Video - Paper Towel Backgrounds

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a new video on how I make my paper towel backgrounds.  This is an easy and quick way to upcycle your paper towels that you've used to mop up excess ink after making a project.

I keep my used paper towel and use them over and over until they are saturated with ink.  You need that saturation in order to have enough ink to transfer to your background.  I have used different kinds of ink and they all work for me (Distress Inks, Distress Oxide Inks, Watercolour Paints, Powdered inks including Brushos, Bisters, Magicals, etc).

I hope you'll take a few minutes to check out this quick video tutorial.  Please give me a thumbs up on YouTube if you found it helpful.  Click below or click HERE to watch it on YouTube.  Thank you!

For my first card (above), I used the first background I made in the video.  As you can see, the paper towel makes a very artsy, random design which is a wonderful base for stamping, die-cutting or stenciling. I stamped a peony image in black and heat embossed in clear before watercolouring my image with Distress Inks over top of the paper towel background made with mopped up distress inks.  A simple sentiment was stamped in black and heat embossed in clear to match.

Here's a close-up ...

This second card uses the second paper towel background I made in the video.  This was done with a paper towel which has mopped up Brushos.  I added a die-cut over top of my background, cut it to size and popped it up on the card front.  A simple sentiment stamped in black finishes the card

... and a closer look ...

For my last card, I used the paper towel to create a background.  No transfer of ink for this design.  Instead, I used a paper towel that has already transferred it's excess ink onto another piece of card.  I dried the paper towel and am now upcyling again to create a background using the paper towel itself.  I love the colours and the beautiful texture from the quilted design of the paper towel.  A simple white die-cut was added over top.  It was framed in a stitched peek-a-boo window and a sentiment was stamped in matching inks.

... and here's a close up ...

I hope you've enjoyed my paper towel background cards and will give this a try yourself.

Card #1:
Stamps:  happy snippets (Penny Black)
Paper:  Card front - Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Leftover Distress Inks from mopping up previous projects
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, acrylic block

Card #2:
Stamps:  Sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:  Card front - Mixed Media paper (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Leftover Brushos ink from mopping up previous projects
Accessories & Tools:  water mister

Card #3:
Stamps:  Happy Messages (Stampendous)
Paper:  White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Leftover ink from mopping up previous projects

CAS Stencil January Challenge

Hi everyone.  Welcome to the very first CAS Stencil Challenge.  This is a CAS (clean and simple) card only challenge using stencils.  Please follow the challenge theme for using either a technique or product with your stenciling.

We're staring off with an easy challenge.  Most of you that have used stencils, have done so with sponging.  Create a CAS card with sponge stenciling and come join us in the gallery!

I have a short video on this technique for those that are interested.  Click below or check out the video on YouTube HERE.

If you found the video helpful, please give me a thumbs up on YouTube!

Thank you!

Starting off with the card at the top of this post, this is the one I made during the filming of the video.  I love this pretty large flower stencil and have used it many times.  I finished the card by stamping a sentiment and heat embossing in gold.  In hindsight I wish I had used a larger font so it stood out more. :)  I finished by adding an antique frame die, sponged on the edge with twisted citron ink.

I made three more cards using the sponging technique from the video, which I will detail below.

A modern, masculine card ...

On the card above, I simply sponged one colour of distress ink (pumice stone) over a leaf stencil.  I added a card front with a peek-a-boo window, stamped and heat embossed the sentiment in copper, and added a die-cut leaf sprig which has been embossed with several layers of copper and frantage copper embossing.  Love the texture from the frantage!

And a fun artsy card ...

On the card above, I sponged two colours of distress inks (spiced marmalade, picked raspberry) through the Happy Flowers stencil from STAMPlorations.  I removed my stencil and using a fine tip black marker, outlined the images free-hand.  You could also leave the stencil in place and trace around the images if you want.  For the finishing touch, I splattered some diluted black acrylic paint.  I didn't realize how much I had diluted it until I ended up with these HUGE splatters.  :)  In the end, I really like the look and think it suits the flowers. I used a black die-cut thank you to complete the design.

