This tutorial requires a little bit of creativity and imagination for the painting step, but don’t worry it is all very easy to get the hang of and the rest is a breeze!

1. Download Texture + Download Watercolour Brushes

• Follow this link and download this free Old Paper Texture (thanks to calebkimbrough on Flickr)!
• Follow this link to download the Watercolour Brushes (thanks to bombay101 on DeviantArt)!
• Put the Brushes into your Brushes Folder (Resources/Share/GIMP/2.0/Brushes)!

2. Preparing Images in GIMP + Adding Layer Mask

• Now open up your photograph that you’ll be using – preferably one with some depth to it!
• And open the Old Paper Texture, File –> Open as Layers (Ctrl + Alt + O):
• On the ‘Paper Texture’ layer, *Right Click* > Add Layer Mask: White (simply hit enter):

3. Painting

• Remember to Refresh your Brushes if you do not see the brushes!
• Select one of the brushes, with settings: FG: Black, Scale: 2-6 (vary dependant on brushes)
• Begin painting! Try to stay in the middle of the paper!

4. Add Colour

• Now select the ‘Paper’ layer (not the layer mask!):
• Choose around 4 colours, and trace over the strokes with the same brushes, but off slightly (highlighting)!
• My colours: Purple: 8c27f4 Orange: c83913 Blue: 21bbdc Yellow: f2fb06
• Once finished all adjustments, Apply Layer Mask, *Right Click* > Apply Layer Mask:
  

5. Alignment + Cropping

• Now that you can see through, align your photograph (select photograph layer) by using the Move Tool (M):
• Crop any excess off using the Crop Tool (Shift + C):

6. Levels (Contrast/Saturation)

• To add contrast to the paper and image simply select the layer then, Colors –> Levels:
• Move the middle slider to the right and the right slider to the left: