Posts Tagged ‘colour’
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Have you ever looked at beautiful mosaic tables or mirrors and wished you could make one yourself, I know I have. Here are a few basic instructions you will be able to follow and apply to any design.
If it’s your first attempt at this it’s best to start with a flat surface so a small side table or mirror frame will be a good choice.
What You Will Need :-
- Old plates or/and tiles are the easiest to start with but china, glass and shells are also good depending on your project.
- Impact adhesive
- Paint brush
- Corrugated cardboard
- Clear contact or tape
- Pencil
- Hammer
- Tile cutter
- 2 pairs of pliers
- Rubber gloves
- Poster paint
- Tile grout
- Large sponge
Plan your design and draw it out on your project base. Seal the surface with a coat of adhesive using a brush and leave to dry according to instructions or for at least one hour.
Break up your material, if you are using plates cover with contact and cardboard then tap with the hammer to break into smallish pieces. Check your plate with each hammer tap.
Spread adhesive over your projects surface a section at a time extending a little past the design outline. Transfer mosaic pieces to the glued surface, leaving small gaps in between each piece to allow for grout. Continue in this way until your design is complete.
If you use tiles for part or all of the design you will need the tile cutter to score and cut to the desired size, roughly a 15mm square is a good size for most designs. For smaller pieces score with tile cutter then use the pliers to snap. Make sure there are no sharp pieces overhanging the edges. Leave your design overnight to dry thoroughly.
Grout your mosaic using rubber gloves to protect your hands, Mix the grout as directed. Buy a coloured grout of your choice or mix in poster paint to get the colour you want. Use the sponge to work the grout into all the gaps, make it level with the surface. Smooth out, removing excess grout with a clean damp sponge, smooth and even the edges. Allow to dry overnight, clean off any remaining film from the grout and polish your finished mosaic with a clean cloth.
Well Done 
Tags: adhesive, china, colour, design, glass, grout, hammer, mirror, mosaic, plates, polish, shells, table, tile
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Saturday, October 24th, 2009
Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing and it is just as old as writing is. Even though its origins are ancient it is still a popular form of creative expression. Just like any art with patience and practice it can be learned by following a few basic techniques and principles.
Posture is the first thing to consider when you start writing, sit comfortably with your feet flat on the floor leaning forward slightly. Sitting correctly will benefit your eye and back muscles and prevent tiring. Hold your pen with a relaxed hand applying even pressure when writing. Using a light but even touch will ensure the ink flows smoothly so letters are formed without interruption.
Choose a paper fine enough for a lined page to be seen from underneath as you practice. This will keep your lines straight and evenly spaced, proper spacing and margins contribute to the final appearance of your calligraphy writing. Consistency in spacing will prevent an uneven appearance that will result if you leave large gaps or bunch letters to close together.
There are a few different lettering styles you can try start by practicing the basic strokes. Be careful to maintain a correct angle with your pen, slant your strokes consistently and work on your rhythm.
Some suggested styles to try :-
- Chancery Italic
- Gothic
- Uncial
- Decorative
Use decorative initials in your work to add some interest and colour. Again, with practice once you have mastered the lettering you can begin to design and decorate your own illuminated letters. Use calligraphy for creating beautifully presented invitations, signs, posters etc., but most of all enjoy.
Keep smiling
Tags: calligraphy, colour, design, lettering, paper, pen, practice, stroke, writing
Posted in Paper Crafts | No Comments »
Monday, October 19th, 2009
Papier mâché is another beautiful paper craft. You can make beautiful plates, bowls or containers for gifts or decoration with a little creativity, some old newspapers and a dash of patience.
You Will Need
- A mould – a bowl, container or plate of your choice
- Cling wrap
- Vaseline
- Wallpaper paste
- Newspaper
- Scissors
- Glue brush
- Craft knife
- Paint and brushes (poster or acrylic)
- White emulsion
- Clear Varnish Spray
What To Do
- Choose your mould and give it a coat of vaseline then line it with cling wrap. Fold the wrap over the rim of your container or bowl, it will be easier to lift out your mould when ready. Make up your wallpaper paste and prepare your newspaper by tearing it into small squares.
