How To Stretch Watercolor Paper With Staples. Tilt your paper to see if there are any dry spots and correct those. Gum paper works for smaller sizes but always gives me problems with a full sheet size.
You can use butcher’s tape, staples, a frame and staples, or wheat paste. Paper stretchers use clamps to hold the soaked paper to a board. Create your painting while the sheet is still taped to the board.
The staple gun method works better but i detest those holes in the border once the staples are taken off.
One method, which actually uses staples to hold the edges of the paper to the board, is the best and most reliable way of keeping your paper from buckling while painting. Slide your watercolor paper into the bath till fully submerged. Whichever method you choose to stretch your paper, the basic approach is the same: Now repeat the other short side.