Fast Watercolor Looks for Stamping + GIVEAWAY

Hello! I love the look of watercolor on cards, but am not the best at it. So today I am sharing one of my all time favorite techniques for getting a watercolor look with very little effort or time!

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

[All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Multiple stores are also linked in the parentheses following the product name. Compensated affiliate links may be  used at no cost to you.]

For my first few cards, I used the Hero Arts Peonies Stamp Set (HA | SSS)… heat embossing it on Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper with Hero Arts White Satin Pearl Embossing Powder (HA | SSS). (All of my cards use watercolor paper.)

I generously and very quickly added Distress Ink directly onto the image and sprayed it heavily with water. As it dries on its own, the water moves the color and results in a beautiful watercolor look. I did the same for the leaves and then cut out the images. I added the pieces to a Hero Arts Bold Graphic Confetti Die background… and topped it with a Hero Arts Smile Die (HA | SSS) and Hero Arts Birthday Messages Stamp Set (HA | SSS) sentiment.

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

This next card is much like the first, however I added Perfect Pearls to the water. I *love* the resulting pearly shine on the flower! The background features the Hero Arts Papel Picado Confetti Die (HA | SSS).

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Here you can get a better look at the shine…

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

You can also do this technique with Distress Oxide Inks (SSS | EH). The results still look like watercolor, but have a creamy look. I finished the card off with the Hero Arts Bold Graphic Confetti Die for the background and the Hero Arts Thanks Die for the sentiment.

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I used the same technique for this next card… with Distress Ink and Perfect Pearl water. However, this time I stamped the Hero Arts Magnolia Stamp Set (HA | SSS) image with Tsukineko Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink (SSS | EH) and embossed with Hero Arts White Satin Pearl Embossing Powder (HA | SSS). (This gives a gunmetal look.) The background features the Hero Arts Bandana Background Stamp (HA | SSS) and the sentiment is from the Hero Arts Peonies Stamp Set (HA | SSS).

(Please excuse how bad this next photo is. The sun had gone down and I forgot to get a photo of it!)

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Here is another example using the Hero Arts Magnolia Stamp Set (HA | SSS). This time I added more Distress Ink before spraying generously… giving a bold look. I used Hero Arts White Satin Pearl Embossing Powder (HA | SSS) with the Hero Arts Bandana Background Stamp (HA | SSS) for the background. The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Food Puns Stamp Set (HA | SSS). (The inside says “I miss you.)

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

That shine!!!!…

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

You can also use water-based markers for this technique. After heat embossing the images from the Hero Arts Flowers for Coloring Stamp Set (HA | SSS), I used the coordinating dies to cut them out. Next I scribbled on quick bits of color with Tombow Dual Brush Pens (SSS | AZ) and sprayed generously with pearlized water. Once dry, I have gorgeous color! For the background I used Hero Arts Tile Pattern Stencil (HA |SSS) and Tonic Moonstone Glimmer Paste (SSS | EH)… and the sentiment is from the Hero Arts Peonies Stamp Set (HA | SSS).

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

This is such a fast way to get that watercolor look…

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

You can also create quick backgrounds this way. Here, I white heat embossed the Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring Stamp (HA | SSS) on watercolor paper. I quickly added Distress Oxide Inks and sprayed it heavily with water. Once dry, I have wonderful results! I used the Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring Dies (HA | SSS) to create an arrangement of white die cuts and stamped a greeting from the Hero Arts Peonies Stamp Set (HA | SSS) on top.

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I used the same Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring Stamp (HA | SSS) for my matching envelope…

Fast Watercolor Looks Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I hope you will try these quick techniques!

BLOG HOP

Today I am honored to be a part of the Hero Arts Summer Release Blog Hop. I have loved the folks at Hero Arts for almost 20 years… and they are responsible for me becoming a stamper. Their newest release is amazing – you can find it all HERE.

I am the last stop on the hop… so you can start over at the Hero Arts Blog.

GIVEAWAY

Hero Arts is giving away TWO $50 shopping sprees to the Hero Arts online store, randomly drawn from comments left across all blogs in the hop. For your chance, leave a comment below by 11:59pmEST on 5/20/18. (To leave a comment, head to blog, scroll down to the bottom of this post and click the green “leave a comment” button. The winner’s name will be posted on the Hero Arts Blog.)

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used? 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 with an asterisk or from Hero Arts. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the icons below each product picture to go to a favorite store.

