I learned a heat embossing and watercoloring with Ken Oliver Color Bursts technique from the fabulous Sandy Allnock when she was traveling around the country giving classes (still feel so lucky I got into a couple!). It was so easy breezy and the results were so pretty and painterly. I decided to try it again to make a couple of ATCs for my friend, Karen Sue’s (YT: ScrappyKsue) 50th birthday (woot woot!).
I clear heat embossed a couple of the outline flowers from the Altenew Peony Bouquet stamp set (my favorite floral stamp set of all time!) onto 140 lb Strathmore watercolor ATC card bases (2.5″ x 3.5″). Then I went to town water coloring with Ken Oliver Color Bursts in Yellow Ochre, Burnt Orange, Merlot, and Terre Verte (this Earthtones color set is AWESOME and I have my eye on the Brights for my holiday wish list).
After I dried and mounted these little “pieces of art” onto heavy weight chipboard, I added a few well-placed 6mm and 4mm Pretty Pink Posh Clear Droplets. They add the perfect watery finishing touch. Don’t you think?
The following is a process video:
These ATCs are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Red, Orange, Yellow and Brown Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Fab ‘n’ Funky Fabulous Flowers Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Just Keep on Creating Anything Goes Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Oh wow, this is amazing! Beautifully done! Thanks for joining us at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends! 🙂
Thanks so very much Sandy! I really appreciate your super sweet comment. Big hugs, Kristina
These are gorgeous works of art! TFS at Word Art Wednesday!
Awww you are so sweet, Misty! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a kind and encouraging comment. It means a lot to me. Big hugs, Kristina
Beautiful! Complete pieces of art!!!
Thank you so much for your sweet comment Jenny! I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by and leave crafty love. Big hugs, Kristina
This is just awesome.LOVE your beautiful colors and the design is simple but perfect.LOVE IT…Thank you for joining us at ATSM
Željka DT
Thanks so very much Zeljka! Yes, simple but painterly is what I was going for. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! Hugs, Kristina
Both beautiful ATCs -great watercolour technique and loved the video—Thank you for joining us at 613 Avenue Create
Carol DT x
Thank you so very much Carol, and especially for watching my little video too! Big hugs, Kristina
These are gorgeous!!! I will have to try this.
Thanks so much Victoria! I hope you enjoy it when you give it a try. TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
so pretty – love the watercoloring and the added droplets – I hope you join us again at Addicted to Stamps and More
Thanks so much Tanja! I had so much fun with this embossed resist watercoloring. TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
Awesome!!!! I hope one day to be able to create something as beautiful. My watercoloring has problems LOL I am going to have to try out this technique and see how I go. My eye was just drawn to your entry when I entered one of the challenges you did, so thanks for the eye catching project to draw me in 😀
Awww you are so sweet! Thanks so much Kellie! I love this embossed resist watercoloring technique. It really is easy and fun. I hope you give it a try and enjoy it as much as I do. TFStopping by and taking the time to leave such a kind and encouraging comment! Big hugs, Kristina
Gorgeous! Wonderful little works of art. I love ATC’s and the watercolor with the tiny droplets are beautiful. I must give this technique a try.
Thank you so much Sandra! I love working on ATCs from time to time. 🙂 So sweet and helps get the mojo going. LOL
Gosh this is stunning, utterly stunning!! So elegant and gorgeous. I love those peony flowers and your card is utterly perfect for my challenge theme at Fab ‘n’ Funky this week. Thanks so much for playing along with us this challenge. I LOVE what you did for it. Hugs, Wends xoxo Fab ‘n’ Funky DT
Awww thanks so very much Wendy! I didn’t know if the challenge intended more paper flowers on cards, but I hoped this watercoloring would be okay. Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave such a kind and encouraging comment! Big hugs, Kristina
This is really beautiful, the water colouring looks amazing and everything stands out so well, beautiful colours.Thanks so much for sharing your creation at
Anything goes October link-up, Just keep on creating
Susan xx
Thank you so much Susan! I really had fun with this emboss resist watercoloring. So fun and easy and with painterly results. 🙂
Wow, these look so vintage and really stunning pieces of art! Love the little water droplets, perfect touch.
Thank you so very much AJ! I really enjoyed watercoloring up these peonies (my favorite flower) and I am really enjoying embossed resist techniques right now. 🙂 TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
It look georgeous, like underwater.
Thanks so much Margot! These were really fun and easy to create. 🙂