Watercoloring with Distress Inks: Robots1 by Katzelkraft

GOOD MORNING FRIENDS! In these long days of sheltering in place, I’ve been looking for something different to do craftwise. Not so different that I’d have to invest in a bunch of new supplies, but something different from my usual Copic coloring and the usual stamp companies. In a world where one day looks pretty much like the next, I needed something different.

I’ve been inspired by my friend Lisa Hetrick of IndigoJadeArt who shares her mad watercoloring skills on YouTube and in her weekly Facebook live videos. As I’ve said many times, I’m a frustrated watercolorist, but she has shared many tips and has inspired me to pick up my brush and give it another try.

Rowhouse Greetings | Robots 1 by Katzelkraft

So in my quest for something different, I came across some really fun and different stamps from Katzenkraft. This guy is from the Robots1 set which is available as an unmounted full plate rubber stamp set. There are four images in this set which I cut apart to make it easier to stamp the individual images.

Normally, you would use something like EZ Mount to create the foam cushion to mount the stamp to an acrylic block or to use in a stamping platform. I didn’t have any on hand so I used my Coccoina Glue Stick to apply a small amount of glue to the back of the stamp and adhere it to the door of my Misti. This glue is water soluble so when I was done stamping, I removed the stamp and wash it and the door of my Misti with a damp paper towel to remove the adhesive.

I stamped the image on Canson XL watercolor paper using Versafine Clare to get a crisp image. Although I have watercolor paints, I find that I get my best results using Distress Ink. I already know the colors and how they interact with water so some of the guess work is eliminated. I have the mini pads for all of my Distress Inks so I smooshed some ink onto a Caran d’Ache Palette. You could smoosh the ink onto a craft sheet or glass mat but I liked using the separate palette so that I could move the ink out of the way as necessary while I painted. I picked up the ink with a ZIG medium point waterbrush and I applied the color in layers, working light to dark. I made sure that each layer was dry, often using my heat gun, before moving onto the next color.

Rowhouse Greetings | Robots 1 by Katzelkraft

When I finished the coloring, I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Clare and embossed it with clear embossing powder. In the sentiment, the Os in the word food were actually images of donuts so I added a couple of gear embellishments to play on the mechanical theme. I cut the watercolor paper with the largest die in the Penny Black Simple Stackers set and adheres craft foam to the back. I backed it with a piece of navy cardstock. Then I adhered everything to a card base. Once the card itself was assembled, I added Nuvo Crystal Glaze to all the glass parts (clock face, goggles, etc.).

So there you have it! Something fun and different. I have a long ways to go with my technique, but it’s been fun to try something different and go outside of my Copic comfort zone.

That’s all for today! Take care and stay safe!

Thanks for stopping by!

Disclosure: Below are the supplies I’ve used for today’s project. All items were personally purchased except those marked with an asterisk (*) which were provided by a store or design team. I never share a product I do not like. All opinions are my own. Read more.

Where available I use compensated affiliate links, meaning that at no cost to you I receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I use this money to support my blog. If you like my projects, please consider supporting me by clicking through these links when you shop. Thanks so much! Read more.

PAPER: Neenah Solar White 110#; Canson XL Watercolor Paper; Soft Navy card stock by Simon Says Stamp
STAMPS: Robots 1 by Katelkraft; Download Food by Crafter’s Companion
INKS: Versafine Clare in Nocturn; Distress Inks in Chipped Sapphire, Salty Ocean, Tumbled Glass, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn
DIES: Simple Stackers by Penny Black
EMBELLISHMENTS: Nuvo Crystal Glaze by Tonic Studios; Steam Punk Gear Mix (available from Amazon – see below); Nuvo Fine Detail Embossing Powder in Crystal Clear by Tonic Studios

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