Create @ Home Faux Watercolor

I guess using the word Faux would indicate something "pretend" but what I mean is I am not using "watercolors" for this project, but in fact Tim Holtz Distress Markers, which, when mixed with a squirt of water...

becomes a water color

Let's move on, shall we?

So, first I stamped an image (a super cute one, if I don't say so myself and hey, they are on sale..25% off!) onto cardstock with Black ARCHIVAL ink.

Then, I created some purple watercolor paint by coloring in a section on my little pallet thing with the Dusty Concord Distress Marker :and adding a spray or two of water = Watercolor paint:

Now, I have a paper towel in my left hand (not pictured) and as I paint, I blot a little here and there

then using the other colors I chose (Wild Honey for the petals & flower center), I continued to paint until I was happy..NO, actually I stopped, because painting makes me so happy, I would have never stopped.

moving on...

Now, dry it almost until dry and then using the fine tip point on the same color Distress Markers you used to make your watercolor paint, add some detail to your work by adding little dots.  You can also go back and use the brush tip to add a little more detail by swiping the color right over your dots. Take a close look at this photo to see what I am talking about (I know, a video would be good at this point!)

• I used the Broken China brush tip to add shadow around the right side of the flower and petal (well and a few spots on the left, too!)
• I used the Dusty Concord brush tip to add some shadow on and around the inside of the scallop frame.
• I used a slightly darker marker, Spiced Marmalade to add detail to the petals and then the brush tip of the Wild Honey to blend
• Color in the stem and the leaves using the brush tip of Shabby Shutters.

Now, you could leave it as is, add a sentiment and call it a card or you can trim it out and set it aside for the next part of this little tutorial.

Using the Broken China, Tumbled Glass and a little Shabby Shutter, I scribbled out a bunch of color on my mat, squirted it with some water, made some paint

and using a wet paint brush, I painted it onto some paper and dried it :

Then, using the fine tip of the Black Distress Marker, I just started writing the word CONGRATULATIONS over and over and over.  In all caps, in lower case, in cursive, in upper and lower...just repeat the sentiment, keeping your words close together until you fill up the area you are work on:

Now, do not say "I don't write like you..." or "I wish I wrote like you" or "If I had writing like you"

You write like YOU and do not worry about how it looks..and if needed, take a close look at how willy wonky my letters are:

and 9 times of of 10...I do not dot my i's.

moving on...

Okay, now using a hanging manila tag, cover the front surface with glue stick:

and adhere the tag to the WRONG SIDE of the colored/word paper.  Use hand pressure to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles and then dry.  Trim Tag out.

NOTE: at some point I must have added some Walnut and Shabby Shutter Distress ink to the edges of the tag and blended it into the blue, which gave it a green tint. Thing is, I was so happy and carried away with how it was looking...I FORGOT TO TAKE PICTURES...

whoops.

Now, adhere the stamped flower piece that is sitting to the side patently to your tag using popdots, glue dots..whatever you like.

I had a package of "Soul Food by Melody Ross" typed word embellishments (before I had any Chit-Chat) that was perfect for this tag so I grabbed a few, distressed them by adding a little Wild Honey Distress Marker, blended with my finger, adhered them on...

and called it done. 

Happy Creating! 

Here are the products I used:

Ranger Heat It Craft Tool	Jet Black Archival Ink	Tim Holtz Distress Markers	Distress Ink - Antique Linen	Distress Ink - Walnut Stain
#5 Manila Tags	Ink Palette

InLinkz.com

Comments

[Candy]

Well, that does it! I'm making myself some tags today! God sure does store a lot of GENIUS up there in your brain and maybe since you cut all your hair off it's seeping out more!

[Lynette]

Love it!

[Julie S]

So pretty!

[DebbieJ]

What a great little project! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Sandy]

Oh I can't wait to try this and I have most of the products, just haven't been sure how to use them - thanks so much, Stephanie. I'm with you, always happy when I'm painting!!

[irma]

You make it look so simple...Thank you for sharing...
Hot summer greetings from Germany - Irma

[Jane Lazenby]

I love these tags! They look beautiful and would be great for any "word"! Thanks for sharing!!
Jane

[Tracy from Adelaide, Australia]

Lol I laughed when you "read my mind" about the neatness of your writing....I love the tag and will try it out tonight. You are one clever lady x

[Angelica]

Oh I love this!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Cherie]

Thank you for the instructions. I learned quite a bit. I am in a bit of a dry spell so this might help. God bless you.