water painters Archives – Crafting with Ashee - Independent Stampin' Up! Demo

What is the Difference Between Heat and Dry Embossing?

What is the Difference Between Heat and Dry Embossing? – Christmas Greenery – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK.

Embossing is a wonderful way to add texture, depth, and a professional finish to your handmade cards. In today’s project, I’ll be showing you both heat embossing and dry embossing, using the beautiful Traditions of Christmas Suite from Stampin’ Up!

Dry Embossing

For the background, I’ve used the Peaceful Greenery Embossing Folder, which creates a delicate foliage frame around the central design. This technique is known as dry embossing. It’s achieved by running cardstock through an embossing folder with your die-cutting machine. The result is a raised (embossed) texture that instantly adds interest and a touch of elegance to any card design.

Heat embossing

For the focal image, I’ve used the Christmas Greenery stamp set and gold heat embossed the design. Heat embossing involves stamping your image with a sticky embossing ink, sprinkling on embossing powder, and then using a heat tool to melt the powder. The result is a beautiful, shiny, and raised effect that really stands out.

What is the Difference Between Heat and Dry Embossing? - Christmas Greenery - Crafting with Ashee - Independent Stampin' Up! Demo - Lincoln UK. — What is the Difference Between Heat and Dry Embossing? – Christmas Greenery – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK.

watercolouring

Once the image was heat embossed, I coloured it using Stampin’ Up! ink pads and Water Painters. You need to use Fluid 100 watercolour paper. Basic White cardstock cannot cope with water. The colours are Real Red and Garden Green, perfect for traditional festive florals. The sentiments—“Merry Christmas” and “Season’s Greetings”—are from the Greetings For You Ephemera Pack, which coordinates perfectly with this suite.

To finish off, I added some sparkle using the Traditional Sparkling Sequins, also from the Traditions of Christmas Suite. These sequins bring just the right amount of shimmer to the finished cards, catching the light beautifully.

Both embossing techniques complement each other perfectly—dry embossing adds texture and structure, while heat embossing brings shine and definition. Together, they create elegant and festive cards that are sure to impress anyone this Christmas season.

Measurements

Real Red / Garden Green Cardstock – A6 Card Base – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half.
Basic White Cardstock – 14.35cm X 10cm X 2 pieces

Thank You for Stopping By!

I hope you enjoyed this papercrafting project and found it inspiring! Below, you’ll find a supply list linked to my online shop and a video tutorial to guide you step by step. You can also check out my Basic Craft Products, which include the essential tools I use regularly.

Product List

Real Red A4 Card Stock £14.00	Garden Green A4 Card Stock £14.00	Christmas Greenery Bundle £47.50	Peaceful Greenery 3 D Embossing Folder £9.50	Versamark Pad £9.00
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Water Painters £13.00	Metallics Wow! Embossing Powder £20.00	Traditional Sparkling Sequins £7.50
Greetings For You Mix & Match Ephemera Pack (English) £8.00	Embossing Additions Tool Kit £26.00	Heat Tool – Uk Plug £30.00

Join the Crafting Fun!
Stay connected and get more creative inspiration by following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. I also run a Facebook Group where we share projects, exchange ideas, and chat about all things crafty. I’d love for you to join and share your creations!

Online Card Club – Each month in my Facebook Group, we make three beautiful cards and a 3D project. It’s a fun and interactive way to craft together. Click here for all the details.

In-Person Crafting Classes – If you’re in North Lincoln, come craft with me in a friendly, hands-on session. Click here for upcoming dates and details.

Request a Craft Catalogue – Want a copy of the latest catalogue? Simply click the Contact Me button, and I’ll send one your way. And don’t forget—you can shop online 24/7 from the comfort of your home.

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or on my YouTube channel—your feedback means the world to me.

Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!
Ashee xx

Revisiting Watercolour Pencils – Perfect for Easy Colouring

Revisiting Watercolour Pencils – Perfect for Easy Colouring – Framed Scenes – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK

Sometimes the simplest tools give the most beautiful results, and today I’m sharing two cards that revisit a classic favourite—watercolour pencils. They’re perfect for easy colouring and give a soft, artistic look to your stamped images.