- Cover the plastic film with paste and then apply a layer of pasted newspaper. Make sure you overlap the edges of each piece of newspaper as you paste. Paste five layers of paper and then leave to dry overnight in a warm location. Repeat each day until you have the thickness you want. Make your last layer as smooth as possible.
- Your papier mâché will need to dry for several days in a warm place before you remove it from the mould. It has to be completely dry or it will not hold its shape. Carefully use the cling wrap to lift your new bowl or container out of the mould then remove the wrap.
- You may need to use some scissors or the craft knife to trim or tidy the edge so that it is even. Be careful here it is easy to take off to much. When you are happy with the edge paste one layer of pasted newspaper pieces over it so it is really smooth. Allow to dry throughly for a day or longer if necessary.
- Paint two coats of white emulsion on both sides of your new bowl or plate, this creates a smooth surface and also hides the newsprint. Paint your background colour, give it at least one coat and allow it to thoroughly dry before creating your design.
- Plan, draw and then paint your design onto your bowl or plate. if you don’t feel confident with this part of the process use a cutout design from gift wrap or a magazine. Coat the design in wall paper paste and stick in place. Leave to dry.
- When everything has dried thoroughly spray with clear varnish, to protect it, giving it two coats for a glossy finish. You should now be very happy with your completed papier mâché creation.
Well Done
Tags: bowl, colour, container, craft, creation, design, gift wrap, gloss, knife, magazine, newspaper, papier mâché, paste, plate, varnish, wall
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Sunday, October 18th, 2009
Marbling creates decorative paper by dipping it in liquid containing floating coloured paints.
What You Need
- Large flat container
- Small containers for mixing colours
- Needles
- Cocktail sticks
- Paint brushes or drinking straws
- Eye dropper
- Newspaper or line for drying
- Oil paints
- Turpentine or white spirits
Floating oil paints in the water can create some lovely patterns on your paper. Mix the paints with the turpentine or white spirits until it runs easily off a brush, Use paper that fits just inside the tray. Any type of printing paper is fine and white or coloured to your liking.
Fill container with water and drip droplets of paint onto the surface and spread the colour out carefully using a brush. Patterns can be made by blowing gently using a straw. Another way to create patterns is to swirl with a needle or thin stick. Don’t over mix because the colours wil become muddy.
When you are ready to put the paper in the water slide it in carefully starting at a corner whilst holding it at opposite corners. Make sure the whole sheet comes in contact with the surface. Lowering your paper carefully will prevent bubbles that can spoil your design. If you notice bubbles you can carefully tap the paper down into the water just a little.
Once the paper is covered carefully lift it out of the tray, it can dry on the newspaper pattern side up or hang it on an indoor clothes line.
Have Fun
Tags: brush, bubbles, colour, newspaper, paint, paper, straw, water
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Friday, October 16th, 2009
You will need a pre-made box. These can be found in most craft supply stores along with many other crafty items you can apply découpage to.
Instructions
- Seal the surface of item to be decorated with all-purpose sealer, paint or gesso.
- Sand gently with coarse sanding pad. Clean with a damp cloth then wipe over with a tack cloth to remove dust.
- Apply two coats of your choice of green acrylic to the inside of the box, allow to dry then wipe over with acrylic gold.
- Mix a cool and warm acrylic yellow together and apply to the outside of the box. Let dry, trim with the green and wipe over with gold.
- Seal painted surface with all purpose sealer.
- Seal découpage paper, front and back, with sealer.
- Use sharp manicure scissors to cut out motifs. Arrange images as desired for your project. Use blu-tack while deciding your design.
