Ink Wick Background Technique

Hi Friends! I’m excited to share a fun and easy technique that will take your card-making to a whole new level: the Watercolor Ink Wicking Technique! I’ve been having a blast with the brand-new “Sketched Butterflies” stamp set from Stampin’ Up! and the gorgeous new 2024-2026 In Colors inks. This technique is perfect for creating stunning backgrounds and you can keep it simple by using one ink color, or step it up with multiple colours. You’ll also get a different look every time, depending on the amount of water you use too, as you’ll see in my card samples below:

What You’ll Need:

• “Sketched Butterflies” Stamp Set
• 2024-2026 In Colors Ink Pads
• Watercolor paper
• Water spritzer
• Paper towels or a piece of absorbent paper

Step-by-Step:

1. Prepare Your Workspace:
   Start by gathering all your supplies. Make sure your watercolor paper is cut to the size you want for your card background. Our “Fluid Water Color” card stock comes in 5″ x 7″ sheets so I cut mine down to measure 3 3/4″ x 5″ for one card, and the remaining 3 1/4″ x 5″ for a second card. Add a light wash to your paper using your brush and water.
2. Apply Ink:
   Ink your stamp with color of choice. On today’s cards I started with the Peach Pie ink pad as my first ink layer. I love using multiple colors to create a vibrant background, but you can keep it simple with just one or two colors if you prefer.
3. Spritz with Water:
   Lightly spritz your stamp with water. This will help the ink spread more easily and create that beautiful wicking effect. The amount of water you use will completely change the end result, so play around until you get the desired look you prefer.
4. Ink Wicking Technique:
   Place your inked and water misted stamp onto the damp watercolor paper. Hold your stamp in place to let the ink move and ‘wick’ into the outside shape of your image. Remove stamp.
5. Dry and Repeat:
   Allow your background to dry completely. Once dry, reink your stamp with the next ink color, mist stamp with water and press onto the dry card stock. Repeat with as many ink colors as you wish. You can also just use the first layer of ink and stamp the definition of the image on top with a darker ink, such as black or brown (don’t mist with water on this step). The contrast between the detailed stamps and the flowing/wicked background is simply stunning!
6. Assemble Your Card:
   Add any finishing touches you like – maybe some sentiment stamps, embellishments, or a bit of ribbon. Then, adhere your background to a card base, and voila! You have a beautiful, handmade card.

More Inspiration:

I didn’t stop with just one card! I also created a variety of other cards using different stamp sets from our new annual catalog. The Watercolor Ink Wicking Technique works wonderfully with floral stamps, abstract designs, trees and more. Even hamburgers work with the ink wick background technique!

Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Floral Fantasy: Use the new “Textured Florals” stamp set to create a garden of watercolor flowers. The ink wicking technique gives each flower a unique, blended look.
• Abstract Art: Try using geometric stamps or abstract designs. The wicking technique can create fascinating backgrounds that look like modern art.
• Sentiment Focused: Let the background shine by keeping the rest of the card simple. A bold sentiment stamp can really stand out against a colorful, wicking background.
• KISS! (Keep it simple, Stamper!): Just use one ink color for the wicking (such as Peach Pie) and use a dark ink color for the second layer and image details (black or brown), like I did on this card, with the “Musical Jamboree” stamp set:

Tips for Success:

• Experiment with different amounts of water to see how it affects the spread of ink.
• Try using different types stamp images, like trees, birds, sentiments, alphabets (perfect for scrapbooking), snowflakes, etc.
• This technique would be ideal for Christmas cards, using different shades of blue inks and snowflake stamps!
• Heat emboss on top of the inked wick background that you created, instead of using black or brown ink for the detailed layer!
• Don’t be afraid to layer multiple colors for a more dynamic background.

I hope you have as much fun with this technique as I did! It’s a fantastic way to add a unique touch to your cards, and the results are always stunning.

Product List

In my video, I mentioned my very favourite stamping technique that uses chalks instead of inks, for another beautiful way to add color to your cards, as you can see in the photo below:

To learn more about this awesome technique and video demonstration, click HERE!

Until next time, keep crafting and creating!

HAPPY STAMPING!