Hi friends! When I saw brads of cats doing yoga in the Eyelet Outlet booth at a stamp show a couple of years ago I had to get them. I just knew they would be purrfect on a project one day. Today, my friend, is that day.
I also loved this cat stamp the minute I saw it at the Technique Junkies booth. For this card we will stamp and color right on the cardbase and I’ll show you how you can add a clever background to your one layer card with washi tape which is great if you enjoy collecting the little rolls of sunshine as much as I do! Washi tape has pretty much replaced ribbons on my card and I think it is a good substitute for pattern paper too!
Supplies (affiliate links used)
Non-bleed through cardstock for blending alcohol markers (Gina K Pure Luxury is the only one I know of)
Hi friends! Have you ever been working on a watercolor and you have nice definition and contrast and then the next thing you know you have a hot mess blur of colors and shapes? Today I am going to share a technique that can help you avoid that! And you get to paint this beautiful lady!
We will do out under-painting value painting (think of it like a pencil drawing with shading or a monochrome) with a product that will be permanent. I am using Dr. Ph Martins Acrylic ink but you can use any water-based medium that dries permanent such as India ink, thinned down acrylic paint or Inktense pencils/blocks/pans. I bet you could use permanent markers too however you would need a large range of shades of one color and they tend to get used up quickly on watercolor paper (and it can fray the nibs) so it wouldn’t be my first choice.
The reason I wanted to have such a solid defined structure to this painting is so we can go to town with granulating paints. You can amp them up with some granulation medium too but if you don’t have any use some salt water (literally, water and table you have at home) and it will give a similar effect.
Keep in mind your earthier, duller colors will tend to granulate more, look for colors that are made with minerals rather than synthetic pigments and dyes for the best effect. You will get the best granulation if you have very wet paper and paint and you let it air dry. For some reason using a heat took lessens the effect of the pigment separation.
Enjoy the video, I tried something a little different with this one and I really hope you like it and if you do please tell a friend!
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: Gold Ochre, Caput Mortuum, Cobalt green, Cobalt turquoise
If you like this free lesson you will love one of my online courses and you can save 40% off now through September 3rd 2019 with coupon code LD19
If you want to learn more about values and shading I recommend my course Learn to Draw with Lindsay where you will learn to draw what you see without gimmicks. You will learn about value, shading, composition and design elements while working through the lessons drawing many different subjects. Or maybe you had your eye on another class?
Just remember to use the coupon code LD19 for 40% off all courses and payment plans through 9/3/19. Click the “add coupon” on the checkout page and enter the coupon code to apply the discount. Thank you for your patronage! Till next time happy painting!
Hi friends! When I was recently rummaging through my supplies I came across a couple of tie-dye kits. I had intended to make some matching T-shirts with my kids to wear on a trip but my teens quickly shot down that idea calling it “cringy” and so the supplies sat in my drawer unloved until now! I vaguely remember hearing about a technique called ice dying and I was curious to give it a try. Watch the video and see how it went and what techniques got the best results!
Supplies (affiliate links used)
Powder dye (any brand, just make sure it is powder, not liquid when you get it)
Soda ash (or table salt if you don’t have it) Rubber gloves *should come in tie-dye kit
Other: Plastic to protect your work area
Cookie sheets or some sort of grate to elevate the fabric for best results These are the ones I have and they have legs to elevate the fabric.
Tips:
Soak the fabric in hot water and soda ash so the colors will hold.
Elevate the fabric for best results. If you don’t have means to elevate the fabric I suggest doing a regular tie-dye technique because it will look just as good if not better and use less dye so you can do more fabric.
The longer the dye sits the stronger the color will be. The color will appear much darker [when dying] than it will turn out.
Be sure to rinse all dye from the fabric and hang to dry.
The first few times you wash your fabric wash it separately by and so and dye can’t transfer to another laundry.
This is a great project to do with your kid outside while the weather is nice and a fun way to cool off too! Some viewers had great ideas on elevating a bunch of fabric such as putting palettes, fence sections or chicken wire on cinder blocks and laying your fabric on that. I am sure you can find something around your home that will work just as well. Have fun and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! My sister shared some of the poppy pods that went to seed in her garden so that I could try to grow some at my house. She says they will grow anywhere but with my black thumb I think I will have better luck drawing them!
