Video: No-Water Watercolor

Hello there. Today’s video shares how to stretch your supplies to achieve a faux watercolor look with no water.

[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Affiliate links used. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]

I discovered this technique by accident while at a craft retreat in the spring. I am always so happy when I discover new ways to stretch my supplies and wanted to share with you…

I started by stamping the layering images from the Watercolor Wonders stamp set by Altenew using Hero Arts Shadow Inks on to a piece of 80lb Neenah White Cardstock. I flipped the panel over and heavily saturated the back of the stamped images with a Copic Colorless Blender Marker. When the Colorless Blender reacts with the ink, it makes the color bleed… and you’re left with a beautiful, soft watercolor look.

Remember, the more Colorless Blender you put down, the better the results will be! And to be safe, only do the blending on the back. If you apply it directly on the stamped image, the ink color will transfer to the tip of the marker. I just scribble this off and it doesn’t bother me. Up to you.

I finished the cards by heat embossing a sentiment from Altenew’s Baby Zoo stamp set using white embossing powder on to a piece of black cardstock. I adhered a few of Lucy Abram’s sequins (I like that the gold sequins have a matte finish) and added a Hero Arts gemstone to the center of each sequin. Many people ask about the placement of sequins… I like to put down an odd numbers and cluster some in a triangle shape.

You may be wondering if other inks work for this technique. I think this technique works best with the Hero Arts Shadow Inks and other inks with the same formulation, such as the Simon Says Stamp inks and the Wplus9 inks. These inks bleed with Copic Markers… which is good for this technique. On the more coral-colored card above, I used the Altenew Crisp inks. I did achieve the same watercolor look, but had to add a bit more colorless blender to the images. I encourage you to try whatever dye inks you may have. Test them out!

You could also try a paper stump with rubbing alcohol instead of the colorless blender. However, I much prefer the results and control with the marker.

If you’re like me and struggle with the control of watercolor – or simply want to stretch your supplies for a new look – this might be a fun technique to try.

RELATED VIDEOS

Here are some related links that may be helpful:

By the way, if you are interested in the new Altenew release… stay tuned. I will have a release video soon.

SUPPLIES

Interested in the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products personally purchased except those with asterisk.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), Amazon (AZ), etc.

 

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51 thoughts on “Video: No-Water Watercolor”

  1. Many thanks for yet another great video. I recently purchased the Watercolor Wonder stamp set so I was especially delighted to see how you used it!

  2. I love it 🙂 I’m not that great with copics, but I do have the colorless blender. Have you done it enough to notice that it takes a ton of liquid and thus needs to refill faster? I don’t have the refill yet, but if I can make this work, I might need to get one.

  3. When you flipped the flower image over and started coloring with the blender Copic, was I ever surprised! The results are lovely- I adore your cards! Very clever.

  4. Great technique and tip using the copic colorless blender. Love your cards. Thanks for sharing. I learn so much from you.

  5. Interesting technique! Tim Holtz has a blender also and I’m thinking that should work the same way, I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks for another great video, thanks for sharing your talent and knowledge with us.

  6. These cards are so pretty! I am definitely going to try this technique out. Will have to use my Stampin’ Up! Blendabilities Color Lifter instead since I don’t have copics! (They are alcohol markers that have since been discontinued by SU.)

  7. Gorgeous results, Jennifer! I’ve yet to take the leap to Copics so will see what else I might have that will work for this technique.

  8. Thank you Jennifer for another fabulous video!! I love that your “mistakes” become techniques for upcoming videos. I hate making mistakes on my projects and very rarely just have time to “play.” I like what comes out of you playing around with supplies, though.

  9. Such a soft, pretty look, Jennifer! While I was in the garden this morning, I was thinking about the beautiful Altenew ‘Garden Grow’ stamp set. It has so many of my favorite garden things and would be such fun to use on cards, tags, scrapbook pages, and in my garden journal, too!! I’m hoping that you can share a card using ‘Garden Grow’ and Zig Clean Color markers. Hugs for all you do and share!! ♡[email protected]

  10. Another great video. I would have never thought of this. I love that you go before us and come up with all this awesome ideas.

  11. Gorgeous cards, as usual. thanks so much for taking the time to make a video. I may have to copy you on this one, for my mom’s birthday card. ^_^

  12. What a neat way to water color. Thank you for teaching us how to do this. I enjoy and learn from all of your videos.

  13. Beautiful cards. I do not have Copics (yet) and am pretty new to card making and all the techniques that go along with it. So, I am wondering if using Gamsol, rubbing alcohol, or something else would give the same watercolor look.

  14. Everything looks so pretty. I don’t have Copics yet either or that colorless blender but I wonder if I could do this with water and a paint brush and the markers that I have? I would like to try this on scrap paper first to see if it works. You always have such good ideas!

  15. This is an awesome idea! I sometimes get frustrated because a lot of cards use copic markers, and it is hard to achieve the same look. I don’t own copic markers, and never plan to because of the huge investment. So it is great to see a card that uses products that I already have! Thank you!

  16. Hi Jennifer!
    Thank you for the tutorial! I am always looking for ways to stretch my stamps and supplies. I never thought about applying something to the back of an image to change the image on the front.

  17. I love all your techniques and use you all the time as a reference to try new things.
    I tried this technique using my Spectrum Noir Colorless Blender and it worked! Thanks Jennifer

  18. hey jennifer.. thanks for another fantastic technique.. by the way, your cards are absolutely fabulous contabulous:) i mean it… the view is awesome over here… and thanks for all your efforts and time…it means alot to me… sincerely

  19. Another great technique Jennifer. You know, when I was going to finally start getting Copics, I wanted to get a colourless blender but couldn’t find one. What I DID find, was a Ranger Adirondack, Alcohol Ink Fillable Pen so I filled it with Alcohol. (Works the same way. ) I have since found a Copic blender so where I already have this I will keep it for this technique. Awesome idea!

  20. I love this technique and can’t wait to try it out. Me and watercolor (uugghhh). Thanks for the idea.

  21. Another wonderful technique to try out Jennifer. Now, if I can only remember them. lol I enjoy your videos immensely and always look forward to them. Thanks for sharing.

  22. Another great technique! Do you have the link to the guide that you refer to while stamping? I couldn’t find it. Thanks!

  23. I too love the lawn fawn stamps for the same reason as you. I love that you can combine them with each other. I also love your ideas. I just came across one of your videos today, that I immediately subscribed. Thanks for sharing.

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