Gift Bags and Tags - Paint Your Own!

You've finished your shopping and it is time to wrap up all those presents! But, you find that you have run out of paper or gift bags. I have a simple solution - paint your own! I like to make my own gift bags and tags for a simple, inexpensive, but personal touch to gift giving. I have included some photos in this blog of examples of Christmas gift bags. Like the bookmarks and cards, these gift bags and tags can be made for any occasion by simply changing the picture. Included in this blog are some samples of bags I painted this year. Below are instructions for painting the gift bags and tags.

Hand painted Gift Bags and Tags

1. Brown and white lunch bags can be used as well as purchased gift bags that are solid in color. White or brown ones work better than other colors because they allow don’t overpower the paint or the design.

2. Determine the design you would like to place on the bag.

3. Sketch design on bag. Simple designs look better than elaborate designs. Since these are gift bags, do not invest lots of time or effort into the design and painting. Usually, these bags will be discarded after use.

4. Paint design on bag. When using watercolor paints, do not use too much water or the paint may seep through the bag and stain the back side. Designs can be painted on both sides of the bag or only on one side. Check while painting to see if you need to slip a piece of cardboard inside the bag to prevent paint seepage. Don't overwork the paint; a few brush stokes will add character to the design.

5. Don’t forget to sign your name and date.

6. To make the handles: Punch holes in the top of the bag and reinforce with tape to prevent tearing when used. Cut ribbon, yarn, or jute to desired length and place through holes from the outside to the inside of the bag. Tie knots or tape the ribbon to the inside of the bag.

7. Before securing both sides of the handle to the bag. Prepare a gift card cut from matching paper and painted in the same design. Punch a hole through the gift tag, place through one of the handles and secure on the inside of the bag.

1. Congratulation! Your gift bag is complete. These bags can be prepared for seasonal giving or any occasion determined by the design on the bag and tag.

Last Minute Christmas Gifts - Handpainted Bookmarks

I like to paint bookmarks as gifts. They make an excellent gift with a personal touch that are quick and easy to make, yet are something a little special since they are handmade. Below are instructions on painting the bookmarks. The bookmark shown above was made as a Christmas gift; however, by simply changing the picture on the bookmark you can make a special gift for any occasion.

How to Paint Bookmarks

1) Tape down the paper, measure and draw the size of the bookmarks on the sheet. Depending upon the size of the paper, you can probably get 7 bookmarks from one sheet. Draw or transfer the picture on each of the bookmark sections.

2) Using a large flat brush, apply an overall wash with yellow ocher leaving the color more intense at the top of the paper and gradually becoming lighter at the bottom. Allow to dry.

3) Spatter the entire sheet of bookmarks using a darker shade of yellow ocher or a light brown.

4) Using a #4 round brush paint the red ribbon lightly with a simple controlled wash. Allow to dry. Add the shaded areas of the ribbon.

5) Wash the pine cones with a light yellow. Paint the details on the pine cones with dark brown.

6) Apply a controlled wash over the holly stems and leaves using a mixture of green and yellow. Allow to dry and add detail with a bit more green. Be certain to leave the edges slighter as this is what will create a variegated effect.

7) Paint the berries with a bright red. Using a liner brush, dab in the darker shadows and final details.

8) Allow the bookmark to dry completely. Sign your name! Cut the bookmarks apart. Punch a hole in the top and add a piece of gold cord or ribbon cut to desire length. CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed your painting – your bookmarks are ready for gift giving!

9) The bookmark can be given as is or color copies can be made at a copy store and then laminated for gift giving.

Watercolor Christmas Cards

Each year, I paint Christmas cards for my family and friends. Included in this post are several photos of cards I have painted for this Christmas. Below are some tips for painting Christmas cards.

1. Determine size of card wanted. Be certain to make a card the size that will fit an envelop which can be purchased at an office supply store.

2. Measure and mark the size of the card on watercolor paper. Cut using sharp scissors.

4. Sketch design on card. Simple designs often look better than elaborate designs.

5. Paint design on card. Don’t forget to sign your name and date.

6. Finish by tying ribbon or trim on card. If desired, use ruler and line up one side edge of card for “antique” edge. Tear paper slowly.

If simply designs are selected, the cards can be painted in "assembly line" fashion using one color at a time before cleaning the brush.

Below is my "Old Smoky" Christmas card.

Now, the cards are finished...if I can just find time to address the envelops and get them in the mail.

Let It Snow!

Our painting is now complete except for the snow and the bunny tail! Make a wash of white paint. Note: White paint is rarely used in watercolor painting. The white of the paper is allow to produce most of the white spaces in watercolors. However, when snow on top of an object is needed, white paint can be used. The wash is applied with an old toothbrush although a flat brush can also be used. I prefer a toothbrush. Don't make the wash too "wet" or it will not fall on your painting in a snow-like mist, but in large drops. If you are not familiar with this technique, practice on another surface first, such as paper towels, old cardboard, etc. Cover any areas with paper towels that you do not want to apply snow. Apply the "snow" to the painting. Allow to dry then add the bunny tail. The bunny tail is the tip end of a Q-Tip applied using school glue.

Sign your painting! Your "Bunny in the Evergreen" is now complete! I painted this as a Christmas card.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! My next post will continue with my Christmas Bunny in the Snow; however, I wanted to send Thanksgiving messages today and give a "seasonal" watercolor tip. Many thanks to everyone who takes the time to view my blog. I am truly thankful to have the opportunity to enjoy this blog and for so many other things that God has so graciously provided. May each of you enjoy a Thanksgiving Day full of family and friends and blessings.

