Thankful by Michelle Bala - Outside The Box

Happy Friday! Michelle here, sharing my version of watercoloring! I used a whole bunch of distress oxide inks and colored pencils.

First I stamped the pumpkin onto Open Studio Watercolor Paper with waterproof black ink, like InkOn3 black out ink. After the ink sets, I use washi tape to secure it to a flat surface. Next, I brush some water all over the paper. Not too much. I do not saturate the paper. Now I grab my distress oxide inks and start watercoloring. I smoosh my ink pad onto a non porous surface like a piece of plastic. Than I add some drops of water and mix up the color. Using a small paint brush, apply your color.

I used shades dried marigold, spiced marmalade, ripe persimmon, barn door, squeezed lemonade, crushed olive, mowed lawn, and vintage photo. This is a slow process. Add a color at a time, a layer at a time. After the inks and paper dry I added some shading with colored pencils. The next step is a little tricky. I placed the panel in my Mini Misti so I can get perfect placement for heat embossing. I used gold embossing powder.

Next,, I trimmed the panel slightly smaller than my A2 card base. I added some gold paint splatters. I adhered the pumpkin panel onto a gray cardstock base with foam tape.