Dimensional Fish Card with Watercolour Technique

A project from our live show Create Together Club - Chapter 4 - Broadcast 30TH April 24 · 30/04/2024 · watch it from 10:15

Create a stunning A5 card featuring an elegant fish with flowing fins as the centrepiece. Using watercolour techniques, you'll paint the fish in beautiful purples and blues with gold confetti accents, then layer it dimensionally on a pink card base. Complete the design with decorative bubble embellishments for a serene, artistic finish.

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Step by step

1. Die-cut the frame, centre, word 'love', and fish from cardstock using the A6 die set. ▶ watch 10:15
2. 

   Stamp the bubble design onto the edge of the frame using teal ink and an acrylic block. Position the stamp along the edge to create a decorative border.

   ▶ watch this step (18:45)
3. 

   Wet a brush and pull the teal ink outward from the stamped circles to create a soft watercolour halo effect on the frame.

   ▶ watch this step (20:15)
4. 

   Place the die-cut fish back into the waste framework using a stamping aid. Ink the fish with purple and teal inks, ensuring full coverage of the stamp.

   ▶ watch this step (22:30)
5. Using a brush, paint gold confetti ink onto the stamped fish image. Apply the ink carefully to add shimmer and dimension to the fish design. ▶ watch 24:00
6. 

   Wet the fish with water using a paintbrush and drag the inked colours outward to create a watercolour effect. Leave some white areas for contrast, particularly on the tail and body.

   ▶ watch this step (26:15)
7. 

   Stamp the fish tail image again on a separate piece of white cardstock using purple and blue inks.

   ▶ watch this step (35:15)
8. 

   Using scissors, carefully cut away the tail section of the fish image. This will create a floating effect when the pieces are layered together on your card.

   ▶ watch this step (36:30)
9. 

   Use a wet brush to drag and blend the colours on the fish tail, creating dimension and a watercolour effect.

   ▶ watch this step (38:30)
10. 

    Layer the tail piece onto the main fish body using foam pads to create height and dimension.

    ▶ watch this step (39:30)
11. 

    Mount the layered fish topper onto a pink A5 card base. Position the embossed frame behind the fish design to create dimension.

    ▶ watch this step (42:15)
12. 

    Add bubble gems around the frame holes using a pickup tool to embellish the card.

    ▶ watch this step (46:00)

Tips from the show

• If you die-cut before stamping, pop the waste back into the recess of the die to hold the piece in place and prevent it lifting when stamping.
• You can extend the tail and create an even more beautiful ornate effect by manipulating the watercolour technique.
• Scale back the detail if you prefer a simpler look—you don't have to use every element at full impact.

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