Monday, June 13, 2016

Watercolour Wash


Hi everyone.  A few weeks ago I got together with some crafty friends and we tried all kinds of watercolour techniques and mediums.  This is one of the projects we did that day, and I finally got it made into a card.  :)

We did watercolour wash with Peerless Watercolors.  I don't know if you're familiar, but they come in several forms, including a small booklet.  They have small sheets (approx 6 1/2" x 2 1/2") of each of fourteen colours.  They are dry, but as soon as you touch them with a wet brush, you brush will be filled with gorgeous watercolour pigments.  They would be great for doing crafts when you are traveling, as you only have to bring along your brushes and the booklet.

Here's what they look like ...


I used two colours (Sky Blue and Dark Blue) for the background wash.  First, I heat embossed the image of two trees and falling snow in white.  Then taped my watercolour paper down to a clip board using painter's tape.  This keeps it from warping.  Used a sponge brush to add lots of water to the paper ... you should be able to see a sheen of wet.  Picked up the first colour with a wet brush and made large gestural strokes.  The second colour was added with a wet brush filling in some of the areas without colour along with overlapping a small amount of the first colour.  Then I tipped my clipboard, letting the colour and water run.  This created the design above.  Also sprinkled kosher salt over top and let it dry completely before brushing away the residue.  The salt pushes the colour away and created small starbursts.  Very cool!

To finish the card, I tore two pieces of white card stock for snow drifts, splattered diluted white acrylic paint over everything and let it dry before stamping my sentiment.

I used snippets for my torn snowdrifts, so I'm heading over for some fun at the Snippets Playground.  Also entering this into the AAA #66 - Watercolour challenge.  I think this is my fourth entry --- can you tell I love to play with watercolours?! :)

Thanks for coming by for a visit!

Edited to Add:  I should have included a link to this wonderful wash tutorial by Gina Kim.  I followed her steps exactly and ended up with the card above.  Thanks to Gina for sharing her expertise on YouTube.







Stamps:  Snowdust (Penny Black); Sentiment - Christmas Bell Medley (dee's artsy impressions)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour card front (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Versamark; Sky Blue, Dark Blue (Peerless Watercolors)
Accessories & Tools:  White embossing powder, heat tool, brushes, salt

Challenges:
Snippet Playground - Week 233
AAA Cards #66 - Watercolour

38 comments:

Betty said...

fantastic blue sky, Loll - must get those Peerless out - they've been sadly neglected. love the card!

Linda said...

Beautiful card Loll and great technique.

Kathyk said...

This is lovely, Loll, I have the exact same set as you, fab and vibrant colours

Kathyk

maria f. said...

And all that watercolor practice makes perfect! So rich and smooth, your lovely sky.

Julie B said...

Stunning card Loll. Love the blue wash against the white. :)

MaryH said...

I have had some of these Peerless for a while, never tried. Now I'll be hunting it up! What a wonderful look you've created in this snowy night sky. Like the salt works too (another try that I was not successful with...this looks great!). Great set of snowy trees, and of course, your snow drifts always look splendid. Wish I could join in with your craft sessions. Easy to see you had loads of productivity too! TFS & have a great week. Hugs.

MaryH said...

Forgot to say: Thanks for explaining the process with the creation too. I'll try it YOUR way!! Perhaps be more successful.

Julia Aston said...

A beautiful sky using these fun watercolors and salt!

Darnell said...

Okay, wow, Lolly, this card is in the No. One spot of my Top Ten Cards of 2016, and I doubt it will be replaced! (If it is replaced, it will prolly be by you!!) I could stare at it all day! Also pinning! Enjoy your day! Hugs, Dolly

Shirl said...

Gorgeous! Sorry to have missed this. Where did you find the Peerless watercolors? Or maybe it was Christine that brought them? Your card turned out wonderfully. I imagine you will be buying these at some point?

Shirl




Shirl

OH Babs said...

Loll thank you for continuing to supply me with new techniques. The torn paper I use but have not tried kosher salt and that looks great. I just ordered some new watercolors so will give this technique I try. :)

nancy littrell said...

