This project started with one of my Patreon community live office hours calls, where Karen shared a beautiful Halloween-inspired painting she was working on. It was a witch’s cauldron design for her kids’ teachers, and she asked me how I’d add lettering to it.
Her piece was already stunning – smoky colors rising from the cauldron – but I suggested using masking fluid to add the words directly into the smoke. Karen loved the idea, and later she sent me the gist of her supplies so I could try it myself. This tutorial is the result!
Supplies Used
- Watercolor paper (cut to card size)
- Pencil + eraser
- Fine-tip masking fluid
- Watercolour paint (I used Daniel Smith: Lunar Black, Rose of Ultramarine, and Payne’s Gray)
- Bleed Proof White paint
- Brushes + water
- Optiona: gold iridescent watercolour
- Optional: laser level or ruler for straight lettering
Rather watch than read? Check out the full video by clicking the video below!
Let’s Get Started!
Grab your supplies, prep your watercolour paper to card size, and let’s get going!
Step 1: Sketch the Cauldron & Smoke
Lightly sketch a simple cauldron shape in pencil – handles, legs, and a shadow underneath. Add a wavy smoke outline above it, leaving room for your lettering. This doesn’t need to be realistic – the fun is in keeping it whimsical.
Step 2: Add Masked Lettering
Use masking fluid to write your phrase inside the smoke. Karen’s original wording was “You are magical” with a little star above the “i,” so I recreated that.
Tips for masking fluid:
- Practice a few strokes on scrap paper first – it comes out fast!
- Keep lines thick enough to mask fully but not so thick they look clunky.
- Stick with simple script or block letters; the masked effect makes anything look cool.
Let the masking fluid dry completely before painting.
Step 3: Paint the Cauldron
Mix up a generous wash of Lunar Black and paint the cauldron body. While it’s still wet, drop in darker spots for depth. Add lighter gray washes to the inside of the cauldron, then layer more color once it’s dry for detail and shadows.
Step 4: Paint the Smoke & Potion
Load your brush with Payne’s Gray and Rose of Ultramarine (or whatever magical colors you choose). Paint upward from the cauldron in loose, flowing shapes. Add water to let the paint bloom out like smoke.
For extra texture:
- Swirl in a bit of Bleed Proof White for cloudy, mystical highlights
- Flick speckles of paint across the page
Step 5: Details & Gold Accents
Darken the cauldron’s edges and handles for contrast. Add small highlights with Bleed Proof White along the rim and legs. For a final magical touch, flick gold paint across the card and paint a tiny crescent moon in the smoke.
Step 6: Reveal the Lettering
Once the painting is dry, carefully peel away the masking fluid to reveal crisp white lettering. Clean up any faint pencil lines with a small eraser, or touch up areas with Bleed Proof White if needed.
That’s a Wrap – Your Finished Card!
The result is a whimsical, witchy card with the message hidden in the smoky potion. It’s playful, magical, and perfect for Halloween gifting.
Big thanks to Karen for inspiring this design! If you’re part of the Patreon community, share your version – we’d love to see it. And if you’re not in there yet, it’s the perfect place to connect with other creative people, swap ideas, and learn projects like this together.
I’d LOVE to see your creations. Tag me on Instagram: @thehappyevercrafter
And finally, your dad joke…
Name a country without the letter r in it…
No_way!
Comments