LIVE! Snowy Deer in Watercolor Tutorial 12:30pm ET

Edited to add finished photo of painting.

Well, this deer ended up looking a bit awkward and if you watched the video til the end you saw the unfortunate inking of the face. I patched her up with a bit of colored pencil and called it a day. Have a great weekend everyone!

Hi friends! I can’t wait to paint with you today! It has been such a busy week that I am craving some watercolor and chit-chat with my peeps! I was thinking about what I wanted to paint this week and I came across this photo by Teddy Kelley on Unsplash and it just struck me. I love the soft, calm beauty of it.

I hope I can do it justice. You can watch the livestream or the replay in the player below but if you want to chat live be sure to watch on YouTube at 12:30pm ET.

Supplies can be purchased from our sponsor Jerry’s Artarama: http://www.jerrysartarama.com/ Use coupon code: frugal20FS49 for 20% off $49 + Free Shipping (Excludes: Sale, Super Sale, Egift Cards, Buy It Try It’s and Vendor restricted items. Look for the green coupon eligible icon on the product listing.

Supplies:

• Watercolors (M Graham) Quin red, Pthalo Blue, Ultramarine, Cerulean, Cadmium Lemon, Pthalo Green
• 100% cotton Watercolor Paper cold press 140# (any brand)
• Mimik Value set faux squirrel brushes *Big sale on these!
• Bleed Proof White (just in case)
• Salt

Hope to see you later for the live stream! Happy crafting!

You have my permission…

Hi friends! I get asked often by students if they can follow a tutorial of mine and then make their painting into Christmas card or other greeting and I want to go on the record and say YES! I post these tutorials so you can learn and copy them and if you have one you want to share with your friends and family then please do! Heck maybe they will want to learn to paint as well after being inspired by you and you can send them my way. Sharing is caring! Today I have a painting demo of a cardinal done in watercolor and colored pencils. It was my second attempt. This was the first. He reminds me of the angry bird from the video game LOL!

Do you notice a resemblance?

I was very frustrated after the first attempt so I tried again.

Although looking at the first painting the next day I realized that it wasn’t so bad. Either we are bad judges of our own work while we are painting or painting elves come in when we are asleep and fix our mistakes. What do you think? Either way, moral of the story, don’t give up on a painting until the next day!

Video!

Supplies:

• Watercolors (Joiart set of 24 $15.99 set of 24 12ml tubes)
• Watercolor paper (Canson Monteville 9″x12″ 20 sheet pad $11.44)
• Prismacolor pencils (prices varies between set size)  Colors used below:
  938 white
  1023 cloud blue
  965 cold grey dark
  935 black
  946 dark brown
  908 dark green
  988 marine green
  1004 yellow chartreuse
  942 yellow ochre
  918 orange
  923 scarlet lake
  924 crimson red
• Princeton Neptune brushes 1/2 oval wash and #12 round
• Royal Aqualon liner and #6 round

I compiled a bunch of real-time video tutorials that would make great Christmas cards, gifts or holiday decorations into the playlist below. Feel free to paint them and do what you wish with the paintings (yes, even sell them at craft fairs!) Honestly the only restriction I have with students copying my designs is not to submit them for publication as work submitted for publication should be the artist’s concept and execution, it protects you and me:)

I hope this post inspires you to get your brush wet today! This blog post contains affiliate links to Amazon and I am compensated if purchases are made after clicking the links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

We Wish You a “Meowy” Christmas and A “Yappy” New Year!

Howdy friends! I have a couple new cards to share and they feature some of my favorite things: animals wearing clothing and puns.

I colored a bunch of these cats and dogs last week (you can see a tutorial on coloring the animals in last weeks video) while watching TV and I decided to use them right away on these cards. They were quick, easy and fun to make. Most of the time spent on this was the coloring I did before hand. I like to have a bunch of images stamped out and ready to color while I watch TV. It’s also helpful if you are trying not to snack in the evening as your hands are busy:) Look, you get a craft and dieting tips all in one place, how do you like that? Anyway, let’s go to the video!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps! SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies!

• Stamp set Katselkraft Dogs
• Stamp Set Katzelkraft Funny Accessories
• Stamp Set Katzelcraft Cats
• White cardstock
• Alcohol markers
• Black fine tip pen (03 micron)
• Solid color cardstock or card bases or pre cut A2 Cards
• Double sided tape (ATG)
• Liquid Glue (Zip Dry)
• Brads, ribbon or other desired embellishments
• Dye based ink (Aqua, pink, lime green, red)
• Music notes embossing folder
• fine tip scissors

Want more inspiration? Check out this belated birthday card using the cat’s set! I hope you give these ideas a try to til next time happy crafting!