For these projects, I used the Framed Scenes stamp set with Fluid 100 watercolour paper as my base. The textured watercolour paper really makes a difference when blending, helping the colours move smoothly while keeping that lovely hand-painted effect.

Revisiting Watercolour Pencils - Perfect for Easy Colouring - Framed Scenes - Crafting with Ashee - Independent Stampin' Up! Demo - Lincoln UK — Revisiting Watercolour Pencils – Perfect for Easy Colouring – Framed Scenes – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK

Creating the Focal Images

Each card features one of the detailed scenic images from the Framed Scenes set. I stamped the designs with Stazon onto the Fluid 100 paper and then reached for both Watercolour Pencil Assortment 1 and 2 to add colour.

To blend the pencils, I used a Water Painter, which instantly transforms the pencil strokes into soft watercolour washes. I love how versatile this method is—you can keep things light and sketchy or layer up for bolder, richer colour.

On one card, I coloured the peaceful stone bridge scene, and on the other, the charming treehouse. Both images are framed beautifully with a faux gold frame for extra shine and impact.

Simple Sentiments, Big Impact

I kept the sentiments simple—“thinking of you” and “hello”—so the detailed watercoloured images remain the star of the show. Sometimes less is more, especially when your focal image is this pretty.

measurements

Pecan Pie Cardstock – A6 Card Base – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half.
Basic White Cardstock – 14.35cm X 10cm X 2 pieces

Why Try Watercolour Pencils Again?

If it’s been a while since you’ve used your watercolour pencils, I’d really encourage you to bring them back out. They’re:

Easy to use, even for beginners.
Portable and mess-free.
Perfect for creating a quick watercoloured look without needing lots of supplies.

They’re also ideal for stamped images with fine detail, like those in the Framed Scenes set, because you can add colour exactly where you want it before blending.

Thank You for Stopping By!

Product List

Pecan Pie A4 Cardstock £10.75	Gold Foil Sheets £4.75	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper £8.50	Gathering Leaves Embossing Folder £10.00
Framed Scenes Bundle £36.75	Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad £10.00	Water Painters £13.00	Neutrals Adhesive Backed Sequins £7.00
Greetings For All Mix & Match Ephemera Pack (English) £6.75	Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1 £17.00	Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2 £14.00

Online Card Club – Each month in my Facebook Group, we make three beautiful cards and a 3D project. It’s a fun and interactive way to craft together. Click here for all the details.

In-Person Crafting Classes – If you’re in North Lincoln, come craft with me in a friendly, hands-on session. Click here for upcoming dates and details.

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or on my YouTube channel—your feedback means the world to me.

Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!
Ashee xx

Best Wishes – Happy Hibiscus – Easy Watercolouring

Best Wishes – Happy Hibiscus – Easy Watercolouring – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK

Today’s card is all about layering, colour, and the beauty of a hand‑painted floral. I’ve used the Happy Hibiscus stamp and die set to create these bold blooms, and paired them with a soft sky background and subtle arch framing. If you love floral cards but want an approachable technique for colouring, this is the perfect project to try.

What makes this card stand out

Easy watercolouring – Real Red and Old Olive ink pads, plus a Water Painter, create vibrant results without complicated blending.
Layered arch effect – The Everyday Arches dies and clever use of DSP add depth and detail.
Stunning statement florals – The hibiscus flowers pop against a dreamy sky backdrop.
Versatile sentiment – “Best Wishes” from With You in Mind fits a wide range of occasions.

How I created the hibiscus flowers

Stamping and watercolouring
I stamped the hibiscus and leaves onto Fluid 100 watercolour paper using waterproof black ink. Once dry, I used my Water Painters to loosely fill in the flowers with Real Red and the leaves with Old Olive.
Adding bold detail
Instead of flicking or splattering, I added extra depth by painting directly onto the petals and leaves with undiluted ink. This gives a vivid, hand‑painted look and makes the florals really pop.
Die cutting
Once the colouring was dry, I used the coordinating dies to cut out the images for layering later.

