DIY Watercolor Pattern Paper

When I threw my sister an ~~Alice~~ Rhob in Wonderland themed birthday party, I found myself on a quest for pretty and colorful patterned paper. I needed something vivid and at the same time a bit wacky for the invitations, the sign boards, the photo booth and the rest of the decorations. I specifically wanted a watercolor splattered design but I just could not find any so I decided to make them instead. Anyone up for a fun, quick and easy DIY?

Tools and Materials: Food Coloring | Vellum Paper | Paint Brushes | Ice Tray | Water

You will only need five materials for this project most of which can already be found at home or in your craft stash namely food coloring in various hues, several pieces of Bristol vellum paper in white, paint brushes in different sizes, an ice tray to act like a paint mixing tray and clean water.

STEP 1: Gather your materials and find an open area that you wouldn't mind messing up. This project is all splash and splatter. I suggest that you go for the outdoors but if you prefer to do it indoors, be sure to spread newspaper on the floor to catch any spills and sprays.

STEP 2: Fill your ice tray with water. Put about a tablespoon each on the first row while fill up the second row up to the brim. This will allow one row to be more saturated than the other.

STEP 3: Dilute a few drops of food coloring with the water on your ice tray. Add more drops for darker shades. For best results, start with primary colors (red, yellow and blue). To create other hues, simply mix the diluted solutions together. I find that this creates better contrast and more vivid mixtures. The reason why I made use of the diluted food coloring method and not watercolor itself is because it leaves no powdery residue on the paper when dry. As a result, the finished product is ink jet printer friendly!

STEP 4: Lay your white Bristol vellum paper on a flat surface. Take out your brushes and dip them on the diluted food coloring solutions. From a distance, preferably a foot away, splatter on the paper. Use different brush sizes for varying "paint drop" sizes. You may also dab or smear on the color for a different touch. Vellum paper is best for this project since it does not soften up easily or turn soggy when wet. You can choose whichever color combination you want. There are no rules here. The best part? You don't have to make defined and symmetrical designs. You can totally wing it and go cray!

STEP 5: Allow them to dry for at least 30 mins up to an hour depending on how wet the paper has become. Since I only made splatters, it took less than an hour and they were ready for use. You can also store them for a long period of time and the hues will stay as vivid as the day you made them.

Below are some of the designs I came up with. These are completely random, each unique on its own.

I really loved the outcome of these DIY watercolor patterned papers. It's wonky, colorful and a bit mismatched. Perfect for an Alice in Wonderland themed party!

If you do decide to make these, tag me on your photos via Twitter or Instagram and use #craftswithanne so I can see them!