Altenew Academy Level 2 Course: Creative Watercolor Media

Hello Crafty Friends!  Today I'm sharing my project for the AECP (Altenew Educator Certification Program) Level 2 Course:  Creative Watercolor Media.  The basis of this course is to teach, share and encourage the use of various watercolor techniques.  For my project, I've created a Happy New Year Card with an ethereal background using watercolor paints and shimmer spray.

To start the cardmaking process, I created a dreamy background panel using Gansai Tambi watercolor paints and Strathmore Watercolor card.  For this technique, it's best to use watercolor card as the process does use a fair bit of water and the card must hold up. 

Mixing shades of blues and purples, I dropped watercolor randomly on a pre-dampened panel of watercolor card.  Using my heat tool, I dried the panel in between adding color in order to build up the color without turning them "muddy" or loosing the intensity of each color.  

Once I was happy with the color combination, I set the panel aside to dry completely.  Once dry, I spritzed the panel with Shimmer Spray and set aside once more to dry.

Next was to stamp, heat emboss and die cut images from the new to me Altenew "Happy Dreams" Stamp and Coordinating Die Set.  Using complimentary shades of colored embossing powders to match the background panel, the images and sentiment were stamped and heat embossed.  The images were cut using the coordinating dies and the sentiment was cut using a circle die.

I did a dry run arrangement on my panel so I would know where I could stamp stars and 2 additional sentiments.  Using the Altenew's "Cloudy Night" Crisp Dye Ink mini cube; which is part of the Gentleman's Gray Mini Cube Set, I stamped the star clusters and sentiments.  I preferred the look of gray ink here; not as harsh as black and it fits my ethereal theme.

Lastly, time to arrange my focal images and once arranged, I picked up the cluster using Press and Seal Plastic Wrap in order to keep everything in it's place.  I've added craft foam behind the cluster and adhered to the panel using liquid adhesive. To complete the design, I've added Gray Opal Faux Pearls.

I'm very pleased with this watercolor technique; it's easy and creates wonderful results.  Each time you play with watercolor in this way, no two backgrounds will be the same and that appeals to me.  

Thanks for visiting today and until next time, Happy Crafting!

Donna

**Challenges Entered:

Crafty Catz

Cardz TV

Creative Fingers

Uniko

River of Creativity

Aud Sentiments

Outlawz Twisted Thursday

Lil Red Wagon

Addicted to Stamps & More

Word Art Wednesday