Creating the layered arch background

Ink blending – I began by blending Pool Party ink over a piece of Basic White cardstock to create a soft, gradient base.
DSP overlay – Next, I took a piece of Take to the Sky Designer Series Paper and used the Everyday Arches dies to cut a window into it.
Layering the two – I placed the ink‑blended piece behind the DSP so that the sky scene showed only through the arch cut‑out. This added both dimension and a subtle focal frame for the sentiment.

Sentiment and finishing touches

The “Best Wishes” greeting comes from the With You in Mind stamp set and was stamped in black for a bold contrast against the soft background.
I arranged the three hibiscus flowers and leaves around the base of the arch to draw the eye upward and keep the design balanced.
A few pearls from the Pearl Trio Pack add a soft shimmer and complete the card with a delicate touch.

Watch how it all comes together

Want to see this card made from start to finish? Watch the full step‑by‑step tutorial in the video below. You’ll see exactly how I layered the arches and created those vivid floral details.

Save this idea for later

Love this look? Pin the photo to your crafting inspiration board so you can come back to it whenever you’re ready to make your own version

Thank You for Stopping By!

Product List

Real Red A4 Card Stock £10.75	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper £8.50	Take To The Sky 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper £11.75	Everyday Arches Dies £27.00
Happy Hibiscus Bundle (English) £56.50	Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad £10.00	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad £7.50	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Small Blending Brushes £14.00	Adhesive Backed Pearl Trio £7.00

Online Card Club – Each month in my Facebook Group, we make three beautiful cards and a 3D project. It’s a fun and interactive way to craft together. Click here for all the details.

In-Person Crafting Classes – If you’re in North Lincoln, come craft with me in a friendly, hands-on session. Click here for upcoming dates and details.

I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment below or on my YouTube channel—your feedback means the world to me.

Until next time, Enjoy Being Creative!
Ashee xx

How to Create a Watercolour Swatch Background

How to Create a Watercolour Swatch Background – Simple Birthday – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK.

This is an easy technique to create a fun background. You do need to use watercolour paper. Basic White cardstock will not stand up to the water and may pil. I’ve used Fluid 100 watercolour cardstock. This has two sides to it. I’ve used the smoother side.

The nature of watercolour cardstock means it will have a certain degree of texture. This allows the water to move on the page. You may not get a perfect impression the first time you stamp and I recommend using a stamping tool.

measurements

Thick Basic White / Melon Mambo Cardstock – A6 Card Base – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half.
Beautiful Bokeh designer series paper (DSP) – 14.35cm X 10cm.
Basic White Cardstock – 14.35cm X 10cm (insert)

Thank you for visiting me. I hope you enjoyed this project and it inspired you. The supply list linked to my online shop and video tutorial are below. You can find my Basic Craft Products that I regularly use here.

Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock £10.75	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock £13.00	Beautiful Bokeh 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper £11.75	Silver 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Foil Sheets £4.75
Simple Birthday Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) £17.00	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Water Painters £13.00
Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper £8.50	Stampin' Spritzer £5.75	Heat Tool – Uk Plug £30.00

You can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. I also have a Facebook Group where we share crafty projects and chat about all things crafty. I would love you to join and share your creation with us.

I’ve run an online card club each month in my Facebook Group. We make three cards and a 3D project each month. It’s lots of fun and I would love for you to join us. All the details can be found here.

I also run in-person classes in North Lincoln. Click here for details to attend the next club.

If you would like a copy of the catalogue, click on the contact me button and I will get one out to you. Remember you can shop in my online shop 24 /7 from the comfort of your own home.

I love to read your comments and get feedback on my work so please do comment either here or on my YouTube account.

Sketched Butterflies – How to Watercolour with Ink Pads

Sketched Butterflies – How to Watercolour with Ink Pads – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK

I love butterflies and was so happy to see this new butterfly set in the catalogue. These gorgeous butterflies are watercoloured using the Stampin’ Up! ink pads. If you are going to watercolour, always remember to use suitable paper. I have used Fluid 100 watercolour paper here. Basic White won’t stand up to water as well as Fluid 100 and you are liable to get pilling of your paper.

