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Van Gogh Flowers

Painting Crafts for Nursing Home...Looking for craft ideas to engage retirement home residents. Here are a few suggestions to engage them in conversation whilst doing crafts.

 

Two Styrofoam balls, one painted and melted and one unpainted.

How to Paint StyrofoamStyrofoam is a basic element to many craft projects. It can be used with different shapes, styles, and mediums. However, because of its bland appearance, Styrofoam also often needs to be painted.

 

A painting of trees and birds.

I Love to PaintI recently started going to art therapy for PTSD. I've learned that I love to paint. I highly recommend painting for everyone!

 

A large piece of cardboard, making a clean place for kids to craft.

Use a Cardboard Place Mat for Kids' Painting CraftsPainting could get messy especially if it's your dinner table the kid's paint on.

 

Mess Free Painting Using Cardboard Boxes - inside of cardboard box with evidence of blue and red paint

Mess Free Painting Using Cardboard BoxesSave cardboard boxes or if you shop at Costco, at check out they'll put your purchases in cardboard boxes - those boxes are handy! In our household we paint in the boxes to create a mess free painting environment. :)

 

Lotion and Watercolor Art - orange and blue watercolor

Lotion and Watercolor ArtIt is nice to use pretty smelling lotion in the place of water when painting with watercolors. This makes the colors more pastel and the final art looks really nice ;)

 

A collection of paint brushes of different sizes.

Stop Bristles from Falling Out of Paint BrushesSometimes when I'm painting crafts and whatnot, the bristles of my paint brushes will fall out. I know the easiest way to fix this is to get better quality brushes, but since I don't want to completely waste the ones I have, I have a little trick to temporarily help with the bristles.

 

A frisbee being used as a paint palette.

Acrylic Paint Palettes from Children's FrisbeesI found these adorable little Frisbees which were in the Easter basket section of Walmart. They are so adorable and make great paint palettes. I was going to put one in an Easter basket, but changed my mind. They would also make great saucers for potted plants to sit in, as well.

 

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Use a Yogurt Cup for Paint WaterI like to reuse yogurt cups for holding water when painting. I especially like to use the kind that come with the plastic dome lids (like YoCrunch or any other yogurt that comes with toppings). I cut a little hole in the middle of the lid. This helps minimize spilling disasters.

 

Recycled Milk Bottle Caps Palette - paint in bottle caps on lid palette

Recycled Milk Bottle Caps PaletteI love acrylic paint, but as the paint is quite expensive, I usually buy basic colors and mix what I need when painting.

 

Protect Paint Brushes With a Straw - artist brush inside a drinking straw

Protect Paint Brushes With a StrawOur paintbrushes fare much better when they are rinsed out, shaken off and stored in a straw. They can be set upright in a jar, this way, without the brush being damaged. We are stenciling our kitchen cabinets by hand ;)

 

canvas covered with paint circles

Tester Pot (Paint Sample) Wall ArtDon't throw your tester pots of paint away after you finish decorating. They can be used to make your own unique piece of wall art.

 

Reusing Plastic Containers for Craft Paint

Reusing Plastic Containers for Craft...After using wax for my warmers, I don't throw the plastic away. I use it for paint compartments for small projects. The lid snaps and keeps my paint fresh.

 

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Cleaning Paint/Artist's BrushesAs an artist I sometimes forget to rinse my brushes out well. By the time I get back to it it is completely stiff and dried with paint. The way I rescue these brushes is to fill an old plastic cup with enough Murphy's oil soap to cover the bristles and let it sit overnight.

 

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Storing Paint BrushesAfter cleaning your paintbrush, wrap the bristles tightly in a dry paper towel folded in half. The towel will get damp so you can shape the bristles in their original shape. When it dries, it will hold them clean and straight and ready to use next time.

 

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Blueberries for Artwork

Blueberries for ArtworkI am doing a lesson plan this week to encourage the children to eat blueberries, which they don't like right now. Blueberries are so good for the brain.

 

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Use Markers For Kids Paint By Numbers KitsSometimes a paint by number looks fun and easy until you open up the box and see the picture. One of the best way to get kids started with paint by number crafts is to buy them a set of markers and let them go to town.

 

Tile with stenciled duct tape ready for painting.

Painting Tiles with StencilsI have covered the back of a tile with white duct tape. I made a frame of duct tape too around the tile. I then put stencils on it, with a purple ink pen.

