Getting Shabby Chic with Watercolor for 3 Incredible Cards + Videos

Do you love the shabby chic look?

I am completely inspired by this style and have the perfect stamp set from Unity Stamp Company to create with. I am mixing Distress products to achieve the soft watercolor effects that match the shabby chic theme for this card trio.

There is so much to share that I broke the videos up into 2 parts for easy viewing. Lots of tips and techniques were involved in watercoloring the flowers and creating the backgrounds. I hope you are inspired to this out.

Background + Assembly

Let’s create that soft background with Distress inks and I’ll share my thoughts on how I put all the elements together for a shabby chic look with the watercolored flowers.

Watercoloring the Flowers

Interested in how I watercolored the flowers? This video is only about the watercolor process using Distress Watercolor Pencils. It is a mixture of explanation and music so you can see the entire evolution. Warning, it is long but if you enjoy coloring videos this one is for you.

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Featured Supplies

He Provides USC	Love & Wisdom USC	Scallops & Circles Dies USC	Scallops & Squares Dies USC	Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies USC

Compensated affiliate links may be used at no additional cost to you. I greatly appreciate the support if you are inspired to shop using my links. Unity Stamp Company usually has a new sale almost EVERY week. Check the website for details. Stamp sets go on and off sale all the time. If it is not on sale this week, just add the stamp set to your wishlist and wait for the next sale so you get a great deal.

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Pink & Peach Hues

Is shabby chic an old school term? It probably is. I’ve been at this card making thing for close to 20 years and this is what we old timers called this style. Do you know what is it called now? Please let me know so I can be cool again.

What I love most is the soft and dreamy feel of watercolor and the simple accents.

Layout: I went with a torn background to ground everything then grouped together the flowers, torn newsprint, sentiment, and a few pearls.

Background: Distress Ink

• Kitsch Flamingo
• Candied Apple
• Frayed Burlap

Flowers: Distress Watercolor Pencil

• Wild Honey
• Kitsch Flamingo
• Candied Apple
• Crushed Olive
• Peeled Paint
• Walnut Stain

Blue & Purple Hues

I stamped the flowers on watercolor paper and used Distress Watercolor pencils to color with. Coloring with these pencils reminds me of working with Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol. The pigment melts with water and then starts to move like watercolor. It is quite fun to work with.

Layout: The inked background was so lovely, I just covered the card base with it. I wanted to see it all.

• Salvaged Patina
• Peacock Feather
• Villainous Potion
• Iced Spruce

Flowers: Distress Watercolor Pencil

• Cracked Pistachio
• Salvaged Patina
• Peacock Feather
• Shaded Lilac
• Villainous Potion
• Crushed Olive
• Peeled Paint
• Iced Spruce

Purple & Pink Hues

Each background uses the emboss resist technique. I stamped the text on heavy cardstock and heat embossed in white. If you use a different paper, you will get different results with the ink smooshing. The ink doesn’t move around as much on cardstock as it would on watercolor paper. Both create lovely but different results.

Layout: The embossed text shifted a smidge in the upper right of my panel. While it did not look bad, I decided to die cut this background down and hide that corner with the sentiment.

Background: Distress Ink

• Kitsch Flamingo
• Shaded Lilac
• Villainous Potion
• Iced Spruce

Flowers: Distress Watercolor Pencil

• Kitsch Flamingo
• Shaded Lilac
• Villainous Potion
• Crushed Olive
• Peeled Paint
• Iced Spruce

Thank you for joining me today. I sincerely hope that today’s projects inspire you. If you create something, feel free to tag me, @dahlhousedesigns, on social media as I would be thrilled to see it!

Supplies

Some links include affiliate links. I may receive a small commission for the referral but at no cost to you. I greatly appreciate the support should you choose to shop via my links.
Please Note: Product names with ** are suggested supply substitutions if I use something discontinued or hard to find.

He Provides USC	Love & Wisdom USC	Scallops & Circles Dies USC	Scallops & Squares Dies USC	Deckle & Stitches Nesting Dies USC
Neenah 110lb Solar White SB | AMZ	Fabriano Watercolor AMZ	North Pole Collection USC	Shaded Lilac SB	Kitsch Flamingo SB
Candied Apple SB	Frayed Burlap SB	Iced Spruce SB	Peacock Feathers SB	Salvaged Patina, Villainous Potion SB
Versamark ink SB	VersaFine Onyx Black SB | AMZ	Distress WC Pencils SB | AMZ	White Pearls AMZ	White Pen AMZ
Micron Pens AMZ	White Superfine SB

Most Used Tools

MISTI – Original SB | SSS	MISTI – Mini SB | SSS	Foam Roll Combo Pack SB	Foam Roll – 2 Inch SB	Stamping Tool SB
Grip Mat 6×6 SB	Media Mat Mini SB | SSS	Mini Stencil Mat** SB	Multi-Use Mat SB	Cutter Bee Scissors SB | SSS
Reverse Tweezers SB	Glossy Accents SB	Glue Bottle SB	Connect Glue SB	Blending Brushes AMZ
Mini Blending Brushes AMZ	Finger Blending Brushes AMZ	Jewel Picker AMZ	Rhinestone Pencil AMZ	Post It Note Tape AMZ
ATG Adhesive Tape AMZ	Big Shot SB	Mini Trimmer SB	White Pen AMZ	Artist-Tac Micro Dot Adhesive AMZ
T rulers AMZ	Glass Mat SB	1.5″ block SB | OTH