Hi friends! I got busy yesterday and forgot to post my sketchbook Sunday, which was actually a painting on a canvas panel because that is what I felt like doing LOL!
I am so ready for spring and summer, I could totally imagine taking one of those boats for a spin! Watch the time lapse to see how I painted it.
Supplies available at sponsor Jerry’s Artarama! 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.
Hi friends! I have had a crazy week and one of the calming projects I worked on to center myself was stamping and coloring on these wood slices.
I tested out Prismacolor (left), Arteza (center), and Polychromos (right) and surprisingly the least expensive pencils did the best and didn’t wear down as quickly as the other two.
I can see why coloring books are so popular! I chose some large open images so they would stamp well on the wood and so they would be big enough to get in there and color with my pencils. I got a box of 45 wood slices so I am wondering if you have any ideas to help me use the rest up. I am using the ones I colored here as coasters. I want to see how they hold up without sealer on them because sometimes if you seal a coater it sticks to a cup. I figured if it could absorb a bit of moisture it would be good. They would also make unusual gift tags and ornaments too (Although I admit I often lose steam on a project if I have to finish the backside as well LOL!)
Video!
Supplies: (Affiliate links used)
Arteza Colored Pencils OR at Arteza’s Website *Link to Arteza Website where pencils are $2 cheaper plus you can use coupon code FRUGAL1 for 10% off everything at Arteza and free USA shipping
Ink (Memento) *You can also use a Micron pen to draw on a design to color or touch up any lines that did not stamp well before coloring.
I like that this project gave me some relaxation during a high anxiety time for me and I got to use some stamps that I have not had out in a while. If you have any tips on using up the rest please let me know! I have a feeling I am entering a high-stress season of life and I’ll take all the calming help I can get! Happy crafting!
Hi friends! Today I have a springtime subject to paint, pussy-willows! These soft furry buds pop up in early April every year and if you clip some you can put them in a dry vase and keep them for weeks. Left alone on the tree they bloom into long fuzzy caterpiller like things and then turn to leaves in the summer.
These are so fun to paint and give me hope that it might stop raining and warm up sometime in the future. It has felt like the longest winter ever, I can’t wait for spring and summer!
Supplies:
Watercolors: Burnt Umber, Ultramarine, Sap Green, Yellow Ochre. I used Holbein and Renesas but you can use any brand you like.
Brushes: 1″ flat, #10 round, 3/8″ dagger
Paper: Fabriano studio CP #140 watercolor paper *I use the hot press in this brand for stamping (both 90# and 140#) and the cold press #90 for testing and THE #140 for making watercolor blocks. It’s really inexpensive and I buy the 50-75 sheet pads but they have smaller sheet pads if you want to try it out. It is one of the best deals going. It is 25% cotton so it is a nice bridge between student grade and artist grade watercolor paper. I have been using it for 15 years and highly recommend it.
Other: paper towels, cut-up gift card for scraping, 2 water buckets *Salt for more texture in the background if desired. I didn’t use salt but it would be pretty!
I hope you give this painting a try. This winter hit me hard and this spring has been so dark and rainy. I can’t wait to feel the sunshine. I can’t control the weather but at least I can control my paintings. If you enjoyed this lesson and would be interested in taking a class with me check out my online school! You get real-time, step by step instruction and personalized feedback from me on your finished paintings. You can see the courses I offer here. Want to try a class? Use coupon code TRYME for 20% off any class for a limited time! Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! Remember how much fun it was to color when you were a kid? Well, it’s still fun as I am sure you know but it can be frustrating too. Today I am going to share tips and techniques for coloring with alcohol markers and you can try along with me using the markers you have.
I will have a download for my bird of paradise drawing in the supply list below the videos. I broke the lessons into two videos, the first is a primer on alcohol markers and what other supplies you might need to begin coloring. If you are familiar with the supplies you can skip to the coloring tutorial in the second video. I also go over the differences between the different kinds of markers available (brush, bullet, and chisel nib) as well as compatible paper and ink in the first video so if you are considering getting started and you do not have supplies yet it will be very informative.
In part 2 we will finally get to color, yay!
This video is sponsored by Bianyo offering Superior art product at affordable prices *Check out specials/coupon codes below! *The links below contain the discounts mentioned and the discounted price will show at checkout.
Other resources for stampers: Card stock for markers: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Super Smooth #80 or #110, Stamping Ink for alcohol markers: Memento
Here is a photo of the Bianyo markers arranged the way I like them. The plastic inserts in the box keep each marker in place. After arranging them I made a new swatch to represent the order.
