Altenew Educator Certification Program: Polychromatic

The next class that I have taken at the Altenew Academy is called Polychromatic.  This was another class that presented lessons in several coloring techniques and effects with several lessons using watercoloring or faux watercoloring.  My new favorite technique!!!  I was delighted to get more tools and techniques to add to my creative repertoire!

The first lesson focused on adding bright pops of color to a white background.  The instructor created a fabulous, bright background with one stamped image repeated in many bright colors.  The card was striking and bold.

Other lessons focused on faux watercolor effects, watercoloring with similar colors, faux no line coloring and creating watercolor backgrounds.

I decided to try several of these techniques using some new Distress Oxide inks that I recently added to my ink stash.  These are interesting inks.  They look like chalk when you open the ink pad and they still look like chalk as I hold the card.  They are really different from other inks!!  Very interesting look.

For the first card, I decided to use the Faux Watercoloring technique with the Wild About You stamp set.  I thought the image would look great with the faux watercoloring.  For my version of this technique, I inked up the stamps and spritzed it two or three times with my misty spritzer and then stamped them onto the card front.  Since I only spritzed the inked stamps two or three times, the watercolor effect is subtle.

I cut out my panel using the stitched rectangle dies from My Favorite Things.  I attached it to a craft card stock base and heat embossed a fun sentiment from the Crafty Life stamp set onto espresso card stock.  The enamel dots are from Doodlebug Designs.  I love these because they come in three different sizes and I really love the look of embellishments when you have a variation in size.  Both the card front and the sentiment are attached with foam tape to add dimension to the card.

I kept this card clean and simple.  I just love the two flowers and a single sentiment.  This flower really lends itself well to this technique.  I used only one of the 3 layer stamps for the lilac flower and two of the layers for the smaller image using the lemonade and pumpkin inks.  The stems and leaves are done in an evergreen ink.  I doubt this is the actual intended use for these inks because they make such beautiful watercolor smooshed backgrounds, but I really like the way these turned out in the muted chalky look that they have.

For the second card, I decided to create an entire background with the same floral stamp and the same inks.  This time I added in some of the blues and the red ink color.  I also stamped directly on to the watercolor paper and then spritzed the paper when I was done stamping.  This gives a really fun background.  I spritzed 6 or 7 times and let the colors run.  If you look closely, you can see that the inks actually are composed of multiple colors as the dyes react with the water.  The purple has some pink, the orange has some yellow…how fun are these colors?

The sentiments are from the Crafty Life stamp set.  This stamp set is chocked full of fun sentiments for you and your crafty friends.  I stamped one directly on to my watercolor background in permanent black ink.  The second sentiment is embossed in white on black card stock and attached with foam tape.  My card also includes a tiny sliver of purple and teal glitter paper and more of those wonderful yellow enamel dots!!  Let’s face it, if you are going to create a card about crafting it will need some bling and some embellishments!!!

I love using a variety of colors on a white background and I really love experimenting with the faux watercolor techniques.  It’s just so quick and easy to stamp or ink blend a background or image and then spritz it to give the watercolor look without actually getting out a bunch of watercolor supplies.  (Although I do love to do that too!)

Here I have created another set of two cards using the same stamp sets and inks, but with very different effects!  Getting more bang for my crafting budget using my stamps and inks in a variety of ways.

Thank  you for taking time out of your day to visit!!!  Happy crafting and remember to embrace the imperfections!