Let's Add Texture with Reactive Inks

Backgrounds Die Cutting Liquid Water Colors Reactive Inks

Aug 29, 2024 Natasha Vacca

Hello, it is Creative Team Member Natasha Vacca on the blog today! Today I am sharing ways to use your Reactive Inks to create texture using your Fancy Dies! For today's project I am using the Fancy Dies of the Month - Jungle Critters and Vines! I love this set and had a lot of fun!

I started with a piece of Luxe White Watercolor Paper and two colors of Reactive Inks: Root Beer and Fog. I started by placing the Root Beer ink on my work surface mat, I then spritzed water onto the ink and moved the ink around with my finger. I then smoosh the paper into the ink, dry with my heat tool, spritz water droplets onto the panel and pick up the color with a paper towel. I repeat this process several times with both the Root Beer and Fog Reactive Inks until I have the color and texture I am looking for. I repeat this process two times. One panel will be used for the Jungle Vines and Critters Fancy Die of the Month, the other will be used under the Fancy Die.

Next I used one of the die cut Reactive panels I created above with the Jungle Vines and Critters Fancy Die of the Month. I also die cut the dragonfly and snail from the Jungle Vines and Critters Fancy Die of the Month using Luxe White Watercolor Paper. I also die cut three mushrooms from the Mushrooms ad Ferns Fancy Dies using my Compact Cutter.

Once everything was die cut, I started to watercolor the images using Hero Arts Liquid Watercolors. I specifically used: Pink, Moss, Terracotta, Coffee, and Mulled Wine. I work in layers when I watercolor and build colors. These colors are truly beautiful and are so vibrant. Once everything was complete, I darkened the edges on some of the animals and leaves using Caramel Core Ink. You can apply the ink using a Small Blending Brush. I completed the project by adhering the panels onto a top folding card base using a combination of Hero Arts Precision Glue and foam tape. I chose a sentiment from the Encouragement Sentiment Strips set. I die cut the sentiments using the Sentiment Strips Fancy Die. I darkened the edges using Caramel Core Ink.