for Gorgeous Cards
There’s just something about watercolor that feels magical, isn’t there? The way colors flow together, the soft blends, and those unexpected moments when two shades meet and create something entirely new—it’s amazing. But here’s the best part: you don’t need to be an artist or even own a paint palette to get that dreamy watercolor effect. All you need are a few re-inkers, a spritzer, and a flat surface like a glass mat, silicone sheet, or even a plate.
Today I’m sharing what I truly believe is the easiest watercolor technique for creating gorgeous cards. It’s a technique that lets you feel creative without being complicated—and it works beautifully in any season. Whether you’re creating a cozy Christmas card, a cheerful birthday greeting, or a thoughtful “thinking of you” note, this simple method gives you results that are fresh, bright, and wonderfully unique every time.
A quick tip for you—cover your surface so you can focus on having fun rather than cleaning up afterward! Once my workspace was ready, I squeezed a few drops of Smoky Slate and Pool Party re-inkers in loose squiggly lines across the mat, then added just a few tiny dots of Night of Navy. The darker inks can easily take over, so less is definitely more here. After that, I gave everything a few generous sprays with water and watched as the colors ran together into a pool of beautiful, inky watercolor magic.
Next came the best part—pressing my watercolor paper into that inky puddle. I let the color soak in and then carefully lifted it using my Take Your Pick tool and placed it on a paper towel to dry. I usually make two pieces at a time, since one cut sheet of watercolor paper gives me two panels—and it’s always nice to have a bonus background ready to go. When the paper dries, the color softens a bit, which makes it perfect for adding some texture and detail.
To bring the look to life, I ran the dried panel through my Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine using a 3D embossing folder. For my first card, I chose the Forever Plaid 3D Embossing Folder and lightly brushed Whisper White Craft Ink across the raised areas. That simple step for these projects gives the piece a frosted, almost fabric-like look. I matted the watercolored piece with Pool Party cardstock using Multipurpose Glue—it seeps perfectly into the textured back of embossed cardstock—then added it to a Smoky Slate card base with dimensionals.
The sentiment “Because You’re a Great Friend” from the Words of Beauty bundle was die-cut and layered with touches of Gray Glimmer Paper and Night of Navy for a soft, elegant contrast.
From there, the ideas kept flowing. I used the same color palette for a birthday card featuring the Sunrise Sailing Hybrid Embossing Folder and the sentiment “It’s Your Birthday.” I added Low Profile Sparkle Dots for a simple finishing touch and layered it on a Basic White card base surrounded by Night of Navy.
Another variation became a peaceful Christmas card with the Peaceful Greenery 3D Embossing Folder and “Peace, Love, & Joy” from the Peace on Earth stamp set. A few Hues of Blues Flowers added sparkle around the sentiment for a wintery glow.
Of course, I couldn’t resist trying a fall version too. For that one, I used re-inkers in Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry, and Old Olive to create a cozy autumn palette. Embossed with the Eyelet 3D folder and finished with the sentiment “Thankful for You” from Gathering Moments, it feels like fall in paper form. I added a few stamped and die cut leaves and an acorn in coordinating colors for a warm, layered finish.
I also turned those same colors as the last card into another Christmas card, this time with the Traditional Wreath 3D Embossing Folder. The background was layered on Crushed Curry and mounted to an Old Olive card base. I used banners from the Nested Essentials dies for the sentiment “May Your Holiday Season Be Filled with Joy and Happiness” from the Words for the Season stamp set, stamped in Old Olive ink. The double bow tied from Old Olive linen thread adds a festive finishing touch in the upper corner. It’s bright, joyful, and such a happy look with the traditional holiday colors.
The last version is a vibrant blend of Berry Burst, Lost Lagoon, and Smoky Slate re-inkers with the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder. The sentiment “You’ve Been on My Mind” in Memento Tuxedo Black, paired with a Basic Black circle and some rhinestone accents, makes this one shine. I love the dramatic contrast of those colors!
Every single one of these cards began the same way—just a few drops of re-inker and a little water—and each one turned out differently. That’s the beauty of this technique. It’s easy, it’s forgiving, and it’s such a satisfying way to make something beautiful without overthinking it.
If you’d like to try this technique yourself, I’ve created a free downloadable PDF tutorial (and there’s one for each of the six cards) that includes all the measurements, supplies, and extra tips to help you get started.
And if you don’t already have a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I’d love to be your crafty cheerleader and help you find your next favorite project. Here’s the video with step-by-step instructions for you:
The Glimmery “Because You’re a Great Friend” card is being entered into the AUD Sentiment Challenge #331 with their theme of Glitter and/or Christmas; the sunflower card is going into the Path of Positivity Challenge #135 with their theme of Anything Positive with the Twist of Embracing the Unexpected (the way this watercolor method creates backgrounds is anything BUT expected and I’m loving the unexpected-ness of it all); The blue Christmas card is being entered into the Daisy Chain Challenge #102 where the theme is Christmas/Winter; and the Crushed Curry based fall card is being entered into the Sparkles Monthly Challenges #193 where the theme is Autumn Leaves/Pumpkins – whew!
I hope these projects inspire you to get a little inky today. When you do, you’ll discover cardmaking isn’t just about paper and ink; it’s about joy, creativity, and the little pieces of yourself you share every time you send a handmade card.
Supplies used (also listed in the tutorials):