Let's build your basic watercoloring took kit!

This is the BEST month! Y'all know I love to watercolor and July is all about watercoloring!

So, you want to get started watercoloring but don't know where to start...I've got you covered. Read on to find out what you need to get started and get a link to a Stampin' Up! video all about watercoloring techniques.

Basic Watercoloring Tools

To get started you need a few things: watercolor paper (or shimmery white paper), water painters, blender pens, watercolor pencils, and ink.

Shimmery White Paper

Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper

Watercoloring Paper

Both watercolor and shimmery white paper can be used in watercoloring. Watercolor paper is the traditional medium for watercoloring, it is a thicker paper that has texture (more or less depending on how it's pressed) that is pleasing to paint on. It is made from a mixture of water and cellulose fibers. High quality paper is made with 100% cotton fibers. Watercolor paper generally comes in 140 lb to 300 lb weight. The texture of the paper is determined by how it is pressed. Hot-press paper is the smoothest, "rough" is the roughest, with cold-press being in between. Stampin' Up! sells Fluid 100 paper that is an archival, 140 lb, cold pressed, 100% cotton paper (so it's good stuff!). It comes in a package of 10-5"X7" pieces. Shimmery white paper isn't technically watercolor paper but it has been coated with something that makes it resistant to water so you have time to wet it and color on it before the water sinks in and the paper fibers get roughed up and yucky. Watercolor paper is best when you are going to use lots of water and colors as it will hold up much better that shimmery white.

Coloring Tools

Water Painters

Water painters are just what they sound like, paint brushes that hold water. These are great for working with ink from Classic Stampin' Pads. They come in three sizes so there's one for every situation.

Blender Pens

Blender Pens are filled with a specialized solution for blending inks. They can be used with ink from the Classic Stampin' Pads (from the lid) or for blending watercolor pencils.

Watercolor Pencils

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 1

Watercolor Pencils Assortment 2

Watercolor pencils have a water-soluble binder in which pigment is held. After coloring with the pencil you can add water and spread the color around or blend it with other colors, just like you would with ink!

Solvent-Based Ink

StazOn Jet Black Ink Pad

And last but not least, you need a solvent-based ink pad. StazOn ink is solvent- not water-based so it won't bleed or run when you add your water and watercolors to it! Since StazOn isn't water-soluble you need special cleaner to clean your stamps, but don't panic, while the ink will stain your stamp it won't damage it!

We've covered all of the most important tools for watercoloring; want to see the products in action? Stay tuned this month to the Creatively, Elizabeth Facebook Page as I'll be watercoloring all month, starting Wednesday, July 6 at 9:00 am CDT.

If you can't wait until Wednesday, then watch this great video from Stampin' Up! for watercolor techniques.

Creatively,

Elizabeth