Using Watercolors on Neenah Granna Grossa

I used my Arteza Real Brush pens (water based markers) to quickly color these sweet birds.  I wanted them to have a "watercolor" look, but I'm not the greatest colorer.  This Granna Grossa paper makes it easy! 

I stamped my birds in Versamark Onyx Black ink (safe for watercolors).  I used an Aqua Painter to wet the area of the bird that I wanted to color.  I like the Aqua Painter (it helps me control the amount of water I apply)  but you can use a plain old paint brush with clean water.  Next take your marker and add color just along the edge of the stamped image (over the damp area).  Again, take your Aqua Painter and pull the ink towards the center of the image.  This spreads the ink and gives a watercolor look. 

I fussy cut the birds and popped them up on a vellum shape.  Did you know you can stamp on vellum with Staz-on Ink? 

And the gorgeous blue background is our Neenah Stardream paper (in Vista) run through a die cutting machine with a coverplate die.  It pierces the paper without warping!