Watercolor Wednesday - Watercolor Backgrounds Using Distress Ink

A beautiful background doesn't need to take a long time to create but can add interest behind the focal point of your card. Below, I used distress ink with water to achieve a very basic background that's perfect for a beginning card maker.

To make this simple background:

1. Cut a piece of cardstock or watercolor paper to the size that will fit your card base leaving a border around the edge.  (My piece is cut to 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" to fit an A2 size card.)
2. Tape the cardstock or watercolor paper, using painter's tape, to a hard surface such as a hardboard panel which can be found here. This will to keep the cardstock or watercolor paper from bending or curving as it dries and will keep the paper flat.
3. Choose your distress ink color.  Using a blending tool, apply the ink to the paper starting at the outer edges and move toward the center in a circular pattern.
4. Now take a water spritzer, droplets of water from your hand or dip a paint brush in water and splatter the piece with the water.
5. Let the water work it's way into the paper and activate with the ink.
6. Take a roll of paper towel and roll it over your cardstock or watercolor piece and watch the magic happen right before your eyes.
7. Viola, you have a beautiful watercolor background for the creation of your card.