And, finally, the last card ...

Using the same leaf stencil as the masculine card above, I sponged with a mix of blue and green distress inks.  Added a silhouette leaf die-cut and sentiment banner with white heat embossing.

I hope you'll join me and the wonderfully talented design team for our first challenge.  We're excited to get going and hope you are excited and want to play along!  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Card 1:
Stamps:  Sentiments (AliExpress)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Lovely Large Flower stencil (Studio 490 - Wendy Vecchi), sponges, Antique Frames die (Penny Black), Prismacolour pencils, gold embossing powder, heat tool


Card 2:
Stamps:  Many Everyday Sentiments (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock)
Ink:  Pumice Stone Distress Ink (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Leaf stencil (Carabelle Studio?), sponge, Meadow leaf die (Memory Box?), copper embossing powder (Ranger); Antique copper Frantage (Stampendous), Stitched Square die (gift from Bonnie)


Card 3:
Paper: Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. 400 Series); White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Spiced Marmalade, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools: Happy Flowers stencil (ARTplorations), sponges, fine tip black marker, diluted black acrylic paint for splattering, Thank You die (?)


Card 4:
Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (SU!)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Leaf stencil (Carabelle Studios), sponges, Little Leaf die (Sizzix), white embossing powder, heat tool


Challenges:
CAS Stencil January Challenge - Sponging

CAS Mix Up April Challenge

Hi everyone.  Today is the start of the CAS Mix Up April Challenge.  This month's challenge is being hosted by the very talented Julia (Create with Me).

Julia wants us to try the Rubber Band Technique.  This  technique has been around for several years. It's s fun and easy way to create some interest for a background or die-cuts.

I have created a video on two different ways to do the Rubber Band Technique.  I hope you'll have time to watch the video.  If you like what you see, please give me a thumbs up!  Thank you!

In the video I show a couple of ways to do this technique ... with an acrylic block or with a brayer.  I used a brayer on the Happy Birthday card at the top of this post.  I wrapped with three thin elastic bands, inked up with Versamark  and rolled over a piece of black card stock that has been wiped with an anti-static powder tool.  I sprinkled "Garden Patina" embossing powder from Ranger and heat embossed.  Love this bright turquoise colour.  The bands leave a wonderful, random design that adds interest and dimension.

I sponged a piece of card stock with Peacock Feather's distress ink, die-cut the little leaves  and added them over top of the embossing.  I popped up the black panel, and popped up the leaves on my sprig (hard to see in the photo but there's lots of dimension).

I stamped a simple sentiment in black to finish my card.

Here's the close-up ...

I hope you'll come play along with our Rubber Band Challenge --- it's so fun and easy to do.  Descriptions of my other cards from the video are in the post below.

We are thrilled to have Hideko (Papercraft Boutique) as our Guest Designer this month.  Please check out the challenge blog to see the cards make by the rest of the CMU Designers and our GD, Hideko.  Then come play along!

I'm entering the card above in the Just Us Girls Challenge #434 - CAS.

Stamps:  Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Black card stock (SU!); White card base (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Versamark; Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Brayer, rubber bands, Dark Patina embossing powder (Ranger), heat tool, Little Leaves die (Sizzix), sponge

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up April Challenge - Rubber Band Technique
Just Us Girls Challenge #434 - CAS

Tissue Paper Watercolouring Video on SCS

Looking for the Twelve Tags of Christmas event??

Click here to link up your tags.

Hi everyone.  I'm so excited that my Tissue Paper Watercolouring Video is being added to the video tutorials at Splitcoast Stampers!  It's such an honour!  Thanks so much Dina!

I wanted to make a tissue paper watercolouring card to launch at the same time.  I used one of the tissues left from when I made the video several months ago.  Makes a fast and easy card having a stash on hand. :)

I actually made two cards and they are from the same piece of tissue.  One I paired with white die-cuts, the other with gold.  They look SO different!!