One trick I employed here is to black heat emboss my images before I watercoloured them. This helps to keep the colour in the lines and stop it flowing everywhere.

measurements

Thick Basic White Cardstock – A6 Card Base – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Basic White Cardstock – 14.35cm X 10cm

Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper £8.50	Sketched Butterflies Bundle (English) £46.75	Versamark Pad £9.00	Basics Wow! Embossing Powder £20.00	Water Painters £13.00
Blending Brushes £14.00	Small Blending Brushes £14.00	Blooming Pearls £7.50	Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin’ Pad £6.00
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Pool Party Classic Stampin’ Pad £6.00	Balmy Blue Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad £7.50

I also run in-person classes in North Lincoln. Click here for details to attend the next club.

If you would like a copy of the catalogue, click on the contact me button and I will get one out to you. Remember you can shop in my online shop 24 /7 from the comfort of your own home.

I love to read your comments and get feedback on my work so please do comment either here or on my YouTube account.

How to Use Heat Embossing to Help You Watercolour

How to Use Heat Embossing to Help You Watercolour – Berry Harvest – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! – Lincoln UK

The Berry Harvest stamp is a large background stamp. When I saw this one I knew I wanted to watercolour the image. I’ve heat-embossed the image with gold embossing powder. Heating embossing the image makes water colouring easy as the embossing helps you stay in the lines.

For my watercolouring, I used a water painter and my ink pads. Quick, easy and lots of fun. I do painting and colouring, do you?

measurements

Berry Burst / Real Red Cardstock – A6 Card Base – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half.
Fluid 100 Watercolour paper – Half a sheet.
Basic White Cardstock – 14.35cm X 10cm

Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Berry Burst A4 Cardstock £9.50	Garden Green A4 Card Stock £9.50	Real Red A4 Card Stock £9.50	Double Oval Punch £21.00
Berry Harvest Cling Stamp Set £19.00	Sparkling Snowflakes Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) £19.00	Berry Burst Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50
Versamark Pad £9.00	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad £8.50	Water Painters £13.00	Metallics Embossing Powders £17.00

I also run in-person classes in North Lincoln. Click here for details to attend the next club.

If you would like a copy of the catalogue, click on the contact me button and I will get one out to you. Remember you can shop in my online shop 24 /7 from the comfort of your own home.

I love to read your comments and get feedback on my work so please do comment either here or on my YouTube account.

Didn’t You Know Hippos Did Ballet?

Didn’t You Know Hippos Did Ballet? – Hippest Hippos – Go to Greetings – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up Demo – Lincoln UK.

Of course, hippos do ballet, or they do in my world at least. This little cutie is coloured using Polished Pink & Granite ink pads with a water painter. I did ballet all through my junior school and I hate it!! Strangely enough, I love ballet now and watch it quite often. It’s weird how things turn out.

Measurements

Polished Pink Cardstock – A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Silver & Gold Speciality Designer Series Paper – 14.35cm X 10cm
Basic White – 14.35cm X 10cm

other projects

Thank you for visiting me. I hope you enjoyed this project and it inspired you. The supply list linked to my online shop and video tutorial are below. Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock £8.25	Stamparatus £45.75	Bone Folder £6.75	Paper Trimmer £24.00	Stampin’ Seal £7.50	Basic White C6 Envelopes £7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue £4.50	Stampin’ Dimensionals £4.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive £6.50	Simply Shammy £8.00	Take Your Pick £9.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock £9.75
Polished Pink A4 Cardstock £8.75	Silver & Gold 6″ X 6″ (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper £0.00	Stylish Shapes Dies £28.00	Hippest Hippos Cling Stamp Set (English) £0.00	Go To Greetings Cling Stamp Set (English) £23.00	Polished Pink Classic Stampin’ Pad £7.50
Gray Granite Classic Stampin’ Pad £7.50	Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad £5.75	Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad £9.50	Water Painters £13.00	2021 2023 In Color Opal Rounds £8.00

I’ve started to run a virtual card club each month in my Facebook Group. We make four to five projects each month. It’s lots of fun and I would love for you to join us. All the details can be found here.

If you would like a copy of the catalogue, click on the contact me button and I will get one out to you. Remember you can shop in my online shop 24 /7 from the comfort of your own home.

I love to read your comments and get feedback on my work so please do comment either here or on my YouTube account.

