Peaceful Peonies- Block Watercolor Experiment

Hi Friends!

I decided to play around this weekend with the Acrylic Block Watercolor Stamping technique that Just Us Girls shared (see here) and I created two very different cards, of which, this one did not turn out how I expected for sure!

I used a block that had etching and learned a valuable lesson- put the inks on the smooth side, not the etched side- duh!!  I wanted to rescue the card so I applied additional ink layers (please see below). 

In addition to the Just Us Girls JUGS410  Trend Week “Block Watercolor Stamping” Challenge, I incorporated the Little Red Wagon #410 “Give Us Your Background” Challenge and the Watercooler Wednesday #135 “Judy's FeminineAnything Goes” Challenge.

If you have not had a chance to check out the above challenge sites yet, I hope you will find the time to do so- as always, gorgeous inspiration from all!

To create this card:

1). Using an acrylic block, pat Tim Holtz® Distress Ink- I used Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry and Chipped Sapphire.  Spritz with water, flip the block over onto watercolor paper and put something heavy (I used my electric pencil sharpener on my desk) and allow it to stay on the paper for five minutes.

2). After five minutes, lift the paper off the block, pat any excess water and dry with the heat tool.  Since I had mistakenly inked the etched side of this block, there was a distinctive grid pattern that showed and I was not thrilled with the result.  To fix this issue, I re-inked the block with Tim Holtz® Distress Oxide Inks- I used Wild Honey and Broken China (trying not to cover all of the distress ink), spritzed with water and re-positioned the inked block over the original background (this time using the smooth surface).

3). Once the five minutes have passed, repeat the block removal step and dry with a heat tool.  Spritz with water to create additional water drops, dry with the heat tool and de-static the panel with an embossing powder tool.

4). Ink the Peaceful Peonies large floral image (NinaB Designs available at Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps) with Versafine™ Onyx Black ink, apply clear embossing powder and heat set with the heat tool.

5). Repeat the steps above with the verse sentiment from Peaceful Peonies.

6). Hand trim around the edge of the block, distress the edges with a distressing tool and mount onto a piece of white cardstock.  Trim the edges of the white cardstock, mount onto a piece of black cardstock, trim and mount onto a piece of plum cardstock.

7). Use a 5/16” handheld punch (or a piercing tool) to position the antique pewter brads, insert the brads and mount the panel onto the white card base to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Peaceful Peonies (Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps)

Ink/Mediums: Versafine™ Onyx Black; Tim Holtz® Distress Inks- Wild Honey, Picked Raspberry, Chipped Sapphire; Distress Oxide Inks- Broken China, Wild Honey

Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White (Stampin’ Up!), Canson™ Watercolor

Accessories/Tools: Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Clear Embossing Powder, Distressing Tool, 5/16" Handheld Punch, Antique Pewter Brads

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! Praying for all of you in the path of Hurricane Irma- may the Lord bless and keep you safe!