Wash Background Card

 

For this card, I did a beautiful wash background, then layered some flower stamps from the latest Stamp of Approval Lovely Notes collection.

I started by cutting my card base at 5 1/2″ and scored at 4 1/4″ (backwards from what we normally would do for a top folding card.) Then, I cut 140 lb. water color paper to 5 1/4″ x 4″. I spritz well with water and used my water brush to spread the water evenly around the area that I would be applying color.

Next, I chose my Distress™ ink colors of Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, and Blueprint Sketch. I smooshed each color onto an acrylic block and spayed it with water, then, using a water brush, I put a wash of the twisted citron a little more than 1/3 of the way down the paper, diagonally, then I added in the peacock feathers, being sure to blend with the twisted citron, then the blueprint sketch, again blending with the previous color of peacock feathers. After the colors were blended to my liking, I added a bit more color to each section in a more particular way, which helped the brush strokes really show. I think this gives it a nice painterly look, and adds depth to the colors as well. Using my heat tool, I dried the background, then moved on to stamping.

I used Blueprint Sketch for most of the stamping, and Peacock Feathers for the butterflies and a few of the smaller flowers.

In Blueprint Sketch, using the lovely flowers set from the latest Stamp of Approval release, I selective stamped just the branches of the leaf branch that has only the 6 tri-tipped leaves. Then, I stamped a few of the fuller leaves, 1 on each edge of the top left corner, 1 in the bottom left corner, and one half stamped along the bottom edge of the bottom left corner, so it is stamped off if the edge.

I then stamped 3 of the 3rd smallest flower randomly on the top left corner, and 1 to the bottom right corner. Using the next smallest flower, I filled in a bit more of each area, but being sure to leave some openings. Then, using Peacock Feathers, I used the smallest flower in the set to fill in the remaining areas on both corners.

Going back to Blueprint Sketch, I chose the big Thank You from the Butterfly Notes stamp set and stamped it in the center of the card layer, then, from the same set, I stamped For All You Do right below it.

Switching again to Peacock Feathers, I used the 2nd smallest butterfly from the butterfly notes set and stamped it to let left of the Thank You sentiment, to have it appear as if it is landing on the tip out the you. I then stamped the smallest butterfly from the set in the bottom right towards the corner area.

Using Tombow™ 2-way liquid glue, I adhered my watercolor layer to my card base and used my bone folder to run over the card to ensure good contact and to help minimize warping. I adhered 3 silver sequins to my card in  random places, and it’s done!

Though there is a lot of writing, and I gave a lot of instructions, this card comes together pretty easily and doesn’t take too long. I think the results are beautiful, and the color combinations are fun to play with.

I hope you give it a try!