I love to make some of my Christmas gift bags out of recycled paper. I start making the bags and organizing the presents now, so when the holidays are here I’m not scrambling to do everything at one time; the decorations, dinner, events, etc.
I hope you enjoy this video watching me make the bags and can take a few ideas to make your holiday less chaotic and more enjoyable.
Happy Creating,
Vicki
I had fun making these four Get Well cards. I used my Shape Cutter Plus by Fiskars to cut and frame the design on the card. I cut it on an Alvin GBM1824 self healing mat.
I used my oval and rectangle shapes for all my designs.
This photo is just showing you what one card looks like before I put color on it and adhere the design. All these designs are from what I call my “decorative art collection” or papers that for some reason or other didn’t make it to the final print stage. Sometimes they were printed as a “trial run”. Nothing gets wasted in my craft room and I love making cards with these papers to create designer handcrafted meaningful cards for your caring and sharing.
I used a piece of burlap behind the sentiment and used a Tim Holtz Distress ink pad – color, Tea Dye and Memento Rich Cocoa for color. I use a stencil to make the leaves by Stampendous called Etchling stencils ET019 Ivy NR, I bought it years ago. I used Memento Bamboo leaves for color on the leaves.
My four completed Get Well Cards. Stamps Used: Get Well Soon had no name on it. getwell SOON is from Studiog.
I also made five sympathy cards the same way. Stamps Used: With Deepest Sympathy by Stampabilities, May you find comfort in your loving memories. by inkadinkado, You’re in my thoughts and prayers by Stampendous. I buy all my stamps from Michaels or JoAnn Fabrics.
These handcrafted cards will be posted on our SHOP page on our website. (Give Tom a little time to get them posted.)
Hope you are all doing well and enjoying the Summer!
Until next time,
Happy Creating,
Vicki Achard
I wanted to show you my finished paintings I started on my video posted June 23, 2021 – Materials & Tools I use to Paint in Watercolor. I started the paintings and talked about some materials I was going to use to complete the paintings. The video was made to give you some ideas as to what tools and materials you could use to paint in watercolor.
I hope you can watch this video on my Artist Blog or YouTube channel to help you start your watercolor journey as well as my video posted May 26, 2021, Paints, Palettes, Brushes, & Paper.
Until next time,
Happy Creating,
Vicki Achard
Watercolor is such an exciting journey. Since I started painting, 2015, I have picked up various tools and supplies to get the end result of a painting I have in mind. In this video I talk about using masking fluid, toothbrushes, sponges and lots of other materials. I hope this helps you to accomplish how you’d like your painting to look like. I also show you what I found to help squeeze that last bit of paint out of your tube paints.
I will show you in this video what I will use to begin these two paintings in progress. I hope to complete them in about two weeks and will post the end results on my Artist Blog.
Until next time, Happy Creating,
Vicki
I love turning my left over watercolor paint from a painting into cards.
These three cards are available in my SHOP page on my website.
I hope all of the Dads, favorite Uncles, Grandpas, special friends, have a special Father’s Day!
Stay well, stay cool, and enjoy your Father’s Day,
Vicki
Painting glass is fun and challenging at the same time. Painting in steps is key. I set up a still life, changed the colors of two of my bottles, added masking fluid to keep some of the highlights, put my first glaze on, added the shadows, then painted deeper darker colors of the bottles, took the masking fluid off, and put in a few more highlights – that’s it! This is my second painting using my new Winsor/Newton Cotman student grade paints. They did well, however it was my first time using my “hot” press paper (not rough, but smooth) and couldn’t quite figure out at first if it was the paints or paper that didn’t like a lot of lifting. I came to the conclusion that it was the paper. I plan on painting a lot more glass now and then. Maybe I’ll try my cold press paper instead to see if I like painting the look of glass on that better.
Until next time,
Happy Creating,
Vicki
I’ve looked forward to this video, sharing these important supplies I use and have learned about since I started learning how to paint in Watercolor six years ago. I will be talking about M. Graham professional paints, my new Winsor & Newton Cotman student grade paints, my favorite brushes, paper and two palettes I have loved using. I hope this helps you start on your watercolor journey. Also I hope you can watch my next video when I will talk about all other materials and supplies I use to help make beautiful watercolor paintings.
Happy Creating,
Vicki
I am painting with my new Winsor & Newton Cotman student grade tube watercolor paints to see how they act. After painting with them I am happy to say I did enjoy painting with them. I think they are very vibrant in color and I would recommend them for someone just learning how to paint. M. Graham professional watercolor paints are my favorite. I’m happy to have both to paint with. In the near future I will make a video on the materials I use and talk more about paints in that video. Also in the future I would like to teach everything I’ve learned about painting in Watercolor.
Happy Creating,
Vicki
Color is an awesome thing. I love making my paintings with brilliant, rich color. Making color charts with my paints helps get rid of the guess work knowing what two colors would mix well for the color I am looking for while I’m painting a design. In this video I show you how to make a color chart with Winsor & Newton Cotman student grade watercolors. I mention organization of your designs and other tips, as well as talk about other color charts I have made.
Happy Creating,
Vicki
I’m ready to start traveling again, aren’t you?! Let’s get this Pandemic over with and start traveling again!
This is our beach house we stay at on our trip “Up North” Michigan. Just around the beach house is Lake Michigan and every night we walk to the lake to see breathtaking sunsets. I can’t wait to make this trip again!