I did toss them at the edge of the woods in my backyard where there is a lot of sun so hopefully next year I will have some lovely pink and red poppies! You can find the real-time lesson for this tutorial here in Critique Club if you are interested.
Supplies *Affiliate links to Arteza and Amazon, use coupon code PROMO10 for 10% off on the Arteza website
If you liked the look of this drawing and are interested in pastel I have an online pastel class you might like called Soft Pastel for Beginners. It takes you through the various types of pastels (pencils, sticks, pan pastels) and guides you through the techniques so you can get started off on the right foot! Click here to enroll or learn more! Happy Sketching!
Hi friends! This project will have you using up that stash of washi tape in no time! As a bonus this card won’t get crushed in the mail.
Watch the video for the full tutorial:
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.
Make an A2 card from white and cut a 3 ¼ x4 ½ from the scrap. Cut a heart window from the rectangle and use that to determine the placement on the foam layer.
From craft foam cut a 3 ¾ x 5” rectangle, then cut out the heart window so it will line up with the smaller white layer.
Stamp the gnome, mushrooms, leaf and grass to make a border at the bottom of the white rectangle. Stamp the snail at the top of the heart. Add a gnome brad if desired.
Place the layers on the cardbase and mark the opening of the window. Place washi tape down to cover the window area.
Use double sided tape to assemble the layers. Tip, apply the tape to the paper layer and not the foam as it will adhere better and not gum up the tape runner.
Stamp sentiment on white and adhere using wet glue on the corners over the bottom of the heart window.
I love using washi tape as a background and I;ll be sharing another washi tape background trick next week so be sure to check back. Happy crafting!
I was inspired by these silk flowers, boy, they make some really pretty ones now!
Watch the video for a full, real time tutorial!
Want to learn to paint gorgeous flowers in a loose style? Check out my Watercolor flower Workshop! Use coupon code YAYFLOWERS if the discount doesn’t appear. 25% off discount is good on one-time purchase and payment plan.
Supplies (affiliate links used)
Watercolors in Sap Green, Alizarin Crimson, Rose Madder/Permanent Rose(optional), Cad Yellow Light or lemon, Sap Green, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt sienna Tubes or Pans
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. This card would be nice for a housewarming or a welcome to the neighborhood greeting. Or use these techniques to make a card for another occasion! Happy crafting!
2″ headpins (I used 13 for my design but you can use more or fewer)
2 jump rings for attaching clasp (more-one for each headpin you use- if you want to use them to attach your headpins for more movement in your necklace.)
A variety of small beads such as seed beads, E beads, bugle beads and any small leftovers in colors you like.
Tools:
2 pairs of round nose pliers (I recommend a 3-in-1 plier because it has a wire cutter)
Wire cutter if your pliers’ doesn’t have one on it.
Nylon jaw plier for straightening bent headpins (or put a piece of thick cloth in your pliers to use for straightening your headpins)
Directions:
Add clasp to 20″ piece of chain. You can cut your chain to length with wire cutters.
Bead your longest headpin. Make a right angle bend after the last bead and trim the leftover wire to 1/4″. Use the round nose pliers to curl that into a loop for hanging. This is your center fringe dangle. Continue making the dangles that will go to the side by repeating the pattern but subtracting a bead for each subsequent dangle so you end up with a tapered length row of headpins. *see photo below.
Attach the headpins to the chain by opening the loop on the headpin and hooking in to the bottom edge of the chain.
Tips: start with the middle (longest) headpin at the midpoint of your chain and work out from there. Make sure to attach all the headpin to the same (bottom) edge of the chain or the necklace will want to twist. Use jump-rings to attach the headpins to the chain if it is easier for you or if you want more movement in your necklace. Feel free to use all the same beads for a simpler look.
This is how the headpins will look when you have them all beaded before attaching it to the chain.
I hope you like this project and til next time happy crafting.
Hi friends! Every time I paint with oils I am filled with a warm pleasant feeling of coming home. Some of this enjoyable nostalgia might come from the fumes but mostly it is because there is nothing quite like the sumptuous feeling of an oil paint loaded brush gliding across the canvas. You have all the time in the world with oils, they won’t dry out on you while you are working no matter where you live and you can build up layers and transparent glazes to get a luminosity that rivals watercolor, only different.
