Faux Tie Dye Techniques

Hello! I am fascinated by the many interesting effects you can get by using a water mist bottle and watercolor. No two projects are ever the same and they are QUICK to make! The results? They remind me of tie-dye that I loved as a kid!

Faux Tie Dye 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.]

When I come up with messy-but-oh-so-cool watercolor pieces, I often struggle with how to incorporate them onto cards. Today’s designs show how to use watercolor pieces with frame die cuts for clean and simple looks that stand out.

All of my tie-dye-like watercolor pieces were created in one of two ways:

  1. Putting drops of Pinkfresh Liquid Watercolors (SSS | PF) onto Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper and then spritzing lightly with water. (You could also put drops of any other type of watercolor. Reinkers may work too!)
  2. Spritzing water on to Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper and adding in drops of Pinkfresh Liquid Watercolors (SSS | PF).

Both methods give fun tie dye looks with no effort!

This first card is full of color! I created frames for four watercolor pieces using the Pinkfresh Floral Squares Dies (SSS | PF | EH). By putting the crazy colorful pieces into a frame, it gives it a clean look.

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I created the frames by stacking four die cuts together. This adds dimension and makes a big difference  – totally worth the time! The sentiment in the center is from the Pinkfresh Studio Thanks Stamp Set (SSS | PF | EH).

By the way, when linking these products, I noticed that my friend Laura Bassen did a card similar to this long ago! Great minds things alike. I like hers better… find it HERE.

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Since I had a bunch of watercolor pieces ready, I made lots of simple cards using the Pinkfresh Floral Squares Dies (SSS | PF | EH). The sentiment is from the Pinkfresh Studio Happy Everything Stamp Set (SSS | PF | EH).

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

That pop of color is such fun!

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Here is another card using the same products…

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Here are two more cards using the Pinkfresh Floral Squares Dies (SSS | PF | EH)… but this time on 4 1/4″ square notecards.

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

“Enjoy your day” is from the Pinkfresh Playful Animal Friends 1 Stamp Set (SSS | PF )…

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

… and that perfect, tiny “take care” is from the Pinkfresh Studio Pretty Paisley Stamp Set (SSS | PF)…

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

A fun way to step up this card design is to fill the stacked frame die cut with Ranger Glossy Accents. This gives a stained glass look.

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

That added shine doesn’t take to long to do, but gives great results…

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

The floral frame die cut on this next card was made with the Pinkfresh Botanical Branch Die (SSS | PF | EH). The sentiment is from the Pinkfresh Studio Playful Animals 2 Stamp Set (SSS | PF).

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

Finally, I used all my scraps to create a colorful card! The Pinkfresh Hello With Botanicals Dies (SSS | PF | EH) is great for this! The sentiment is from the Pinkfresh Studio Bloom Stamp Set (SSS | PF | EH).

Faux Tie Dye Video by Jennifer McGuire Ink

I hope you will give this a great. They are FUN to make!

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found here. All products were personally purchased except the Pinkfresh Studios products which were received from the company with no expectation. As always, this post was NOT paid for or sponsored.) Click on the icons below each product picture to go to a favorite store.

Pinkfresh Floral Squares Dies
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Botanical Branch Die
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Hello With Botanicals Dies
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Studio Bloom Stamp Set
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Studio Pretty Paisley Stamp…
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Playful Animal Friends 1…
[ SSS | PNK ]
Pinkfresh Studio Playful Animals 2…
[ SSS | PNK ]
Pinkfresh Studio Happy Everything…
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Studio Thanks Stamp Set
[ SSS | PNK | ELH ]
Pinkfresh Liquid Watercolors
[ SSS | PNK ]
Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper
[ SSS ]
Water Wash Bottle
[ AMZUS ]
Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer
[ SSS ]
Ranger Glossy Accents
[ SSS ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ SSS | ELH ]
MISTI Mouse Pad Insert
[ SSS | ELH ]
MISTI Bar Magnet
[ SSS | ELH ]
Tim Holtz Tonic Glass Media Mat
[ SSS | ELH ]
Gina K Connect Glue
[ SSS | GNK ]
Glue Stand
[ ETS ]
Gemini Junior Die Cut Machine
[ SSS | ELH ]
Therm O Web Purple Tape
[ SSS | ELH ]
4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ Envelopes
[ AMZUS ]
Neenah Classic Crest 110lb Cardstock
[ SSS | AMZUS ]