 

Canvas Giveaway and Acrylic Painting Cactus Tutorial!

Edited to add contest winners! Congrats to Tina Rich, Jane and Velma Hutchison. All the winners were notified via email and need to reply to the email I sent. The contest is closed. Thanks for playing!

Hi friends! Tonight I have an exciting giveaway, a multipack of 28 canvases! I will pick 3 winners of this prize pack from our sponsor Arteza so make sure you leave a comment below for a chance to win. Everything I have tried from Arteza has been wonderful and the prices are incredibly low so if you are in the need of some art, craft or quilting supplies give them a try and use the coupon code THEFRUGALCRAFTER10 to save an additional 10% on your order!

Today we will paint a cactus in a cup in acrylics! It is a great beginner tutorial and cactus themed stuff is so on trend right now. Watch the video to see how it’s done!

Video!

Supplies (From Arteza)

• 9″x12″ canvas panel and Mini canvas and easel
• Acrylic paint marker
• Woodless watercolor pencils 
• Graphite paper
• Synthetic paint brushes for acrylics (Royal & Langnickel ZEN all media)
• Acrylic paint (Aqua, Pthalo Blue, Crimson, Pthalo Green, Yellow Ochre, White)
• Reference photo
• Printable pattern (main canvas)

You can find the video and links to the mini ornament canvases in this blog post.

This was a lot of fun to paint and I really like the quality of the canvas panels from Arteza. I hope you give them a try! Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a multipack of 28 canvas panels, I’ll choose 3 winners next Monday! If you want to shop for some supplies be sure to use the coupon code THEFRUGALCRAFTER10 to save10% but don’t wait, offer expires 1/3/18. That’s all for today, thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

 

 

3 Cute Christmas Canvasses! Beginner Acrylic Tutorial!

Hi friends! These cute mini canvasses take about 10 minutes to paint each and can be a fun, inexpensive family or classroom activity!

I created a free printable template sized for 3″x3″ canvases if you want an easy way to reproduce these. I used graphite paper to transfer my design. Free free to use the pattern on watercolor paper if you prefer. Watch the video to see how to paint them!

Video!

These would be cute attached to gifts, sitting on a mantle or windowsill, as place cards on the dinner table, hung from a tree or even used as magnets. How would use display them?

Supplies:

• Mini canvas and easel bulk pack
• Graphite paper
• Acrylic paint & Brushes
• Disposable palette paper (or freezer paper)
• water buckets and paper towels

Tips for creating this project in a group!

• Give each person a place to work. Set out a square of newspaper, a palette (palette paper, waxed paper or freezer paper are a great option) and a water bucket, paper towel and a few brushes. *You can even have the designs transferred onto the canvases before they begin!
• Paint the backgrounds first.
• Remind new painters to wipe extra water off their brush after rinsing so they don’t dilute the acrylic paint.
• Tell new painters that they can practise their brush strokes on the newspaper.
• When you are done you can fold-up the newspaper, paper towel and palette paper into  neat packet for disposal. *A note about recycling: Many recycle centers will not take newspaper with paint on it but these paper products will biodegrade in the landfill and I believe use fewer resources than washing out palettes and paint mats. You don’t want excess paint down the drain.  This is my opinion, you can do what it right for you:)

I hope you enjoyed this project and I would love it if you painted it with friends! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Make this gift! Wine Cork Key Chains!

Hi friends! This craft will help you use up some wine corks and random beads and you will end up with a beautiful sparkly bauble that you can tie to a present, hang from the tree or use as a key chain!

It’s really easy and inexpensive. Watch the video to see how!

This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry! Use coupon code: FRUGALDECEMBER17 – 20% off ALL STAMPS! Coupon expires December 31, 2017. Become a Peg Stamp VIP here & get the deepest weekly discounts available

Supplies from Rubber Stamp Tapestry:

• Twinkle Twinkle Peg Stamp Set
• Ornamental Holly Peg Stamp Set
• Poinsettia Flourish Peg Stamp Set

Other Supplies:

• Staz-On ink pad (or make your own with felt and alcohol ink)
• Chartpak Markers (permanent markers that won’t lift alcohol ink) *or use acrylic paint
• Ribbon
• Eye screws
• Tiger Tail beading wire
• Assorted beads (E, seed, bugle and larger)
• Keyrings
• Ultra fine tip sharpie
• Metallic paint pens
• White gel pen
• Fray check (or thin clear glue for ribbon)

Directions:

1. remove printing from a rubber wine cork with nail polish remover or by sanding.
2. Stamp on a design and color it if desired,
3. Insert eye pins to each end and put a key ring on the top.
4. Cut 4 strands of tiger tail beading wire about 8″ long and place though bottom eye ring. Slide on a large hole bead to corral all the wires.
5. Select a wire and string on beads ending with a seed bead and add a crimp bead to secure. Check to make sure the crimp is secure and trim the wire. Repeat for the remaining wires.
6. Tie a ribbon o the key ring for a festive look! Seal the ends of the ribbon with fray-check or clear glue.

