How to Create a Hand Designed Floral Garden Card with No-Line Coloring

No-line coloring has become a popular technique in water coloring, but it works well with alcohol markers too.  To achieve the no-line look, a very light-colored ink is used to stamp an image and as you color the image the outline seems to magically disappear.  It’s a cool effect.

Today’s project is completely handmade and does not have a single bit of designer paper.  It will have us exploring several techniques in one card.  It covers no-line stamping and coloring of course but will also include masking with a liquid masking agent; background ink blending; stamping and heat embossing on vellum; die cutting and card layering.

The supplies that I used for this card are:

• 4” x 5.25” white cardstock (be sure to use the proper card for your choice of coloring medium)
• 4.25” x 5.5” Green Card Base to coordinate with your green foliage
• 2” x 6” strip of Vellum for the sentiment
• Floral Stamps
• Sentiment Stamp
• Thin Border Die
• Pale Colored Ink
• Choice of markers or watercolors
• Black Ink Pad
• Versamark Ink
• Fine Silver Embossing Powder
• Anti-Static Powder Tool
• Ink Blending Tool or Sponge Dauber
• Masking Fluid
• Preferred Glue
• Die Cutting Machine

For my card, I stamped a floral spray image across the top and bottom of the white cardstock with GK Designs Whisper ink and I filled in around the spring with additional floral and leaf stamps until I was happy with the design.  You could change it up by stamping your images in the four corners instead.  However, you decide, leave empty space across the middle of your card for your sentiment and to create the black background.

Now have fun and color your images.  For my design I started with Copic Y02 flicking it out from around the center of each flower, then I blended that out with flicks of Y00 and finally brought Y000 from the petal edges in toward the medium shade.  I went back in with Y02 to deepen as needed.  The stamen of my flowers were colored YG91 and a black pen for the specks. The foliage was colored with YG25, Y23 and was finished by blending all together with Y21. 

Now it’s time to mask your beautiful coloring.  Coat all your artwork with the masking fluid and let it completely dry before moving on.  If you have watercolored your images, be sure to let your piece dry thoroughly before applying the masking fluid.

Once the masking fluid is dry, sponge the background black using a good black ink that blends well.  I used GK Designs Black Onyx because her inks have a leveling agent that creates a beautiful smooth finish.  With a sponge dauber, or your favorite blending tool, begin swiping ink onto the card starting on the outside and work your way toward the middle completely covering any white areas.  The masking fluid will resist the ink and protect your design.  Repeat your blending until the background is a nice rich black.  Be sure your background ink is dry before moving on.

Now it’s time to remove the masking agent.  Gently rub the masking fluid with your finger, the masking agent will ball up and peel off revealing your gorgeous design.

Next prepare the vellum sentiment strip.  I used a premade sentiment for my original card, but I will walk you through creating your own from scratch.  Start with a 2” x 6” strip of vellum that has been rubbed all over with an anti-static tool, stamp a sentiment with Versamark, coat with a fine silver embossing powder and heat the powder until it is all melted.  Let cool before die cutting the edge. 

With a thin border die, cut a fancy edge along the top and bottom of the vellum strip.  Trim away the excess bits at the top and bottom that the die cut away but do not cut the extra vellum on either side of your sentiment.  You’ll use this excess to adhere the strip to your card.

Time to assemble your card:  Start by centering the vellum strip across the front of your floral design layer.  Fold and adhere the left and right side of the vellum to the back your layer.  Doing this, you will not have any glue showing through the vellum on the front of your card.  Now center and glue your design layer to your card base.  If you like, you can use some foam pads or a layer of fun foam to give your design layer height. 

Finish the inside of your card to harmonize with the card front.  I chose to use a 4” x 5.25” piece of white cardstock on the inside and I stamped a flower and some leaves in the lower left and upper right corners and colored them to match the floral images on the card front.  Finally, you can stamp a greeting inside or handwrite a personal note. 

Now go show your husband your beautiful finished card so he can see why you need all of those craft supplies.  ;-)

I hope you have enjoyed today’s step-by-step tutorial.  Please leave any questions or suggestions in the comments.  I love to hear your ideas!

Happy coloring,

Dawn

Disclosure:

     All products used in my blog posts and videos are my own and purchased by me.  My blog posts, videos and opinions are not sponsored, and I am not paid by the product companies to create these posts and videos. The information provided in this video is my own personal endorsement and choice.