Happy Birthday - Cacti

Since I was making a second water color panel for my next card I was wondering if I had ever shown you before how to make a water color panel. It's really quite easy and quite fun but can be a bit messy.

I begin by cutting my panel to the size of my card. I like it to be a bit bigger then my desired size so I can die cut it down for my final card. That way I get the meat of the color and don't have to worry about the edges so much.

Once I have the panel cut from water color paper (I like to use 140 lb hot press, ARCHES specifically) then select at least 3 or 4 distress ink colors you want to use. Hombre is a nice effect otherwise complimentary (colors that are next to each other on a color wheel) also works well.

You will also need an acrylic block, but if you didn't have one I imagine any smooth glass surface or splat mat would work. I take each color and dab the ink onto the surface then spritz it heavily with water

After its nice and wet I press my card panel on top and make sure all the edges get pressed as well. Once you put the panel on the block all the liquid gets pushed to the outside. Alternatively you can place the block on top of the card panel. Either way works well. 

Then pull your paper off. If there are any spots that didn't get colored, stamp your block on to a splat mat or some non absorbent surface and swipe or drag your card through the puddles of ink. 

To clean up the mess I just use a paper towel, old handkerchief or towel to wipe up the colored water. But now you have your own background watercolor card panel. You could also use this to die cut shapes or letters from.

And here is the end result.

I also stamped and colored my MFTS cacti then diecut them and gave a little more interest by bending and shaping the longer arms and because it looked a little bland I added in some tiny punched flowers. 

Then it still seemed a bit plain so I added in some diecut grass. Now it's nice and springy looking.