I LOVE the Way This Watercolor Painting Turned Out!

Hi friends! Last week while I was on vacation to my favorite secluded spot I took a photo at sunset. I shared it on Instagram and asked if anyone would be interested in a tutorial when I got back home and many of you were! Here is the painting:

And here is the photo:

This is an easy sunset to paint and you only need 3 colors! They are pretty common colors you probably have if you ever painted in watercolor before. Grab your supplies and let’s paint!

Supplies (affiliate links used)

• Watercolor paints *I had Davinci in my Palette: Any brand is fine tho:) Cool Red (Alizarin Crimson or Permanent rose or Quin Rose or Red Rose Deep), Cool Blue (Pthalo Blue or Pthalo Turquoise or Prussian blue), Cool to neutral yellow (Hansa yellow light or Cad yellow light or Lemon)
• Watercolor paper: I used Strathmore windpower (but it’s overpriced on amazon) Try Arches instead, it’s better and cheaper.
• Brushes
• Tape

***Last Days to save 50% on my Watercolor Landscape Workshop!

(regular price $79, with deal $39.50) Use coupon code LANDSCAPE50OFF if the discount doesn’t appear automatically. Offer ends 8/1/19

I have really enjoyed seeing my students progress in this course and hearing their awesome feedback, Here are what a few of my students had to say about Watercolor Landscape Workshop:

Lindsay, I have taken classes in acrylics, watercolor, and even some in oils, all over the country. Your classes are by far the very best!! I enjoy how thoroughly and patiently you explain every step. I have had no formal training in any of these areas, so I really do appreciate that I can always be successful while having fun with your tutorials!! Thank you so much for sharing your talents as an artist and as a teacher!

-Marianne

Hi Lindsay! For the first time, taking your class my clouds look like CLOUDS! They are not perfect but I’m loving your instructions. Especially the use of color. Great techniques and using the correct pigments together make a huge difference. Thank you! Can’t wait to progress along with the landscapes. Also I wanted to add that I am learning so much from you! Like for example how to watch the video and then allow myself to flow and work quickly! Not to overthink! And I love it! You are an awesome teacher of good technique! Thank you for sharing your skills!

-Stacy Simon

Very excited about this Watercolor Landscape Class. I LOVE your classes and free tutorials!! So fun continuing to learn about watercolor. You are the best teacher and so carefully explain techniques that a beginner can easily follow. These paintings are beautiful! 

-Crystal Neuendorf

I enjoyed all of these it helps to understand an order to how to do things Also the mixing and having the colors limited. I started water coloring about 3 years ago I think and have thoroughly enjoyed doing things but I want to include the beautiful world around me and thought this would help. I think it will thank you so much. You are a terrific instructor and I follow u on you tube.

-Noreen Latimer

If you want to join the hundreds of watercolorists improving their watercolor landscape painting skills please check out Watercolor Landscape Workshop! Click this special discount link to take advantage of the final days of the launch month special! Use coupon code LANDSCAPE50OFF If the discount doesn’t automatically appear. Deal ends 8/1/19. Thanks for painting with me today and til next time happy crafting!

10 Boho Jewelry Designs to Mix & Match and Make in Minutes!

Hi friends! Today we are going to make some fun boho style jewelry!

This casual style of this kind of jewelry makes it perfect for everyday wear, and you can be as funky or understated as you like. Best of all you can swap out cords, chain, beads or clasps to your liking. Watch the video and see how fun and easy it is to make boho style jewelry!

This video features products from our sponsor Antelope Beads. Use coupon code boho20 to get 20% off your order or click this special discount link. Offer expires 8/5/2019

• A handy supply list for all projects can be found here.

You don’t have to have a lot of time, supplies or money to get started making boho style jewelry. You can always start with the supplies you have and add a few items to your stash and go from there. If you do want to pick up some new supplies, please check out Antelope Beads. You can save 20% on your order with coupon code boho20 now through August 8th, 2019. I hope you enjoyed these fun projects and til next time, happy crafting!

Drawing from Imagination vs Reference

Hi friends! Today I am going to draw a cherry for Sketchbook Sunday. I recently got sent the 120 set of Arteza Everblend markers. 120 is A LOT of markers and I was so excited to use them so I sketched a simple cherry in my sketchbook. I wasn’t happy with how it looked but I didn’t have one to go by.

Left: drawn looking at the real cherry in about 35 minutes, right: drawn from memory in 5 minutes. I am using Rendr no show through paper and it does not allow blending at all. On Neenah these Arteza Everblend markers blend quite nicely.