Red Fox – Make a Simple Card Today!!

Red Fox – Make a Simple Card Today!! – Stylish Sketches – Watercolouring – Crafting with Ashee = Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln – UK

This fox looks a lot redder in the photo than he does in real life. I coloured him using a water painter and Cajun Craze ink pad. You can mix colours to colour the little fox in as well. The grass is Old Olive and the sky is Balmy Blue. I love playing with colours. It’s such fun.

measurements

Pool Party prescored cardbase – A freebie from Sale-a-bration

other projects

Thank you for visiting me. I hope you enjoyed this project and it inspired you. The supply list linked to my online shop and video tutorial are below. Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock £8.25	Stamparatus £45.75	Bone Folder £6.75	Paper Trimmer £24.00	Stampin’ Seal £7.50	Basic White C6 Envelopes £7.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue £4.50	Stampin’ Dimensionals £4.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive £6.50	Simply Shammy £8.00	Take Your Pick £9.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock £9.75
Pool Party & Soft Sea Foam Cards & Envelopes £0.00	Rings Of Love 12″ X 12″ (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper £0.00	Stitched Rectangles Dies £33.00	Stylish Sketches Cling Stamp Set £0.00	Old Olive Classic Stampin’ Pad £7.50	Cajun Craze Classic Stampin’ Pad £7.50
Balmy Blue Classic Stampin’ Pad £7.50	Water Painters £13.00	Rhinestone Basic Jewels £5.75	Pool Party 3/8″ (1 Cm) Sheer Ribbon £5.75

If you would like a copy of the catalogue, click on the contact me button and I will get one out to you. Remember you can shop in my online shop 24 /7 from the comfort of your own home.

I love to read your comments and get feedback on my work so please do comment either here or on my YouTube account.

Use Background Stamps With Me! Focus Friday

Use Background Stamps With Me! Focus Friday – Bouquet of Thanks – Crafting with Ashee – Independent Stampin’ Up! Demo – Lincoln UK.

Welcome to this Focus Friday post. For the month of July, we are looking at background stamps. These are large stamps that cover most if not all of the card front. They are usually repeating designs that add interest to a card without detracting from the focal image. They can also be large stamps that give you the focal image in one stamp.

measurements

Bermuda Bay Cardstock – A6 Cardbase – This is an A4 sheet cut in half and then folded in half
Shimmery White – 14.35cm X 10cm
Basic White – 14.35cm X 10cm

other projects

Thank you for visiting me. I hope you enjoyed this project and it inspired you. The supply list linked to my online shop and video tutorial are below. Until next time Enjoy Being Creative!!

Ashee xx

Product List

Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock £8.25	Stamparatus £45.75	Bone Folder £6.75	Paper Trimmer £24.00	Stampin’ Seal £7.50
Basic White C6 Envelopes £7.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue £4.50	Stampin’ Dimensionals £4.00	Tear & Tape Adhesive £6.50	Simply Shammy £8.00
Take Your Pick £9.50	Basic White A4 Cardstock £9.75	Shimmery White A4 Card Stock £9.50	Card Stock A4 Bermuda Bay £8.75	Bouquet Of Thanks Cling Stamp Set (English) £17.00
Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin’ Pad £7.50	Jet Black Stāzon Ink Pad £9.50	Water Painters £13.00	Stampin’ Spritzer £3.25	Pearl Basic Jewels £5.75

If you would like a copy of the catalogue, click on the contact me button and I will get one out to you. Remember you can shop in my online shop 24 /7 from the comfort of your own home.

I love to read your comments and get feedback on my work so please do comment either here or on my YouTube account.

Dry Embossing

Heat embossing

watercolouring

Measurements

Like this:

Creating the Focal Images

Simple Sentiments, Big Impact

measurements

Why Try Watercolour Pencils Again?

Like this:

What makes this card stand out

How I created the hibiscus flowers

Creating the layered arch background

Sentiment and finishing touches

Watch how it all comes together

Save this idea for later

Like this:

measurements

Like this:

measurements

Like this:

measurements

Like this:

Measurements

other projects

Like this:

measurements

other projects

Like this:

measurements

other projects

Like this: