Stampin’ Up! Markers: Watercoloring Works!

It really works.  Stampin' Up! markers and an Aqua Painter CAN create wonderful watercolored images . . . just as snappy as the trendy Copic markers that are much more expensive.  This project was the first time I used two different colored Stampin' Up! markers together (Bordering Blue and Brocade Blue) to watercolor.  I won't kid you . . . this wasn't my first skunk.  I had several other "stinky" attempts before I got a better feel for the right touch and removal (yes, I said "removal") of the right amount of color with my Aqua Painter. 

The layout is from a challenge by Anna Wight from Sassy and Sweet.  Very basic and easy.  White card stock base, then a layer of Bordering Blue.  The squares of Groovy Guava Designer Series paper are 2 1/4" x 2 1/4".  I added 3 dark pink snaps with my Crop-A-Dile to match the snippet of Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon.  The watercolored image was adhered to Bordering Blue, punched out with a Marvy Giga Scalloped Square.

My skunk pal was from the Pun Fun set and was stamped in Jet Black Stazon on Stampin' Up!'s watercolor paper.  Just a side note . . . in the "testing" phase, I used a lighter (AKA cheaper) watercolor paper and colors didn't blend well at all.  TIP #1:  Good paper is essential to successful results.  Stampin' Up!'s worked like a dream.  The skunk was filled in first with the lighter color, Bordering Blue.  The darker color, Brocade Blue, was used to run along the edges and where a natural shadow might occur (quite subjective regarding the shadowing and, in my case, a total guess).  I used my Aqua Pen to very lightly blend the two colors together.  TIP #2:  Wipe the Aqua Painter on your hand, on a towel or on your dog to control the wetness during the blending process . . . a few "splobs" accompanied my initial blue skunks that didn't make the "cut." 

The final step was to use the Aqua Painter to remove some of the color, to create highlights and the watercolored look.  Quite amazing.  Again, be sure to control the amount of water on your brush.  A Blender Pen dipped in Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegranate ink complete the the flower.

I'm determined to keep honing my watercoloring skills.  Much began to make sense after the first
few skunks took a trip to the bin.  Honestly, watercoloring with markers is incredibly fun and I think my little blue guy is pretty
"fierce."  Here's the step-by-step watercolor tutorial I posted previously from one
of my fellow Canadian Stampin' Up! bloggers at Paper Pleasing Ideas. 

COMING UP:  I'm going to showcase more tips over the next few days on nifty ways to use the Stampin' Up! markers followed by my sweet little sale on Stampin' Up! Marker Families, beginning this Saturday.  Stay Tuned!

Hugs and Pretties . . . Mary

Stamp Set:  Pun Fun (111028)
Paper:  Stampin' Up! Watercolor Paper (105019), Whisper White (100730), Bordering Blue (102630), Groovy Guava Designer Series (109168)
Ink:  Brocade Blue (100064) and Bordering Blue (100070)Markers, Groovy Guava (109012), Purely Pomegranate (109011), Jet Black Stazon (101406)
Cool Tools:  Crop-A-Dile (108362), Aqua Painter (103954), Blender Pen (102845), Marvy Giga Scalloped Square
Perfect Touches:  Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched Ribbon (109061), Non SU Dark Pink Snaps