Block Watercolor Stamping + Blog Hop + Giveaway
Hello! I am finalllllly back (sorry – summer is packed with kiddo stuff!) with a video showing another oldie-but-goodie technique. Block watercolor stamping is wonderfully fun and easy. I made lots of examples to show you!
[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. To watch the video in HD on YouTube, click HERE.]
I remember helping in my first stamping class almost 15 years ago. Sally Traidman was teaching for Hero Arts and I had just starting doing a bit of work with them. Sally taught a technique of inking up an acrylic block (clear stamps were really new back then), misting it, and stamping. I loved the results! Since then lots of people have done various “smooshing” techniques but this is still my favorite. I hope you like it!
I have lots of examples to share! Be sure to watch the video for how I did this. In each case, I use the technique of inking up a block, misting, and stamping on watercolor paper. I then stamped or white heat embossed images on top. All of the stamps today are from the new My Monthly Hero July Hero Arts Kit and available add-ons. (More on that below.)
I inked the blocks with Distress Ink before misting and stamping. However, you can ink with many different dye inks or markers. I find I get best results when stamping the block on watercolor paper (I mostly used Tim Holtz watercolor paper) and leaving the block in place for a few minutes. This allowed the color to get more intense.
After I dried the pieces, I white heat embossed images from the Hero Arts My Monthly Hero July Kit and add-on sets on top. I love that there are so many image options in these sets! And the detail is fabulous…
To make the images stand out even more, I “colored” them with my Wink of Stella Clear Shimmer Pen. The shimmer is eye-catching in person.
I also used my sewing machine to add details to the cards. (I have a Brother sewing machine that I use just for cardmaking. THIS is the newer model of the one I have.) And I have gotten my money’s worth from my machine! It has held up great after many years of sewing cards and has lots of stitch options. I also like to use heavy-duty thread.
By the way, you can control the intensity of the watercolor look in three ways: 1. The amount of ink on the block, 2. The amount of water on the block, 3. How long you leave the block on the paper to absorb the color. For this one, I wanted lots of color…
You can also try using different size and shape blocks. You really can’t go wrong!
You really don’t need many ink colors. For this rainbow card, I used pink, yellow, and blue inks only… and they mixed to create more colors…
For my card bases, I used either a bright matching cardstock… or a muted neutral, such as kraft or light grey.
This next card features a sentiment created with glitter paper and the Hero Arts Thanks Stamp and Cuts Set.
There are a few variations to this technique that are fun. You can create a fun, artsy, messy look by hitting the block when it is still wet on the paper. It causes fun splatters coming out of the edges…
You can also get unique and splotchy looking backgrounds by not putting something heavy on the block while it dries. This causes only some of the ink to reach the paper, giving a different result…
For a clean look you can also do the watercolor block stamping technique but cut it out fro a sharp edge.
I can’t get enough of how pretty every background is! And it took no talent or effort… 🙂
I did use the textured side of the watercolor paper for more interest. You can also get Ranger Watercolor Paper to create your own matching notecards with texture.
Now these last two cards feature a different watercolor paper. In the Hero Arts My Monthly Hero July Kit, there are three 5×7″ and one 6″ circle pieces of handmade watercolor paper. This paper is 140lb, handmade, professional-grade, cold press, 100% recycled watercolor paper and it is deliciously textured!
I really like the look of this paper torn on the edge. I can’t get enough!
BLOG HOP
This post is part of a blog hop celebrating the July Hero Arts My Monthly Hero Kit featuring fabulous and unique products. The kit value is $70… but only costs $34.99. You can see all the details HERE. The kit is available for a limited time only – once it’s gone, it’s gone. (Remember that Hero Arts does now have a subscription option with FREE US shipping and $9.99 international shipping in case you never want to miss out on a kit. Find out info HERE.)
There are also many fabulous new products available that coordinate well with the kit. You can find them all HERE.
Here is the kit. All this for under $35!
The next stop on the hop is the creative blog of the wonderful Wanda Guess. (You can always start at the beginning of the hop at the Hero Arts Blog.
GIVEAWAY
Hero Arts is giving away a kit to a lucky blog reader – selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop. For your chance, leave a comment below and on all the blogs in the hop by 11:59pmEST on 7/11/17. (To leave a comment, scroll down to the bottom of this post and click the green “leave a comment” button. The winner’s name will be shared on the Hero Arts Blog. Hero Arts will reimburse the winner if they already bought the kit.)
SUPPLIES
Want to find the products I used? To make them easy for you to find, I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except those from Hero Arts. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the letters below each picture to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Ellen Hutson (EH), etc.
