Today’s TEACH ME THAT is a simple but elegant watercolor wash but with a twist – it’s a DOUBLE watercolor wash. It’s so easy to blend colors using the Aqua Painters.
Can you see the two-tone in the watercolor wash? It’s soft and subtle. I followed up with the speckle technique that I shared with you on Tuesday.
Are you ready to learn how? Here we go!
Here are the supplies you need to create the look:
- Shimmer White Cardstock (you can also use Whisper White cardstock)
- (3) Shades of ink – I chose Soft Sky, Pool Party, and Marina Mist
- Aqua Painter filled with rubbing alcohol
- Snail adhesive
- Tissues or towel (for clean up)
- Copy paper
- Begin by tearing the edge of the copy paper. This will protect the area of your cardstock you want to remain white.
- Add a few tiny dots of Snail adhesive to the torn copy paper. Touch it with your fingers to “de-sticky” the adhesive so that it’s only tacky.
- Adhere onto the cardstock.
- With the ink pad closed, squeeze the lid against the ink pad to all three color ink pads. This will allow the ink to “puddle” inside the lid, giving you a palette to work with.
- Begin with the lightest color ink pad (mine is Soft Sky). Gently squeeze the barrel of the Aqua Painter to add a drop or two of alcohol into the ink.
- Mix the ink and alcohol together.
- At an angle, brush the diluted ink all over the cardstock, allowing the brush to sweep over the copy paper.
- Repeat the process of dropping alcohol onto the medium colored ink pad (Pool Party)
- At an angle in the center of the cardstock, brush the diluted ink all over the cardstock, allowing the brush to sweep over the copy paper, and blend into the previous color.
- On the shimmer white cardstock, this looks amazing!
- Repeat the process of dropping alcohol onto the dark colored ink pad (Marina Mist)
- Get as much ink as you can on the Aqua Painter and firmly tap the center of the brush on your finger.
- This will create “flick” ink splatters.
- Gently remove the copy paper to expose the clean side of the cardstock.
- You are now ready to stamp a sentiment and use this cardstock in any way you’d like.
- Clean up time! Brush your Aqua Painter back and forth on a towel until all the ink is removed.
- With a tissue, wipe all the ink off the lids of the ink pads.
Now you’re ready to create a card using the technique?
Here are the measurements for my card but get creative with your project:
- Soft Sky – 8 ½” x 5 ½”, score and fold at 4 ¼”
- Pool Party – 3 ¾” x 5″
- Shimmery White – 3 ½” x 4 ¾”
- Soft Sky ribbon – 5″ + small bow
Want to create my card using this technique? Just click a pic to order!
*Also available in Wood Mount
Other Color combinations I came up with:
- Lemon Lime Twist, Wild Wasabi, Old Olive
- Powder Pink, Blushing Bride, Flirty Flamingo
- Peekaboo Peach, Calypso Coral, Pumpkin Pie
- So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry
- Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Funny story….
Christina has to have a Speech & Debate class in order to graduate college. She is studying theatre education and when teaching drama in high school, speech and debate is something she will more than likely teach.
Class started on Monday and she saw the class roster. It seems she is the only one enrolled in the class. Hmm, does this mean she will debate HERSELF? Well, at least she’ll win every argument. lol I told her she should let her alter ego win a few. We wouldn’t want her to feel bad. lol
Here’s the not so funny part of the story… the professor didn’t show up on the first day of class. Well, let’s cut him some slack. Class was to take place at the exact time of the eclipse. He was probably outside with every other student on campus. Christina’s next class with this professor was yesterday afternoon. He was AGAIN a no-show. She’s really worried because she has to have this class to graduate. She is a Senior this year and her advisor has her class schedule set for her final classes for next semester. Speech & Debate won’t be offered again for 3 MORE YEARS! Yes, you read that right. This class is only offered every 3 years. Um, hello! Christina is not going to be one class away from graduation but wait 3 years to get her degree because this professor wouldn’t show up to class. We’re both pretty frustrated right now.
She has talked to just about every department on campus and no one can seem to get in touch with this professor or straighten this mess out. No one can figure out how to help her. She even looked into 3 other colleges nearby to see if she can take it at another school. No one offers it. We are hoping for some good news soon.
I hope you liked the technique today. It’s an easy one but WOW is it pretty! Give it a try. You will love the look. 
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I have been enjoying your flash card emails for a while, but today’s double watercolour wash is really a standout card . It’s gorgeous and I’ll be using that technique soon!
Thanks Chris!
Loved the simplicity of this card! I dont know how you do all that you do! Youre awesome!
You’re sweet, Tammy. Thank you!
Thanks so much for this technique to make beautiful cards. I’m going to try it soon. Love all the pictures. So sorry about Christina’s dilemma. Perhaps the college can waive this requirement due to these circumstances. If she will be teaching it later, it would be good to take the class. Oh my! Keep us posted on how this gets solved. How’s the thumb? Here’s to a better day than yesterday.
Amen to better days! 🙂
Oh my goodness, how can a college do this to a student??? Wish I had some words of wisdom for you and Christina. Even the department head doesn’t have an answer? Prayers for something to work out in her way! Love the card and the technique! Just regular rubbing alcohol, that you buy in the grocery store to use on cuts and bruises? I can’t find the video where you explain it. I’d love to try this once the kids go back to school.
