Simply Succulents Card

This month our Technique Tuesday Blog Hop is dedicated to coloring techniques. I have chosen to use the Whitewash Technique for my card.. 

Here is the card that I created with the Simply Succulents stamp set and coordinating dies.

This card uses two different coloring techniques. First, I used the whitewash technique to color the different succulents. This is a fun technique that makes you feel like an artist. You start by heat embossing the outline stamp with white embossing powder. Then you color in the stamp with white craft ink using a blender pen or a water painter, hence the name whitewash. Once the white ink has dried thoroughly and you have cleaned your water painter, you “paint” different shades of ink over the white wash. (Step by step instructions and photos follow.)

The second technique used is clear embossing over an inked sentiment. Using the stamparatus is key with this technique because it allows you to stamp again EXACTLY in the same place. Stamp once with ink, then stamp a second time with the clear embossing powder and heat set it. With this technique and clear embossing powder,  you can have embossing in any color. 

Here are the step by step instructions:
1. Stamp the large succulent stamp with Versamark ink on a scrap piece of Soft Succulent card stock. (Soft Succulent is another of the 2021-2023 In Colors.) Sprinkle it with the white embossing powder and heat set it until it melts and becomes shiny white.
2. As shown in the photo on the left below, use your re-inker to put a few drops of white craft ink in the lid of the ink pad. Squirt water from your fine tipped water painter into the ink and mix so you have a small diluted puddle. 
3. Paint this diluted white ink into the stamped image. Allow this to dry thoroughly.
4. Take a small block and press it into the Garden Green ink pad. (See photo on the right.) Mix it with a small amount of water from your water painter to dilute the color. You can always go back and add more color, if needed.

5. I colored some of the succulents with Garden Green, Evening Evergreen, and Old Olive inks to obtain different shades of green. Clean your block with the shammy when you change colors and clean off your water painter by squeezing water through it and painting on scrap paper until it is clear. 
6. Add “pink” highlights onto the succulents with Fresh Fresia ink and Rich Razzleberry ink. If a color is too dark, you can add more water to spread it out and lighten it. (Do not use too much water as the card stock will “pill” if you do.)
7. When you are satisfied with your coloring, let it dry completely and then cut it out with the corresponding die. 
8. Use memento ink to stamp the pot on Basic Gray card stock, Using the Dark Smokey Slate blend, color in two of the “ridges” and do some shading in the lower right corner. 
9. Using the stamparatus, stamp “Happy Mother’s Day” from the Timeless Tulips stamp set in Fresh Fresia on a scrap of white paper. Then clean the stamp (DO NOT REMOVE FROM THE PLATE…use your Simply Shammy.) and re-ink with Versamark. Stamp again right over the Fresh Fresia. Sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set until shiny. 
10. Cut out with the smaller oval of the Double Oval Punch. Cut out a scrap of Soft Succulent with the larger scalloped oval.
11. Run a 5 1/4″ x 4″ piece of Basic White card stock through your Stampin’ Cut and Emboss machine in the Tasteful Textile 3D embossing folder.
12. Adhere a 5″ piece of Soft Succulent ribbon around this piece of white mat. 
13. Adhere the flower pot to the lower right hand side of the white mat, over the ribbon. 
14. Adhere this mat to the front of a Soft Succulent card base, cut 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ and scored at 4 1/4″.
15.With dimensionals, adhere the succulents so they partially overlap the pot. 
16.Tie the rest of your bow  around the piece that is adhered to the card.
17. Layer the white oval with the sentiment onto the Soft Succulent scalloped oval and adhere to the top left hand corner of the card. 
18. Add three of the clear Elegant Faceted gems to the card. 

I hope you will be inspired to try the whitewashing technique. Remember, this is a BLOG HOP so be sure to click on several of the posts below. Before you go, I’d love if you scrolled to the bottom and left me a comment.

If you live in the USA and would like to learn how to make cards like this at home, I can help. Would you like card making tips, tricks and inspiration in your mailbox each week? Sign up for my newsletter here. 
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