Card making for beginners using watercolours
This post aims to show new card makers how to use watercolours to paint a background using the wet on wet technique, splatters with a pippette and blower as well as using leaves and bubble wraps as ‘stamps’ with watercolour. Primarily aimed at students to make cards for their educators, at home and at school to thank them for the perseverance and amazing job they have done and adapted to the constant changes in rules during this last year of the pandemic.
Please see the video below and close up pictures of the cards as well as the list of supplies used in the making of these cards. Please note links to products are not affiliate links and are just suggestions of possible sources.
PRODUCTS USED:
Watercolour paint - use any set of watercolours you have at home. If you do not have any, here are a few suggestions, Niji watercolours, 36 tube colours, 36 colour cakes, 16 basic colour cakes set, 24 tube colours
Watercolour paper - 12 sheets measuring 24x32cm in this Canson XL watercolour paper pad. Cut each sheet into four pieces and that is what you’ll need for the card front. So you could make 48 card fronts with this watercolour pad. The most important item in watercolouring is good quality paper so it can hold water well - so if you are going to invest in anything, let it be watercolour paper.
Flat paint brush - this link is for one brush required for the technique I show, but there are economical brush sets that you can get here. Use any flat paint brush that you have as it is a colour wash and most flat brushes should be able to handle that.
Pipette - 6 pack, 10 pack. It would be good to have one pipette per colour, so you are not constantly washing your pipette for the next colour and wasting your paint.
Paint palette - Rectangular, Circular, Basic
Containers of water - At least two containers of water but I tend to have four, so I do not have to constantly change water and do not contaminate my colours.
Straw of varying lengths - if you have only one length straw, cut one into half and keep the other at full length. Varying lengths of straws will result in different splatter effects when you blow into it.
Low tack tape - Modelcraft masking tape, Scotch masking tape
Artline pen - many in the market. I use the Uni Pin Fineliner, Pentel Energel 0.5 (multi pack), Stabilo Fineliner (10 colours, black, 18 colours). You can use any other artline or felt tip pens that you already have.
Pen marker - best to get a multi-coloured set, or use any markers that you have at home. Sharpie twin tip (coloured) is good value as you get a fine and ultra fine tip for different width strokes. Sharpie twin tip (black) is good to have as most of your doodles and sentiments tend to be black against a background of colours. The Sharpie twin tip (coloured) set comes with only one black, so you could get just the black set when you run out. If you get the Sharpie twin tip set, you will not need the Artline pens.
White gel pen - the Uni Ball is the best white gel pen that I have used and I have tried many available in the market! However beware that there are many fakes out there using the same name and the ink in these pens do not flow very well.
Base card stock - white, black, coloured (mixed bright, bright)
Scissors - Titanium scissors. You do not need this scissors if you already have scissors though longer scissors make it easier to cut a straight line.
Clear plastic packaging - get it from packaging
Bubble wrap - get it from packaging
Rag - to wipe your brush on
Leaves - go outside and get some leaves in varying sizes and have some veins in them. You do not want smooth leaves as the paint will not ‘grab on’ and produce a nice print.
Pritt Stick - Small tube, Large tube. Easier to get into smaller areas with a smaller tube and cover large surfaces with a larger tube.
Double sided tape (optional) - 25mm (1 inch) tape. If you need thinner double sided tape, just cut down this tape to fit the area required.
Liquid Glue (optional) - Art Glitter glue, Fine tip. This is what I use, but any type of glue/adhesive should do the job.
Black & white printer (optional) - This is only required for sentiments, and if you do not have a printer you can pen all of your sentiments, just need to work on it! Also I do not know much about printers and do not feel comfortable recommending one.
Printer lightweight card (optional) - depends on what type of printer you have and you will know your printer best!
Air blower (optional)
Paper Trimmer (optional) - Fiskars, Letion. If using, please use with adult supervision
Guillotine (optional) - Tonic Studios 8.5”, Tonic Studios 6”, Crafter’s Companion. If using, please use with adult supervision
Metal Edge Ruler with grid lines (optional) - Docrafts 30cm
Craft knife (optional) - Modelcraft. If using, please use with adult supervision.
Mat (optional) - A3 Cutting Mat, 13 x 13 inch glass mat
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you have fun making cards. Do leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions.
Have a lovely day!