6 Ways to Fold Thick Watercolor Paper.

 Have you ever packed all your supplies into a bag to take to a retreat or class and found yourself missing a crucial tool or two? Here I show you what to do if you want to fold very thick paper or card stock using what you have. 

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki 🎨🧑‍🎨🙂

Negative Painting Hearts Watercolor Card! 2 Fun Techniques to try. 💙♥️💜

 

Have you ever tried negative painting? No, I don’t mean painting when you’re in a negative mood! LOL 

This technique is quite simple. You basically paint images BEHIND the first image. Paint as many layers as you like ( I went a bit OTT with mine ) , but three layers would still give you this cool effect. 

I also used a wax paper technique to add texture to my hearts.  This was super fun , and one I will use again.

Have a marvellously creative day, Vicki 💙💜♥️

I am Loving YouTube Shorts! Here are some Christmas Cards if you’re short on time. Enjoy!

Stacks of easy ideas here to get you inspired. The full tutorials are also available if you prefer real time🙂

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki x🎄❄️🎅🏼🫶🏻

Line and Wash Christmas Card with Inktense Pencils!

 I am so in love with Inktense Pencils! They are permant once dry, and made from ink. They work beautifully with Watercolor paper of any kind. Here I have used cheap and cheerful lightweight paper from the Dollar Store, and the results are sensational. 

Glazing can be done over and over again without degrading the paper, since the ink sets once each layer dries. 

If you love to colour, I recommend asking Santa for a 12set of these lovely pencils! Or if your budget doesn’t run that far, you can buy Colors individually from the art store. Start with a red, yellow and blue, then mix them on a palette to create more Colors! 

Have a marvellously creative weekend! Vicki 🎅🏼🎁🙂 X

Faux Pewter Watercolor Christmas Card.

See in this video how I create a faux pewter effect using Watercolor paper and a wink of Stella clear Brush. Versafine Onyx Black Ink insures the ink won’t run with the addition of wet media, and the inexpensive Watercolor paper from the Dollar store creates a rounded shape when water is added. 

Unlike the regular technique using the Wink of Stella glitter pen, this technique allows for a heavy application with lots of water, and actually changes the colour of the tree from black to pewter.
 

Have a marvellously creative weekend!  Keep on with your Xmas cards….time’s running out! 

🎄🎅🏼🙂🎁 Vicki. X

Aussie Christmas Card: Kangaroos and Santa!

This just in on YouTube: Paint this beach scene with me using just 4 colours. I used the white gouache to clean up some tiny bleeds around the taped edges. Masking tape creates a crisp horizon line. The stamps are from Close to my Heart. The sky dried more streaky than I intended, so I might go back in with a damp brush and clean water to soften it a bit. 

Have a marvellously creative weekend, Vicki x🎄🎨🌟🙂
 

Amazon Black Friday Sale Art Haul!

 Check out the current deals from Amazon, plus my top art picks from the local supermarket . See the difference in hot press, cold press and rough Watercolor paper ( I recommend hot press for stamping), and my choice for pen work. 

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki x🙂🌟🎨

Adding 14 MORE Colours to my Daniel Smith Watercolor Palette.

 See my favourite Daniel Smith Colors as I swatch them and add to my empty palette.

My recommendations for adding to the 24 Half pans with the FREE empty metal box for just this purpose! 

I share my secret for painting perfect rectangles using washi tape, and how to add and remove pages from a spiral bound journal.

Have  a marvellously creative weekend! Vicki x

2022 Christmas Cards: Glimmer Paper Snow Tree

 This glimmer paper snow tree was inspired by Catherine Cote , who designed some beautiful Christmas cards a few years ago. 

I loved the idea of using paint pens to decorate the tree. I decided to have my tree nestled into a snow bank created by using glimmer paper. There is also a tiny border of glimmer paper peeking through behind the black paper. 

The paper is Pastello paper from Fabriano. The paint pens were various sizes of gold, silver and white.

I have stamped a Christmas greeting inside the card.

It’s a fun and easy project. I hope you give it a try.

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki x

Construct this 2022 Advent Village for Christmas!

 

This adorable Advent Calendar is available at Spotlight Stores and American Crafts.

I spent a relaxing hour constructing this village of treat boxes that will fit perfectly on the mantle piece for Christmas. I bought mine from Spotlight in Australia, and the kit is also available through American Crafts. 

It requires no extra materials, other than the treats you choose to put inside each box, and they can be used year after year.

There are 5 of each design, and it’s easy enough to be a good project for your kids or grandkids. 🎅🏼🎄🌟

35 Christmas Cards, tags and Gift boxes. Hop on over!

Hop on over to my YouTube Channel, click on “Playlists”, and check out the videos I have made for Christmas. 

You may find some ideas for your Christmas crafting. 

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki 🌟🙂

 

Elegant Writer Watercolour Painting : just one pen, a stamp and water!

This pen is MAGIC! 

I created this portrait using a Prima stamp and the Elegant Writer calligraphy pen. 

The black ink breaks into mesmerising colours of cerise pink, turquoise, pale blue and black once you add water. 

 It’s fun and easy, and you can create a portrait using any stamp that has a face on it.

Use Watercolor paper for this technique. Splash water onto the background, let it sit for a few moments, then blot up with a paper towel. Once you have completed and dried your portrait, add splashes of wet ink around the outside for added texture.

 Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki 🙂🎨

The Magic of Salt and Granulating Watercolor: 6 Cards.

 If you’ve never tried granulating Watercolor paints mixed with salt, then this technique will knock your socks off! 😄I used Daniel Smith Paints, plus Winsor and Newton Paynes Grey to create these 6 cards, then finished them with diecut greetings. They fit a standard notecard size envelope. I hope you give this a try. Have a marvellously creative weekend. Vicki x

Transparent Watercolor Leaves with Doodles.

Using more water in the second layer makes these leaves look transparent. 

A sepia marker gives a much softer accent than black, and ties in with the colour scheme.

Beginner friendly Watercolor Card. 

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki 🌟🙂

 

Latest Art Haul, Swatching, and Make a Card!

 

Have a marvellously creative weekend! Vicki 🙂

This is the no line colouring technique I demonstrate in the video using Inktense pencils.

After I filmed the video, I used the Inktense pencils to draw lines directly into wet watercolour to create this fish painting.

Look at the vibrancy! This has now become my all -time favourite way to combine ink and watercolours. I added the gold and white lines with paint pens once the paint had dried.

2022 Christmas Craft Fair Ideas: Laminated Bookmarks and More!

It that time of year again, when it’s time to start getting ready for the Christmas Craft Fair. 

These laminated bookmarks are among my best sellers and cost just pennies to make. I also have some laminated craft sheets that are super easy to make. enjoy!

What are your best sellers? 

Have a marvellously creative day, Vicki 🙂🌟

 

2022 Christmas Baubles Watercolor Painting: Tips and Tricks.

 This watercolour painting was made using a small ceramic dish as a stamp to create the 3 circle shapes. 

I show you how to create easy dimension in each bauble by lifting out the colour using a simple tissue. Gently “kissing” each circle together creates beautiful bleeds. 

2022 Christmas Cards: Easy Masked Watercolor Trees.

No fail Watercolor technique, perfect for beginners. These trees were a breeze to paint ( I painted the whole 3 at once! ,) if you haven’t tried the Chux magic Eraser on your Watercolor yet, you’ll be amazed to see how easy it is to fix mistakes. I used my Daniel Smith paints for this, but budget watercolour paints would work too. 

Have a marvellously creative day! Vicki 🌟🎄🎅🏼🙂