Learning this technique was such a great experience, and I’m so excited to share the process with you! I’m featuring a vibrant and colorful design using a watercoloring technique with alcohol markers and vellum cardstock. The results are simply stunning, and the steps are easier than you might think.
To begin, I selected a quarter piece of vellum cardstock as my canvas and gathered a rainbow selection of Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers. The colors were layered onto the vellum twice, ensuring the first layer was completely dry before adding the second. Allowing the colors to dry between layers is key to building depth and vibrancy in the design.
Once the layering was complete, rubbing alcohol was added to the vellum using a cotton ball. This step was repeated twice, with ample drying time in between – which doesn’t take long at all. The rubbing alcohol softened and blended the colors beautifully, giving the piece a dreamy, watercolor effect. For the final touch in this technique, I splattered rubbing alcohol onto the vellum using my fingers. This created a gorgeous speckled texture that added even more interest to the piece.
When the art piece was completely dry, it was time to assemble the card. I carefully cut the vellum to size and layered it onto a piece of Basic White cardstock of the same dimensions. To adhere the vellum seamlessly, Liquid Glue was applied to the Basic White cardstock and a sponge dauber was used to evenly spread the glue over the surface. This little trick ensured the glue was invisible once the vellum was adhered—a game-changer for working with vellum! The vellum layer was then secured to the Basic White cardstock flawlessly.
Next, the art piece was layered onto a panel of Basic Black cardstock, which added a striking frame and made the vibrant colors pop even more. This layered piece was then adhered to a Basic White card base. For the sentiment, I chose “Wishing You a Happy Day” from the Linked Together stamp set, stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink for a crisp, clean look.
To finish the front of the card, I added a touch of elegance with Black Basic Baker’s Twine. The twine was tied around the art piece into a charming little bow with long, flowing ends that added a soft, textural element.
I also created the card in blues. This card has quickly become one of my favorites, and I’m thrilled with how the water coloring technique turned out. Learning to use alcohol markers and rubbing alcohol on vellum was so rewarding, and it’s a technique I’ll be using again and again. If you’d like to see this process in action, I’ve created a video tutorial to guide you through every step. Be sure to check it out, and let me know if you try this technique yourself.
I can’t wait to hear what you think and see the beautiful creations you come up with!
Measurements (in inches):
- Card base (Basic White) 8-1/2 x 5-1/2, scored at 4-1/4
- Basic Black 2 x 5-1/2
- Basic White 1-3/4 x 5-1/4
- Art piece (Vellum) cut down to 1-3/4 x 5-1/4
- Inside (Basic White) 3-3/4 x 5 and (Basic Black) 3-7/8 x 5-1/8 – extra trimmed bit of art piece 1/2 x 5