Playing with watercolours, stamps and inks

 I follow a few stamping and card making blogs - not because I make cards, because I don't, but for the inspiration.  I had noticed a few mentions of a particular make of watercolours called Kuretake Gansai Tambi which people seemed to be raving about.  I am not a 'proper watercolourist' but I do like painting, so I thought I would do some research, which I did.  People said that these watercolours are creamy and can be used like a watercolour or a gouache, you don't need much as they are highly pigmented and they are beautiful to use.  Of course, I had to buy some to try them for myself, didn't I?  They come in a box as above...

 ...and are things of beauty!  This set even included silver and gold.  It was suggested that you should make a  colour chart on the lid, as although the colours are numbered, they aren't named in English.

 A little more research and I found a colour chart on a blog, which I really enjoyed creating on the lid.

 I also loved a range of layered floral stamps made in America by Altenew.  They had been sold out on a UK website, Seven Hills Crafts for ages, but I got hold of them in the end.  I have been really enjoying experimenting.

 Here are some examples of the layered effect the stamps give.

 They look like hand printed wallpaper.

 I haven't been quite so successful with the rose stamp...yet.

The peony stamp works beautifully.  Here I have embossed the outline using coloured ink and clear embossing powder and then used some of my other watercolours to fill in. 

 A simplified version using coloured ink pads and black details. Chris really likes the green one in the top right corner.

This one is my absolute favourite so far.  I used the tiniest amount of my lovely new paints in pastel colours and then overprinted an outline with a black ink pad.
The paints are wonderful to use and in my experience, they deserve the rave reviews they have been getting.   I am loving all the playing I am able to do and the different techniques these layered stamps can inspire.  Here's to lots more playing!
( I have bought all these products with my own hard-earned cash. No sponsoring going on here!)