You can organize your markers in whatever way that makes sense to you. Also, alcohol markers can have a steeper learning curve than other coloring media so make sure you are fair to yourself and give yourself time to learn and practice. I hope you enjoyed today’s video lesson and you learned some skills to use on your next project! Til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! Yesterday I posted this video on YouTube for Sketchbook Sunday:
It was a lot of fun to paint in gouache. If you are a Critique Club member you can find a real-time lesson for this in the group. If you are interested in Critique Club you can join here, it is $5 a month and allows you to post 2 painting a month for critique and you also get 2 real-time intermediate-advanced lessons in a variety of media per month. The group is designed to foster growth in your artistic ability. All are welcome!
I also want to wish everyone a happy Earth Day! I hope you can get outside today and enjoy some fresh air. We are getting so much rain here in Maine but you know what they say “April showers bring May flowers!” Happy crafting!
Hi friends! In this lesson you will learn how to wrap a wreath element around the beginning of a sentiment for decoration and impact!
I’ll also show you how you can encourage your card recipient to reuse your handmade card with a unique removable inner panel:
Watch the video to see how!
This video is sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry Use coupon code: LINDSAY and receive 15% off your retail order of $10 or more of peg stamps, peg stamp sets, and unmounted stamps! Coupon expires a week from this video publication. Continue to receive great deals by becoming a PegStamp VIP here. As a PegStamp VIP you’ll get a weekly deal via email plus links to fabulous tutorials by me, Lindsay the Frugal Crafter and other designers
Pattern paper scrap (for inside removable sentiment)
Directions:
Cut a sheet of heavy white cardstock to 5.5” x 8.5” and fold in half to make an A2 card. Trip the leftover card to 3.74”x5” (for stamping) and trim a red card scrap to 5.25”x4” for a matting layer.
Stamp Happy Birthday in an ombre pattern by inking up the middle of the stamp with light pink, the edges in dark pin and the ends in red. Stamp i the middle right of the paper so there will be room for the wreath to the left.
Use the snowglobe stamp to stamp a light green circle around the beginning of the sentiment making sure the opening of the circle is over the words. You can trace something round if you don’t have that stamp.
Use peg stamps to stamp leaves and flowers on the wreath. Try not to stamp over your words.
Adhere stamped panel to a mat and then attach to card with double-sided tape and eyelets.
Stamp the recycling message and icon on a scrap of paper and adhere to the inside of the card with washi tape. *Or you can stamp on a post it note. Stamp “Handmade with love” on the back of the card.
Optional techniques!
You can use the snowglobe stamp to create a wreath with a large focal point too. Try stamping a bow, bird or fruit in the gap and building on from that! You can also add a wreath to the end of a sentiment.
So get out the stamp you have, mix and match them and play! Then encourage your loved ones to pass the card on once they have enjoyed it! That’s what I call “Happy crafting!”
Hi friends! Earlier this week I was playing with some new fine-liners. They were intended to be used for drawing under alcohol ink markers but I wondered if they would work under watercolor too so I gave them a try.
They worked great! I shared the painting on Instagram and asked people if they would like a step by step tutorial on the process and they did so that is what I have for you today!
Most supplies available at sponsor Jerry’s Artarama! 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.
Not only can you watercolor over the pens but if you have a ho-hum painting that you want to sharpen up you can do the inking on top. Give it a try and see what you like best! Til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! I colored these stamped images about a month ago thinking that they would make adorable spinner cards.
You can use any symmetrical design like the spaceship (That was a bargain stamp and die set I got on sale for $5 from AC Moore) or stamps that have mirror images (Like the Pawsome set from Waffle Flower) or you can use a mirror stamp or gel plate to reverse another stamp image. If that’s not your cup of tea you can always back your stamped image on a circle or another shape. You just need to make sure that the spinning element looks good on both sides and you have 2 layers so you can hide the string. These fun cards are a cinch to make and so fun to receive, watch the video and see how!
Hi friends! Today I played with markers and it was fun! This was actually supposed to be posted for Sketchbook Sunday but I got busy and didn’t realize I forgot to blog it until 10pm and I was too tired to type.
I was inspired to sketch these oranges because they looked so cool sitting on the cutting board. I accidentally bought Cara-Cara oranges instead of navel oranges at the store last week and this was the last one. None of us are a fan of this type orange hence it was still on the table after the kids left for school. So before I tossed it out to the birds (the crows like them apparently) I thought I would draw it. It also gave me a chance to try out a new set of markers I will be using for an upcoming tutorial.
I am excited to work more with these markers. It’s ice to try something different once in a while and see where that takes you. I find when I do this I come back to my other work more energized and refreshed. It’s like cross-training for your crafty muscles LOL! If you have a suggestion as to what flower to draw for the in-depth marker tutorial please let me know in the comments below. thank for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!
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