Creative Watercolor Media - AECP

 

 Hello and welcome back!  Today I have my project to share with you for the Creative Watercolor Media class for my level 2 in the AECP.  This class was taught by 3 amazing and very talented artists....Jennifer Rzasa, Laura Bassen and Debby Hughes.  I am always in complete awe of Debby Hughes' work...she is an amazing watercolorist (is that a word?), so I decided to do one of the techniques she taught.....ink smooshing with masking using Altenew inks.

I had taken borrowed a bottle of masking fluid from my husband awhile back, but never managed to use it, so this gave me the perfect opportunity to try it.  Now as easy as watercolouring may look, it is not at all...or at least not for me.  This class was actually the most challenging for me so far in the program. I had tried the ink smooshing numerous times and even though it is very unpredictable and you never quite know the results you will get, I could never make it look half decent.  And then the 2 times it looked presentable, my watercolouring was awful.  I most definitely need more practice with it.  But I finally managed to get a result I was happy with.

 

So to begin I stamped out my images using the Hennah Elements stamp set on some watercolor paper and did some masking to layer the flowers using a post-it note.  I then brushed on 2 layers of the masking fluid...this happens to be a watercolour fluid, so it was perfect.  I let that dry thoroughly before I did my ink smooshing.

For the ink smooshing I used Coral Berry and Fresh Lemon on a sheet of acetate and spritzed it with water.  I continued pressing my paper into the ink and "smooshing" it around and drying it between each layer until I was happy with it.  I love how when the colours blend you get a pretty peach colour.  I let my paper dry completely before removing the masking fluid.

 

 

To remove the dried fluid you just rub your finger along it and peel it all away...kind of like a facial mask.  I found it strangely gratifying to peel it away...especially when you see the crisp white image revealed untouched by the ink.  To colour my images I did some watercolouring using a whole bunch of Altenew inks.  

I used a mix of blues, purple and pinks.  I just kind of smeared the ink pad on my glass mat and picked up some of each ink using my waterbrush and added it to where I wanted the ink to be darkest and then blended them out with some water.  I started with a light layer and then added more until I was happy with it.

 

 

I let it all dry and then added a few more little images/flourishes from the stamp set to compliment the flowers.   I added some black splatters using watercolour paint.  It may not have needed it, but I added it anyways lol.  All that was left was to add a white heat embossed sentiment and pop it all up on my card base and then the always important sequins.  And that's it!

This was definitely a labour of love to get to this point, but it's all a learning experience.  I do need to be more patient and not go all in with the paint and/or ink right away with this technique and take my time.  I learned alot from this class and will definitely put my new knowledge to good use in the future.

 

A few tips I learned during the process: 

1. When watercoloring, work in layers and gradually build up the paint/ink.
2. Use a paintbrush you don't mind get all gunky when using masking fluid or wipe it off every now and then using a baby wipe before picking up more fluid.
3. Always pick complimentary colours for ink smooshng, so you don't end up with mud.
4. Use something like a stamping platform when using watercolour paper, as the texture of it is a bit rough. That way you can be sure to get a nice and even stamped image.
   

 

Thank you so very much for joining me today...it is always greatly appreciated.  I hope you all have the most wonderful day and find some time to sit down and get crafty.  

Until next time,

Michelle 💗

Supplies Used:

• Altenew Hennah Elements stamp set
• Altenew Painted Butterflies stamp set
  
• Altenew Inks - Fresh Lemon, Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Teal Cave, Purple Wine, Cosmic Berry, Desert Night, Cotton Candy, Frayed Leaf, Forest Glades, Evergreen, Coral Berry, Lavender Fields, Deep Iris and Midnight Violet
• Talens Watercolor Liquid Masking Film
  
• Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink
• Versamark Embossing Ink
• Ranger Multi Medium Matte liquid adhesive
• white detail embossing powder
• black cardstock
• foam tape
• Mother of Pearl sequin mix - Little Things from Lucy's Cards
• white card base 
• water bottle
• acetate