After purchasing some cherries at the supermarket I decided to take another run at this sketch. I also swatched out all of the marker colors on strips of marker paper and taped them to the barrel of the markers so I could tell as a glance what I had (no marker caps are ever 100% accurate) This made the painting much easier to do. I also spent a lot more time on it as I could look atthe cherry and get much more information as to color, shading, cast shadows, and reflections. I could not really remember the details of a cherry so the sketch on the right (above) took much less time. I really enjoyed drawing this!

A note about the markers I used…

I just wanted to mention if you already have the 60 set of Everblend markers I would recommend getting the new 36 grey set and the 36 skin-tone set rather than buying the 120 set because you will have a better variety as all but 10 of the greys in the 36 set are in the 120 set. Only 3 of the skin-tone colors appear to be in the 120 set. Let me know if you would like a review or demo with the 36 skin tone set as I am thinking about getting it. I also noticed that Arteza is offering replacement nibs in their website now so I am hoping it means that liquid ink refills will be available soon because there is no way the nibs will wear out before use up the ink. Fingers crossed! Today Amazon has 25% off coupons for all of the Arteza marker packs (I have no idea how long it will last and I a forbidden to mention prices from Amazon-I got a nasty letter and everything LOL!) If you are ordering on Arteza’s website (they have free shipping on all USA orders) you can use coupon code PROMO10 for 10% off and their prices are lower so you just need to check both sites for the best deal accounting for coupons.

Video!

Supplies:

• Rendr Sketchbook
• Arteza Everblend Markers (Use PROMO10 for 10% off on Arteza website) ***NEW portrait and greyscale sets are now available too! (the grays are in the 120 sets but the skin tones/portrait don’t seem to be) Replacement nibs are now available Yipee!
• Also available on Amazon: 120 set, skin tone set of 36, grey set of 36
• Col Erase pencils for sketching
• Prismacolor premiere pencils for details
• White posca pen

I hope you find some interesting things from real life to draw. It will also improve your knowledge and ability to draw from memory. I think if I had to draw a cherry now I would do a much better job and land somewhere in between the two sketches pictured above. Thanks for joining me for sketchbook Sunday and til next time happy crafting!

Bee-utiful Day!

Hi friends! This cheerful card can be used anytime you want to send a pick-me-up to a friend!

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.

Supplies:

• Sweet Magnolia peg stamps set
• Southern Charm Peg Stamp Set
• Bee-utiful Day Unmounted Stamp Set
• Dye ink (Memento)
• Quickie glue pen
• Cardstock in kraft, white and green 
• Bee-shaped brads (eyelet outlet)
• Fence die or something that looks like wrought iron (you can make your own fence without a die, see this tutorial for details )
• Fine glitter
• Yellow paint pen 
• Make-up brushes for ink: https://amzn.to/2WDrHoq

Directions:

1. Make a 5 ½” x 4 ¼” card from kraft cardstock. Cut a panel of white to 4”x5 ¼” for stamping.
2. Cut a grass border from green as well as a “fence” from white cardstock.
3. Stamp magnolias and foliage on a white panel. Ink the sky with blue and the hedge area with green.
4. Stamp the sentiment in the sky area and attach bee brads.
5. Glue the panel to the card base and laver the fence and grass on top.

I hope you give this a try and til next time happy crafting!

Mount Fuji in the Springtime!

Hi friends! This pretty pastel landscape is so relaxing to paint. I’ll share lots of tips and techniques along the way too. This tutorial is a bit on the long side so feel free to speed it it up or take breaks as you paint along!

I also wanted to remind you that my launch month 50% off special on Watercolor Landscape Workshop is almost over so if you enjoy in depth watercolor tutorials and want to learn more about painting check it out. Use the coupon code LANDSCAPE50OFF or click one of the discount links in this blog post.

Now, onto today’s video!

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.

• Lukas Watercolors (sap green, purple, genuine rose, cyan, Paynes grey, Naples yellow, white)
• Strathmore 400 9″x12″ paper
• Col-Erase pencils
• Creative Mark Mimik Squirrel Brushes
• Reference photo

Don’t Forget it’s the Last Week to Save 50% off my new Watercolor Landscape Workshop with coupon code LANDSCAPE50OFF or by clicking this special discount link (Regular price $79, with coupon $39.50, offer good through 7/31/19) Happy crafting!

Sketchbook Sunday Berry Cake!

