Watercoloured Fairy with Layered Ink Technique

A project from our live show HSN PRODUCT INSPIRATION - Join me for a fun filled show broadcast 25th August 2026 · 25/08/2026 · watch it from 36:00

A multi-step technique using watercolour card stock where you build up colour with various ink pads, spray with water for blending, run the embossing folder multiple times with different colours, hand-paint details onto the fairy, and finish by pushing back the detail with white ink. The result is an ethereal, dimensional fairy with soft, blended colours.

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Step by step

1. Cut a piece of watercolour card stock to fit inside your embossing folder. ▶ watch 45:00
2. Ink up one corner of the embossing folder with black ink, leaving the rest clean. ▶ watch 45:15
3. Spray the card stock lightly with water to help the ink move and blend. ▶ watch 45:30
4. Place the card into the embossing folder and run it through the machine to transfer the black ink and create the embossed design. ▶ watch 45:45
5. Remove the card and allow it to dry slightly. ▶ watch 46:00
6. Ink up a different corner of the embossing folder with green ink. ▶ watch 46:30
7. Spray the card again with water and run it back through the machine, lining up the fairy design carefully. ▶ watch 46:45
8. Dry the card with a heat tool. ▶ watch 47:00
9. Using a paintbrush, hand-paint colours directly onto the fairy—yellows for hair, teals for the dress, oranges for flowers, and skin tones for the face and arms. ▶ watch 53:00
10. Dry the painted card completely with a heat tool. ▶ watch 54:00
11. Ink up the entire embossing folder with black ink and run the card through again to bring back all the fine detail and definition. ▶ watch 59:00
12. If the fairy's face becomes too dark, use a white ink pad to push the detail back and lighten the face. ▶ watch 1:02:45
13. Trim the finished design to your desired size and mount onto a card blank. ▶ watch 1:04:00

Tips from the show

• Watercolour card stock has cotton content rather than chalk, allowing you more time to move the ink around before it dries.
• If the card becomes too dark, spray it with water and use a tissue to suck some colour back out.
• You can run the embossing folder through multiple times with different colours—just line up the design carefully each time.

More from this show

• Embossed Fairy on Black Card with White Ink
• Embossed Fairy on Patterned Paper with White Ink
• Simple Vellum and Patterned Paper Card

Written up from the show itself. See every guide from our shows · free how-to guides · watch live on My Telly