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Watercolor Crayons - How Do I Love Thee Let Me Count the Ways
Ten ways to use watercolor crayons in your art - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

By Stephanie Loomis
Crafty Cruisers
Intermediate Stamping Team Designer

Supplies:

●Gerbera Daisy (TAC)
●Palette Noir (Stewart Superior~TAC)
●Cardstock (all cut to 5 ½” x 4 ¼”):
    White Cardstock
    Glossy White Cardstock
    Watercolor paper
    Vellum
●Lyra AquaColor Crayons (Fine Art~TAC)
    (Colors in all samples: 13007, 13008, 13015, 13021, 13068, 13070)
●Small watercolor brush
●Aquabrush
●Make up sponge
●VersaMarker (Tsukineko~TAC)
●VersaMark Pad (Tsukineko~TAC)
●Spray bottle of water
●Clear Embossing Powder
●Heat gun 

Instructions:

The completed sample is done using My Favorite Technique of All.

1.    Follow directions for the watercoloring using My Favorite Technique of All (listed last in this document).

2.    Cut Daisy out using detail scissors (I prefer Cutter Bee by EK Success)

3.    Curl petal edges with the side of a stylus or pencil.

4.    Affix with pop dots to black Bazzil paper (4 ¼” x 3 ¾”)

5.    Secure to green paper (source unknown) with double stick tape

6.    Tape to 6” x 6” pink card.

7.    Highlight with Dimensional Magic (Plaid)

Technique One:

This is the quickest and easiest of all the techniques. It is most effective with bold images. 

Directions:

1.      Color directly on the stamp. Color the whole thing at once.

2.      Spritz stamp with water.

3.      Stamp onto regular white cardstock.

4.      That’s it!

Technique Two:

        This is also quick and straightforward. This works best with open images (like this Gerbera Daisy from TAC) 

Directions:

1.      Stamp image on regular white cardstock with Palette Noir ink.

2.      Heat set for security.

3.      Lightly draw a stripe of color along the edges of the petals and leaves.

4.      Use yellows toward the center and the oranges and reds toward the outer edges.

5.      Blend colors from the edges to the centers of each petal with an aqua brush. Work quickly so as not to soak the paper.

6.      Let dry.

7.      Voila…ready to be layered onto a card or cut out for another project. 

Technique Three:

        This technique offers the most control over color and placement.

         Directions:

1.    Stamp image on regular white cardstock with Palette Noir ink.

2.    Using a watercolor paintbrush and a cup of water, pull paint from the back side (the flat side) of the crayons and color image.

3.    Brush gently with water to blend.

Technique Four:

        Break out the watercolor paper for this unique look. 

        Directions:

1.    Spritz watercolor paper with water.

2.    Color directly on the stamp (just like Tech 1)

3.    Spritz stamp with water.

4.    Stamp image over damp watercolor paper.

5.    Let dry.

6.    Overstamp image with Palette Noir ink. 

Technique Five:

        This technique has the most traditional watercolor look to it of all the techniques. 

        Directions:

1.    Stamp image on watercolor paper with Palette Noir ink.

2.    Spritz paper with water.

3.    Lightly draw a stripe of color along the edges of the petals and leaves. (as in Technique 2)

4.    Use yellows toward the center and the oranges and reds toward the outer edges.  (like Technique 2)

5.    Spritz paper with water so that colors blend together.

6.    Let dry.

 Technique Six:

        Emboss watercolor? You betcha!

         Directions:

1.    Stamp image on glossy cardstock with Palette Noir ink.

2.    Heat set

3.    Lightly draw a stripe of color along the edges of the petals and leaves. (as in Technique 2)

4.    Blend colors gently with a VersaMarker pen. Avoid touching the black ink, as the VersaMark ink will smear it.

5.    Cover with clear embossing powder and emboss.

 Technique Seven:

        This technique is fun—and completely unpredictable!

         Directions:

1.    Stamp image on glossy cardstock with Palette Noir ink.

2.    Heat set.

3.    Scribble (yes, unleash the three year old artist within) colors over the entire piece of cardstock. Keep yellows toward the center and greens to the edges.

4.    Spray (not sprits) with water.

5.    Use heat gun to move water around and blend colors.

6.    Sprinkle clear embossing powder over the card, especially where the water has puddle.

7.    Heat until embossing powder is set.  Yes, most of the powder will blow away, but what sticks looks COOL! 

Technique Eight:

        This look is the softest of all. 

        Directions:

1.    Stamp image on Vellum with Palette Noir ink.

2.    Using a watercolor paintbrush and a cup of water, pull paint from the back side (the flat side) of the crayons and color image on the reverse side of the vellum.

3.    Blend colors gently with water. 

Technique Nine:

        This technique is irresistible! 

        Directions:

1.    Stamp image three times on glossy cardstock with VersaMark  ink.

2.    Clear emboss.

3.    Scribble (as in technique seven) color all over cardstock. Focus oranges on flowers, greens on leaves, yellows in background.

4.    SPONGE water over images to blend. 

Technique Ten:

        This is yet another irresistible look. 

        Directions:

1.    Stamp image three times on regular white cardstock with VersaMark ink.

2.    Clear emboss.

3.    Scribble (as in technique seven) color all over cardstock. Focus oranges on flowers, greens on leaves, yellows in background.

4.    Sponge water over images to blend.

5.    Buff resist portion as needed. 

My Favorite Technique of All:

        This is the traditional approach to watercoloring, and it allows for the most vibrant color. 

        Directions:

1.    Stamp image on regular white cardstock with Palette Noir ink.

2.    Heat set for security.

3.    Using a watercolor paintbrush, stroke water into the flower petals.

4.    Pull paint from the back side (the flat side) of the crayons and drop color onto the image.

5.    Allow the clear water to blend the colors.

6.    Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5 with leaves and stems.

7.    Add clear water as need to blend colors, but avoid soaking the paper.   

If you would like to print this technique, click here.  Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

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