The white diecut flower with frame lets the watercoloured background be the star.  Love this combination of purple, yellow, orange, green, and a bit of gold.  I added a simple gold stamped sentiment banner at the bottom to finish.  If you want to know how I made the watercolour background using tissue paper, please watch the video ... everything is explained.

Here's the second card I made ... using a piece of the same watercoloured background, but this time adding a gold flower and frame.  This pretty Wildflower die is a gift from a dear friend.

I used Delicata Gold reinker to add a bit of gold to the tissue paper, so wanted to match that with the rest of the elements of my card.  A frame was cut from white card stock and swiped with the same gold (using an ink pad this time), as well as stamping the sentiment.

I hope you'll give this fun technique a try.  Makes great backgrounds without having to use watercolour paper.  I have also stenciled over tissue paper backgrounds using two different techniques --- sponging with ink and embossing paste.  Both work great with these backgrounds.

I'm adding both of these cards to The Flower Challenge #14 - CAS.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wish (SU! - retired)
Paper:  White Tissue Paper, White card stock (Neenah 110 lb.)
Ink:  Distress Oxide Inks:  Wilted Violet, Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint; Delicata Gold (Tsukineko)
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Floral Stem Collage die (Poppy Stamps), Wildflowers die (AliExpress)

Challenges:
The Flower Challenge #14 - CAS

Watercoloured Tissue Cards from Video

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing the details (and close-up pics) of the three cards from my latest video - Tissue Paper Watercolouring & Techniques.  The first card with the flowery heart die-cut is posted HERE.

This is the Metallic Tissue Paper technique that I learned from Karen (Karen's Kreative Kards).  After watercolouring my tissue paper with brushos and letting it dry, I scrunched it up, flattened it out a bit and then glued it to a piece of white card stock.  The scrunching creates lots of creases and texture.

I went over the piece with an anti-static pad and then lightly swiped my Versamark ink pad over top, just adding ink to the tops of the creases.  Embossing powder was added and then heat embossed.  This creates a gorgeous textured background with metallic highlights.  I simply added a silver foil die-cut snowflake sash and heat embossed sentiment to finish the card.

For the above card, I used watercolour sprays to colour my tissue paper.  Once dry, I glued the paper flat onto a piece of acetate (Grafix .007 acetate used here - available at Amazon.com). You need to use good quality glue and good quality acetate to get the tissue to stick. This creates a sturdy, semi-translucent piece that was used to die-cut the leaf sprig.  A stitched frame was added to the background and a sentiment was stamped to finish the card.

For the last card sample from my video, I used a dye ink watercoloured tissue paper and scrunched it to create texture.  The tissue paper was adhered to a piece of good quality acetate (see info above) using good quality glue in order for it to stick.  I flipped the piece over to use the acetate side as the front of my focal card panel. You can see the texture from the crumbled background through the acetate, creating a unique look.

I stamped the wildflowers in Versamark and heat embossed in gold.  A piece of vellum was ripped to create a banner and the sentiment was also heat embossed with the same gold.

I hope you'll try out these fun techniques and then come join the CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Tissue Paper.  Hope to see you in the gallery!

Christmas Greetings:
Stamps:  Warmth & Wonder (SU!)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); white tissue paper; silver foil (SU!)
Ink:  Brushos; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, silver embossing powder, heat tool, glue, Snowflake Sash die (

Happy Birthday:
Stamps:  Fun Birthday Sentiments (HLS)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); white tissue paper
Ink:  Watercolour sprays (Dick Blick)
Accessories & Tools:  Acetate sheet (Grafix .007 thickness), glue, Stitched rectangle die (Lil' inkers), Lively die (Penny Black)

Hello:
Stamps:  Insightful Meadows (Unity); Many Everyday Messages (Hero Arts)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); tissue paper; vellum
Ink:  Dye inks (SU!); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, acetate sheet (Grafix .007 thickness), glue, gold heat embossing, heat tool


Challenges:
CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Tissue Paper

CAS Mix Up July Challenge

Hi everyone.  Happy Canada Day to all!  Canada is the big 1-5-0 this year!! :)

Not only is today Canada's birthday, but it's the start of a new challenge at CAS Mix Up.  Bonnie is hosting this month's challenge and has come up with a FANTASTIC challenge  ...

