In this week’s Facebook and YouTube live, I shared a beautiful and fun way to add soft colour to your cards using the block watercolour technique. It’s such a simple idea, but the results are always different and quite striking.
I used clear blocks, Stampin’ Write Markers, watercolour paper and a spritzer to create watercolour-style backgrounds. Then I stamped over the top using the Textured Notes stamp set. Whether you’re creating one block or layering multiple blocks of colour, this technique adds such a lovely handmade feel to your cards.
This was actually a technique I hadn’t used for quite a while, but seeing this new stamp set inspired me to bring it out again—and I’m so glad I did!
Try Different Colour Combinations
Each colour combo gives a totally different feel. I played with:
- Timid Tiger and Daffodil Delight
- Lost Lagoon and Pecan Pie
- Fresh Freesia and Strawberry Slush
- Highland Heather and Daffodil Delight
It’s always fun to experiment with different colour combinations—there are so many possibilities! You might also like to try angled blocks, overlapping colours, or add a bit of splatter for extra texture. Each card turns out a little differently, which is all part of the charm.
Before you stamp over your watercoloured background, it’s really important to make sure it’s completely dry. You can either set it aside and come back to it later, or if you’re short on time, use a heat tool to gently dry the surface. If it’s still damp, the ink may smudge—as you might have noticed on my Strawberry Slush example during the live! You can also see it below.
When it is dry, I stamped the leaf images from Textured Notes over the backgrounds using one of the new In Colors, Secret Sea ink. The sentiment and linen thread were added last to finish the cards off.
Here are the cards I created using this technique:
A note card with Daffodil Delight & Timid Tiger block watercolour background:
A note card with Lost Lagoon & Pecan Pie block watercolour background and the splatter technique:
A Fresh Freesia & Strawberry Slush block watercolour background:
You will notice slight blurring on the left two leaves as the cardstock wasn’t completely dry when I stamped it.
Highland Heather and Daffodil Delight with two watercolour blocks in the background:
Lost Lagoon Card Base with three watercolour blocks in the background:
If you missed the Live or would like to watch it again, you can catch the replay below where I walk through each step and share extra tips along the way.
👉 Here are the supplies I used.
Looking for more technique inspiration? You might also enjoy:
If you give the block watercolour technique a try, I’d love to see what you create! Please share your creations with me—I always enjoy seeing how others interpret the technique in their own unique way.