Project of the Week ~ Using An Acrylic Block to Create Watercolor Backgrounds

Hello stampers! This is my first Project of the Week for The House that Stamps Built. I am so excited to share with you a few little tidbits that I’ve picked up along my travels. I just love working with distress inks and how they interact so well with water. Today I’m bringing you a very clean and simple project featuring a Distress watercolor background made with a tool most of you have - an acrylic block. So lets get started!

For this project the supplies you’ll need are:

Distress inks of your choice 1 to 3 colors
Non-Stick Craft Mat
An Acrylic Block
Water, either plain or pearlized
Card Stock - I used Smooth Bristol, but you can use Neenah, watercolor paper or your favorite.
Repeat Impressions Stamps of your choice, I used: 5806-H, Happiness, and 9116-N, Hot Air Balloon Cluster
Sequins
Glue Dots and/or Multi-Medium Matte
Stamp-a-ma-jig - optional

The first step is to make sure you clean your acrylic block. If yours are anything like mine, I have to use alcohol wipes, which takes off all the permanent ink that doesn’t come off with a normal cloth or baby wipe. If you don’t have an acrylic block, you can use a solid stamp, like the ones Repeat Impressions has on sale called “Plate 5200”. With this months sale and the discount offered on my blog, you’ll really be scoring!

Next, choose the colors of distress ink you’d like to use. I made two different card panels using different colors so you may see different colors in the examples. Once you’ve chosen your colors, apply a line of color on your craft mat or any other smooth surface such as glass. Then apply a good amount of water or if you prefer, pearlized water (I make mine with perfect pearls and water).

Now, place your acrylic block down into the ink. If you need to you can “smoosh” it around a little.

Next, pick up the acrylic block and place in onto your chosen card stock. When you pick it up, work quickly, and pull straight up. It looks like you don’t have much ink, but you do. You can press down firmly and that helps soak the ink in the paper. Keep it there a few moments to allow absorption.

After you remove the block, you may have some puddling. You can either heat dry it if you like the watercolor look, or you can wick it up with a paper towel as shown.

Once dry, it’s time to stamp. I like to use a stamp-a-ma-jig when I use cling stamps so I make sure to get my image straight.

Here we have our panels. Now it’s time to trim the panels to 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 and apply to a colored card base.

Now, let’s add some sequins. I have two different ways I like to add sequins. For larger sequins I use glue dots. For smaller sequins, I use the Multi-Medium in Matte.

For the glue dots, just apply the sequins to the dots while still on the backing paper then apply to your card using tool.

For smaller sequins, dab a little Multi-Medium on your craft sheet, grab the sequins with your tool, and swipe the sequins through the medium then on to your card.

Here are the finished clean and simple cards. I hope you will give this technique a try!

Kathy Stacy