In Pursuit of Perfect Petals: Second AECP Level 3 Class

Hello Crafty Friends!

I recently took “Artists’ Watercolors 101 for Paper Crafters” with the wonderfully talented Emily Midgett, and let me tell you—this was no “splash on some color and call it a day” kind of class. No, this was watercolor boot camp… with beautiful results.

No-line watercolored floral card

Armed with my brushes and Altenew’s Watercolor Coloring Book, I chose a floral image and decided to continue working on no-line watercoloring—because clearly, I enjoy both beauty and suffering. Layer after delicate layer, petal after petal, I slowly built up the color. Hours passed, paint dried, and I may have aged a little—but the flowers began to bloom on paper as if by magic (or sheer determination). A wash of watercolor in the background creates the illusion of subtle dimension.

Once the painting was finally complete, I added some fine black splatters, a sentiment using the eclipse technique with the Fancy Thanks Die—subtle yet striking—and a few black enamel dots for balance and polish.

The finished card feels like a tiny triumph in patience, control and pigment. Every brushstroke is deliberate, every layer intentional. And while Emily made it look graceful, I now know: true watercolor serenity only comes after at least three internal pep talks and a cup of strong tea. So here’s to persistence, pigment and the endless pursuit of perfect petals—best enjoyed one brushstroke at a time.

Let me know how you approach no-line coloring. Thanks so much for visiting.

Close-up of the no-line watercoloring.