  

I have been experimenting with watercolouring on tissue paper for the past couple of weeks.  I have found that tissue paper works with many colour mediums that can be diluted with water.  It's easy to do and you don't need expensive watercolour paper.

I have created a video tutorial about how I watercolour with tissue paper, along with several techniques for using the watercoloured tissue.  Check out the video below, or click HERE to watch it on YouTube.  Please give me a thumbs up if you found the video helpful. :)  Thank you!!

For the card above, I used watercolour sprays on tissue paper to create this colourful background behind a flower heart die-cut card front.  Love the mix of colours.  I'll post the other three cards from the video in a few days with details on what I used to make them.

We're excited to have Sue (Sue's Card Craft) as our Guest Designer this month at CAS Mix Up.  Welcome Sue!!  I hope you'll find some time to check out the challenge blog to see the beautiful CAS mixed media tissue paper cards from Sue and the rest of our talented Design Team.

The challenge is open until July 24th.  I hope you'll create a CAS card with tissue paper and come join us!

Edited to add:  I'm heading over to Just Us Girls to help celebrate their 400th challenge - WOW!  Congrats to the DT!!

Stamps:  Thoughtful Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah); White tissue paper
Ink:  Watercolour sprays:  orange, yellow, magenta, turquoise (Dick Blick); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Heart of Flowers die (Simon Says Stamp), black embossing powder, heat tool

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up July Challenge - Tissue Paper
Just Us Girls #400 - Celebrate

Video - Alcohol Inks with Yupo

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing several cards I made while filming my latest video tutorial.  The tutorial is how I work with Alcohol Inks and Yupo Paper.  The card above is a small snippet of one of the pieces I made in the video, and below is a card made with the rest of that piece, along with other cards made from samples from the video.

I show two different techniques (smooshing and dropping inks), and then show another way to add interest and visual texture.  Please check out the video below (on YouTube).  If you like what you see, please give me a thumbs up!!  Thank you!

(Click HERE to watch on YouTube)

More cards from the video ...

Notice the texture on the sides of the AI smooshed panel ... made by spraying blending solution once my AI piece was completely dry.  Blending solution pushes alcohol inks out of the way to create lighter spots.  If the alcohol ink is still wet when you add blending solution, they will flow together and eventually blur.  But if the AI piece is completely dry before spraying with blending solution, then the droplets will only push out a little bit until there is too much resistance from the dry inks to go any further.  It creates a very unique and artsy design.  You can see lots of this visual texture on the cards above and below.

* * * * *

Just a quick reminder that my "Twelve Tags of Christmas" event starts on Monday, Nov. 7th.  I hope you'll come back to check out my tags for the twelve days, along with the beautiful tags created by my wonderfully talented Guest Designers.  And join the fun by adding one of your mixed media Christmas tags!

See you on Monday!

Autumn Leaf:
Stamps:   Gorgeous Grunge (Stampin' Up!); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  Yupo
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Honeycomb, Teakwood (Ranger); Gold (Pinata); Delicata Gold; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Blending Solution (Tim Holtz), mister, Maple Leaf die (Poppy Stamps), gold embossing powder, heat tool

Golden Fern:
Stamps:  Hello sentiment - Where the heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  Yupo
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Honeycomb, Teadwood (Ranger); Gold (Pinata), Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Blending Solution (Tim Holtz), mister; Delicate Fern (Memory Box) --- borrowed from my friend Christine

Fabulous Birthday Leaf:
Stamps:  Heartfelt Thanks (Penny Black)
Paper:  Yupo
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Botanical, Mermaid (Ranger); Blue Sapphire, Silver (Pinata); Smoky Slate (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories & Tools:  Blending Solution (Tim Holtz), mister; Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Lively die (Penny Black)

Happy Birthday:
Stamps:  Fun Birthday Sentiments (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  Yupo; Vellum
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Botanical, Mermaid (Ranger); Blue Sapphire, Silver (Pinata); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Blending Solution (Tim Holtz), mister, silver embossing powder, heat tool

Ghosting Technique Video Tutorial

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing a video tutorial on the Ghosting Technique (sometimes called Faux Bleaching or Water Stamping).

