Beginner Watercolor Hydrangea Tutorial!

Relax and paint this vase of beautiful Hydrangea flowers.

This tutorial is great for beginners or more seasoned painters who want a relaxing way to get out their paints and play! Please paint along with this real-time tutorial!

For this project you will need (Affiliate links used)

• Watercolors (JoiArt) The set I used contains 24 paints and the small brushes I used in the tutorial.
• Brushes 1/2″ or #7 flat, #6 round (included in JoiArt watercolor set)
• Watercolor Paper (6″x9″ Bee)
• Reference photo

Do you like these beginner watercolor tutorials? If so let me know in the comments below. If you would like more step by step flower tutorials please check out my online class: Watercolor Flower Workshop and learn to paint a variety of flowers in different arrangements!

Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Stamped Notecube With Storage! Gift Idea!

Hi friends! It’s never too early to start making handmade holiday gifts. Here is an easy and useful idea perfect for many folks on your gift lists especially teachers!

Blank note cubes can be found online (Amazon has them) and they are so easy to dress up with stamps! I’ll also show you how you can add a storage compartment at the back perfect for keeping your pens, markers or peg stamps!

Video!

Tutorial sponsored by Rubber Stamp Tapestry Take 20% off your mounted stamp order of $10 or more just use coupon code: NOTES Coupon expires, Monday, November 7, 2016

Supplies:

• Plain white note cube
• Peg stamp sets: Embellished Holiday Wreath, Bittersweet
• Dye Inks (Memento)
• Ink Brushes
• A cardboard box the same width as your cube (or make on our of an old cereal box)
• Typing paper
• Ball point pen
• Elastic band
• Adhesive: double-sided tape and hot glue

I hope this project gets you in the mood for some Christmas gift crafting! Have a great weekend and happy crafting!

Painted Aprons Make Nice Gifts!

Hi friends! Today I am sharing a fun DIY idea that is nice to make for a gift of for yourself!

I think it is super cute and it is easy too! Best of all you can customize if for anyone’s tastes and it is a great gift idea for a painter, gardener or cook. I think I might keep this one for myself though. 🙂 Watch the video to see how easy it is to paint this apron using Inktense pencils. You can use acrylic paint if you prefer and it will work just as well. Use what you have for this!

Video!

You can find the inexpensive apron I am painting on from our sponsor CONDA

Supplies:
Cotton Canvas professional Bib Apron
Inktesne Watersoluble pencils or blocks (or acrylic paint)
Stiff paint brushes
Spray bottle of water

Directions:
1. Smooth canvas apron our on work surface and mist the area you want to draw on with water.
2. Sketch your design in with Inktense pencils or blocks.
3. Brush water over the colored in design to activate the ink.
4. Let dry and enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed this fun little project and til next time happy crafting!

Cute as a Cupcake!

Hi friends! Sometimes you make something that is really quick, easy and cute. This is one of those times.

I don’t like to shop and I don’t want to give gifts that will collect dust either. Mostly, I’m lazy and giving the gift of cash, especially to older kids, goes over really well. See, most kids don’t have jobs and unlike a gift card it can be spent anywhere. Plus, I have to admit, I am a horrible gift giver, sometimes I get it right but mostly I am clueless but I can make cute stuff so I put my effort there:) Buy hey, if you are a steller gift giver you could whip up one of these tins to give your awesome gift in!

Video!

I just realized that now everyone knows that I don’t put that much effort in to the packaging either. Hmmm, I really need to rethink my blog topics. I am giving all of my secrets away. I guess it’s good that not many people I know in real life read my blog LOL! Hey, just because it is fun and easy doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile and made with love. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Supplies:
Oval Tin (also available in round, square & heart shapes)
PomPom Trim
Chalk paint in white and teal
Stamps (Sweet Cupcake-Stampin Up)
Dye Ink (Memento, Stampin Up, Altenew)
White Cardstock
Sequins (Micheals)

Directions:
1. Paint tin with chalk or acrylic paint, let dry.
2. Stamp cupcake and cut out.
3. Glue cupcake to lid of tin and glue pom-pom trim on the edges of the tin lid. Accent with sequins.

I want to thank Papermart for sponsoring this post, they have so many cute things for packaging gifts and goodies and you can’t beat the prices. Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

DIY Halloween Coasters with Alcohol ink!

Hi friends! By request today we are playing with alcohol ink, photocopies (or lazer/toner based prints) and Xylene markers and white ceramic tiles. Let’s make coasters! Watch the video to see how!

Video!

Directions:
1. Clean Tile with alcohol.
2.  Transfer photocopy to tile with Chartpak (xylene) pen.
3. Color with alcohol ink or alcohol based markers.
4. You can spritz rubbing alcohol on the coaster for a cool effect if desired!
5. Add felt or cork to the back of coasters and protect with a coat of clear spray paint.

Happy crafting!

How about a tiny book from leftover paper?

Hi friends! tonight I have another bookmaking project for you. It is the same idea as the books we made last week but you get double the pages and the book is half the size. You just need a few more folds and 2 more cuts.

Watch the video to see how easy it is!

Find the stamps I used Lost coast Designs here.

Supplies:
Scrapbook paper 12″x12″
gold pigment ink
Gold embossing powder
heat tool
stamps adhesive
Colorbox blends in black

I hope you try this fun bookmaking idea! Think of all the old scrapbook papers you can use up! Happy Crafting!

Faux-saic Box!

Hi friends! Grab your stencils and embossing paste and let’s make Faux Mosaics!

Video!

Supplies:
Kraft Jewelry Box 5″x6″:
Acrylic paint (grout color, I used white)
Glass Paint (Transparent)
Copper Tape
Stencil (Patti Tolley Parrish from istencil)
Stencil Embossing Paste (pearl-Dreamweaver)
paint brush, palette knife, scraper

Papermart supplies used in the card set
Jewelry Tissue on a roll
bulk envelopes
Baker’s Twine

Let me know if you want a demo on making the card set!

Mosaic box directions:
1. Paint box white, let dry.
2. Tape stencil to box lid and spread stencil paste on top. Remove and clean stencil, let dry.
3. Paint raised squares and bottom edges of box. Let dry.
4. Add copper tape to edges of the box lid if desired.

I put handmade cards in my box, what will you put in yours? Thanks for stopping by and til next time happy crafting!

Sponsored by Papermart.