Upcycled PaintingI like to save things to re-use and I painted a canvas and glued on things I had around the house to make a very decorative painting. If you don't have a canvas, you can use stiff cardboard or any hard surface.
Sunset Mountain PaintingWell here we are, all stuck at home with two different pandemics going around. One, the most serous is of course covid-19, and the other is boredom! We can all agree we've caught ourselves more than once in the months we've been at home sitting on the couch and just thinking of what we can do rather then actually doing it lol!
Watercolor Greeting CardsI can't draw or paint, but I learned a simple way to watercolor and make handmade cards.
Go With the Flow PaintingA simple pour paint project for those who don't know how to paint, but want to do a painting!
Creating a Crackle Paint Finish on CanvasI love to experiment with paint on bottles or even on canvas. I found a great technique where I could use Elmer's glue on top of the paint and then paint a layer of paint over the glue to make the paint crackle and give it a very unique look. I normally do this with bottles, but decided to try it on a canvas to see how it looked. This is an easy project that anyone can do. The results are amazing.
Marbleized ArtworkThis is a fun, simple way to create eye stunning and unique artwork without having to have any artistic talent. You can use this technique on countless objects to gain the same marbleized look, but for this project I've chosen canvas panels. All you need is the object you want marbleized, a bin filled with water, and nail polish and you too will soon be creating beautiful artwork and decorations.
String Pull Abstract PaintingThis is a fun abstract painting technique using pieces of string to spread the paints around in lieu of just paintbrushes. This is a fantastic all-ages 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.
Pistachio Shell Birds PaintingI like to save the shells from my pistachio nuts to craft with. Here, I've turned them into birds on a tree I painted.
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. :)
Repurpose Old Food and Storage Lids for Paint PalettesIn lieu of buying paint palettes, why not make your own? I have used paper plates before, but all the paint tends to run together eventually. With just a few supplies, you can have a palette that keeps the paint separated and is perfect for any age to use.
Abstract Acrylic PaintingThis is a fun, unique and effortless method of painting. Not only is it therapeutic, but you will have a different masterpiece every time.
Old Window PaintingThis is a free hand acrylic painting done on an old window I gifted last year to a friend. She chose the theme, the colors, and supplied the window while I did the painting. This was my first experience doing a window.
Stenciled Tea Towels or BagsI had some free eco-friendly bags and a simple tea towel that I decided to decorate. I will use them to wrap gifts for the holidays and not only save on wrapping paper (which wastes money and our resources), but will also be a pretty and useful gift for my recipients!
Painting on Denim?There are some techniques that can aid in making a success of your fabric painting projects. This is a page about tips for painting on denim.
Repairing a Curb Find PaintingI found a painting on the street. The frame was dirty and there was a tear in the canvas. Here is how I repaired it.
Reviving Tired Stiff PaintbrushesWhether you're using oil paints or acrylics, inevitably your paintbrushes will take a beating. Even if you are doing what you're supposed to with the paintbrushes, they will inevitably become hard, stiff, and eventually useless.
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.
Book Page ArtYou don't have to be a brilliant artist to produce pleasing artwork to display around your home. This is just one quick simple idea that anyone can do.
Leopard Key Ring HolderI love giving Christmas gifts to friends. I have decided to make them something small but useful. I made key ring holders, using the skin of a leopard as my inspiration. The gifts are easy to make and could easily be adjusted to each friend's personal taste.
Watercolor Resist PaintingI recently taught 600 kids this project at my daughter's school. It's very easy and most of the supplies are inexpensive. The kids really loved how the watercolor paints wouldn't mix with the oil pastels. They all turned out beautiful. I may have had more fun than the kids creating the samples!
Peacock-Inspired Glass VaseChristmas is just around the corner and it is time to start making gifts for those special people in your life. Find your inspiration in the feathers of a peacock for this gift idea. Turn an ordinary clear glass vase into a unique table centerpiece, a gift to be cherished for many years.
Etegami (Japanese Folk Art)I recently learned of Etegami, a Japanese folk art. It's a simple hand-painted drawing accompanied by a few words. It's usually done on postcards and sent to someone. I love this style of art because is not meant to be perfect. I taught it to some middle schoolers, who loved it.
Initial CanvasMy son made this as a gift for his sister. This is a very easy kids' project and would make a great Mother's day or Father's day gift. With just a few supplies they can make a custom gift that will surely be cherished for years. The possibilities are endless to personalize a similar project.
Making Linoleum Block PrintsThis is a page about making linoleum block prints. A fun unique way to decorate paper or fabric is making print blocks.
Craft Projects: Hand-Painted Porcelain...Here is a simple technique that one can use to decorate porcelain ware. This decorated porcelain bowl would make a nice present for someone special.
Hand-painted Terra Cotta PotChristmas (or any occasion) is getting closer, and it is time to start making some homemade gifts. This hand-painted terra cotta flower pot can make a nice gift for a colleague or friend.
Hand-Painted Delft-Inspired CoastersBy using the colors found on Delft glassware, and a stencil with a nautical theme, one can change ordinary wooden coasters into something quite extraordinary.
Squished Paint ArtworkUsing acrylic paint and 2 old frames (with glass), you can create 2 fun, unique pieces of wall art. No art skill necessary!
Hair Dryer PaintingCreate cool designs on paper using just a little paint and your hair dryer. Dryer paintings can be made into greeting cards, party invitations, bookmarks, or anything else your imagination can dream up!
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.
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.
Tips for Painting on Denim?I need some tips for painting on denim. My stepdaughter painted some jackets for her son and my daughter. My daughter's jacket turned out great but her son's jacket didn't cover as well. It was a dark denim. She put several coats of orange paint but it looks as if she only did a half of a coat! The white paint covered fine but not the orange. What are the best paints? Is there a 'base' coat to use?
Keeping Paper Flat When Painting With Watercolors?Advice for keeping the paper flat when working with watercolors. First of all, water color paintings are going to "pucker" or curl a bit because of the use of water.
Painted Votive HolderYou don't have to be an artist to create beautiful hand-painted candle holders from inexpensive glass containers.
Cute Painted KittyI bought this kitty from a yard sale. So she only cost me a quarter. You can buy paint in the small pots at Wal-Mart for under $4 and can mix until you have the right colors.
Painting a Potato BinUse acrylic paints whenever possible. They are easy to paint over if you need to make a change. This is a photo of my parents' potato bin that I decided to decorate for them as a surprise.
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.
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.
Watercolor Art CardsThese striking cards are surprisingly easy to make when you choose simple, bold images such as flowers to paint. Pasted onto card stock, they make an enchanting gift for a mother or beloved friend.
