Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook
Supplies: On A Whim Collection - Cardstock Sticker Book with Foil Accents (378748), On A Whim Collection - Cardstock Stickers with Foil Accents - Accents and Phrases (378749), On A Whim Collection - Ephemera with Foil Accents (378750), On A Whim Collection - Thickers – Phrases (378746)
Thanks so much for sharing, Carson! Shop ON A WHIM now! Check your local retailer and online at Simon Says Stamp and Scrapbook.com
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. I receive a small percentage of sales at no cost to you. My creative partners and I really appreciate your continued support and every little bit helps me to bring you consistent content!
