My aim is to help keep our elderly and less-abled folk busy and happy! However...many of the crafts and activities will also appeal to all ages and abilities, so do have a browse...Loads of different crafts and quizzes - very easy to find by clicking on category buttons below! Have also introduced some discussion on ACEO Miniature watercolour painting - a new hobby?
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| The Massive Rhino |
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!
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| Circle in Square Designs Here is the Circle in Square Template |
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| One of the New Pattern Design Templates |
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| 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! |
.jpg "An Easter Felt Wall Hanging with tutorial and templates")
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| 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  |
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| Easter Egg Pouches |
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!!
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...
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| Tom (age 5) decided that the DOG would drive the bus! |
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| A Warm Afternoon |
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| Farming in Africa |
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| Winter Fields |
Time to start getting your Easter Craft on the go...
Here is a very easy way to make an Easter Bunny using Junk Mail!
The bunny always ends up as a surprise, as you don't really know what he will look like, until you cut him out and turn him over!
What you will need...
Colourful paper - We used Junk Mail but any coloured paper will do
Glue
A4 sheet of card for background mount - any colour will do
Thin ribbon, wool or strips of paper for flower stems
Googly eye (optional)
Cotton ball tail (optional)
Butterfly Stickers (optional)
How to make it...
Print out
Hold the Easter Bunny drawing up against a window and using a pencil, draw the Easter Bunny image on the back of your sheet of paper
Work on that drawing on the back of your paper
Cut strips from your coloured paper or junk mail
Glue the strips on top of the Easter Bunny - do not keep inside the lines - just stick the strips on and go over the lines of the drawing, until the whole image is covered - as above
When dry turn the paper over and cut out the Easter Bunny using the original print as your guide
Turn it over and there is your "Designer Wear" Easter Bunny!!
Attach a googly eye and a cotton ball tail if you want to finish him (or her?)
To make the flowers print out the Flower Template (links above)
Using these flowers as patterns, cut them out of your coloured paper
Glue your stems in place on your card background
Glue your flowers onto the card background
We finished off with some butterfly stickers!
Hope you enjoyed this Easter Craft - for more ideas click on the EASTER button at the top of my Blog!
