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Watercolor Hummer

By Bea Rosenleaf
Trailblazers
Mixed Media Team Designer

I like to play with different techniques; after all, experimenting and learning is half the fun with paper crafts!  I had purchased the Stamp Zia color washes several months back. I tried playing with them and could never get a look I liked. Then one day I decided after having spent all this money for all these color washes, I'd better sit down and learn how to use them! This was the result. The technique I used is a little different from what I've read, using a paper towel to dab and help blend the colors.  The paper towel adds a little more texture to the final outcome. So grab a paper towel and get in on the fun!

Supplies:

All Things of Nature stamp set (The Angel Co.)
Malachite/Tanzanite/Amethyst Color Washes (Stamp Zia)
Summer Breeze/Blue Grass/Sweet Lavender/Jasmine (Twinkling H2Os)
100# White Cardstock
Black Cardstock
White Watercolor paper (Michaels)
Square Brads – Black (Making Memories)
Gold Leafing Pen (Krylon)
VersaMark Ink Pad
Black Embossing Power (Ranger)
Heat Gun
Fine-spray water bottle (Michaels)
Paint Brush
Stipple Brush
Adhesive of Choice

Instructions:

1. Cut black cardstock to 5 ½” x 8 ½”. Fold in half to create a card 5 ½” x 4 ¼”. Cut watercolor paper to 5 ¼” x 4”.

2. Create background using Color Washes. Starting with the lightest and working to the darkest, spray colors on watercolor paper and lift; tip paper to allow colors to run (don’t let run too much or they will muddy, but just enough to blend nicely). Lift off with a dry paper towel. If you want a darker background, repeat the process – just let each layer dry well in between or the colors will become muddy. You can speed up drying with a heat gun if you are impatient like I am! Let paper dry well when you get the background to look the way you want it.

3. Stamp Hummingbird with Flower onto the white cardstock and cut to 2 3/4'’ x 2 1/4'’. (Make sure you use the heavier cardstock due to the watercolor process). Using a paint brush and water, color the bird with Summer Breeze and let dry. Color the flower with Sweet Lavender and let dry. Now, highlight the bird with Blue Grass and spritz with fine spray of water – let blend on its own (don’t pick up paper). Repeat on flower using Jasmine. Let this dry well. Using the stipple brush loaded with Summer Breeze and Jasmine, lightly stipple the background around the bird and flower. (You may want to stipple a little paint off the brush onto a scrap piece of paper so it isn’t so dark when you do the background. When this is dried well, layer on black cardstock and set aside.

4. Using Versamark ink pad, ink image and stamp onto the background. Sprinkle with black embossing powder and heat until melted with a heat tool. Attach 3 black square brads to verse centering across the top (set on the point to make them look like diamond shape).

5. Create border with gold leafing pen around the background. Layer on black card front.

6. Attach the bird to card front at an angle.

If you would like to print this technique including a near-full size image of the layout, click here.  Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

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