Love You Lots with Pop of Paradise and a splashy watercolour technique

It’s that frog again (I don’t even like frogs!) from Love You Lots, the gorgeous new hostess stamp set. 

This is the result of some experimentation at June’s Crafty Friday event, where we played with watercolour techniques again. Here’s how to recreate this technique:

1. Begin by stamping an outline image (ie, one you can colour in) twice in permanent ink; once on the watercolour paper and once on some thin scrap paper or sticky note. 
2. Cut out the image from the scrap paper to create a mask.
3. If using scrap paper, apply a temporary adhesive (Tombow is temporary if you allow it to dry thoroughly) on the back of the mask. 
4. An alternative method would be to skip the mask and use masking fluid (available from art shop) all over the image on the watercolour paper. It can be rubbed off when the project is complete. 
5. With your main image safely covered, now you can create the splashy background. Simply pick up ink with a paintbrush or aquapainter and tap the top of the brush.
6. A wetter brush will result in larger, paler splashes.
7. More concentrated ink, ie less water, will result in smaller, darker splashes. 
8. When you’re happy with the results, allow it to dry thoroughly, then remove the mask. If you’ve gone a bit mad with the splashing (easy done) you may find some of the colour has seeped through, but you can remove this to a certain extent with a paintbrush and clear water. 
9. Now you can paint your main image as desired. I soon realised that my frog couldn’t be green as he wouldn’t stand out, so went for So Saffron. Yes, this is So Saffron, you wouldn’t think it, would you? But when you use the ink in its concentrated form, with just a little water, it leans more towards Delightful Dijon. 
10. Finally, to make the frog stand out even more, I tested the theory that the Fine Tip Glue Pen can be used as a substitute for Crystal Effects (which we no longer carry). It worked! It takes a little longer to dry but has very similar results. 

SaveSave

Love You Lots Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141801] £8.00	Pop Of Paradise Clear-Mount Stamp Set [141581] £17.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] £4.50	Wild Wasabi A4 Card Stock [111850] £7.25	Dapper Denim A4 Cardstock [141419] £7.25
Delightful Dijon A4 Cardstock [138345] £7.25	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock [106550] £8.25	Jet Black Stazon Ink Pad [101406] £8.25	Dapper Denim Classic Stampin' Pad [141394] £6.00	So Saffron Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [105225] £3.00
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [100531] £3.00	Island Indigo Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [122932] £3.00	Fine-Tip Glue Pen [138309] £6.25

Links by TheseAreMyStamps.com