Watercolour Words Tutorial

Hello everyone! Today I have a Sizzix tutorial for you, using a fun and simple resist technique. I made a layout, but the technique work for many types of projects. Indeed, the result might be better on a somewhat smaller surface.

When I got Stephanie Ackerman's new words dies, I wanted to do a background using most of the words. Leo has just started to walk and I realised that I hadn't scrapped about when he learnt to sit, which was a big thing for him, gaining a whole new perspective on his toys and other things. I am tucking more photos and journaling in behind the layout. The dies were used to create masks, which resisted the watercolour paint. I used Prima's watercolours, but any watercolour paint will have the same effect. Ordinary table salt created the cool texture. 

These are the Thinlits sets and Framelits that I used: Circle Words: Faith, Create, Brave & Joy, Circle Words: Yay, Thanks, Sweet & Awesome, Circle Words: Love, Hello, Happy & Home, and the Circles & Icons, Hearts & Star. I love word dies and these are all so versatile and useful, great for scrapbooking, cardmaking and art journaling.

I didn't want the words to be stark white, so I started by giving my paper beige wash. 

Next the background was stamped here and there with a curiosity definition stamp, using Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap inks.

I die cut the words from Eclipse Masking Tape, using this sandwich: Sizzix Magnetic Platform, Cutting Pad, tape, die facing down, second Cutting Pad.

Prepare the paints before you start. I used smooth (hot-press) watercolour paper, simply because it was next to my desk. The next time I do this I will use NOT (textured) watercolour paper, since it is easier to work on. The paints dry much faster on smooth paper and on top of that it was a warm summer day when I made this. I wanted the colours to blend smoothly together, but the paint dried too fast, so you can see that there are some hard lines. Since the paint dried so fast, I had to sprinkle salt into it as I went along. You need to sprinkle the salt when the paint is still wet, but not totally wet. If you work on a smaller surface, you won't have to worry much about drying time. I tested the technique on a small piece of paper first and it worked just as planned, but on the large piece, the drying time became a problem.

Remove the masking tape (I like to use a craft knife to lift up the tape). As you can see, most of the words are perfect, while paint seeped under some of them. I might not have stuck those down properly.

The salt makes little star like textured shapes. I did the salt technique again today, on textured paper, and it was more dramatic, since the paint was wetter. When the paint is completely dry, brush the salt off.

I misted the background with Pearl Mica Spray.

Ink up a row of circles from Tim Holtz Rings stamp, and then repeat using different rows, for variation.

Using your dies to make your own masks and stencils, is a great way to get even more out of your dies. Aren't these words great?

Here paint leaked underneath the masking tape, but these are actually my favourite words. I liked the effect and the less stark words. To achieve this effect, don't press the masking tape down too hard, and use more watery paint. The blending between the two shades of blue that you see here, is what I wanted for the whole layout, but because the paint dried so fast, I got hard lines instead. I would have redone it, if I had had the time. Instead, I decided to leave it be.

I adhered some tissue tape to the background. Wafer-thin dies cut perfectly through wool felt and the felt added a nice soft touch to the layout. These were die cut with the dies from the Circles & Icons, Hearts & Star set. I didn't use the coordinating stamps for this project.

I added some cheesecloth under the photos. The sticker at the top is a really old Making Memories sticker defining 'success', which I came upon when I was looking for something else.

I love circles and rings and you'll find both in the Circles & Icons, Hearts & Star set. The title translates 'new perspectives'.

I don't know if you can see the effect of the Pearl Mica Spray a little on this photo, it is hard to capture.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:

Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Circle Words: Love, Hello, Happy & Home	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Circle Words: Faith, Create, Brave & Joy	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 4PK - Circle Words: Yay, Thanks, Sweet & Awesome	SIZZIX CIRCLE WORDS: YAY, THANKS, SWEET AND AWESOME	Sizzix Framelits Die Set 5PK w/Stamps - Circles & Icons, Hearts & Star
Judikins Eclipse ART MASKING TAPE	Tim Holtz HALFTONE AND RINGS	Tim Holtz CURIOSITIES	Prima Flowers THE CLASSICS Watercolor Confections	Prima Flowers TROPICALS Watercolor Confections
Simon Says Stamp Wool Felt White	Simon Says Stamp Wool Felt OCEAN WAVES	Ranger WENDY VECCHI Mica Sprays	Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD FRAYED BURLAP	Tim Holtz DISTRESS INK PAD ANTIQUE LINEN
Ranger Wendy Vecchi Archival WATERING CAN	Tim Holtz TISSUE TAPE SYMPHONY	Tim Holtz TISSUE TAPE JOURNEYMAN	Tim HoltzTISSUE TAPE SKETCHBOOK	Tim Holtz Idea-ology DAPPER DESIGN TAPE
Tim Holtz Idea-ology LABORATORIE Tissue Tape	Tim Holtz LABEL LETTERS	Ranger Inkssentials PIPETTE	Tim Holtz DISTRESS SPRAYER Ranger	Big Shot Machine
Sizzix BIG SHOT MACHINE Gray And White	Standard Magnetic Platform for Wafer-Thin Dies	Sizzix MAGNETIC PLATFORM	Sizzix MINT Standard Cutting Pads	Cutting Pads, Standard, 1 Pair (Grape)
Ranger Inkssentials GLOSSY ACCENTS	Ranger Inkssentials TRIANGULAR COLLAGE GLUE STICK	Ranger Inkssentials Non Stick CRAFT SHEET

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