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!)
