Saturday, January 19, 2013

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

31 comments:

Rosie said...

Wow, a wonderful card and your tutorial is easy to understand. Thank you.

Have a nice weekend.

Paula (PEP) said...

thanks for the tutorial - very useful indeed. Super the way you've used the sentiment with the little image of the butterfly - so true.
Paula (PEP)

Gerrina said...

It's a great technic to make subtile backgrounds! Love the one from this card. I won't show this one to my daughter, 'cause she loves gerbera's and I'm sure she would want the stamp... Have a nice weekend, hugs, Gerrina

Creations by Shirl said...

Great tutorial and love another beautiful card of yours...
Hope your weekend is wonderful!

Sophie said...

Eine tolle Karte ist das, Shirley. Sehr elegant!
Und deine Beschreibung ist super dazu.
Dankeschön dafür.

Herzlichst Sophie

Felicie said...

A beautiful card Shirley and thank you for the tutorial.
Greetings
Felicie

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a wonderfull card again,Shirley and what a beautiful flowers and a gorgeous background , and how nice of you to show us how to do it!!!
Thank you you inspire me!!

Greetings
Maria

Karin said...

its a gorgeous card, beautiful colors and i love the quote! have a nice evening! greetings Karin

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A gorgeous card Shirley, and a wonderful tutorial on watercolour backgrounds. Thank you so much for sharing your technique with us. It's really lovely looking at these wonderful flowers, while it is freezing outside.

Hope you're having a super weekend.

Sue x

shatril said...

Nice, I can't wait to try this. TIA

Marja's Stamp Addiction en Marja's Creativity said...

So beautiful Shirley. Marvelous background. And fantastic tutorial.
Havw a nice Sunday and loveley greet
Marja

Bonnie said...

Thanks for the tutorial, Shirley! I've done a similar technique on Shimmery White paper. I've never tried the sea salt on it. I can't wait to give it a try. Love the daisies on this one!

alix said...

Thank you so much for your tutorial Shirley, I can' t wait to try it!!
The result is super!!!
Warmgreetings, alix

Cole Meyer said...

Gorgeous card! And I love the tutorial. Personally, I like the step by step picture tutorial with written explanations better than videos -- it is just the way I learn best. And I will definitely be trying the wonderful technique in the future! Thanks a lot!!!

Alie Hoogenboezem-de Vries said...

Great idea with the waterpaints Shirley! The result is great...gorgeous flowers too

Greetings, Alie :-)

Marijke said...

this is so beautiful and thanks for the tutorial, will try it some time

Saakje said...

Hi Shirley,
How nice that you made that tutorial. very clear. The background from the gerbera card is very subtile and lovely.
I think that stamp is a "must have" for me.
Flowers are still my favo's.
I love this gerbera card very much, "lieve groetjes " Saakje.

Marn said...

Hi Shirley! WOW this is such a pretty card! Sooo pretty, so well done! LOVE that pretty background, and that was so kind of you to post the tutorial on how to make it, it is a great tutorial! The gerbera flower stamp is gorgeous, and you coloured the flowers so nicely to match the background! I LOVE that quote, wow, how very true indeed! Thanks for sharing, this is a great card!
Warm greetings, Marlene

Donna Ellis said...

Hi, Shirley! a WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL tut! LOL great tips and great photos. The colors, as always, are so inspiring. While your card is incredible, I especially like that sentiment. It's a great one to remember, and oh-so-true! xoxo

Greta said...

A masterpiece, Shirley! Thanks for the tutorial. I seldom use my watercolors & you've inspired me to get them out!

Ina G said...

Beautiful card Shirley and thanks too for a great tutorial. Fabulous effect and lovely layout. I love the sentiment too.

Shannon White said...

Soo Beautiful Shirley! Love your Wonderful watercolored BG and Super Tutorial too! Really loving the Sentiment too! 8-)
Hugs
Shannon

Anjas-Artefaktotum said...

Love the colorful card, I look forward to spring!

Bärbel said...

Sehr schöne Karte und wunderbare Farben.

MaryH said...

Hi Shirley, followed a link from Linda, at Snails Space. I've been an admirer of her DI watercolor cards for a while, & I'm happy to have found your blog with a neat tutorial. I tried a couple images with DI watercolor, was not very happy (I'm a copic user). So I see lots of practice in my future. I'll be back to visit & enjoy your beautiful cards, but just wanted to say Hi, I joined as a follower and will be back to visit. Hope you'll come visit my blog when you have time. back to visit you soon. TFS

Gail said...

Hi! I got here from Lindas blog!
TFS The tutorial...I will try it, but letting things 'dry' is not my strong suit!

Ellen Taylor said...

Fabulous tutorial Shirley! A picture is worth a thousand words! Pinning this to try later when I catch up on life!

Unknown said...

Love your card and I am so going to try your background paper tomorrow. So pretty. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas.

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Wonderful tutorial. Your results are so pretty.

Karen Petitt said...

Thank you for sharing Shirley - I will try this out as your way is different to the one I normally do - and I love painting with watercolours so always happy to learn new things to try, thank you so much! x

Cocofolies said...

Hi Shirley! Thank you very much for sharing this technique, I love your tutorial and this flowers card is fabulous!!! Have a lovely day, best wishes Coco x