At the May Creative Stamping Workshops, I showed everyone how to easily create a watercolour wash effect. We used the finished background wash of colour to create this gorgeous card featuring the very popular Beautiful You stamp set and the Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies...

Stamps: Beautiful You (wood: 143004, clear: 143637). Ink: Basic Black Archival (140931), Island Indigo (126986), Crushed Curry (131173). Markers: Pool Party (Subtles: 131263), Crushed Curry (Regals: 131262), Old Olive (Brights: 131259). Card/Paper: Pool Party (124391), Island Indigo (124390), Crushed Curry (131288), Very Vanilla (106550), Watercolor Paper (122959). Accessories: Basic Black Solid Baker's Twine (141682), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246). Tools: Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (143263), Magnetic Platform (190658), Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies (141489), 1-1/2" Circle Punch (138299), Tree Builder Punch (138295), Clear Block E (118484), Stampin' Spritzer (126199), Heat Tool (129056), Sponge Daubers (133773), Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430).

Beautiful You Wood-Mount Stamp Set (143004) - $82.00
Beautiful You Clear-Mount Stamp Set (143637) - $59.00

Sunshine Wishes Thinlits Dies (141489) - $54.00

Here's how you achieve the watercoloured-look in the background of my card...

1. Take a clear block (I used Clear Block E) and apply colour using Stampin' Write Markers, starting with the lightest colour. I used Pool Party, Crushed Curry and Old Olive for this project.
2. Liberally spritz water over Watercolor Paper so that it's really wet. Shake off any excess water.
3. Lay wet Watercolor Paper onto a Stampin' Pierce Mat and press the inked clear block onto it.
   TIP: Wetter Watercolor Paper will result in colours blending and bleeding more. Drier Watercolor Paper will result in seeing the brush strokes applied to the clear block.
4. Leave Watercolor Paper to dry completely before stamping. Alternatively, you can dry it with a Heat Tool and capture all those gorgeous drips and runs.

When using this technique, it is critical that you use a high quality card stock. For best results, I recommend Watercolor Paper, but you can also use Shimmery White card stock too.

Watercolor Paper (122959) - $10.75
300 gsm cold-pressed 100% cotton paper that resists buckling when wet.
5 sheets; 6" x 9"

ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT! A reminder that the 2016-2017 Annual Catalogue and the 2017 Occasions Catalogue are drawing to a close. The last day to order from these catalogues is next Wednesday, 31 May.

Make sure you get your favourite products from the Retiring List before they're gone. All items are only available while stocks last.

• Click HERE to see what's on the Retiring List and what's sold out
• Click HERE and contact me to place your order for your must-have retiring products
  OR
  Order shop online with me...