Hey, crafty friends! Today, I’m excited to share one of my favorite projects: a top-folding 5 x 7 watercolor card featuring the Big & Bold Ukraine’s Sunflower Stamp Set from Colorado Craft Company. There’s something about a large, bold floral image that just begs to be watercolored, and this sunflower stamp is no exception! In this post, I’ll take you through the process of creating this vibrant card, using Distress Ink Refills as watercolor pigments. This technique adds depth and dimension to your images, making them come to life on paper.
Whether you’re a seasoned cardmaker or just starting to explore watercoloring, I hope you’ll find some helpful tips and inspiration here. I’ve always believed that even the most detailed designs can be broken down into fun, manageable steps. So let’s dive into the card and talk about what went into it!
Ukraine's Sunflower Watercolor Card:
Bold Florals and Watercoloring: A Perfect Match
Big, bold stamps like this sunflower are perfect for watercoloring because they give you plenty of space to play with color. I stamped the sunflower onto Canson XL Watercolor Paper using Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves Ink Pad, which is a rich, warm brown that doesn’t overpower the soft watercolor look. I always like to heat set my ink to make sure it’s dry and ready for painting—no accidental smudges!
When it comes to watercoloring, I find that using Distress Ink Refills is a game-changer. They blend so beautifully and allow for great control over color intensity. For the sunflower petals, I chose Wild Honey, Antique Linen, and Carved Pumpkin. These colors are bright and warm, perfect for a sunflower that feels like it's glowing in the sunlight.
Pro Tip: If you’re new to watercoloring or working with Distress Inks, try working with a “thirsty brush” technique. After placing the pure pigment where you want the darkest color, use a clean, slightly damp brush to pull the color out to the edges. This helps create a smooth gradient of color without harsh lines. It’s one of those simple techniques that can completely transform your watercoloring.
Adding Dimension with Layered Color
One thing I love about watercoloring is how easy it is to build depth. By alternating the three colors—Wild Honey, Antique Linen, and Carved Pumpkin—I was able to give each petal its own sense of light and shadow. I always start with the darkest color at the base of the petal, where the shadow would naturally fall, and then use the lighter shades to pull that color out to the tip. It’s almost like watching the sunflower bloom with each brushstroke!
The center of the sunflower needed something a little earthier, so I brought in Frayed Burlap and Scorched Timber. These rich brown tones really grounded the image and helped the vibrant petals stand out even more.
Pro Tip: Drying between each layer of color is essential when working with watercolor. I used my Dual Speed Heat Tool between each step, not just to speed up the process but also to make sure the colors didn’t blend where I didn’t want them to. This gives you more control and ensures that each section of your image stays crisp and clean.
Bringing the Background to Life
Once the sunflower was complete, I turned my attention to the background. I wanted something soft and complementary, so I used Picked Raspberry Distress Ink Reinker for a pop of pinkish purple. Adding clean water to the paper first allowed the ink to flow and blend seamlessly around the flower, creating a lovely soft halo effect. I love how this bright pinkish-purple contrasts with the warm yellow and orange of the sunflower, making the entire card feel vibrant and cheerful.
I like to think of the background as the setting that lets your main image shine. You don’t want it to compete with the focal point, but you also don’t want it to feel flat. Adding that soft wash of color brought everything together beautifully.
Assembling the Card
With the watercoloring complete, I trimmed the card front to 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" and matted it onto a piece of Wildberry Cardstock. Adding dimension is key when working with larger cards like this, so I popped the watercolor panel up with Instant Dimension Foam Tape. This simple step really helps the card stand out and gives it that professional, polished look.
For the sentiment, I heat-embossed a message onto a scrap of Wildberry Cardstock using Unicorn White Pigment Ink and Opaque Bright White Super Fine Embossing Powder. But instead of stopping there, I created a custom shadow layer around the sentiment by tracing the stamp and cutting it out with scissors. This added a handmade, layered look that ties the whole card together.
Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to get creative with your sentiments! If you don’t have a die for your sentiment, you can always trace around the stamp and cut it out by hand. This trick gives your sentiment a unique, custom look that adds to the overall design of your card.
Finishing Touches and Extra Sparkle
No card is complete without a few finishing touches! I added highlights with a Signo Uni-Ball White Gel Pen for that extra bit of pop, especially on the sunflower petals. For a bit of sparkle, I used my Gold Wink of Stella Brush Tip Marker over the petals, center, and leaves, creating a subtle shimmer that catches the light just right. I even added some Matte White Enamel Dots that I colored with the same gold marker, giving them a custom glittery finish.
To top it all off, I created a top-folding 5 x 7 card base using Neenah Solar White Ultra Thick Cardstock. This is one of my go-to cardstocks for sturdy bases, especially when you’re working with larger card sizes. I find that cutting two pieces and adhering them together gives the card base extra strength, making sure it can hold up to all the layers and dimension without warping.
Final Thoughts
This card came together beautifully, and I couldn’t be happier with the final result. The combination of bright, bold colors and delicate watercolor techniques really makes this sunflower the star of the show. If you’ve been wanting to try watercoloring with Distress Inks, I highly recommend giving it a go. It’s such a fun and versatile medium, perfect for achieving both soft washes and intense color. Plus, the larger 5 x 7 size gives you more room to play with different elements.
I hope this project inspires you to get creative with your stamps and watercolors. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colors and techniques—you never know what kind of stunning results you’ll achieve! If you want to see the full process in action, be sure to check out the video tutorial linked below.
Happy crafting, friends!
Ukraine's Sunflower Watercolor Card Video Tutorial:
If you have problems watching the video here on my blog you can always watch it on my YouTube Channel by Clicking here!
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Materials Used:
Here you will find the list of supplies that I used to create today's card. All supplies are linked to supply sources below. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you.
Happy Stampin'
Rick Adkins
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