This month, the Creative Design Team is sharing creative ways to add layers to your projects. In my video tutorial, I show you how to create a layered watercolor background with Distress Oxide inks on two cards with three-dimensional spring flowers. I also have an announcement from the Creative Design Team that you won’t want to miss.
I was inspired to create these cards by the colors on a spring challenge mood board. I loved all the soft colors, and it just reminded me of everything I love about the season.
To mimic those soft hues, I used Distress Oxide inks as watercolors. These inks create a soft matte finish and are water-reactive. In my video, I show you how I created a palette of color with those inks and used water to create layers of color.
On the first card, I used a flat brush to swipe the color horizontally across the paper. Each color was blended with the pigments next to it, creating the look of a fading pastel rainbow.
As you add layers of color, keep in mind that Distress Oxide inks are also water-reactive. If you add more water, you will get a pooling effect. I show you how to achieve this textured look on the second card.
I chose a white tulip for this design, full of delicate petal layers. The white stands out against the background and doesn’t compete with the pastel colors.
When I create three-dimensional flowers, I duplicate the background layer and use it like a shadow. The remaining layers are stacked with foam tape and offset over the shadow layer. Offsetting the layers gives the illusion of more layers and shading on these three-dimensional pieces.
On the second card, I created another watercolor background with layers of ink. This fun, funky geometric pattern is simple to construct with masking sheets.
After laying out the design on the watercolor paper, I filled the shapes with watered-down Distress Oxide ink. To add more layers of color and texture, I spattered and dripped water over the shaded areas.
This water-reactive ink responded to the layers of water and color, and it created a beautifully textured background.
In this design, the tulips were cut from black and grey cardstock, making these tulips pop right off that pastel background. I added some detail to the petal with a white watercolor pencil and stacked the layers together with foam tape.
In my video tutorial, I share a few ways to create layers with watercolor and give you a few insider flower-making tips.
Before I go, I have a special announcement!
If you have enjoyed our monthly tutorials, then you are going to love our amped-up detailed classes. These will inspire you each week with challenges, instruction guides, and crafting tips.
Each week, you will learn new techniques, and how to use up the supplies you already own. I am so excited to be teaching monthly Cricut classes in the group, and I can’t wait to share those with you.
I hope that today’s project inspired you to create layers of color with watercolors and three-dimensional flowers. If you have any questions about the project or the supplies I used, feel free to comment below.
I hope this inspired you to try something new. If you have any questions about this project or the supplies listed above, feel free to leave me a comment.
Hey friends! I wanted to let you in on the products I use in my videos. Just so you know, I’m not getting paid to promote any of them, but I do have some affiliate links available if you want to check them out. If you end up buying something through those links, it would mean a lot to me and my business. And don’t worry, you won’t be charged any extra. Thanks for your support! Learn more