Wednesday, 11 May 2022

Four Platinum Jubilee Place Mats - Free Download, Print & Colour-in!

If you are joining in with the Platinum Jubilee Sunday lunch (5 June 2022) - at home or in your street - why not prepare Place Mats for you and your family and guests!


Here are four different Platinum Jubilee Place Mats - get out those paints or crayons and get the kids or your groups busy!


Enjoy the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, wherever you are! 
Four days 2 - 5 June 2022...

70 YEARS - God Save the Queen!

Monday, 2 May 2022

Jubilee Bunting to colour in - Free template!



Platinum Jubilee Bunting to download, print and colour in

Just a short while before the UK celebrates our beloved Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee - 70 years on the throne! 

Platinum Jubilee Bunting to download, print and colour in
What an amazing achievement for us all to celebrate... 

So get your groups or children together and prepare some Jubilee Bunting! 

Here is the link to download and print your Jubilee Bunting...


       Enjoy and celebrate!


Friday, 29 April 2022

ACEO painting - using Acrylic as a Base under Watercolour!

 

ACEO - Using Acrylic Paint under Watercolour
The Massive Rhino

Some years ago I joined an art class (for keen amateurs!) and had great fun, trying out new techniques and meeting other like-minded people. 

The one thing our teacher showed us, that has stayed with me over the years, is how to use Acrylic paint as a Watercolour base.  

When using pure Watercolour, it is difficult to portray texture - for us amateurs anyway! To overcome this, try painting a coat of Acrylic paint on first. Let me explain!

In the ACEO above of the Rhino (if you need to know what an ACEO is, have a look HERE)  you will see the rhino has a textured, rough hide. 

To get this effect I sketched in the drawing in pencil and then painted the Rhino only, with a layer of white Acrylic paint. While still wet, I roughed up the surface of the hide, keeping inside the lines, and smoothing and shaping the appropriate areas - keeping the roundness of the animal and particularly the legs, in mind.

Only paint the Rhino with the Acrylic base, leaving the rest of the painting until this base is hard dry.

Then take out your Watercolours and paint in your background as usual, just leaving off the shadows under the Rhino for now.

Next, go back to the Rhino and over-paint the Acrylic base with Watercolour. This is great fun, as the Watercolour sits on top and can be easily moved around, until you get the effects of light and shade and colours, as you want them!

Lastly put in the shadows, under the Rhino feet and body.

This method can also be used in landscape to give texture to rocks and other rough terrain and of course in other animals with rough hide like Elephants and Hippos. 

Hope this is helpful - give it a go and enjoy being creative! 

ACEO - Using Acrylic Paint under Watercolour

Thursday, 21 April 2022

New Pattern Designs to Complete...! Printable Templates!

This is a Circle in a Square Collage craft project which I posted in 2016 - I am repeating it with three new variations to play with - starting as always with the basic shapes design, as before and then use your imagination...

Circle in square collage
Circle in Square Designs

Here is the Circle in Square Template

New Pattern Designs to complete
One of the New Pattern Design Templates


Allow each member in your craft group to design and colour their own creation, as they want.

You will be amazed at what is produced...the above were done by our Mencap Art and Craft group and they loved creating their designs...

New Pattern Designs to complete
Very simple, but challenging enough to create enthusiasm and such pride in their artwork...

To make a collage, just cut out the finished squares and stick them together onto card - we used A2 black card, but any colour will do.

Make your collage as big or small as you like - depends on the size of your group of course and how many squares you have to display!

Have fun being creative...!

New Pattern Designs to complete

Saturday, 9 April 2022

Quiz - Movies with Girl's Names - Printable!

 

Quiz - Movies with Girls Names - Printable


An easy, fun quiz today - 15 Movies which contain girl's names!

How many can you get right? Here is the link...


Aimed at stimulating reminiscing and chat amongst your group - over a cup of tea and a choccy biscuit - it is the season to enjoy chocolate after all!

If you want more quizzes do have a look at my 41 x Easy Quizzes eBook - all to download and print as you need them.

41 x Easy Quizzes eBook


Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Making Tissue Paper Flowers for All Occasions!¬

 

The Craft Patch - Tissue Paper Flowers

I am often asked about how to make tissue paper flowers and today I came across The Craft Patch and this was what I found...

Learn how to make tissue paper flowers with the help of this step-by-step photo and video tutorial. This is your ultimate guide to making, hanging and decorating with tissue paper flowers!

This is such a well presented Tutorial, so I decided to share it with you! 