I swooned when I saw your gorgeous watercolored and salted sky background for your beautiful heat embossed trees!!! Wouldn't the Peerless be great for my camping trips?!? Where did you get them Loll? Always love your snow banks too. TFS my friend. Hugs, Nancy

Brenda said...

Wow! Your evening sky is stunning Loll! I love the trees and snow, so pretty is the salt thing. I've heard of it, but have yet to try it. But it does give a very cool effect! I love Peerless Watercolors even though I don't own any. On my wish list though! Think they are very cool too. lol I'm in a cool mood today, can you tell?! Hugs, Brenda

Linda said...

What a fabulous sky ..... and I love those white embossed trees. I've never tried the salt technique but I'm going to now!! xx

Mac Mable said...

Fabulous sky and loving the white against it Not used the peerless but they do look fabulous. Thank you for the inspiration x

Nstiz said...

What an incredible, magical sky! I have had a peerless book given to me and have not touched it but this beauty will make me want to play with it. Thanks for describing exactly how that sky was done. This is just gorgeous, Loll!

Donna said...

This is absolutely stunning, Loll. The light and depth are astounding. So very beautifully well done. X

Anita in France said...

Magical, Loll ... a beautiful blue aurora borealis ... it's stunning! Hugs, Anita :)

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

So pretty, I love the great dark tones you got in the sky. It makes it so dramatic!

Bonnie said...

What a gorgeous background, Loll! I love the variations in color and the falling snow! This is a perfect stamp to use with this technique!

Tenia Nelson said...

Beautiful!

BożenA said...

Your sky is very realistic. I love watercolor mingled quite unevenly creating a very dramatic evening sky. This is a fantastic card.
hugs,
BozenA

Marcia Hill said...

WOW...absolutely gorgeous Loll!! I agree with Darnell...#1 card for 2016! And my "happy mail" came today...thank you SOOOO much!! Can't wait to play!! :0)

Tami said...

Beautiful card! Thank you so much for your explanations of your cards! It means so much that you take the time to explain the technique of each card :)

Susanne Vargas said...

Oh, this looks really magical! I have this stamp (still unused) and really love all the cards you made with it!

TK said...

Beautiful, gorgeous, amazing!

papierelle said...

Love this wonderful card!!!

Karen Dunbrook said...

wow...stunning card mf...love how you created this.
I am feeling frustrated lately at my lack of time to stamp and play. I have been so busy with my little ones and soon school will be out so I will have a few extra kids.
Oh well....what can you do?
Hugs mf.
Karen

Jeanne said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing. I so enjoy all the different techniques you share. :)

Di said...

Wow Loll - what a fabulous card and fascinating to read about another product I'd never heard of. Stunning result there kiddo!

Hugs

Di xx

Sazzle Dazzle said...

Oh my! I am literally swooning Loll. Your card is simply AWESOME! Such heavy atmosphere to your sky but full of realism too. That's certainly a clever technique I'm going to have to try and thanks so much for sharing it at AAA Cards this week. Sarah

P Beatty said...

Just Beautiful!!!!! I just organized my peerless watercolors & can't wait to try them out

Susan said...

It turned out beautifully! Love the shades of blue and the gorgeous sky they created. That was such a fun technique to try - I must remember to take some salt up to my craft room. And now I'm home, I'll head to Opus one of these days and buy some Peerless.

Coralynn Murray said...

Stunning! I love all the elements on your card and the background is wonderful. Thanks for playing along with us at AAA Cards this week.

Bobby said...

I love that sky, Loll.

Barb Ghig said...

Peerless watercolors are my fave to play with, but I've never seen such a beautiful result! I love how you played with movement, and with the salt...WOW! You've created such a fabulous night sky and a totally gorgeous winter wonderland on this card! Can't wait to try this out, too :)

Sue - said...

Fabulous card - I just love the effect you've got with the watercolour.

Daria said...

Lovely card. TFS.