Hi friends! I just wanted to pop in really quick today and remind you that today is the last day to take advantage of the launch special on the Critique Club tutorials in my Teachable school. These are real-time, in-depth more advanced tutorials that were released in the Critique Club membership group. Each collection contains 24 lessons (and over 30 hours of content) and you get lifetime access. There are on sale for 50% off until February 1st so if you would like to grab any of these collections you can at the lowest price. If you are a Critique Club member, don’t worry, nothing has changed for you, this is just a way for students who prefer to purchase the lessons only, as opposed to a subscription, to do that. Click on the thumbnails below for a discounted link to learn more or enroll in the class.
*Regular price $60, with coupon $30. Offer ends 2/1/22 Use coupon code LAUNCH50 if the discount doesn’t appear. *Additional sales/VAT tax may apply in some countries/states. **Each yearly archive compilation contains the 24 real-time tutorials posted in the Critique club during the specified year. Prompts and original art critiques are not included in the archives.
Hi friends! Today for Sat Chat I thought it would be fun to look at some supplies I kind of wish I didn’t buy. No shade to any of these companies, you don’t know until you try right? Please share your art and craft supply regrets in the comments below or ideas on how I might better use these products.
Stuff I mentioned:
Teresa Collins Stampmaker by Imagepac: The results were good when I got it to work but it was fiddly and expensive to maintain and there seemed to be inconsistencies in the stamp packet refills.
Distress oxide sprays: I loved the ink pads and re-inkers so I thought I’d love the sprays but I didn’t like them as well and the warning on the bottle made me nervous
Glitter Duster: very messy but it does make me laugh when I use it so is it really a regret?
Distress crayons: I don’t like them nearly as much as other products in my stash. The doily die: I didn’t know anything about intricate dies when I bought this, it’s beautiful but still fiddly so I only use it on special occasions when I have a look of patience. This taught me not to buy intricate dies, and also I don’t love the process of die cutting, I like the results tho.
The 600-page sketchbook: This was an optimistic purchase, I wanted to be the person who fills such a huge sketchbook, and oh what a value! In reality, it is too big and heavy to lug around and the paper isn’t that great.
Letterpress stuff: This is an odd one, I like the process and the look but it really lacks the WOW factor once the project is made. Ironically I can make custom letterpress plates with the Stampmaker but as we know that is way too fiddly for me. I really like all forms of printmaking and stamping so I think I will return to this someday.
Glass rods for bead-making: This craft is fiddly but also meditative and I really enjoyed it but I got freaked out by warnings from viewers and I didn’t know ow what safety equipment I needed as the instructions in the Diamond Tech kit I had didn’t say I needed anything. Before I was worried about that I but a bunch of low-quality rods and they were hard to use as they would crack and snap when heated. I knew this when I bought them but thought I could make it work because they were so much cheaper, lesson learned.
So what are your art and craft supply regret purchases? Let me know in the comments below and til next time happy crafting!
Hi friends! A couple of weeks ago I came across some watercolors by the company O.win. Owin (AKA Aowin) is the same company that makes Pretty Excellent and Paul Rubens watercolors so I was intrigued. They had cute square pans that were a tad larger than typical half pans and come in oversized metal tins. The price was right too (I got the 36 set in a yellow tin for $22! The funny thing was that the 24 sets of paint were the same price. The other thing I noticed is that they used the same exact color numbers as the Pretty Excellent paint set which is my budget pick for watercolors. The only downside to the PE set is that all of the paint come in one molded flimsy plastic tray instead of removable half pans that you can rearrange if you like. I love a good art supply mystery so I ordered a set to review!
As you will see in the video the tin did not latch securely when I got it. I was able to fix that. The lid was warped and a bit annoying to use for mixing as it bounced around but later I pressed down firmly on the lid when it was closed and it seemed to flatten it out so it wasn’t as wonky so I’d try that if you had that issue. A viewer through they might be factory 2nds or tins that didn’t pass quality control and I think she is absolutely right because I looked up this brand on Ali Express and the 36 pan set in the exact same tin and packaging was going for $62.90 and the 24 set was $45. So I really feel like I got a great deal! Also, the listing on Amazon no longer has the 36 set or a restock date so it makes me think it’s a one-and-done type of sale.
Check out the video to see an unboxing, art samples and a comparison to the Pretty Excellent set you hear me recommend so often.
Pros:
Very transparent (except for the lavender and yellow ocher colors)
Good color payout
Great color selection Activated instantly
All colors in their own individual half pans that can be rearranged if desired *the half pas are wider than standard but do fit standard tins as the height is the same.
Tin has a large mixing space
Comes with a waterbrush
Includes swatch card and postcards to paint on
Lightfast info included (although not sure if accurate on purples)
Cons:
The tin is larger than normal and the lid was a bit warped
White is a warm-toned translucent mixing white (as opposed to Pretty Exellent’s cool and opaque white)
So what would I pick between the Pretty Excellent and the Owin? Well, the paint is identical except for the white. It comes down to your preferences in the tin. the smaller footprint of the pretty excellent set appeals to me more in practical use but having each color in it’s own half pan is very appealing for making smaller travel sets. I think the Aowin set is a better value (if the price remains the same between the two sets) but you should really go for the layout that will meet your needs best. I also like the separate half pans as they are more durable so once the paint is used up I can refill them with tubes paints and use them in other palettes as needed. The bottom line is I like them both and I recommend them to anyone who wants a basic set of watercolors for a good price!
