I love seahorses. There is something about them that is graceful, calm, and quiet.

This card was made using a technique demonstrated by Betsy Veldman on the Papertrey Ink blog’s Make It Monday feature. Her technique enables you to make quick and easy water-colored backgrounds.

I adapted her technique by dragging the water color all the way down to the opposite edge of the watercolor cardstock using a wet flat brush. Her technique drags the wet brush about two-thirds of the way down the paper and then ends. I wanted to create an entire front panel of color which is lighter on the top, just like the light in the ocean as you get nearer to the surface of the water. I used Betsy’s technique as I mentioned above and then flipped the card front 180° so the lighter end was on top. I also worked the ink a little more than she suggested.

Nevertheless, her technique produces beautiful results! I love Betsy Veldman’s demonstrations of techniques. She is such an artist. Thanks Betsy for the inspiration!

How I made this project:

View Betsy Veldman’s technique here: Papertrey’s Make it Monday #327 – Ombre Watercolor Backgrounds for the technique I used (modified a bit) to make the card front.

Supplies used in making this project:

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink: Salt Air: Flora stamp set; Papertrey Ink: Salt Air: Fauna stamp set; Papertrey Ink: Salt Air sentiments.
• Inks: Papertrey Inks (darkest to lightest): Tropical Teal, Hawaiian Shores; Aqua Mist; Versamark ink for stamping the sentiment (later heat embossed).
• Cardstock: Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor cardstock (for card front); Neenah Solar White 110# (for card base).
• Other: Hero Arts: white embossing powder, foam ink blending tool.

Hope you like this project and seas the day!