I used three different types of card stock, along with three different types of colouring mediums to show the variety of looks you can get with this technique. They all start with a dry, inked background, and then the "ghosting" can begin.

Below the video is a detailed written description of the ghosting technique.  All three cards in this post are made from the backgrounds done in the video.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video.  You can watch it on YouTube by clicking HERE.  I'd appreciate a "thumbs up" if you find it helpful. :)  Thank you!

The first segment of the video is ghosting using distress inks (see card sample above).  Since the background is sponged (no water used), you have the option of using regular card stock, watercolour paper or mixed media paper.  I used regular card stock (Neenah 110 lb.) for the card above, randomly sponging with two colours of distress inks.  Distress inks work really well for this technique as they react well with water.

Once you have your inked background, the ghosting technique is always the same. Add water, let sit for 10-15 seconds, and then remove with a paper towel.  You can use a stencil, stamp or just flick water.


IMPORTANT TIP:  If using a stencil, make sure to remove the stencil quickly after spritzing with water so the stenciled images stay crisp.  If the stencil is left on the wet surface for long, the water seeps underneath the stencil and blurs the images.

* * * * *

Ghosting with Watercolour Sprays on Watercolour Paper

For the second card, I used watercolour paper saturated with two colours of watercolour sprays.  You can use watercolour paper or mixed media paper for the sprays.  Regular card stock will not hold up with all the water content of the sprays.

It is important to use "freshly" made backgrounds when using watercolour paper for this technique.  Pulling out one from a stash will not work well.  Not sure why, but assume the ink absorbs into the watercolour paper and over time becomes permanent.

Again, just added a stencil over top, spritzed with water, removed stencil right away, waited for the water to activate the inks (10-15 seconds) and blotted with a paper towel.  The watercolour paper will be wet after the ghosting technique.  As it dries, the contrast between the background and the ghosted images becomes greater.  You are left with a subtler ghosting image when using watercolour paper.

* * * * *

Ghosting with Brushos on Mixed Media paper

Here's the third card from my video.  This time I started with Brushos (3 colours) on mixed media paper.  You could use watercolour paper or mixed media paper with Brushos, but not regular card stock.

I just flicked some water onto the dry, inked background, left it for 10-15 seconds, and then blotted up with paper towel.  You can see the large bleached splatters in the background.

Because I used Sponging to create my blue and brown background, I'm entering the first card into the Just Us Girls Challenge #351 - Sponging.

Thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Create without Fear card:
Stamps:  Subway Art Buiders Create (STAMPlorations)
Paper:  White (Neenah 110 lb. card stock); Black (gifted to me by my friend Christine)
Ink:  Distress Ink:  Peacock Feathers, Vintage Photo (Tim Holtz); Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, Clock stencil (Tim Holtz), water mister, Copper Frantage Embossing Enamel (Stampendous), heat tool

Leafy Hello card:
Stamps:  The Big, the bold, the happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  White card base (Neenah 110 lb.); Watercolour (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Watercolour sprays made from Liquid Watercolor Concentrate (Dick Blick)
Accessories & Tools:  Leafy stencil cut with my Silhouette Cameo), water mister, white embossing powder, heat tool, Rose die-cuts (gifted to me by my friend Bonnie)

Sunset Silhouette card:
Stamps:  Effulgence (Penny Black); Sentiment - Where your heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 140 lb. - 400 Series)
Ink:  Brushos:  Lemon, Orange, Brilliant Red; Versamark
Accessories & Tools:  water mister, Black embossing powder, heat tool, Black acrylic paint and Gold acrylic paint for splattering (Liquitex)

Challenges:
Just Us Girls #351 - Sponging

Stenciling with Brushos Video Tutorial

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing another stenciling with brushos card along with a short video tutorial.

