Pages

▼

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Powdered Watercolor Prints

I don't always have a chance to try tutorials when I first see them, but I have a page in my planner that is just a list of things I want to try, and recently, this fun tutorial made the list. 

I used Sunset Beach, Golden Sands and A Bit Jaded powdered watercolors for my print, and this photo paper - I like the size of these pre-cut boxes of paper. I sprinkled the powder into a coffee filter, spritzed it with water, and laid the wet filter onto the photo paper. It works on the photo paper in a similar way that shaving cream with reinkers works - it "sets" on the paper instantly. Then you can remove the filter and print again. I cut the mega hello from white and black cardstock and put that over the print. The walnut crystals in these powders add the warm brown, peppery look mixed in with the colors.
Watercolor Print Technique by Understand Blue



But WAIT - there's more!

I discovered that if I did the technique on TOP of a piece of watercolor paper - so set the filter on paper to begin with - I got an extra piece that looked totally different. I used my topography technique to outline the pieces with my skinny Arteza pen and then stuck another giant word die cut on top. We did this at retreat and it's so freaking fun. I love what the photo paper does.
Topographic Watercolor Technique by Understand Blue
Do you have a technique on your list you want to try? Share it with me in the comments! I'd love to learn something new.

I have another recipe for you today.

I happened to have some fresh pineapple and some ripe bananas yesterday, so just for the heck of it, I typed "pineapple banana muffins" into Google and found scads of recipes.

I settled on this one, with modifications, like swapping out the butter for coconut oil and using finely ground unsweetened coconut. They are DELICIOUS. Enjoy!

Pina Colada Muffins (adapted from this recipe)


  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 bananas, mashed
  • 3/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/3 cup unrefined, expeller pressed coconut oil, melted
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 tablespoon rum-flavored extract
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 10 oz diced fresh pineapple
  • 3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, divided

    • Preheat oven to 350. Line tin with paper muffin liners.
    Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
    Stir bananas, sugar, butter, egg, rum-flavored extract, and vanilla extract together in a bowl. Fold flour mixture into banana mixture 1 cup at a time. Add pineapple chunks and 1/2 cup coconut; fold gently into batter. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups and top each with about 1 teaspoon shredded coconut.
    Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan before removing to a wire rack.

    I wanted to announce my Altenew winner too from this post / video: KELLI HULL! I know her!!! :)

    Please contact me via my sidebar for redemption instructions!

    Want to share an encouraging message with someone? Check out these sweet tiny cards you can leave for people to find, or tuck in a card. Support an Etsy creator! :)

    at

    5 comments:

    1. Lindar CSeptember 26, 2018 at 9:28 AM

      I like how Infusions gives you the warm brown without giving you mud. These cards are wonderful. I would love to try resin pouring, but I don't have the room for it, but I love watching it. I love watching moving color.

      ReplyDelete
    2. KelliJoSeptember 26, 2018 at 1:10 PM

      Lydia this tutorial is AWESOME!!!!!!!! And YAYAYAY MEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Thank you SO MUCH!!!!!

      ReplyDelete
    3. ArleneSeptember 26, 2018 at 4:03 PM

      I love your cards Lydia! And your recipe sounds yummy! I have the water crystals, Color Bursts and one other but I have yet to try them. And I don't know why. I'm not afraid of making a mess or having to throw failures out. So what is stopping me? I think I just need a good kick in the pants and someone telling me to just do it. OK, I've made up my mind. I'm doing this tomorrow!!

      ReplyDelete
    4. Celeste GoffSeptember 26, 2018 at 5:50 PM

      Yeah, those backgrounds are absolutely amazing Lydia! So very pretty!

      ReplyDelete
    5. RachaelSeptember 26, 2018 at 10:38 PM

      I can't wait to try this! I love when you share fun tutorials

      ReplyDelete

    Every time you leave a comment, a new LOLcat is born. ALSO - don't panic if you don't see your comment right away - I moderate my comments to keep those spammers out, so your comment will show up in short order. Unless you're linking me to Russian brides or Nigerian princes.