Hi friends! This week I have a fun experiment, watercolor on Rendr paper!

I really enjoyed using markers on this paper once I got used to it and I recently learned that this paper is suitable for many other medias so I decided to try watercolor on it. Watch the video to see the results! You can find real time version of this tutorial in Critique Club.

Supplies: (Amazon affiliate links used)

• Rendr Sketchbook 5.5″x8.5”
• Random Watercolors in my Etchr palette
• Erasable colored pencils
• Colored pencils for details
• White posca pen
• Watercolor brushes

Why don’t you try your supplies in a new sketchbook and see what happens! Happy crafting!

Let’s Sketch & Paint Tulips!

Hi friends! Today I have a long, yet loose watercolor tutorial for you! We are going to sketch and paint tulips in a jar. Let’s relax, have fun and paint!

Enjoy the video!

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.

Supplies:

• Turner Watercolors: *colors: Indian yellow, Pyrolle scarlet, ultramarine, burnt sienna, yellow ochre
• Creative Mark Mimik Squirrel Brushes
• Fluid 100 hot press watercolor paper block 6″x8″
• Colerase colored pencils
• Reference photo

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I have been very busy with the new puppy (we named her Penny!) so please be patient with me if I am slow to respond to comments or questions. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and til next time happy crafting!

Recycle an old dead marker to make a colored pencil blender!

Hi friends! As you know I am a connoisseur of cheap er, affordable markers. I love using them because I don’t worry so much about wasting expensive supplies so when they get all used up I feel I’ve got my moneys worth. The downside to these cheap markers is that they are not designed to be refilled (although I do) and the nibs tend to wear down quicker. You are probably wondering why I don’t just chuck the markers and move on. Well, I really hate the waste and the marker bodies are perfectly good. I could see if my local elementary school participates in the Crayola ColorCycle marker recycling program and save my markers for them (honestly, I might if I can’t think of other ways to reuse them) but I like to re-purpose whenever I can. I had wanted to make a marker filled with Gamsol to use with my wax/oil basted colored pencils and I thought it would be great to use one of these markers. Watch the video to see how!

You will need (affiliate links used if available)

• An old marker you would otherwise throw away, cleaned out with nibs and center felt discarded. *Because I do not know what kind of chemical interactions the old marker ink might have with gamsol I don’t recommend reusing the old felts and nibs.
• Cotton balls
• Replacement nibs, I am using the Optional Round nib from Copic because you can trim them to the desired shape with a sharp craft knife.
• Odorless Mineral Spirits, I like Gamsol
• Pipette or small eyedropper
• Sharp craft knife
• The stamp I colored was from Lost Coast Designs
• I used Derwent Coloursoft pencils to color but any wax or oil based pencils will blend with this DIY marker!

Variations:

• You can make one for waterbased pencils by using a mixture of glycerin and water instead of Gamsol. The glycerin keeps the water from pilling the paper.
• You could use alcohol in a marker to blend colored pencils (Prismacolor sold their clear blending marker for that) but I never found it dissolved the wax and pigment as well as Gamsol or Odorless Mineral Spirits. some artists like a citrus based solvent but I have not used that myself.
• You can also buy empty dry markers (Ranger and Copic sell them) if you don’t have one to reuse.

If you have any ideas for reusing old dried out markers please let me know. Til next time happy crafting!

We Got a Puppy!

Hi friends! Yesterday I had a booth to sell my cards and paintings at a vendor fair our town has each year for Old Home Week. I knew there would be puppies from a local rescue organization there. The kids have wanted a dog since Hazel, our golden, passed away 3 years ago. I was cautious because I had such a hard time when Hazel passed, I never really got over it. But I decided to keep an open mind and if there was a dog that was a good fit I’d consider it. I knew the woman who fostered the dogs (she was one of my daughters favorite teachers in grade school) and I knew she did a good job with them.

We haven’t named her yet, we are waiting to see what seems right for her personality. I think she is a Poppy, Clementine, Millie, Mavis or Snickers. She really responded to the name Snickers, how cute is that?

She is really smart too. She is 12 weeks old and the foster mom said she wasn’t toilet trained yet but she hasn’t had an accent.

I won’t have a Sketchbook Sunday video today and the videos might be a bit erratic over the next couple of weeks as we adapt to our new family member but it will be a fun journey! Don’t forget that today is the last day of my birthday special over at my online school. Use coupon code HB43 to save 43% on any class there through tonight! So, what would you name this pup? She is such a good dog, I can tell already! Til next time happy crafting!