Here is the link...


Have fun making your Tissue Paper Flowers and thanks to The Craft Patch!

Monday, 28 March 2022

Easter Felt Wall Hanging - with Tutorial and templates

An Easter Felt Wall Hanging with tutorial and templates

This felt Easter Wall hanging is very easy to make - I have included the templates to download and print, so get together with your groups and enjoy putting it all together!

You will need...

A4 size of felt for background

Pieces of felt for Bunny, Easter Egg and Flower 

Washi Tape (or decorate your Easter Egg with bands of felt or ribbon)

Embroidery thread

Googly eye (or use a small button)

Pompom tail for bunny (or use cotton wool)

Fabric glue or double-sided adhesive  tape

Wooden dowel or gardener's cane

Ribbon

How to make...

Turn about 2.5cm hem along long edge and stitch with embroidery thread.

An Easter Felt Wall Hanging with tutorial and templates

Cut out your Easter Egg, Bunny and Flower and a circular centre piece for flower 

Here are the patterns...


An Easter Felt Wall Hanging with tutorial and templates


Stick your Washi Tape bands (or felt strips) onto your Easter Egg 

Stick the googly eye (or button) and the pompom tail onto the Bunny, using double-sided adhesive tape or fabric glue

Stitch the flower in the centre, to attach the felt circle and also to attach the flower to the background 

Using backstitch sew a "stem" on the flower - I added a piece of green felt as a leaf too! (sorry doesn't show up well in photo!)

An Easter Felt Wall Hanging with tutorial and templates

Attach the Bunny and Easter Egg to the background, using double-sided adhesive tape or fabric glue

Slip the wooden dowel through the to hem and tie on the ribbon

Hope you all had fun making your Easter Felt Wall Hanging!

An Easter Felt Wall Hanging with tutorial and templates

For more Easter Craft ideas here's my Easter Page... Have a browse!

Saturday, 26 March 2022

A Felt Wall Hanging to Make - Beach Huts in Summer! (with printable pattern)

Felt Wall hanging Beach Huts Craft
Beach Huts - a Felt Wall Hanging

I had a lovely time making this felt wall hanging...!

If you would like to make your own felt wall hanging with your group, here is how to do it...

You Will Need...

A piece of felt - I used a 9 x 12inch (that is how I buy them) but then trimmed off about an inch along the bottom, so you only actually need 9 x 11inch piece.

5 pieces of felt each 2 x 3inch for the beach huts.

5 scraps felt for the doors

Felt scrap for the Sun - I cut one with a die on my Big Shot, but I have included a pattern for a simpler form in the template.

Embroidery thread (use 3 strands to sew with) and needle
A thin wooden dowel x 16inch

Ribbon or cord  - about 24inch



How to Make...
Turn the long edge over and pin a hem of 1inch Check your dowel will fit through (adjust if necessary)

Using a running stitch - sew hem.




Cut out 5 Huts and 5 Doors.

Using a running stitch attach the doors to the huts.

Pin the huts to the background felt, getting the spacing even.

Use a running stitch sew them onto the background felt.



Trim off any excess felt from the bottom edge.

Attach the sun with a button in the centre.

Slip in the wooden dowel and tie on the ribbon.

Have fun in the sun...!

For more Beach Huts (and lots more!) to make, have a  look here... 
Buttons and Paint

Friday, 18 March 2022

Quiz - Match 10 Cities to Famous Landmarks


Table Mountain

Here is a Quiz for your group to have fun with - 


As always, the quiz is aimed to create a background to stimulate reminiscing and chat amongst your group. All good factors leading to an enjoyable few hours over a cup of tea and a biscuit!

If you would like more quizzes suitable for the older generation, please have a look at my 41 x 10 Easy Quizzes in a printable eBook 

Quiz - Match Cities to Landmarks





Sunday, 13 March 2022

Easter Egg Pouches - Templates and Tutorial

Easter Egg Pouches made with felt - Tutorial and templates
Easter Egg Pouches 

 

Easter Egg Pouches made in felt  Tutorial and templates





So easy to make -  these little felt Easter Egg Pouches can then be filled with Easter Eggs, chicks, bunnies or whatever you have on hand! 

We found all our little gifts at our local Poundshop!



What you will need...

Felt 

Embroidery thread and needle

Fabric glue or double sided tape

Easter eggs and other little gifts to place inside your pouches

How to Make...


Cut out two felt "eggs" and then cut the top third off one piece - like this...

