Distress Watercolor Dry Embossing

Combine dry embossing and watercoloring for a beautiful look.

Supplies

Step-by-Step

1. Step 1

   Cut a piece of watercolor paper to fit your embossing folder.

   

2. Step 2

   Place the watercolor paper in an embossing folder and run it through your embossing machine. Make two or three passes for a deep impression.

   

3. Step 3

   Add temporary adhesive to the back of the image and adhere it to a flat work surface.

   

4. Step 4

   Cover a brayer in Versamark ink.

   

5. Step 5

   Brayer the Versamark ink onto the raised areas of the embossed image.

   

6. Step 6

   Cover the wet Versamark in with clear fine embossing powder.

   

7. Step 7

   Brush off any areas of stray embossing powder from the negative (or un-raised) areas of the dry embossing.

   

8. Step 8

   Heat the embossing powder with a heat gun to melt it.

   

9. Step 9

   Add color with distress ink, or another medium and a paint brush. Begin by wetting the watercolor paper liberally, so that the ink will bleed out and give a painterly look.

   

10. Step 10

    Add ink to the water. If there is enough water, the ink will spread out.

    

11. Step 11

    To add bold sections of color dip straight into undiluted ink or paint.

    

12. Step 12

    To create areas that have softer shades add a wash of ink that is diluted with plenty of water.

    

13. Step 13

    For a softer look you can add white pigment ink to your palette and mix it with water and ink.

    

14. Step 14

    Spray the paper with a fine mist of water to blend the ink. No need to worry about it if the ink bleeds out of the lines; it's part of that painterly look.

    

15. Step 15

    Use a tissue or paper towel to remove any extra ink.

    

16. Step 16

    Add a wash of a complimentary colour for a background.

    

17. Step 17

    Use a Sakura Souffle pen to touch up any areas that you would like to be more white.

    

18. Step 18

    Apply a thin layer of Microglaze to make the colors pop.

    

19. Step 19

    Score a card cut to fit the watercoloured panel.

    

20. Step 20

    Adhere the panel to the card. Watercolor paper may warp a little, but with plenty of adhesive to the back of the embossed image it will lay nice and flat on the card.

    

21. Your card is finished.

    

Your Turn

You've seen the tutorial, now you try it! We've got a section of the gallery set aside for Distress Watercolor Dry Embossing. Try this technique, then upload your artwork to the gallery. Show us your creations!

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