Leave a Comment

38 thoughts on “Faux Tie Dye Techniques”

  1. I’ve enjoy seeing the close-up of your cards and the technique…such great looking cards
    Your one talented creator…..tfs

  2. Love these tie-dye effects! All these cards are gorgeous, especially the last one where you used all scraps! It’s perfectly colorful and fun!

  3. I love your tie-die looking cards! I bought liquid water colors awhile ago and wasn’t sure how I was going to use them! Now, I am going to try your techniques! Thanks so much for sharing your talents and time!
    Blessings,
    Cathy

  4. You know Sequoia and I are going to have to try this! I don’t have liquid watercolors, but I do have some distress ink refills. It looks like fun that could almost pass as a science experiment! It must be fun for you with Lila old enough to participate more and really put in her 2cents. “Most of the time” it’s like that with Sequoia. :o)

  5. I love the cards and ideas on your video today. The background colors are so vibrant and yet the card looks so clean and fresh. I love the dimension these frames give the card, especially stacking them. Thank you.

  6. Oh, I absolutely love that amazing effect! I don’t own any liquid water color, but I’ll try it with ink refills or regular water color and see if I can approach your results. Loved your video, I always learn something, thanks.

  7. I also bought hydrous water colors a year ago and have been unsure of how to use them for cards. Thank you so much for your sweet spirit and generosity in sharing your techniques and projects. I really am inspired!

  8. Loved the cards… and they look as if they would be fun and relaxing to make. I have been looking into liquid watercolors and like that these have an eyedropper. Thanks Jennifer… Blessings.

  9. I love your cards and the water colored backgrounds. I think I need to play more with watercolors. Thanks for the inspiration!

  10. I just love these cards. That technique is fabulous. I have some Dr. PH Martin watercolors and will have to give it a try with those. I don’t have any framed dies like that, but I’m sure I can figure something out, can probably create something with my Silhouette. This style of card would do great with some of my alcohol ink backgrounds too. Thanks for this fantastic inspiration and wonderful examples for this technique.

  11. Girl……I don’t know how you do it! You inspire so many with your talent! I love these cards… I’m going to try this with reinkers. I like them all, but the scrappy card is my favorite! Thank you for sharing with us!

  12. Hello Jennifer,
    I’m really liking these liquid watercolors. I saw where Tim Holtz came out with a set of them. I really like the colors Pink Fresh has too. I’ve tried this idea with alcohol ink and solution but never tried with watercolors. Very nice. Thank you for a great tutorial.

  13. great technique and I think Lila has come up with the right name for this technique. The cards you made Jennifer are beautiful and shows the gorgeous colours so well. Thank you so much for sharing.

  14. These are beautiful Jennifer, they are so impactful with the frame dies too. They look really pretty and thry are perfect CAS cards 😍, Lisa xx

  15. Love these Jennifer!! I love the CAS look. These are absolutely perfect. I can’t wait to get these dies. Thank you so much for sharing your amazing talent.

  16. I am so loving these backgrounds! They do look tie dyed & I still do it. Do you know they now have a kit with strings like embroidery thread that you tie onto your fabric & then microwave it? Hey, you don’t need to buy or look for a bucket or 2 or 3 or ruin the inside of your washer but I digress. I don’t have a die cutter or a punch that is a frame but I am on the lookout for a punch. Actually, I just bought some sticker frames that would look so cool with what you did! Now I can do it & I can use one of my punches for the design on the inside. I’m sure I have something I can use. I so totally have to watch your video to see how you did it. Thanks for showing us your cool designs & how to make them. I need more time in the day just for card making!

  17. Jennifer…re-visited this video, and made a ton of cards for sets to give. So much fun AND used so many of my dies that have been neglected over time…thanks!!!

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