- Mix clag and PVA, 4:1 and apply generously to images and surface of item. Place your images on the item and apply more glue. Smooth the surface of image and remove air bubbles and expelling excess glue. Apply roller gently to the surface to ensure it is smooth and free of bubbles. Wipe carefully with a damp cloth, so as not to move the image.
- Using a weak vinegar and water solotion wipe over the surface to ensure all glue is removed. This prevents mould forming after the item has been varnished. Let dry. Any patches can be coloured with oil pencil.
- Use sponge brush to apply two coats of sealer. Let dry.
- Working in a ventilated dust free area apply acrylic or polyurethane varnish to protect your finished work. Apply smoothly and carefully work in even strokes from end to end without lifting brush from surface. Allow to dry following manufacturers instructions. Repeat about 30 times, at right angles to each previous coat. Sand in between each coat also at right angles to previous sanding, using the course, medium than fine sanding pads. Wipe with tack cloth before reapplying each coat until you reach your desired finish.
- Polish with Micro-mesh or beeswax.
Tags: acrylic, cloth, colour, design, glue, images, Jewel, paint, paper, sand
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Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
This piece has 4 colours so it could be a little tricky but not difficult. The pattern has eight leaves, the colours you choose can represent season such as the colours of spring.
You will need:-
- 2 mtrs by 90 cms of white dress weight fabric in cotton or calico.
- four dyes with suitable matching colours
- 2 dowelling rods 1 m long
- thread
- tie dye equipment
You must was and dry the fabric before starting. Make a hem at each end for fitting the dowel. Divide the fabric into eight sections, and fold or iron Draw a leaf shape in each section use a black thread and sew around each leaf, fill in the veins and the stems. MIx up your first dye, dye the fabric, rinse throughly and allow fabric to dry.
Pull up the stitching, and gather some fabric from inside the larger leaves. Mix up the second dye, dye the fabric, rinse and dry. Stitch and pull tight the dividing lines, reinforce the gatherered fabric inside the leaves then gather some areas from the rest of the fabric.
Mix the third colour, dye fabric, rinse and dry. secure the eight sections into separate bunches, dye fabric with the fourth colour, rinse and allow fabric to dry. Undo everything carefully and allow to dry then iron.
When ready slip dowel, into hemmed ends, attach a cord to the top and your wallhanging is complete.
Have Fun :]
Tags: colour, dress, fabric, Fun, iron, tie dye
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Sunday, September 6th, 2009
Wow, I find painting portraits to be an awesome experience. Starting with a blank canvas you begin to create when you put the pencil to work. My first portrait was a baby in oils. Oils work best with portraits because they take hours and sometimes days to dry giving you the time to work with them adjusting skin tone, light and shade. Remember to always start with three shades to every colour you use. Mix your colour, this is your dark shade, separate a portion and add a little white to it, this is your medium shade, then take some white and add a little of the dark shade now you have your lightest tone.
The medium shade is likely to be the tone you will use the most, with the darker shades for the shadow effects and the light tone in areas touched by light. Look at your photo or model carefully as you mark these areas on your portrait. Always soften the edges of your colours so they appear to blend into the next colour and not end abruptly leaving sharp edges. Don’t over blend or work the edges of your colours or they will end up runnning into each other. Continue to work on the skin areas building the character of your portrait with every layer you apply.
Depending on how much time you have to spend on your painting it could take anything from a few days to a few months to complete. Just be patient the end result will be well worth it.
Have Fun
Tags: canvas, colour, paint, pencil, portrait, shade, tone
Posted in Paint and Painting | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
All art supply stores will carry a wide range of colours in water, acrylic and oils but you often end up with more than you need. It is possible to use just six colours plus white to make any colour you need and if you’re careful make just as much as you need and avoid wastage.