My card above uses the same technique in the video below and has stamping, die-cuts, and stenciling with brushos so it is another example of a CAS Mix Up card that fits the CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Die-cuts.

I shared the card below on my blog a few weeks back, and had several requests asking for a video on how I did this technique.  Thanks so much for all the feedback.

The video on Stenciling with Brushos is below, or you can watch it on YouTube by clicking HERE.  It's very short (2:30) and I show lots of examples of cards I made using this background technique.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video and I'd appreciate a "thumbs up" if you find it helpful. :)  Thank you!

As I show in my video, I found it easiest to have something underneath my card front so that I could pull off my stencil quickly.  I used an acrylic block, but you can use whatever you have on hand.  The trick to this technique is removing the stencil as soon as possible so the water and crystals don't have time to flow under the stencil.  For crisp, clean images, being fast is best. :)  It's also best to use a stencil that has both open spaces and solid spaces, and try to get the watercolour crystals in as many of the open spaces as possible.

I used mixed media paper (Strathmore 400 series) for both my cards above. Watercolour paper also works well for this technique.

I hope you enjoy the video.  And thanks for dropping by for a visit!

Birthday Card:
Stamps:  The big, the bold, the happy (Winnie & Walter)
Paper:  Mixed Media (Strathmore 400 Series); White base (Neenah)
Ink:  Brushos:  Lemon, Orange, Terracotta
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, Numbers stencil (cut with my Silhouette Cameo), Stitched Border die (Pretty Pink Posh)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up June Challenge - Die-cuts

Splash Watercolour Background Tutorial

I'm here with two cards I've made with the Splash Watercolour Background technique and a video tutorial on how I do this technique. :)  This is a very easy and quick way to make watercoloured backgrounds.  I love the randomness of this splattered look with lots of visual texture.  Make sure to use watercolour paper for this technique.

After finishing the background, I die-cut the fern leaf, brushed on lots of water and then randomly dropped in different shades of green ink.  Once the fern was dry, I diluted a small amount of gold acrylic paint with water and splattered over top.

This is also a reminder that we are half way through the month for the CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Watercolouring.  There's still over a week left to play, the challenge closes on March 24th.  Come join the fun! :)

The video on Splash Watercolour Backgrounds is below, or you can watch it on YouTube by clicking HERE.  It's very short (2:25) and I show lots of examples of cards I made using this background technique.

I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch the video and I'd appreciate a "thumbs up" if you find it helpful. :)  Thank you!

For my second card, I have used the same Splash Watercolour Background, this time using three colours of ink (Antique Linen / Brushed Corduroy / Peeled Paint).  I stamped my image first in archival black ink (waterproof), then added the background layers.  I blotted the blooms with paper towel after each layer of splashing so it was very light then I watercoloured over top with my pinks and yellows.  To finish I added splatters on top with diluted ink and a large brush.

Fern Hello
Stamps:  Where the Heart is (Simon Says)
Paper:  White cardbase (Neenah); Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint (Tim Holtz); Re-inkers:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Garden Green (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Pair of Ferns die (Cheery Lynn), water mister, waterbrush, gold paint (Lumiere)

Thinking of You Daisies
Stamps:  Daisy Thanks (Stampendous); Thinking of You (Happy Little Stampers)
Paper:  Watercolour Paper (Arches 140 lb. cold press)
Ink:  Black Archival (Ranger); Distress Inks:  Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Abandoned Coral, Picked Raspberry, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed (Tim Holtz)
Accessories & Tools:  Water mister, waterbrush, Corner rounder (We R Memory Keepers)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up March Challenge - Watercolouring