well, you get a cup of filtered water. (I found filtered works best) and you dot a drop of paint into the water and it will spread out. then you overlap any colors you want. You have to work fast because at the end if its not too dry you can disorder the paint to make swirly designs with it. By the way you will want a cup you don't really care about. I use Styrofoam. =) need any help with it just let me know. =) This is one of my two water marbling designs.