We’ve got a new release coming in just 4 sleeps and Julie’s here today to share how she fakes the look of watercoloring using Copic Markers and the new Just Squidding stamp set – available THIS Friday at 9AM PST!
Hello, there—Julie here! Watercolor is usually my go-to coloring medium; I find it to be super quick and easy. But not everyone feels comfortable with watercolor. If you love the look, but wonder if you can simulate it with your alcohol markers, you’ll be happy to know it’s very possible! Once you’ve built up those layers, it can be hard to tell the difference!
TIPS:
- There are no hard rules for this coloring method; I typically use 3 colors that seem to work well together to achieve the effect.
- Tap/daub and flick the brush tip of your alcohol marker to apply color; avoid “soaking” saturating the paper with color or deep strokes to avoid seeping beyond the image lines.
- Ink stamps with a “Copic-friendly” ink, like Gina K’s Amalgam Ink or Memento Inks; alternatively, you can use a pigment ink and heat emboss with clear powder.
- Build up your layers to color to simulate the look of watercolor.
- When working with a brayer, roll against the ink pad then lift to ink; repeat to fully load the brayer. When braying onto project, start off the edge, and roll onto the paper in a continuous motion all the way off the otherwise of the paper, then lift the brayer. Repeat this process to smooth/even out the ink. Avoid rolling back and forth as you will only partially ink the brayer or your project. Roll & lift! Roll & lift!
- Dry wet ink on vellum by blotting against clean scrap paper or you can “speed heat set” by using your heat embossing tool.
- Mount brayered vellum panel with ink side turned towards the card to avoid possible smudges or fingerprints when handling the card.
- Stickles last. Always. Ask me how I know . . .
