Sunflowers Bring Two Times the Watercolor Fun!

It's FINALLY Friday!!! Welcome to Viva Las Vegastamps!!! Susan here with my bottom of the month post. Today I am sharing another quick and easy technique - watercoloring with your Ranger Distress Markers. Both are using supplies you already have on hand AND depending on your color palette, can give you the look and feel of any season.

I'm going to show you two variations on Kromecote glossy cardstock and also on a textured cardstock {similar to a watercolor paper}. The process is like this: color, mist with water, stamp...REPEAT.

SUPPLIES: You will need your Ranger Distress Markers, assorted VLVS rubber stamps, mister bottle with water, textured and  Kromecote cardstock, dye ink and an acrylic block.

Begin by selecting some colors and color directly to your stamp. I'm using "Tree Writing Collage" #18914 for my first background. I used four markers ranging from yellow to light brown. I colored entire stamp with markers starting with lightest color to darkest. This doesn't have to be perfect. After coloring, spritz stamp with water.

I know I've shared a watercolor technique before, but with different colors and stamps, you get a totally different look and feel. In the above photo, I have done the step above and stamped first on Kromecote {on left}, then remisted and applied to the textured cardstock {on right}. I did not reink - I just misted again with water before applying to second paper. **A TIP** keep remisting and stamping until all ink is used up - this saves you a step in cleaning off the unused ink...and you get a bunch of pretty backgrounds as a result. I heatset each and this is the result - two subtle watercolor effect backgrounds. On the Kromecote, it is much more muted and flowing, the textured cardstock more distressed from the texture of the paper.

Now for a VARIATION...

Now you want repeat the process - EXCEPT - this time, color directly onto your acrylic block. YES! On the acrylic block. I colored horizontally across the block in stripes using the same four colors, gradating from lightest on top to darkest on the bottom. This also doesn't have to be perfect. If there are areas exposed and/or not colored, this is GREAT, too. Have fun with it!

Before you stamp your paper, spritz with water and then use as a stamp and apply to paper. Above is the results of coloring on the acrylic block directly first to the Kromecote, then remisting with water and then applying to the textured cardstock. I reapplied ink and repeated process to try also on a section of vintage book paper.

I stamped the "Sunflowers" #9918 onto my papers with black dye ink and heatset. I gathered some paper scraps in the same color palette and a parchment card base. I layered everything and adhered with Miracle tape to my card base, popped up my torn textured sunflowers with 3D foam dots and added a Burlap Twine May Arts bow.

To finish off I stamped  "Thanks a Lot" #587 in the bottom corner with black dye ink. I added some subtle color detail to the flowers and leaves with my Ranger Distress Markers applied with a water brush. Quick and easy...and beautiful!

Presenting my Lovely Sunflower Card!!!

Thanks so much for dropping by today! I invite you to hang around and peruse the projects by the fabulous Viva Las Vegastamps! Desgin Team or pop on over to the Viva Las Vegastamps! store - loads of new stamps - SEVEN NEW plates to be EXACT - are on pre-order for 20% off!!! YIPPEE!!

If you would like to see more of my creations please visit my blog, sbartist : painting in the dark HERE. I'll be back with another stamping adventure real soon! Hope you have an inky day! Sb