Watercolor Tip of the Day: How to Paint Easy Fall Trees

When painting fall trees as in the painting above. Wet the tree are with clear water and drop in various fall colors. Let these color merge. While still wet, use a palette knife or edge of a credit card dipped in a dark brown shade and scratch in the tree limbs and branches. After this area dries, use a natural sponge to sponge in the fall tree colors for leaves.



HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Snow Shadows

The snow is not painted white, but is the watercolor paper which is left unpainted. Using a #4 round brush, we will simply add a wash of diluted Ultramarine Blue in various places on the white paper to add shape and shadows. Place the shadows near the base of the mountain, under the tree and the bunny. Add some drifts in various places to give shape to the snow. Using Ultramarine Blue, paint in the bunny tracks. We will let this dry and then add our snow flakes.

Thanks for the honor!

I have been out of town on a business trip and did not have time to check personal messages or work on my blog. Was I surprised and delighted to find that I had been bestowed the Marie Antoinette Award for my blog while I was out of touch! What a wonderful welcome back from my travels!

Many thanks to Skip and Vicki -- I appreciate their thinking of me. Visit their blogspot at: http://cluckinacritterfarm.blogspot.com/. You'll enjoy the visit...I always do!

Here are the rules for the Marie Antoinette Award:
1. Please put the logo on your journal - Real People - Real Blogs.
2. Place a link from the person, from whom you received the award.
3. Nominate at least 7 if you can.
4. Put the links of those on your journal.
5. Leave a message on their journal to let them know.
6. Put the award on your sidebar/journal.

Again, thanks....I hope to be able to make my blog interesting and informative. Any tips or suggestions are always welcome.

Painting an Evergreen Tree and Bunny

I attempted to upload a video demonstrating the techniques used in painting an evergreen tree. However, there appears to be some difficulty with Blogger when downloading larger videos. I will describe the technique and try to video a shorter version to post at a later date.

I have switched brushes to a smaller 1/2 inch flat brush and have prepared 3 shades of paint - Sap Green, Hookers Green Deep and a mix of Hookers Green Deep and Ultramarine Blue. The lightest shade is painted first with deeper color applied in layers...leaving some of the lighter areas to show through. The deepest shade is applied last at the trunk area and on the branches to create shadows. The paint is applied in short strokes starting at the top of the tree and working down and from the center and lifting the brush to the outside creating the branches. The branches should be uneven...not completely symmetrical. The tree is allowed to dry before painting the trunk. The video below will demonstrate painting the trunk and the small bunny under the tree branches and you will be able to see the completed tree.

Once the branches of the tree have dried, use a #4 round brush to paint the tree trunk and small bunny. I used Raw Sienna for both. Paint the tree trunk and while still wet touch in a darker brown shade (I used Sepia) on the right side of the trunk to add texture to the trunk and create a shadow. Use a wet brush only and pull a little of the paint from the bunny where the head and neck meet to shape and contour the bunny. This is not a detailed bunny, but rather the illusion of a bunny hiding under the tree branches. Once the bunny dries, the flat brush can be used to add a branch or two across the bunny to place it under the shelter of the tree and ground it to the painting. The video below illustrates this section of the painting. My next post will add shadows and shape the snow.

Technique - Wet on Dry Wash

This short video demonstrates a wet on dry wash in which the paint is applied to dry paper. As before, the paint is prepared in advance. I used a light Violet (purple) for the foreground mountain which is painted up to the tree. I then added Ultramarine Blue to the Violet to deepen the value for the mountain in the distance. A lighter shade of the darker Violet is applied in the tree area which can easily be painted over when the green paint is applied, but will show through the branches in some places. This paint is then allowed to dry before we proceed to the next step - painting the evergreen tree.

Techniques - ready, set, paint!

In watercolor painting, the first skill to master is that of laying a wash. There are several types of washes:

• Flat Wash
• Graded Wash
• Variegated Wash

Washes can be laid on either wet or dry paper. Working on dry paper is best if you want the wash to cover only a specific area as you have more control over the paint.

TIP: Paint will only run into the wet area of the paper.

A wash can be painted on wet or dry paper. To learn to paint a wash (wet on wet), first wet the paper using a large flat brush. The paper should be evenly wet with no puddles in places. Prepare the paint by adding water to the paint and mixing in the open area of your palette. In a flat wash, the top and bottom of the paper is the same shade of color. Once the paint is prepared and the water is wet, work from the top to the bottom using wide strokes. The paint lines will merge and will even up when dry. Do not overwork the paper.

In a graded wash, start with a strong solution of color and dilute it with clear water progressively as it is painted down the page until the color is very pale. Tilting the painting surface will encourage the streaks of color to flow and blend into one another. A graded wash is excellent for a sky which is deeper at the top of a painting becoming lighter closer to the horizon.

A variegated wash, contains more than one color. Before starting to paint, prepare all the colors you will need for that wash first. If you want the colors to blend into one another, wet the paper first and then lay down successive bands of color quickly rinsing the brush between each color. When the paint is wet, you will be able to see the separate colors distinctly, but they will merge and blend as they dry. A variegated wash is often used in landscape painting for a morning or evening sky when pinks, reds, and yellows are wanted in addition to blue.

Tip: When painting washes over large areas, always mix more paint than you think you will need. The wash will be spoiled if you have to stop and mix more paint. If there is paint left on your palette, it will dry, can be sprayed with water to moisten, and used again.

The video below demonstrates laying a wet on wet wash for a sky area. This is my first attempt at a video...we hope to get better at our "movie making" with practice.