How To Use Water Spritzers For Card Making

Over time, I’m trying to highlight the main tools for card making in in-depth posts to help you know nearly everything you need to know to get started with a particular tool. Some of my favorite past highlights are the Stamparatus, Cut & Emboss Machine, Blending Brushes, and Chalk Pastels. Today let’s look at a smaller, yet very useful tool – spritzers. There are so many ways to use them, so let’s take a look!

What Are Spritzers?

Spritzers are made of a small bottle with a pump and mist nozzle on the top. The bottle can be opened and filled with liquid (usually either water or rubbing alcohol) and ‘additives’ such as various colors of ink, paint or powders. Once the solution is mixed, the pump can be pressed to dispense the spray over top of a craft project.

In the next section I’ll talk about what you might want to mix inside the bottle.

What To Put Inside

Liquid

I typically use my spritzers with either water or rubbing alcohol inside. Water works just fine for most uses, but the benefit of rubbing alcohol is that it dries faster and causes less warping of your project. For something like shimmer spray I would definitely recommend using rubbing alcohol. For a watercolor technique I would suggest using water. You can play around with which liquid works best for your purpose.

Mix-Ins

Using the word ‘mix-ins’ makes me want to go to Coldstone Creamery and get some cake batter ice cream with Reese Cups and cookie dough mixed in! Now that I’m drooling… let’s talk about what to mix inside of your spritzer. Ink, paints, and powders are most commonly mixed into the spritzer solution. I often use my ink refill bottles to add several drops of ink in order to create a colored spray. Shimmer paint is fun to use to create a shimmery finish to your cards. Powders can be used as well. I’ve wanted to try mixing in chalk pastels, but haven’t had the chance to do so yet. I’m not sure if they would mix evenly or not.

Protecting Your Work Surface

In the next section I’ll share how to use spritzers, and many techniques to try. Before you start, make sure to protect your work surface. Grid paper, newspaper, or a few pieces of junk mail will work perfectly!

How To Use Spritzers

To use spritzers, choose what liquid and additives to use. Open the bottle by unscrewing the lid, add desired amount of liquid, then carefully add additives. Place the top back on and shake to mix. Mixing will be easiest if the bottle is not completely full.

Next, hold 6-12″ away from your project, and press the pump dispenser on top of the bottle. Repeat to dispense as much liquid as desired.

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get to the fun part in the next section…techniques to try!

Spritzing Techniques

Adding Splatters

This is so simple to do with spritzers. Add just a few splatters, or cover your entire project! For big splatters, unscrew the pump from the bottle and hold the wet tube over your project.

Creating Backgrounds

Spritzing makes neat backgrounds! You can use them as they are, let them dry and stamp on top, or add another technique of your choice.

Use With Masks

Spritz over top of a mask for a nice pattern.

Spritz Over Die Cuts

What about spritzing over top of your die cuts?! Isn’t the die I used on this sample just stunning?

Spritz Stamps

Here’s something fun to try. Ink your stamp, but before stamping, spritz it 1-3 times with water. Then stamp. This creates the look of watercolor without the mess.

Spritz Stamped Cardstock

This is similar to the technique above, but just do your stamping as usual and then spritz the paper afterwards. I would suggest using watercolor paper or shimmery white cardstock for this.

Watercolor Techniques

One of my favorite watercolor techniques is to apply ink to an acrylic block, spritz it with water, then place it against watercolor paper to soak up the color. I’ve created this card, this card, this card and this card with this technique…some of my favorites of all time.

Watercolor With Embossing Folders

Such a fun technique I came up with recently! Apply ink to an embossing folder using daubers, markers, or blending brushes, then spritz with water. Next, insert your paper into the folder and emboss it.

Create Shimmer Spray

Instead of adding ink drops, mix in shimmer paint. Use this to spritz and finish off your completed card projects!

Spritzers Video Tutorial

Watch along here as I share these techniques and more!

Order Spritzers Here

To add a few spritzers to your collection, or take a look at the other products highlighted above, use these links!

Product List

Thanks for visiting to learn all about using spritzers for card making!