QUICK WATERCOLOR BACKGROUNDS
Author: Kelly Burton - written for Time to Stamp website

This is a fun and easy way to create quick watercolor backgrounds to add lots of color to your ATCs and other stamping projects.

Supplies needed:

1. watercolor paper (90 lb used – do not use lighter than 90 lb)
2. watercolor paints (Prang set used in samples – these are inexpensive)
3. paint brushes
4. water in 2 containers – 1 container for clean water and other container for rinsing brush (brush will be dipped in water several times, so make sure that container is suitable for this)

Technique:

1. Place paper on a flat surface.

2. Using a clean brush, dip in water and “paint” paper with water. A big brush works well for this or you may use a foam brush. Paper should be damp but not soaked. You may have to experiment a little to get the right amount of water on the paper. Wetting the paper first will allow colors to be “softer” and blend better.

3. While paper is wet, dip brush in water, then in paint. You want the paint rather diluted so that color is soft. Brush paint on paper – strokes, swirls, solid spaces, etc.

4. Rinse brush in water.

5. Repeat with another color. Overlap colors in places so they blend.

6. If paper is drying, dip a clean brush into clean water and paint paper with water.

7. Repeat with several colors until you reach desired effect.

8. Let paper dry completely before cutting.

9. Depending on weight of paper you use, you may need to flatten when dry as some watercolor paper will warp.

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