
Hi friends!
Today I want to share a card featuring a fun background technique using watercolor markers refills (also known as liquid watercolors).
I don’t know the “official” name for this technique, I learned it when I was a child. I call it – soap bubbles background.
For this technique you need a small bowl (mine is about a cup size) filled with water, dishwashing soap, a straw, and liquid watercolor. For my card, I used the Autumn Blaze and Crimson Liquid Watercolors.
- First, I mixed water, some dishwashing soap (I was totally eyeballing it) and 4-5 drops of the Autumn Blaze Liquid Watercolor in the bowl.
- Next, I inserted the straw into the mix and started blowing into it, causing soap bubbles forming in the bowl and rising over its rim.
- Then, I took a watercolor panel and kind of picked up the bubbles with it. Within several seconds, they popped leaving behind an interesting and quite unique “bubble background”. I did it several times ’til it covered the whole panel with bubbles.
- After that, I dried the panel with my heat tool completely.
Next, I added another layer of bubbles doing everything in the same manner and using the Crimson Liquid Watercolor.
I let the panel dry completely and foam mounted it onto a white card base.
I die cut a frame out of a Solar White Cardstock using the Frilly Frame Die and adhered it onto the card. Next I die cut a sentiment out of a Solar White Cardstock using a die from the Script Words Die Set and adhered it onto the card as well.
To finish off the card, I added several white crystals.
Several tips:
1. Don’t use a very large container. I found a small bowl about a cup size to be the perfect size for this. In this technique, you’re working with those bubbles raised over a bowl rim. So with a bigger bowl, you will need to blow more to get enough bubbles going on over the rim or even maybe have more water in a bowl (see the next item).
2. Don’t add a lot of water to the mix. A quarter of a cup is more than enough. The more water you add – the more you dilute the liquid watercolor in the mix – the less intense color of the background you get. Unless you’re going for a very settled result and if you don’t want to waste the liquid watercolor – do not use a lot of water.
3. If you decide to make several layers of bubbles – dry your piece between layers completely. With this technique, the amount of paint that ends up on a paper is minimal. On a wet paper, watercolor tends to move and spread around. You can lose your bubble “design” as it will basically blend out. Hope it makes sense.
Below you can find the process video where you can see how this card was made.
You can see my video here or Watch it in HD at YouTube
So this will be it for today. Hope you like the technique I shared today and will give it a try.
Have a wonderful day!
SUPPLIES
If you’re interested in the supplies I’ve used – they’re listed below. Where available I use compensated affiliate links (which means if you make a purchase I will get a small commission with no additional cost for you). Click on the letters below to go to a favorite store: Simon Says Stamp (SSS), Studio Katia (SK), Altenew (AN), Scrapbook.com (SC), Amazon (AZ), Spellbinders (SB), Papertrey Ink (PTI) etc.
I truly appreciate your support!
![]() Altenew Script Words Die Set Click A Shop: SSS | AN | SC | EH |
![]() Altenew Frilly Frame Die Click A Shop: AN |
![]() Neenah Classic Crest Smooth Solar White Cardstock 110 Lb Click A Shop: SSS | AZ | AN |
![]() Canson Montval Spiral Watercolor 9X12 Pad Click A Shop: SSS | AZ | SB |
![]() Lawn Fawn Glue Tube Click A Shop: SSS | SC | EH |
![]() Ranger Mini Multi Medium Matte Glue Click A Shop: SSS | AZ | SC | EH |
![]() White Double Sided Acrylic Adhesive Click A Shop: AZ |
![]() Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting And Embossing Machine Click A Shop: SSS | SC | SB |
![]() Altenew Crimson Liquid Watercolor Brush Marker Refill Click A Shop: AN |
![]() Altenew Authumn Blaze Liquid Watercolor Brush Marker Refill Click A Shop: AN |
![]() Studio Katia Snow Crystals Click A Shop: SSS | SK |
Stacey Kowbel
Such a cool technique and fabulous card. I’ll have to give this one a try. Thanks for the instructions and all the tips!
Svitlana Shayevich
Thank you, Stacey! I’m glad you like the card and technique.
Judith Valerio
Hi Svitlana, I subscribe to your newsletters and regularly view you on you tube. Today, your video doesn’t play because it says it’s private. Not sure what changed, but thought you should know. Love your cards and your style!
Tricia A Podmore
Wow, what a cool technique to try. Love love your card. The background is amazing using the technique. Soooooo creative and inspiring. Thanks for sharing. Blessings to you and your family.