Papertrey September Blog Hop

There is always a first for everything, and today is the first time I am participating in the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. For this month the challenge was to share something that we learned from another crafter.

Watercolor markers on Glossy Cardstock is what I would like to share. Here is my card and if I get lucky I will post a few more pics...sorta like a tutorial...yes another first for the day!

The watercolor markers on glossy cardstock was a technique that I traveled all the way from Kansas to Minnesota to learn from a wonderful woman by the name of Laureen Crooks. This was before the Copic marker coloring craze and it baffled many as to how she made the color look seamless on glossy cardstock.

Ist stamp your image on glossy cardstock with a permamnet ink. Heat set if you need to. Choose your markers..I used tombow markers on this card. I also have some Impress markers that work great with this technique.

Stamp your image on a lightweight piece of scrap paper. I love to use post it notes whenever possible as the stick helps keep my reverse mask in place. Next you will cut out the image you first want to color in--this creates your reverse mask.

Now, you will lay the mask over the image. Latex spones are the key to the next step. You color on the sponge with the marker. Tap on scrap paper first---then slow add color to your image. Remember to start light...you can always add color but you can't take it away once it is on the paper.

Continue adding color until you have the desired saturation. After the first color is on, add a second color that is a shade or two darker to the edges of the image. Do this again with a third and darker color. To smooth out the color, use he lightest color and apply over the entire image.

Peel away the mask. If you have little white gaps between the stamped line and your color, use the brush marker tip, with a very light hand and fill in the white space. I had to do this in a couple places here and you can't even see it. After a little practice this is a very simple technique that can help you get rid of some of that old glossy cardstock. I like using this on images that have big open spaces.

Supplies:

Stamps: PaperTrey Friendship Jar and Fall Fillers

Paper: Ripe Avocado, Orange Zest and Dark Chocolate

Other: Guidelines Impression Plate, Label Die, Sewing Machine, Chocolate Felt, Rick Rack Border and Tombow markers