I will post a tutorial of the goldfish painting I showed in the review soon. the 36 set of the Owin watercolors already sold out so I apologize for that but the Pretty Excellent set is always available and often goes on sale. Affiliate links were used in this post, Happy crafting!
Hi friends! It’s cold and I was a bit cranky but I’m feeling better now. Sat chat has that effect on me:) Or I should say chatting with you guys in the comments has that effect on me so thanks for the company!
Stuff I mentioned:
The cute Yellow Owin palette arrived, I’ll have a review Monday but as I guessed the paint is the same as the pretty excellent (except for the white oddly) The metal tin is a bit flimsy, if you bought one can you please let me know the quality of your tin? Only the blue one is available in the set of 36 but the other tins are available in the 24 size
*The 50%off deal on the Critique Club Archives is still on: 2019 archive,2020 Archive, 2021 Archive *Regular price $60, with coupon $30. Offer good through 1/31/22 Use coupon code LAUNCH50 if the discount doesn’t appear. *Additional tax may apply in some countries. **Each yearly archive compilation contains the 24 real-time tutorials posted in Critique club during the specified year. Prompts and original art critiques are not included in the archives.
Frugal Friday, Lily painting and all past videos can be found here
Sanded paper is crazy-expensive but so lovely to paint on. In today’s Frugal Friday Feature I’ll show you how to make a similar surface for pennies!
I am using matboard scraps but you can use any paper you like or even cardboard (keep in mind cardboard is usually not acid free to be sure to use an acid free paper or board if you want it to be archival) I love using colored matboard for this because I have a lot leftover from when I frame my work.
You can use either white or clear gesso. White gesso can be tinted with acrylic paint to get the color you desire. Keep in mind the more paint you add the less gritty it will be so I suggest using a small amount of a very dark color. Clear gesso can be applied over colored boards or paper so you can keep the same color. You can even use cardstock for this! You can even apply clear gesso over an underpainting to lock down the color and add back tooth. It’s cool stuff! I like Liquitex Clear Gesso (honestly it’s the only clear gesso I have tried but it’s great!) I also like Jerry’s world’s greatest Gesso in white. *Gesso is an acrylic product so it’s best to wait until temps are above freezing to order it if you live somewhere cold or pick some up at a local store. Do not let this product freeze!
Want to DIY some gesso? All you have to do is add something gritty to white paint or PVA glue. I’ve heard people adding marble dust, pumice powder, fine sand, or even baking soda. There’s no harm in experimenting but for work I want to be sure will last I purchase premade gessos on acid-free supports. That’s just me, you do you.
Hi friends! Today I am going to share a fun project that was experimental from start to finish!
I hope you embrace some artistic play today and try this! If you would like a real-time version of this lesson you can find it in Critique Club. Check out the player below for the timelapse full of tips!
Hi friends! Before you toss out those leftover Christmas cards why not turn them into useful boxes for next year? It’s a great way to recycle, or upcycle, those Christmas cards into something useful. You can even use them as drawer dividers or use cardstock to make these whatever size and depth you like!
1. Cut the card in half at the spine. If your card is really thick you might want to trim 1/16″ off the back portion of the card to make the bottom of the box a touch smaller.
2. Score and fold 1″ from each side.
3. Snip score mark at corners to maker tabs and adhere to the inside of box.
4. Fit the boxes together, it should be a snug fit.
Directions for making boxes from cardstock(I am using 110# card)
1. Determine how large you want your box to be and then add 2″ to that measurement. That is the size for the bottom of the box. Take that measurement and add 1/8″ to it and that is the dimension for the lid.
2. Score, fold and glue the box just like you did for the Chrismtmas card box.
Handy Measurements for boxes to hold greeting card sets:
Measurements for a box to hold A2 (5 1/2×4 1/4″) cards and envelopes (these are the cards made from half a sheet of 8.5″x11″ cardstock) Bottom: 6 1/2″x8″ Lid: 6 5/8″x8 1/8″
Measurements for A7 (5″x7″) cards and envelopes: Bottom: 7 1/2″x9 1/2″ Lid: 7 5/8″x 9 5/8″
You can adjust the depth of the box by adding more to the original measurement and scoring in more for the edge. If I wanted a box that had a 2″ depth instead of a 1″ depth I would add 4″ to my measurement (2″ on each side) as opposed to 2″ (which only gives me 1″ depth on each side) I hope that makes sence.
It’s a pretty simple equation once you get the hang of it. You can also use these boxes to make custom drawer dividers so be creative and have fun with it! Stay tuned for more frugal Friday tips on Youtube and hosted here a few days later: Happy crafting!
Hi friends! I hope you are having a lovely weekend and keeping warm if you are in the path of the snowstorms hitting the midwest and east coast USA and Canada. We have had crazy winds and the messy snow and ice are due on Monday. I’m glad Monday is a holiday so hopefully there won’t be many people out on the roads! Anyway, Here is this week’s sat chat!
I just realized that I have yet to blog either of the Frugal Friday Videos so if you want you can see them on YouTube. I’ll get them here eventually, it might not be on a Friday tho LOL!
*The 50%off deal on the Critique Club Archives is still on: 2019 archive,2020 Archive, 2021 Archive *Regular price $60, with coupon $30. Offer good through 1/31/22 Use coupon code LAUNCH50 if the discount doesn’t appear. *Additional tax may apply in some countries. **Each yearly archive compilation contains the 24 real-time tutorials posted in Critique club during the specified year. Prompts and original art critiques are not included in the archives.
The Frugal Crafter Blog 