Ok, so all you need is a pot or tube of cool (lemon) and warm yellow, cool (crimson) and warm red, cool (phthalo) and warm (ultra-marine) blue plus white you’ll need a guide for mixing. Using a sheet of art paper put a patch of each of the six colours across the top. To simplify things I’m going to number each colour as follows:-
- Warm Yellow
- Cool Yellow
- Warm Red
- Cool Red
- Warm Blue
- Cool Blue
Mix the colours on the art sheet so that you can keep it for a reference.
You can get four different shades of orange by mixing:-
- 1 and 3
- 1 and 4
- 2 and 3
- 2 and 4
You will get four shades of green by mixing :-
- 1 and 5
- 1 and 6
- 2 and 5
- 2 and 6
You will get brown by mixing 3 and 5 and can change the shade by adding 1 or 2.
Mixing 3 and 6 is a base for dark colours, you can then add the colour you want for a dark shade, it will go to black or to grey when you add white.
You will create purple if you mix 4 and 5 or 4 and 6.
On a six point colour star red is placed on the top, green on the bottom, purple and orange on the two top points, and blue and yellow on the bottom, colours next to each other go well together but opposite colours don’t. For example red and green clash, purple and yellow clash, orange and blue clash but blue and purple go well, red and orange go well and yellow and green go well.
Happy Painting
Tags: acrylic, colour, colour wheel, cool, oils, paint, warm
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Thursday, August 27th, 2009
Greeting cards can be great as a gift on their own as well as adding something special to any gift. Coloured and textured papers, simple decorations, ribbons or bows are all it takes to come up with the perfect card.
Materials
Craft glue, White card, Ruler, Clean scrap paper, Ribbon, Scissors, Paper punch.
1. Cut out a piece of card large enough to be folded in half and fit your design on the front. Test out various designs before gluing anything down.
2. Fold the card rectangle in half lengthways and press it with your fingers. Carefully preessing down on the fold using a ruler will make it look more defined.
3. Create your design – an idea you can use – place a piece of paper in a contrasting colour in the centre of your card and stencil or glue a picture that suits the occasion. For example, balloons or cake for a birthday. Paint over the stencil with a brush. Reveal your image by removing the stencil.
4. Small matching gift tags are a nice added touch. Decorate with some ribbon by punching a hole in the corner and tying a bow.
5. Small coloured beads, glitter or scrapbooking decorations can be used for a uniquely creative design.
Enjoy
Tags: balloons, bithday, colour, craft, design, greeting card, ribbon decoration
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Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
The colour of a room will play a big part in creating its mood, furniture, accessories, carpet and window dressings all contribute to the atmosphere and create a cool, spacious look or a cosy intimate one. Colour is the secret to any good design. Colours can be grouped as cool or warm, warm colours are cheerful and create a feeling of warmth and cosiness, cool colours create a feeling of space and tranquility.
Warm Colours
Warm colours are reds, pinks, oranges and yellows remember them easily by connecting them with the sun or fire light. They range from hot colours, like rich red, golden yellow, spicy orange and russet to softer warm shades like primrose, peach, pink and beige and white tinted with any warm colours. Yellow is the most cheerful colour, research has shown that a persons mood will be uplifted in a yellow room.
Very strong colours can be a bit over powering so use them with care, earthy or muted shades, natural colours like clay, firelight or dried flowers, work well in many situations. Terracotta and rosy pink colours feel cosy and warm even when its cold. Add well stuffed sofas, rugs lamps and other comfortable accessories to your room and you will have created a very inviting space.
Cool Colours
Cool colours create space and invite a restful feeling, colours of the sea and sky, blues, greens, grey and some bluer purples, white and white with a cool colour tint.
Cool colours are a great choice bathrooms and bedrooms, places for relaxing and rejuvenating. Popular shades of ble and green have had a little warm colour added which makes them softer and more muted. These colours are turquiose, sky blue, sage and olive. Cool colours create a feeling of being colder so use them with care in warmer locations.
Tags: blue, colour, green, red, relax, space, yellow
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