 

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Clean Art Brushes With Hand SanitizerI use acrylic paints for my yard art projects, and cleaning my brushes is an important step. I have found that if I squirt a little hand sanitizer into the palm of my hand, and work it into the bristles, it does an excellent job of removing the paint trapped in the brush.

 

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Artist Brush Cleaning and UseI don't use my good oil painting brushes for acrylic. I keep them just for oils, which I clean in white spirit*. The sediment settles after a few days, and the clean spirit pours off carefully into another jar.

 

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Colorful Hoop ArtworkMake hoops of color hung on fish line in groups by the craft room, in the windows like stained glass windows, or in the hallway to the day room.

 

dots

Use Pin Heads To Paint DotsIn many painting and craft projects, one finds themselves needing to make dots. I have used this idea for years and it hasn't failed me once! It's easy and inexpensive. No high tech tool needed.

 

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Use Paper Bag as Alternative to CanvasSave money on paper and canvas by using a paper bag instead. I found creating art to be an expensive process, so I began using paper bags to save money in place of canvas. They are free and a great form of recycling.

 

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Old Pens or Toothpicks for Painting DetailMy tip is for painting with detail. Even the finest of brushes are hard to paint lines or fine detail with. Therefore, I have been painting my fine detail with the end of old ink pens or toothpicks.

 

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Storing Acrylic PaintsI probably have about 100 bottles of acrylic craft paints and special finishes. I store them in square baskets I bought at the Dollar Store. The baskets are fold-able to flat and about 2 inches taller than the paint bottles.

 

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Use Sponge To Paint Wire FenceIt's easier and less messy to paint a wire fence with a sponge instead of a brush. Just put the paint in an aluminum roller pan and dunk the sponge.

 

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Dab Paint on Top of BottleI keep several small bottles of of acrylic paint on my shelf in a box made from an empty Bisquick box. To save time, I open the bottles of paint and, using my finger, dab a little paint on the top of each bottle. Now, at a glance, I can see what colors I have.

 

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Save Plastic Packaging for Paint PaletteI save bits of hard "see through" plastic from the boxes of things I buy (toaster, etc.) to use as a disposable paint palette for acrylic paints that I use for crafts. It doesn't have a well, but the paint stays put anyway.

 

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Covering Paint Between UsesWhen painting with toddlers, we put the paint in a plastic paint cup. I found there were no lids at the center where I'm working. I don't like washing the remaining paint out of the cups because it is so wasteful.

 

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Dish Soap PaintTo make paint that is great for painting temporary designs on windows or even sidewalks, try dish soap paint! You can also paint on paper with it.

 

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Reuse Plastic Containers for Craft PaintI enjoy craft painting and I always need something to mix colors in. I normally use Styrofoam egg cartons. I started saving Buddy's dog food containers and and the other day hubby needed some brown/tan paint to repaint a dog statue that was left for the path garden.

 

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Use Oil Based Primer on Old PaintWhen you are not sure what a cabinet is painted with, always go with oil based primer. Then you are set to use oil or water paint on top. Think of it this way; if you pour oil and water together, the oil just lays on top. It doesn't mix.

 

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Instant Reproduction ArtistRemove the glass from a new picture frame and tape the glass down over the picture image you desire. Get oils or watercolor paints and paint the picture on the glass; using the picture as your 'copy guide (better than 'by the numbers').

 

Owl Painted Gourd

Owl Painted GourdOne of the many gourds I have done. This features a large kettle gourd, cut open. The opening has been coiled with long SC pine needles. The process is actually a weaving technique, and adds a nice touch to many gourds.

 

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Store Roller in Tray With Water for Painting TomorrowIf you paint with a paint roller one day and plan to continue painting the next day, you can avoid washing the roller by placing it in the paint tray and filling the tray with water to cover the roller.

 

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Paint Brush Cleaner RecipeHere is the absolute best paint brush cleaner recipe known to man. I take a sherbet-sized plastic container filled 2/3 with water and I add 2-3 drops dishwashing liquid.

 

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Storing a Wet PaintbrushIf you use paint in your crafting you may find that, in the middle of painting a project, you get called away from your project but you know you will be back shortly. Instead of rinsing out your paint brush, you can wrap it in a piece of plastic or a sandwich bag.

