Back to the Basics: Coloring Stamps with Zig Clean Color Real Brush Pens

Hello crafty friends.

I’m going back to the basics of coloring stamps using Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens. These pens are the ones that I seem to gravitate towards lately because they are so easy to use. I love them not only because they are simple to use, but they come in so many pretty colors. Therefore, I thought I’d rewind a little bit and show you how to use the pens, the type of cardstock to use, the blending tools needed, and do a little bit of coloring.

The stamp I’ll be coloring is the Pink and Main Adore You Florals. I love this stamp because it’s so large and fits perfectly on the front of an A2 size card. You really don’t need to do much of anything else to make the card except stamp, color, die cut, and glue it to a card base.

BEGINNERS - COLORING WITH ZIG CLEAN COLOR REAL BRUSH PENS

Watch my video to find out more about Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens and watch as I color this beautiful stamp.

Watch the Video:

About the Brush Tip

Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens have a real brush tip made of high quality bristles which allows for precise strokes using fine lines and broad strokes. They have a water based ink which blends smoothly when activated with water or with the Zig Blender pen which makes them perfect for creating beautiful watercolor effects. They have vibrant colors that remain vivid even after drying and there is a range of colors to choose from. If you are just starting out coloring, the Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens are a great option because they are so user friendly.

About the Cardstock

Since Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens have a water based ink, make sure you use a watercolor paper so that the pens will blend when activated with water. If you use a regular cardstock, you can still color with the pens, however, they will not blend.

In my video, I show you three cardstock options:

Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock – This cardstock is very thick at 118 lbs and it’s perfect for watercoloring because it’s so thick which makes it resistant to buckling. This paper has a smooth side and a textured side so you can choose which side you want to use.
Scrapbook.com Mixed Media Heavyweight Cardstock – This cardstock comes in a pack of 6 x 8 inches or 4.25 x 5 1/2 inches which is perfect for cardmakers. This paper is also very thick at 400 gsm or about 140lb cover. Both sides of the cardstock are very smooth.
Bristol Smooth Cardstock – This cardstock is also a perfect cardstock to use for watercoloring. It is very smooth and comes in many different sizes. This is 100 lb cardstock so it’s the lightest out of the three, but don’t let the weight of it fool you because it’s still a very good, high quality cardstock.

About the Brush Tools

Paint Brushes – You can use any type of paint brush, but I prefer ones that have a very thin tip when doing detail stamp coloring. Simply dip the of the paint brush in water and dab off the water on a paper towel. Color over the Zig Clean Color Real Brush ink to spread it with water.
Water Brush – There are many different kinds of waterbrushes and in my video, I show you the Pink and Main EZ Flow Water Brushes. These come in a set of six. Simply unscrew the waterbrush, fill water inside the barrel, and twist the lid closed. Squeeze the side of the barrel to let the water flow to the bristles. Dab some of the water off on a paper towel and then begin blending.
Zig Clean Color Real Brush Blender – This Zig pen has a blending solution in it and you can use it in place of a waterbrush or paint brush to blend the Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens.

In my video, I demonstrate how to use the Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens and color this beautiful floral stamp. The Zig colors I used for my stamp are as follows:

Purples: Violet, Light Violet

Pinks: Dark Pink, Peach Pink, Pink Haze

Yellows: Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, Mimosa, Pale Lemon

Orange

Greens – May Green. Pale Green/Emerald Green, Green Shadow