Saturday 17 August 2019

Watercolour is messy.

The fabulous blue that a lot of you saw on Wednesday’s post came from two pots of Spectrum Noir Sparkle inks. Incidentally, if you saw the post about a messy workshop where I managed to get ink on my face, these are the culprits. Trouble is they are too nice to resist and so I plough on, making a right old mess.

The graduated light to dark with a watercolour feel was not quite what I achieved and so this is an/the experimental piece. On that basis I’ve foiled the windows in the embosssed houses and scuffed some pearly white stuff over the sleigh in the sky. Too hit and miss; it looks a mess. And not enough embossed definition if you ask me. 
I actually found it hard to crank through my Big Shot in the plate sandwich which was going to achieve any embossing, so am now in considering mode. Of course, I’ll get better definition if I don’t use a watercolour card stock. But I still need to use something reasonably thick to withstand water and ink....the edges of that cut out portion particularly. Buckled supports are rubbish supports, lets face it! For now, I’ll soldier on with this; I know others will wonder what the problem is as a first draft, but I’m not a great reasearch and development type crafter - I really like to sit down and MAKE something, even if it’s only one card after a couple of hours of cutting papers and choosing stamps!
If this works out at some point, I’ll show you, of course. Look for a blog post entitled ‘triumph’ or ‘smug’!

9 comments:

Sue said...

Hi Julia, I think it is fab.

BUT....if you keep doing it, it will keep you out of mischief:) LOL Sue

Helen said...

I think it looks ok too... but I definitely want things to work perfectly first time too!

Kathryn Frantz said...

So any pics of your hands and face? How did you do this time?

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm exactly opposite of you, dear Julia. I like the research, I enjoy the experiments, but I don't ever seem to complete anything beautiful enough one would write home about. Personally, I think this is well done, especially for watercolor paper. What weight watercolor paper will influence the outcome, too. 90 lb will act different from 140 lb, which will act different from khadi paper, etc.. I would feel smug already if I'd made this beauty.

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Oh it gorgeous those coloursJulia, ... love it. Those colours are well worth splotchy face!
Not sure what brand cut emboss folder.. but this is a great “quick, short, not long” 😆 video. My research on your behalf 😉https://youtu.be/z_mdoT1M1FQ
Yes, not using watercolour would help. But there are thick and thin watercolour or so I’ve found in my collection so I’d have nice thin one I’d use and spritz and shim,
Spritzing water on cardstock whatever you use helps to allow deeper embossing into paper fibre, and maybe add two thin shims like she did may help and play with which plate you use. I’ve big shot, not sure l.
Thanks for being a blessing, and may God bless you too.
Hugs, Shaz in Oz.x

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Rita said...

Love that card Julia, you know we are the worst critics of our own work sometimes. I love the bright colours you used on your card and it really looks great to me. Enjoy your Day. Hugs Rita xxxx

Carmen said...

The research is my favourite part - I keep telling my tutors they should just let me submit my experiments as my final pieces as I struggle to pull together a final 'thing'. I love this. Have you tried cartridge paper though? I was struggling with getting good lino prints on watercolour paper and got some better ones on cartridge so maybe it would work for this too?

Lillianb said...

Llove the colours you have used here, It looks stunning

Lilian

Neet said...

When I achieve something that is perfect I will remember to head it "smug" - I think that is a great headline. Not much fear of seeing it as I am the most cock-eyed cutter (as in mounting) that there is. Despite those Perfect Layer rulers too.
Hugs, Neet xx