Hey Crafty People!
Today I’m sharing a video tutorial that was originally over on The Little Paper Tree’s youtube, I’ve got details for each of the cards and full supplies listed below!

For comparison, I made two striped backgrounds, one on Distress Watercolour cardstock and the other on Raven Cardstock from Brutus Monroe.
Five Ways With Handmade Colour Shift Watercolours
Technique 1: Freehand Backgrounds
This technique is super easy and you can customise it however you want to! I chose to paint some stripes, but maybe you want to do dots, zig-zags, solid rectangles….the sky is the limit!!!
![]() CPD Midnight Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() CPD Tiki Torch Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() CPD Limoncello Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Ginger Shop at: SBC | CPD | TLPT |
![]() Astrological Dot Card Shop at: TLPT |
![]() Astrological Watercolour Set Shop at: TLPT |
![]() Doxie Birthday Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Doxie Birthday Dies Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Pixie Dust Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Paisley Park Sequin Mix Shop at: SBC | CPD |
Technique 2: Painting Die Cuts
This second technique involves die cutting shapes/words etc out of dark cardstock and then adding paint over the top to get a gorgeous metallic shine!!!
In my example, I painted die cut words to form a sentiment and I used the same cardstock without adding the paint as my shadow layer! (Look how much of a difference the paint makes to this navy cardstock!)
![]() Astrological Dot Card Shop at: TLPT |
![]() Astrological Watercolour Set Shop at: TLPT |
![]() Phrase Builder: Hello Shop at: ScrapbookCom | Pinkfresh Studio |
Technique 3: Painting Heat Embossed Images
Heat embossing an image makes it super easy to paint because those embossed lines create little walls which hold all of the paint into the area you want it. It makes it so quick & easy when you don’t have to worry about one area bleeding into another.
![]() Astrological Dot Card Shop at: TLPT |
![]() Astrological Watercolour Set Shop at: TLPT |
![]() WOW Ultra Slow Drying Ink Pad Shop at: WOWUK | WOWUSA |
![]() Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
![]() WOW Dual Speed Heat Tool Shop at: WOWUK | WOWUSA |
![]() Gold Rich Pale Shop at: WOWUK | WOWUSA |
![]() You’re Magic Shop at: Trinity |
Technique 4: Splatters
I love to add splatter onto loads of my card designs, and whilst I would usually add a single colour to accent a painted design for example, I decided to go full on EXTRA here!
I splattered an entire a2 panel with all of the Astrological paints for a glitzy, colourful & bright explosion of colour!!!
Technique 5: Ombre Colour Wash
I love creating ombre washes with two paints/inks and that goes for these metallic and colour shifting ones too!
The two blues work beautifully next to each other and make the perfect background for a simple design.
(Bonus Tip! I wanted to mat the panel onto an a2 panel that was the same colour as my purple stamped sentiment; Catherine Pooler inks make this so easy! I just swiped the same ink pad along the edges of a panel of Neenah 80lb to give me a completely matching piece!)
![]() Juniper Mist Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Cove Blue Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Lantern Festival Stamp Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Lantern Festival Dies Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Dress Blues Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Glam Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Crater Lake Sequin Mix Shop at: SBC | CPD |
![]() Astrological Dot Card Shop at: TLPT |
![]() Astrological Watercolour Set Shop at: TLPT |
Please be aware:
As part of my Design Team and Guest Design work I do often receive free products to use, but I only ever recommend products that I genuinely love.
Also, I know how incredibly lucky I am to have these opportunities, but you don’t always NEED the newest products or the ‘full set’.
So please don’t feel that you need everything.
I like to show a variety of brands and products; this way; this way there will be something for everybody to enjoy.
— My Basic Supplies That I Use On Every Project —
Affiliate links are used![]() MINI MISTI Shop at: Scrapbookcom | PBP | SBP | Trinity |
![]() MISTI – Original Shop at: Scrapbookcom | PBP | SBP |
![]() Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
![]() Gemini Jr Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
![]() Tim Holtz Trimmer 8.5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
![]() Tim Holtz Scissors 7inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
![]() Tim Holtz Mini Snips 5inch Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
![]() Tidy Tray Shop at: Trinity |
![]() Pick Up Stick Shop at: Trinity |
![]() Reverse Action Tweezers Shop at: Scrapbookcom | SBP |
![]() We R Trim & Scoreboard Shop at: Scrapbookcom |
![]() Pressure Tool Shop at: Trinity |
*Affiliate links are used, where available; this means that I may get a small commission if you purchase using one of these links, at no extra cost at all to yourself. A huge thank you goes to anyone who does purchase using my links, it is so highly appreciated.