Today’s rainbow project includes ink smooshing, which is a technique I love. It gives a great watercolor effect, with minimal effort and supplies! These simple ink smooshing rainbow cards will definitely bring a smile to recipients!
Supplies
Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Cardstock: 110lb for card base, 80lb for card panel
Gina K Cardstock in Black Onyx, Moonlit Fog
Canson XL Watercolor Paper
Graffix Vellum
Distress Oxides – Dark Rainbow: Carved Pumpkin, Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Squeezed Lemonade
My Favorite Things Rainbow Bright die
The Stamp Market Smile Die
Tombow Mono Liquid Glue
Nuvo Crystal Drops in Simply White, Ebony Black, Dark Walnut
Nuvo Glitter Drops in Silver Moondust
Ink Smooshing
On a glass surface (Tim Holtz Glass Media Mat works fantastic), spread some ink directly from an ink pad. I prefer to use Distress Inks or Oxides as they blend well.
Spritz ink with water, then press down a panel of watercolor paper to absorb the water and color. Move paper around in the color and reposition in water and ink until you are happy with the coverage. The more you work the paper in the water and ink, the more even your color will appear.
For darker saturation, let paper dry, then repeat process with additional ink.
Clean glass surface and repeat for all colors of the rainbow.
Let panels dry thoroughly.
Die Cutting
Using Rainbow Bright die, die cut each panel into rainbow strips. As there are 6 colors in the die’s rainbow, you will be able to create 6 complete rainbows.
Using a sentiment die, cut three sets per card you want to make. Layering your sentiment die cuts creates dimension, and helps your sentiment stand out on your card. Do not worry about keeping track of tittles (the dot for an “i” for example) as I have an alternate method for those.
The Smile die from The Stamp Market comes with a background die, which I used to cut from vellum, 1 per desired card.
Card Assembly
Glue each strip of the rainbow to a card panel. I prefer to start with the smallest rainbow stripe, moving toward the larger stripes. I created three rainbows on white cardstock (Neenah Solar White), one on Black Onyx, one on Kraft, and one on Moonlit Fog (colored cardstock from Gina K designs).
Use liquid glue to adhere sentiment layers together. I prefer to layer three sets for general card making. For my cards utilizing colored cardstock, I cut the top layer of the sentiment from the same color cardstock. For example, the sentiment for my black card has two white layers, and a top black layer.
Adhere completed sentiment to a vellum background die cut using liquid glue.
Adhere rainbow card panel and sentiment to an A2 card base. For the tittles (the dots on the “i” use Nuvo Liquid Drops in a coordinating color. Essentially, create an enamel dot for the tittle.
Play around with sentiment placement. With a card like this, the sentiment can be placed in various areas and still be impactful and cohesive.
Your cards are complete! These ink smooshing rainbow cards are easy, require only a few supplies, and are quick to create! The variations in color on each stripe of the rainbow create a great focal point, and the layered sentiment does not detract from the bright pops of color.
Now, go forth and share your happiness with others!
For more rainbow inspiration, click here!