Gerberas & Background Tutorial

Hello everyone and Happy Weekend !

I have a card today featuring one of Designs by Ryn floral stamps -  her beautiful Gerbera.   The background was created with watercolour paints.   I've received many enquiries about this technique so I've included a tutorial, it's easy and fun.

I did my best to take photos as I worked with the water colour paints, but it was a little tricky as I couldn't hold the brush while taking them.  Below are the steps to create a background using watercolour paints ("wet on wet").  

You will need the following tools:  Non-stick craft mat (mine looks a mess, the table top under it is rough), brushes, inexpensive watercolour paints, mister with water, 140 lb water colour paper, plastic container with water and paper towel.

Using a large brush add water to the paper.

It's hard to see in the photo, but the page is completely covered with water.

Using a brush, add paint that you've mixed with water onto the wet paper.  Watch how the paint moves!

Continue to add paint.  I used blue, green & yellow as they blend into nice colours.

Add more paint.

I continued to add more paint and tipped my page to blend.  You can do this with your page flat and no tipping for interesting patterns.    You could stop now to create a dramatic background or continue to add a little more more paint and then stop.

I spritzed more water and used a brush to help blend the paint.  This also could be the point where you decide it's going to be nice for a background.     You could add Sea Salt now while it's still wet.  Keep the paper flat if you add salt, wait for it to dry and watch the salt create patterns in your paint.

I blended further.

Remember to let the paper dry before stamping over top.  On this particular piece I let a lot of colour run off as I was going for a subdued background.    You can use Tombow markers on dry paper and spritz with water for a similar effect.  Play around and have fun !

Once the background was dry I stamped Gerbera  (using a mask in a couple of areas) with black Stazon ink    I coloured the flowers with mica water colour paints.   I added Copper Stickles to the centres and a butterfly charm that was hanging out in my stash. The lovely quote is from Impression Obsession;  "More Clearly Ourselves" - C13073. 

Thanks for your visit and have a great day!
Shirley