Do you have any quick gift ideas that are easy and fun to make? Let us know in the comments below and til next time happy crafting!

Live! Pomegranate Painting Tutorial 12:30pm ET Today!

Hi friends! I hope you will join me for a fun live painting session at 12:30 eastern time today on YouTube. This is what we will paint:

I have resisted buying pomegranates because they are $3 a pop in Maine but my daughter Lila really wanted one and I wanted to paint one so I rushed to paint this before she ate it LOL! I did snap these reference photos before I started painting which was a good thing as the pithy flesh of the fruit wanted to brown quickly.

I had intended to paint the knife too but decided I liked it better without it. You can watch the live broadcast or the replay in the video player below but if you want to chat live with fellow painters and ask me questions as we go be sure to watch at 12:30pm ET on the YouTube watch page.

Supplies:

• Watercolors: Winsor & Newton: Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Sap Green
• Paper: Arches 9″x12″ CP #140 watercolor block
• Brushes: Mimik value set *and a small stiff one for scrubbing such as a maxine’s mop
• Optional: You may want a white gel pen or sharp craft knife for highlights. You can also use Bleed Proof White if you have it.
• Printable Pattern

Did you enjoy this free watercolor lesson? Want more in-depth art instruction? Check out my watercolor classes and save 50% with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY through December 2nd, 2017 (that’s tomorrow!)

 

 

Or take 50% off my craftsy Mixed Media Class with my special discount link here!

I hope you have a great weekend and til next time happy crafting!

Cute Christmas Pup Card!

Hi friends! Today I am making a Christmas card from a couple of sets of everyday stamps! I love it when I find a stamp set that suits my personality and it is versatile enough for any occasion. These cute and quirky animal stamp sets from Katzelkraft really fit the bill when it comes to my type of cardmaking. They are funny, cute (but not too cute), a bit silly and they are large enough to color and take up some real estate on a card.

In this video we will do a Distress Oxide ink background and some simple alcohol marker coloring with lots of tips and explanations for blending colors. I hope you find it useful:)

Video!

This tutorial is sponsored by Top Flight Stamps!  SAVE 10% off your next order with coupon code: thefrugalcrafter10 *USA orders of $50+ ship free!

Supplies from Top Flight Stamps

• Stamping mat
• Stamp set Katselkraft Dogs
• Stamp Set Katzelkraft Funny Accessories
• Also Shown Katzelcraft Cats
• Also Shown Crafty Individuals Santa’s Sleigh ride, BTW the santa and reindeer I was talking about is like this one
• Time Tunnel Stencil
• Stamp Blocks

Other Supplies:

• White Cardstock
• Distress Oxide inks *You can use normal distress inks too, just blot the paper after spraying.
• Ink sponges (or use make up wedges)
• Fine mist sprayer
• Alcohol markers

Full directions are in this real-time step by step video tutorial! Enjoy:) I had so much fun making this card that I stamped out all of the dogs and cats and colored them up as I watched TV, it’s so fun, like being a kid again!

I hope you enjoyed this fun card tutorial! Happy crafting!

 

Stuck in the Middle…

Hi friends! How can such a small beading project make such a big mess? This is the state of my craft area today. It was worse this morning after a card making stint from yesterday covered every surface. How do these tiny projects become art space covering craft-tastrophies? Also I currently am in the middle of several projects and have nothing new and complete to show you today. I have a half decorated porch, paintings in progress, freelance work stuck in the editing phase and oh yes, the bead project (that will be done tomorrow though!)

I think we should embrace the middle. When we get lost in the process of the craft we enter the magical right brain creative zone. That’s when we arrive in the creative flow state and we experiment and see new possibilities in our craft that were not apparent in the design phase. I’m a big believer of learning by doing, like my dad said “If you want to learn how to build a house, build a house!” Only by getting our hands dirty and using those precious supplies will we really know what they can do!

Do you have any works in progress…several? Let me know what they are in the comments below and always happy crafting!