A Watercolour Effect Card Tutorial with Adventures in Ink Stamp Set

Hello, card makers! Today, we have an exciting tutorial featuring the new Adventures in Ink - Floral Simplicity - Gathered stamp set from CraftStash. This collection features a plethora of beautiful designs, perfect for various crafting projects. In this step-by-step guide, we'll focus on creating a stunning watercolour effect card using the floral stems and a sentiment from the set.

Materials You'll Need:

Adventures in Ink - Floral Simplicity - Gathered stamp set
Watercolour cardstock
Clear blending mat
Distress Oxide inks: Stormy Mariner and Peeled Paint
Acrylic block
Spritz bottle with water
Blending brushes
Versafine clear ink pad
Trimmer
Wet glue or double-sided tape
Optional: Foam tape for added dimension

Step 1: Positioning the Sentiment

Begin by placing your chosen sentiment onto the watercolour cardstock. Lightly draw a pencil line around the sentiment, ensuring it's well-positioned. This step helps avoid accidentally stamping or adding ink underneath the sentiment later on.

Step 2: Stamping the Floral Stems

Protect your crafting surface with a Craft Stash clear blending mat. Choose a floral stem from the gathered stamp set, apply Distress Oxide inks (Stormy Mariner and Peeled Paint), and spritz some water onto the blending mat. Use an acrylic block to pick up the watered-down ink and gently press it onto the watercolour cardstock, avoiding the penciled area. Stamp each stem, holding the ink for a few extra seconds to allow absorption and create a watercolour effect.

Step 3: Adding Variation

Experiment with different shades of green and blue for the stems, creating a varied and organic look. To prevent the colours from becoming muddy, start by stamping around the card before going over areas again.

Step 4: Framing the Card

Using the same Distress Oxide inks, blend around the stamped image using Craft Stash blending brushes. Start with a green centimeter in from the edges, followed by a dark blue around the very edges. This technique adds a vignette look, enhancing the vintage stamped effect.

Step 5: Adding Splatter Details

To add extra flair, use a paintbrush to splatter some ink around the card, excluding the area designated for the sentiment. This step adds an artistic touch to the watercolour background.

Step 6: Stamping the Sentiment

Erase the pencil line, ensuring the ink is entirely dry. Reposition the sentiment using a stamping platform or an acrylic block. Stamp the sentiment using Versafine clear ink for a detailed black impression that stands out against the watercolour background.

Step 7: Creating a Custom Card Base

Using a Craft Stash creative Craft products trimmer, score and fold a piece of coloured cardstock for a custom card base. Trim the edges as needed, and optionally leave a border for additional embellishments.

Step 8: Assembling the Card

Glue the watercolour panel onto the card base, ensuring a border that complements the inking around the edges. Use wet glue, double-sided tape, or foam tape for added dimension (considering postage requirements).

Congratulations! You've crafted a stunning watercolour effect card using the Adventures in Ink gathered stamp set. Enjoy experimenting with different colours and techniques to create unique variations of this vintage-inspired card. Happy crafting!