Yes, rubbing alcohol that is medicinal (although I hear vodka works too). Here is the video link where I talk about the differences between water and rubbing alcohol. https://youtu.be/8V2wddZZR9o Hope that helps!
Beautiful card, Connie! I’m thinking of ways to incorporate this technique into my Christmas cards this year, using a multi-line sentiment. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂 Hope a satisfactory resolution comes of Christina’s debate class dilemma. Waiving the requirement sounds like a good idea, with Christina possibly taking the class at a local school once she starts teaching.
Wish they could waive the requirement but it’s a state requirement. There’s no getting around it.
How about an online course?
I offer several online courses. Look in the blue menu at the top for Simply Simple Stamping Store.
Love this card! Cant wait to try it. Thank you for sharing your family adventures with us. I am surprised that the college didn’t cancel the class with only one student in it – don’t think I have ever heard of a college doing that. Perhaps the professor thought it was cancelled and went on vacation!!
I know! It baffles me too.
I wouldn’t mind a *debate* with that professor, and I’d give quite a *speech* to whoever has the power to change the requirement to help your daughter! What an absurd situation. I wonder if the class was actually canceled due to lack of enrollment, and some human snafu prevented notifying your daughter. She deserves another option! Please keep us informed!
Off my soapbox. Connie, a question about your lovely card and process: why alcohol? I use water for soft blending, but don’t have SU inks so maybe they’re formulated differently than my go-to’s? Thank you!
Yeah, we keep wondering if the professor cancelled but failed to contact his one and only student but Christina has emailed him a few times with non reply. We are still waiting on a solution to this issue but thank you for asking about it. As far as alcohol in the Aqua Painter, it’s just my personal preference. I like how quickly it dries. I don’t know much about other inks other than Stampin’ Up so I would say if water is working for you, don’t switch.
I love this card and this tip. I just put some alcohol in one of my Aqua painters and I’m ready to make a card! This technique is just great and can’t wait to show my other friends. I hope the professor didn’t cancel the class, because she’s the only student. ?
Hope you enjoy creating with your Aqua Painters with alcohol! 🙂
Maybe there is a distance education class?or a similar class where the prof could alter the goals for her and allow her to fulfill the requirements in an other class…teachers should be flexible and resourceful. Especially in a faculty where they expect this of their students.
She checked all the colleges nearby but none of them offer it. For what I’m paying for this private university I need them to offer her the class, know what I mean?
Your post caught my eye as i am also facing a dilema. My husband needs surgery and I am trying to decide if I can do my teaching stage and also take care of him. I am going for a masters in edication and i am going to be. 60 in the fall. I was looking for some art project to calm my nerves and your beautiful watercolor looked exactly like tje type of project that i can do and enjoy. Thanks
Wow! Congrats on your education choice! I hope you are able to do you student teaching.
maybe reach out to him via facebook. somebody will locate him for you….
Yep, tried that too. No luck yet but thank you for the suggestion. ?
i love this card. Cannot wait to try this. Always look forward to your videos. I think i want to start my collection of SU inks. Some professors are so frustrating and non caring The best to Christina.
Thanks Charlsie! So glad you enjoy the videos. You won’t be disappointed in Stampin’ Up ink. It’s the best out there AND since we carry ink refills, you don’t have to toss out the ink pad and buy a new one when it gets dry. 🙂
Did you check if the course is offered online? There are so many colleges offer the program online, it’s worth a shot vs waiting 3 yrs.
Speech & Debate isn’t something that can be offered online. I wish! That might solve the problem.
Well, I gave this a try and it did not work for me. The brush on the painter only laid down ink when it first touch the paper, no blending happened. I did use Whisper White, but may need the Glimmer or glossy cardstock? Will that make a big difference. I did finish the card but it just did not come out softly painted like yours. Love the splatter idea, that does work good. Good luck to Christina. I am in GA so our hours are way off. Love your videos. They have taught me a lot in the last few weeks. Keep it SU!
Chazz, I’ve been able to watercolor wash on Whisper White cardstock so it shouldn’t be the paper. It sounds to me like you need to drop more alcohol onto the ink. Try adding 3 drops of alcohol and really sop of the ink so you can get good coverage before it starts to dry.
Hi Connie. I am new to card making so I have been watching all of your 2 minute tuesday tip videos on YouTube. Then I find you on pinterest with this fabulous technique. It’s just beautiful. Can’t wait to try it. Thank you
Welcome Michele! I’m so thrilled that you found my videos and ideas inspiring! Let me know if you have questions. Thanks for watching and taking time to comment 🙂
Just found your technique on Pinterest. Sounds beautiful and will have to try it soon. Now for the question – what ever happened with your daughter’s speech and debate class? Inquiring minds want to know!
Oh that disaster? Well, he was released from his duties as a professor and the Dean of the department had to teach her the class. Good news is she got an A in the class!
I just found this on Pinterest. Love it! I love all of your simple techniques that make an awesome card. Just wanted to say thank you!
It is now 2021 when I found this tutorial and I am so glad I read to the end to see the “Speech and Debate” drama sorted!
I also just found this on Pinterest and I love it ❤️. I can’t wait to try it out