Hello there everyone, I hope you are all well. I am back today to share a video with you using a fun background stamp from the new release over at Simon Says Stamp. This super fun release is called Rest And Refresh and today I am playing with a background cling stamp called Anchors which was kindly sent to me. I am doing a quick and fun technique using acrylic blocks for watercolour stamping.
Here is the video for you but there are also details of how to make the cards below.
So, let’s get started. As the background stamp I am using is called Anchors, I thought it would be fun to make a couple of cards to give to my mum and dad. They love to go cruising and one of the cards is an encouragement card, the other a card they can use to enclose a tip for staff on board.
I began by taking a 2.75″ x 4″ acrylic block and applying Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon and Wild Honey Distress Inks onto the block from top to bottom. I then sprayed it with water so the colours mix slightly. I put a fair amount of water on the block so you need to be quick when you turn it over and press it down onto your cardstock as it may drip. You may need to experiment a bit with how much water you need as too much and it drips, too little and it doesn’t cover the cardstock enough when you stamp it down.
For this technique I have used Tim Holtz Distress Watercolour cardstock, the textured side, but either side works. Once you have stamped the block down onto the cardstock, put something heavy on it and leave it to rest for about 5 minutes. This really allows the ink to settle into the cardstock and gives you better coverage. I repeated the process using Mermaid Lagoon, Twisted Citron and Mowed Lawn Distress Inks for a second panel.
After about 5 minutes, I lifted the blocks and dabbed away any excess ink with a paper towel and then took my heat gun to them to make sure they were completely dry. I wanted to give a bit more interest to the panel so I took my ruler, pressed it down and used it as a guide for me to rip along the edges of the watercoloured areas. This gives the watercoloured panels a little bit of a rustic unfinished look which matches the uneven edge you get from the watercolour stamping. Next I popped both panels into the MISTI, put some removable tape onto the back of them so they didn’t shift, and then stamped the SSS Anchors Background stamp down using Versamark ink. I made sure to use an anti static bag before stamping them.
I removed the panels and added HA Gold Embossing Powder onto one, and HA White Embossing Powder onto the other and heat set. I popped some foam tape on the back of both and set them to one side to work on my sentiments. I used a sentiment from SSS Vacation Time for the encouragement card, and a couple of coordinating sentiments from SSS Tiny Words for the thank you card. These were heat embossed and trimmed with my “I seriously can’t live without” SSS Sentiment Label dies.
To finish the cards, I popped the panels onto two base cards and then added foam tape to the back of the sentiments and adhered those on top.
This is such a great technique, really quick and easy, it can be used with so many stamps, different blocks and different colours so you can really vary the final look of your cards if you want. I originally saw Jennifer McGuire show this technique but it’s been a while since I did it and I am glad I revisited it. It would work well with the two other new cling stamps in the new release too – hop on over to have a look.
Thank you so much for joining me today, I hope that you enjoyed seeing the process for the cards and maybe give it a go yourself if you haven’t tried it before – it’s great fun but expect a little mess. It wouldn’t be crafting without inky hands would it? Happy crafting!
Darnell Jean Knauss says
You did a brilliant video and post revisiting this fun and QACAS way to make a beautiful watercolored background, Lisa! I love that you then tore the panels, too, which adds so much interest to the finished design!! Bookmarking this tute, my friend, thank you so much for the lesson!! Hugs, Darnell
Andrea Hastilow says
Fantastic cards Lisa, haven’t played with acrylic blocks like that for a while, thank you for the refresh. The theme of your cards is really fun cruise or no cruise x
Debbie P says
Great cards. Thank you for the great tips on watercolour it.
Michelle Short says
These are wonderful! Great idea using the acrylic block for stamping, I haven’t done that in ages! Gives a great result and I love the colours you have used. The sentiments work perfectly! xx