 

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Use Paper Tube for Hard to Reach PaintingIf you've ever tried to spray paint into a hard to reach area without spraying everything around it, this tip offers a simple, yet effective way to handle the problem. Simply use an empty paper towel or toilet paper tube, depending on how far it needs to reach, and do your spraying through it.

 

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Restore Paint Brushes With VinegarWhen you have allowed your paint brushes to harden with paint on them, you can easily soften them by placing them in hot vinegar until paint loosens and the wash them in hot soapy water.

 

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Painting Shirts With Acrylic PaintsI enjoy painting with acrylics on shirts. They are only gifts for family and friends, but are well received and used. I think it would be interesting to make a larger linoleum carving and put it on the back of a shirt! You could change colors too.

 

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Egg Cartons For PaintsWhen it is time to paint get out your empty egg carton! When using the inexpensive small bottles of paint from the craft stores you can squeeze small amounts of different colors into each egg section.

 

lace design on furniture

Use Lace For A Subtle PatternI wanted a subtle pattern on the table that I painted and then thought of the idea that I used quite some time ago on a trunk. First I primed and painted the table a soft green and let it dry. Then I bought some lace with a large pattern and laid it over the top.

 

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Use Plastic Bags As Temporary GlovesWhen I have a quick need to do a small paint job I use plastic bags for gloves. When finished I throwh them out.

 

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Store Craft Paints Upside DownThis may seem obvious and simple, but I didn't think of it for sometime, so maybe others haven't thought of it either. I have a lot of bottles of craft paint. I store them in a plastic shoebox type box that has a lid. I put my paints in upside down.

 

Rock painted to look like ladybug.

Rock PaintingFind a rock that you would like to paint on. Wash it in warm soapy waster and let dry. Use acrylic paints to paint your rock. Let dry completely! Lastly, use acrylic finish spray to seal and weather proof your project.

 

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Bob the Builder watercolors for a boy's bedroom.

Craft: Watercolor Bob The BuilderI created these very cool pictures for my son's Christmas present. I used his favorite books, tracing paper, watercolor paper, watercolor pencils, and a paint brush. Most of the craft supplies can be purchased at your local Walmart.

 

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Use White Out for Tiny Painting JobsNeed to do a small touch up job on something white, but don't have the white paint or don't want to open that big can? For a small, very small touch up job needing white, use White Out.

 

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Use Prescription Bottles for Custom PaintsWhen I create a "custom" color with acrylic paint, I'll pour the "leftovers" into an empty, clean prescription bottle.

 

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DVDs and CDs for Paint PalettesUsed CD/DVD disks make great paint palettes for acrylic or oil paints, or even the oil sticks used for stenciling.

 

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Use Spice Bottles For PaintbrushesSave your empty spice bottles (the ones with the holes in the top). They are perfect for holding kids' small paint brushes or the fine paint brushes you use for arts and crafts.

 

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Clean Mixing Technique For Powdered TemperaWhen using powdered dye (such as tempera paint) and clay, place it in a disposable bowl, and place your hands inside plastic zip top bags.

 

canvas on easel

Frugal Canvases For PaintingOne option is to buy old paintings from the goodwill stores and repaint them with Gesso to get a white finish. Then you can paint anything you like on them.

 

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Use Waxed Boxes for Paint PalettesUse waxed boxes for paint palettes. When working with acrylics, you can use a (washed) waxed box such as the ones frozen foods come in, as a palatte.

 

Flowers painted on a garage door.

Garage Door MuralThis is a mural I painted on my garage door. I used just patio paints, freehand. The flowers are painted in Donna Dewberries "one stroke" technique.

 

Folding Sign for a Shop

Folding Sign for a ShopHere is a fairly simple sign I made. I used 2 pieces of plywood, painted them white and put 2 hinges at the top. I drew the flower and lettering with a pencil, then painted it with paints I had around.

 

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Craft Tips For Making Wood Signs (And...Here is a list of craft tips for painting your own signs by Harlean!

 

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Recycled Paint HoldersRecycled items you can use to hold paint for your art projects. Post your ideas.

 

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Plastic Pants Hangers For Drying Art WorkI'm a professional artist and like Cheryl of Missouri I have found another use for the plastic hangers you can receive from purchasing clothing.

 

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Homemade Watercolor PaintsThese watercolor paints are easy to make.

 

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