Hero Arts Peonies Stamp Set
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Flowers for Coloring Stamp Set
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Flowers for Coloring Dies
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Magnolia Stamp Set
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring Stamp
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring Stamp…
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring Dies
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Birthday Messages Stamp Set
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Food Puns Stamp Set
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Smile Stamp and Die
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Thanks Stamp and Die
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Bandana Background Stamp Set
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Tile Pattern Stencil
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Papel Picado Confetti Die
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Bold Graphic Confetti Die
[ HA | SSS ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ SSS | ELH ]
MISTI Creative Corners
[ SSS | ELH ]
MISTI Mouse Pad Insert
[ SSS | ELH ]
MISTI Bar Magnet
[ SSS | ELH ]
Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper
[ SSS | ELH ]
Anti Static Powder Bag
[ SSS | ELH ]
Hero Arts Heat Gun
[ HA | SSS ]
Hero Arts Heat Gun
[ ELH ]
Hero Arts White Satin Pearl Embossing…
[ HA | SSS | ELH ]
VersaMark Ink
[ HA | SSS | ELH ]
Distress Ink
[ SSS ]
Distress Oxide Inks
[ SSS | ELH ]
Tsukineko Versafine Clair Nocturne Ink
[ SSS | ELH ]
3M Foam Tape
[ SSS | AMZUS ]
Gina K Connect Glue
[ SSS | GNK ]
* Tim Holtz Tonic Glass Media Mat
[ SSS | ELH ]
Bead Tray
[ AMZUS ]
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer
[ SSS | ELH ]
Ranger Mister Bottle
[ SSS ]
Perfect Pearls
[ SSS ]
Kokuyo Long Dot Liner Adhesive
[ SSS ]
Therm O Web Purple Tape
[ SSS | ELH ]
Tombow Dual Brush Pens
[ AMZUS | SSS ]
Tonic Moonstone Glimmer Paste
[ SSS | ELH ]


Leave a Comment

347 thoughts on “Fast Watercolor Looks for Stamping + GIVEAWAY”

  1. I absolutely love your videos! They are so well thought out and so easy to follow! Thank you so much for blessing us with your knowledge and creativity!

  2. I love how quick, easy and foolproof this technique is…I bet even I could do it! LOL! Beautiful cards!

  3. I will have to try this technique, I’ve not seen it before. I love the bold, bright colors in your lovely cards.

  4. WOW.
    Thank you for sharing your card and technique ideas with us.
    You are inspiring me a lot. Tanks.
    I have to try this technique.

  5. Such beautiful stamps and dies and what beautiful cards you made with them. Your techniques are always wonderful, thanks for sharing your ideas.

  6. I watched this amazing video on YouTube without realizing it was part of a hop. Now I need to go back to the beginning of the hop!

  7. I love these techniques you shared! I can’t wait to get in my craft room to try them! Thank you for bring so inspiring!

  8. SSS has such wonderful products. I know you love being affiliated with them. I love your videos. They are to the point, very interesting and I learn a lot from you. Thank you for your time and God for your talents and sharing them with us while raising your family.

  9. You’re making me reconsider this PhD I’m working on. I want to stay home and watch your crafting videos while crafting. Thank you for being such an inspiration.

  10. WOW!!! I can hardly believe the beautiful looks you achieved using such an simple technique. Perfect for those of us intimidated by water coloring and/or who sometimes worry about getting things too perfect with our coloring. This let the water do the work technique is so freeing. Speaking of perfect, the look you achieved when adding Perfect Pearl to the water is absolutely stunning. Can’t wait to give this technique a try! Thanks!

  11. Perfect Pearl Pigment Powder – say that fast 5 times 🙂 I really don’t use my Distress inks enough, thanks for the reminder that I should.

  12. Beautiful cards and wonderful technique! Will be giving this a try. Thanks for always sharing -so helpful!

  13. Totally surprised how beautiful these cards look with no work! Especially love the white on white background and have grown to love your generous sprinkling of white pearls. This would be a great way for me to bust my stash of pearl swirls that I had for scrapbooking.

  14. Jennifer your work is so inspirational! Thank you for sharing the handmade goodness with all of us!

  15. It is so great to see Hero Arts continuing to bring out fun new stamps and dies! I have several Hero Arts stamps that are classics from my early stamping days that I still use today.

  16. These are really pretty! I’m always intimidated by flower stamps because they seem so hard to color – I will have to try these techniques! I really like that Hero Arts Blossoms for Coloring stamp too!

  17. I love the technique!!! An easy way to make some beautiful cards. I also love the satin pearl embossing powder.

  18. You are a whiz with distress inks and embossing powder. Stand back everyone and watch her work her magic! Thanks for sharing so many ideas and options for ways to use these products. I always appreciate a way to get beautiful results quickly. Thanks for sharing.

  19. Jennifer, you hit it out of the park once again. All of your cards are absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing your talent with us so frequently. I’ve always look forward to your videos.

  20. What an amazing display of so many
    of the new products! I love all of the vivid
    color combos that you used. The floral
    stamps are my favorite!

  21. I struggle with the watercolor look myself, although I love the cards I see all the time. Thank you for the great ideas to expand my styles. So jealous of your artful alternate technique talent! So glad you share.

  22. Such gorgeous cards! I began my on-line stamping with the HA Flickr group & they were one of the first companies I was introduced to even before they started the Flickr group!

  23. Love each and every card in this set. Thanks for sharing them and the video tutorial where I learned about the pearl embossing powder and the way you incorporated the perfect pearls when creating your watercolor effect. Can’t wait to try it myself.

  24. Thanks so much for all your interesting videos. I learned so much from you. Great stamps and dies.

  25. Great tutorial, Jennifer! I actually think I can do this! Your cards turned out beautiful as always! I love the look with the water based markers, and the perfect pearls gives such a nice shimmer.

  26. So beautiful – and helpful as I have been afraid to try watercolor on my cards. I love your blog and wonder if there is any way to subscribe via email? Thank you.

  27. I just made a card using this technique! I did the Perfect Pearls in my water. Thank you, Jennifer for all you instructional videos. You’ve really got me hooked on card making.

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