Easter Egg Pouches made from felt - Tutorial and templates

Pin the two pieces together and using blanket stitch, sew around the bottom edges.

Attach a flower or a heart to the front of the pouch, using fabric glue or double sided tape. The yellow flower was one I had in my stash! But you can use my templates to cut out your own embellishments...

Easter Egg Pouches made from felt - Tutorial and templates

Here are flower and heart templates 

Hope you have enjoyed preparing your Easter Egg Pouches ready to fill with little surprises to delight children at Easter!
Easter Egg Pouches made in felt  Tutorial and templates


Friday, 11 March 2022

Two Mother's Day Bookmarks - Printable

Two Mother's Day Bookmarks - printable
You will love these Mother's Day bookmarks 
(UK 27 March 2022)- it is something Mum will treasure and is long lasting - especially if you finish it off by laminating it!

You will need...

Thin card that will fit into your printer 
(Or paper which can be glued onto card)

Paints or crayons to colour in your picture

Laminating (sealing the bookmark in a plastic sleeve) will preserve the bookmark (optional)

Here is the link to download and print...

Thursday, 3 March 2022

ACEO Watercolour Painting - Using White Paint!

 When I started out, trying my hand at watercolour painting, I was told and I read in my ever growing pile of "How To" books, never to use white paint...

Well I disagree!!

White gouache paint


I discovered White Gouache paint (an opaque water based paint) and I use it with my watercolours... 

Because it is opaque it can be applied over watercolours and can be used for highlights, snow and anywhere really you want a pop of white!

Just be careful to spread it out when applying, as thick clumps will crack - unlike Acrylics which dry hard giving texture.

Here are a few of my ACEO paintings using gouache white paint...

ACEO painting

ACEO painting

ACEO painting

ACEO painting





Give it a try - but most of all, enjoy painting these little bits of collectible art!



Monday, 28 February 2022

14 Clever and Apt Anagrams - Just for Fun!

14 Clever and Apt Anagrams Quiz

I found this selection of very clever and apt Anagrams - have a go at them with your groups. I have supplied the answers if you get stuck...

One to get you going... "ALAS NO MORE Z'S" is "SNOOZE ALARMS"

Have fun with these!

Here is the link...

14 Clever and Apt Anagrams

If you want more quizzes please have a look at my eBook...

41 x 10 Easy Quizzes - Printable with Answers
 




Friday, 25 February 2022

One for the Kids - Who Will Drive the School Bus?


A school bus to colour in and then chose who will drive the bus
Tom (age 5) decided that the DOG would drive the bus!

You can colour-in the school bus and because it is your picture, you can then decide, who is the Driver and where the Passengers are allowed to sit...

Have fun - especially as some of you are having a half-term holiday!

Who will drive the bus - printable and colour in




Saturday, 19 February 2022

Mother's Day Placemats - Printable to colour-in!

 


In UK we celebrate Mother's Day (or Mothering Sunday, as it is also known) this year on Sunday 27 March

What better way to delight Mum, than with a Mother's Day Placemat - either on her breakfast tray or at the table, as she starts her special day...

I have designed Three Mother's Day Placemats ready to download and print.

So get out the paints and crayons and  colour-in the placemats, ready to surprise Mum on Mother's Day...!





  

Sunday, 13 February 2022

ACEO Miniature Painting - Have you got the right brushes?

 

ACEO miniature watercolour painting - about paint brushes
A Warm Afternoon

Have you got the right size brushes for painting ACEO, miniature, watercolour paintings?

The only acceptable size for an ACEO painting of 3.5 x 2.5 inches - no other size will qualify! Thus they do fall into the "Miniature" category...

When I started painting ACEO's, about ten years ago, there were not many suitable fine, detail brushes available. The best on offer, I found, were the brushes sold for painting on model aeroplanes or military tanks etc.

But now I find there are more available...!

I use a Round brush size 10 for skies and under-washes, and then a size 6 and 4 to fill in the backgrounds of my landscapes.

For trees I reach for my Rigger to keep the foliage light, using different shades of green to keep it alive.

Then to finish off a landscape by painting in the details, I use my fine watercolour brushes - I really like the ProArte Masterstroke range - Sizes 1 to 10/0 

They are very reasonably priced and hold their shape well. 

Just make sure they are kept clean and left to dry standing brush-up in a jar.
 
While painting be careful not to leave the brushes in your water jar, head down or they will soon bend out of shape...!

For more about ACEO's look at my menu bar at the top of my Blog!

Enjoy painting your ACEO's...!

Farming in Africa

Winter Fields