A No-Line Orchid Card Inspired by AECP Level 2 Creative Watercolor Media

Hello Crafty Friends!

Any excuse to practice my watercoloring skills is a welcome one — and today, I’m excited to share a new handmade card I created for the AECP Level 2 class Creative Watercolor Media.

For this project, I stamped the elegant Cattleya orchid from the Build-A-Flower: Cattleya Layering Stamp & Die Set onto Altenew’s Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper using Permanent Mist Gray Pigment Ink — a soft, light ink perfect for no-line watercoloring, which I’m eager to practice and improve.

Before painting, I did a bit of research on Cattleya orchids and was amazed by the variety of vibrant colors they come in. That gave me permission to pick a few of my favorite shades: Quinacridone Coral, Perylene Violet and Perylene Green. I used these for the flower and foliage. For the background, I added a light wet-on-wet wash in Perylene Green with just a few soft touches of Perylene Violet to tie it all together. It’s one of my favorite techniques and I’m pleased with the result!

Once dry, I trimmed the panel down to 5 by 3.5 inches and popped it up on a black A2 card base using Instant Dimension Foam Tape. For the sentiment, I reached for the add-on dies from the Watercolor Roses Layering Stencil Set and cut it from glossy black cardstock for a simple finish that leaves the focus on the orchid.

And that’s it! A delicate, imperfect watercolor card that makes me smile.

Are you a fan of watercoloring? Are you a seasoned pro or still learning like me? I’d love to hear about your journey. Tag me on Instagram @caracaro33.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Until next time — stay crafty and creative! 🎨✂️🌸