Sponged Watercolouring

Hi everyone.  This is a reminder that we're into our third week of the Happy Little Stampers March CAS Challenge.  Lots of beautiful entries already in the gallery! :)

Today's card is sponged watercolouring.  Not sure if that's a good name for it, but it's something that I have done a few times before and it works beautifully.  I just sponged distress inks onto watercolour paper to create my background grass and sky.  Then I sprayed it with water until the inks started to flow.  Once dry, I used the Watercolour Spritz technique to add the flowers (ink stamp with markers, spritz with a little water and then stamp onto dry watercolour paper).  I love my spring garden with a mix of coloured tulips! :)  I used a water brush and some Pear Pizzazz ink to add the strokes of grass at the bottom, and added a soft gray stamped sentiment.  I like the subtle colour of the sentiment as it doesn't take away from the beautiful blue sky.

I experimented with the sponged watercolour background on three different types of watercolour paper and they all turned out differently.  I like this version the best, so would recommend Arches 140 lb. cold press w/c paper for this technique.  I know it's a little more expensive that other w/c papers, but so worth it, in my opinion. :) Dick Blick has a sale on right now, so I just stocked up (sale ends today). :)

I was inspired by the Happy Little Stampers March Sketch Challenge to make this card ...

Stamps:  Pocket Silhouettes (SU!); Sunny Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (card base - Neenah); Arches 140 lb. cold press watercolour paper
Ink:  Distress inks: Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass (Tim Holtz); Pear Pizzazz, Summer Sun, Melon Mambo, Tangerine Tango (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Sponges, water mister, water brush

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I'm again sharing a couple of cards I made while on the Design Team for the Dirty Dozen at Splitcoaststampers.  These cards have not been posted on my blog before, so thought I'd share a few more that use sponging.  Both cards have sponging around the outside edges of die-cuts to add interest and dimension.

Have a Sunny Day
Stamps:  Sweet Summer Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neehan); Daffodil Delight (SU!)
Ink:  Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Large Stitched Sunshine die (Lil' Inkers), Puffy Clouds die (Memory Box), sponges

Birthday Wishes
Stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride (SU!)
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Regal Rose, Rose Red (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Breezy Wreath die (Poppy Stamps), Hydrangea punch (Martha Stewart), white gel pen, stylus and mat, sponges

Challenges:
HLS March CAS Challenge - Sponging
HLS March Sketch Challenge