Watercolor paints and papers are fantastic and dynamic mediums that you can take advantage of to create a unique look on your scrapbook layouts. Watercolor paper is thick and has a lovely feel to it. Alone it adds a beautiful texture, somewhat like wrinkled and ironed paper without all the work!

For this layout, entitled "My Sweet Heart," I used unpainted watercolor paper to create textural flower petals that match the ones on the patterned paper. The soft white tone complements just about any color and gives your layouts a relaxed elegance that looks a lot harder to achieve than it really is.

Supplies

• watercolor paper - Strathmore
• cardstock - Bazzill
• patterned paper - EK Success
• scroll stamp - Autumn Leaves Flourishes
• ink - Stampin' Up, Bliss Blue
• chipboard letters & corner - Die Cuts With a View
• tiny letter stickers - Making Memories
• journal stamp - Scrappy Cat
• glitter - Stickles by Ranger in Waterfall Blue
• button

Watercolor paper need not be embellished with watercolor paints alone. You can use Glitter Mist, charcoal crayons, acrylic paint, dye, or ink pads to create different depths of color. On this Christmas card I washed a small scrap of cold-pressed, watercolor paper with shades of green watercolor paint. While it was still slightly damp I embossed an image of a Christmas tree into the paper. Next I added a spritz with Glitter Mist for a soft, sparkly look. The edges are highlighted with an ink pad and the raised portions of the tree have been sparkled up a little bit with Stickles.

Supplies

• watercolor paper - Strathmore
• watercolor paints - Reeves
• cardstock - Bazzill
• embossing folder - "Lace Tree" for Cuttlebug by Provo Craft
• patterned paper - Die Cuts With a View
• circle punches - Marvy Uchida
• "joy" stamp - Stampin' Up
• ink - Olive Green StazOn
• glitter - Diamond Stickles by Ranger
• gems - Queen & Co.

You can easily create accent pieces as well as entire background sheets by painting your own designs onto watercolor paper. The border strips on my "WHY?" layout were created by painting a large sheet of watercolor paper in alternating pink and orange bands of color. Then I trimmed them down to size. This is an economical way to create one-of-a-kind patterned papers. I still had a large piece of this pattern left over so I created a few monogrammed cards to give my neighbor as a birthday gift.

Supplies

• watercolor paper - Strathmore
• watercolor paints - Reeves
• cardstock - Bazzill
• acrylic paint - Making Memories
• rub-on stitches - Daisy D's
• fabric tape - Making Memories
• chipboard letters - Provo Craft
• letter stamps - Studio G
• ink - Jet Black StazOn

Card Supplies Include

• punches - Marvy Uchida
• patterned paper - Doodlebug Designs
• diecut machine - Cricut by Provocraft (Font is Base Camp)

I think sometimes we are afraid to try something new, especially painting and drawing. Remember that when you cut your painted paper into strips or boxes it's a very forgiving medium. Random bits of color, big bold swatches and swoops of jewel tones, or abstract shapes are easy for the novice painter to master. So don't be afraid to pick up a paint brush and let your creativity take you places you've never been before!