Have you been curious about trying oils? Or maybe you dabble in oil paints but wonder if you might be missing out on a tip or trick that could make your life easier or save you some money? If so check out today’s video where I sake 30+ tips (or oil painting hacks) that will save you time, money and bring more joy to your painting!
Supplies (Affiliate links to Arteza and Amazon used. If shopping on the Arteza website use coupon code PROMO10 for 10% off your order)
Faux hog oil brushes. I love the creative mark mimik hog brushes, I have this set and it is wonderful but pricey, take care of them and they will last you tho! For a budget, option try Menta or Zen faux hog brushes available at AC more and other big-box art stores.
Here are the tips (watch the video for ddetailed explanation)
Start with a set of good quality inexpensive paints so you can see what colors you like and replace what you actually use with larger tubes of better paint (and see if oils are for you before spending much) Also, buy an extra tube of white.
Use a limited palette for a more professional look.
Start with loose sketch with a small brush and thinned down paint.
After sketching block in colors in a thin coat.
Use a disposable palette and scrape it off so you can reuse it again (it’s less wasteful than the paper towels you will need to clean a wood palette)
Use paper towels for clean up instead of washable rags *rags used for oil paint can start a fire in your dryer
Use a brush washing jar (or make your own) with a cleaning screen so you don’t waste paint thinner.
Buy good quality paint brushes once. I like inexpensive synthetic hogs by Royal & Langnickle or Creative Mark. Be sure to clean them properly.
How to clean brushes: rinse in thinner, wipe off excess and follow up with soap and air dry.
Let your washed brushes dry before using with oils again.
Follow the “Fat over Lean” rule which means your first layers of paint are thinned with solvent and last layers are thinned with oil to the top layers dry slower than the first layers to avoid cracking.
Practice your drawing skills because with oils you will lose your sketch as you paint. Knowing to draw will let you draw in your minds eye and you know where your lines belong even after they have vanished.
Use an adjustable board or easel to avoid glare and for comfort.
When colors won’t stick let the paint set up overnight and then you can add a new layer with a softer brush. Remember the Fat over Lean Rule.
Scrape off your palette when you are done for the day.
Save big amounts of squeezed out paint by placing your palette in a sealed plastic try (like a Tupperware that you don’t need for food or in a zip lock bag) to keep it fresh for a few days while you work on your painting.
You can also cover your palette with foil and stick it in the freezer according to many artists. The best practice it to only put out when you will use in a day IMHO.
Have dedicated brushes for oil paints as you could deposit oils onto your other mediums if you use the same brushes for everything.
Recycle old watermedia brushes for oils (but don’t use them for watermedia again)
Save details for the end of a painting and use small brushes gently at this stage.
Add linseed oil to dark colors to help it flow, keep the colors dark and keep your lines fine.
Take your time, the paint dries slow so you don’t need to rush. You can paint in layers over days and weeks or paint “Alla Prima” or all at once.
Have a spot to leave your painting to dry where it won’t be in the way or collect dust or pet hair.
Varnish your painting 6 months after your painting is done to protect it and even out the paint sheen.
How to use oils in a sketchbook: First prime the page with acrylic gesso or you can do an acrylic paint under painting. This protects the paper underneath. Leave the book clipped open until the painting is touch dry.
Save bright whits and dark darks till the end after your paint sets up a bit so it will layer on top.
Use soft, blunt mop brushes for fans to soften and blend edges where needed.
Use a glazing technique for adding depth and rich layers. Mix paint and oil together to make glazes. Glazes are transparent layers of color applied at the end of a painting.
Buy larger tubes of the colors you really like as it costs less over time
Try water mixable oils if you don’t like the smell or cleanup of traditional oils.
Add interest in a boring area buy adding spots of a complementary color. I added red in the muddy green foreground.
Use warmer colors in areas you want to come forwards and cool colors where you want things to recede.
Add texture and highlights by scraping into the paint film with the end of a brush or palette knife. This is called sgraffito. You can also apply thick physical textures with a palette knife. Thick passages of color will take much longer to dry.
If you enjoyed these tips check out my other free oil painting tutorials here. Til next time happy painting!
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