we did “golden letter” paintings on everyone’s first day of school. this is the whole “masking tape on posterboard in the shape of their first initials, then painting on top of it, then peeling off the tape.”
however, there was so much paint on these that before we pulled the tape off we put another piece of paper to make a print of it (and get some extra paint off). once dry, we had 43 pieces of randomly painted paper to use eric carle style at some other time! goodness, i prefer that to construction paper!
newcreationpreschool.com 
Yes! Painted paper for cutting is so much more beautiful than construction paper. I love this idea.