How to easily change your style and paint on unusual surfaces

So, with the coronavirus keeping many of us indoors what have you all been doing to keep creative and busy?  If you have some paint stashed away it might the right time to think about painting on unusual surfaces.

Unusual surfaces to paint

Rocks are a great surface to paint on.  You might have some rocks right outside your door that would work perfectly. You can also buy a bag of smooth landscape rocks for a very reasonable price at a home improvement store.  Kids can get in on the action as well.  You can be as simple or as intricate as you see fit.  And the fun part is putting rocks in public places with positive messages for people to find.

Corks are another surface that you may have laying around.  You can recycle them into another great unusual surface to paint.  Again you can get detailed or simply decorative. Painted corks make great keyrings and ornaments.  It's never too early to think about Christmas!

When you think of unusual surfaces to paint on do you ever think why not a brick?  Bricks, when they painted, may great door stops and bookends.  Especially if you paint them to resemble a book!

Fabric is readily available.  Simply look in your closets and you will find unusual surfaces galore!  personalize them with some acrylic paints with fabric medium added.  Don't forget to heat set.

While there are many choices of painting surfaces none are more striking than painting on glass.  You can paint on wine glasses, plates, vases and more.  You will need to use paint that is specified for glass and heat set in an oven.  

This was sure fun, finding unusual surfaces to paint on.  Once you start looking though, you tend to find more.  So, this will be a recurring post for another day with more unusual surfaces to paint!  

Be sure and click on some of the images for full tutorials of a similar project!

See you soon!

How to paint a snowflake rock for the holidays

Rock painting is all the rage these days.  It’s fun to paint a rock with a positive message on the back and leave it somewhere for someone to find.  Then, they, in turn, leave it somewhere else.  Kids, adults, anyone can paint a rock.  The cost is minimal only requiring some paint and anything goes.  And this little snowflake rock is so easy and so much fun!

You can make your snowflake rock individual by varying the shapes and sizes of snowflakes.  Then to finish, write a simple word on the back.  I chose Joy, but you can use peace, kindness, snow, or any other positive word that fits the season.  They make a great gift as well to use as a desk decoration or paperweight!

Materials:

Rock

Acrylic paint, light blue, white

Tiny silver beads

E6000 glue

Pencil
Sharpie paint marker in black

Small paintbrush

Newspaper or something to protect your work surface

Instructions:

1.     Paint the entire front of the rock light blue, let dry and then turn it over and paint the back.

2.     Next, use a pencil to outline the snowflake.  First, draw a vertical line.  Then draw a horizontal line.  Finally, draw an x with two lines in the center.  

3.     Now, draw lines near the base, connecting the snowflake all around.  (See photo)

4.     To finish your snowflake pattern draw two lines on each spoke all around. (See photo)

5.     Use white paint to go over your pattern.  Let dry.

6.     Go over the snowflake for your snowflake rock a second time if necessary and let dry completely.

7.     Turn the rock to the back and using the pencil, write your message or word.  Then go over it with the black sharpie and let it dry.

8.     Use E600 glue to attach some tiny silver beads on the ends of each spoke. (Optional)  Let the glue dry. Your rock is ready to spread some kindness!

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Puppy rock

My little Jack Russell terrier is my muse.  She models for me when I paint, and she has me running around as fast she runs.  So it only goes to figure that I would paint a puppy rock. And this rock doesn't need trips to the vet or walking.  It's the new millennium version of the pet rock!

Painted rocks are all the rage these days.  You can leave them in parks or stores for someone to find.  It just makes someone’s day when they pick up a painted rock with a positive message written on it.  Kindness truly does rock!

And this little puppy rock is a great gift for your favorite dog lover.  You can use it as a paperweight or just for a little extra décor on your desk or shelf.  Paint one or paint a bunch.  You can’t get a craft that is less expensive.  When you finish your puppy rock add a cute little Bowdabra bow on her head or under her chin with E6000 glue and you will have the cutest little pup!

Materials

Oval river rock

Graphite paper

Stylus

Pencil

Small paintbrush

Acrylic paint, sienna, white, black, and pink

Fine line permanent marker

Paper plate or palette

 Face pattern

For the bow:

8” 5/8” grosgrain ribbon in the desired color

Mini Bowdabra with hair bow tool and ruler attachment

Bowdabra bow wire

E6000 glue

Instructions:

1.     First, download and print the face pattern.

Puppy rock face pattern

2.     Next, cut out the pattern and place a piece of graphite paper under it on top of the rock of your choice.  Use the stylus to trace around the pattern.

3.     Now, remove the graphite paper and go over the faint lines with a pencil if need be. 

4.     Then, begin painting your rock.  Start with the Sienna and a small brush and paint the ears.  Make sure you leave a tiny space between the sections. (You will outline your puppy with the marker in this area when you are done)

5.     Next, paint the muzzle and forehead with white paint. Paint the eyes leaving the pupil area.  Paint the nose and pupils with black paint.  Paint the tongue with pink paint.

6.     Add another coat of paint on all the areas and let dry.  With a tiny bit of white paint add to small dots on each eye and two on the nose. (See photo)  Let dry completely.  Then, use the fine line permanent marker to outline all the areas on the pup.

7.     Make the optional bow.  Cut an 18” piece of Bowdabra bow wire, fold in half and insert into the Mini Bowdabra.  You will have a loop on one side and two loose wires on the other.  This serve as a slipknot when finished.

8.     Cut an eight-inch piece of 5/8” wide grosgrain ribbon.  Insert into the Bowdabra leaving a small tail.  Make a loop on the other side at the ½” mark and then make a matching loop on the other side.  Scrunch down with the Bowdabra wand.

9.     Now, insert the two loose wires through the loop and pull tight.  Separate the ends and tie a knot.  Remove from the Bowdabra. Fold each end in half and cut to dovetail.

10.  To finish your puppy rock, use some E6000 glue to add the bow to the rock and let dry. 

How to easily paint a cute turkey rock table setting

Painting rocks are all the rage these days.  Whether you leave them for someone to find or you gift them for paperweights, they are inexpensive and fun.  This turkey rock is cute and you personalize it with the name of your guest.  Leave the turkey rock at each table setting and your guest can take it home as a customized party favor and memento.

Add the date and year on the back and the turkey rock will be a lasting memento of the holiday.  You can even have the back blank and let each guest write something they are thankful for before the meal.  It’s a fun tradition for Thanksgiving.

Let's get started:

Materials:

Rock

Acrylic paint in white, brown, lt. brown, yellow, red, orange, and black

Sharpie or any permanent marker in black

Small paintbrush

Newspaper to protect your work surface

pencil

Instructions:

1.      First, paint the entire rock front and back with orange paint.  Let each side dry before painting the other and then let completely dry.  It may help to use a hair dryer to dry all the layers quickly.

2.      Now, use a pencil to lightly add guidelines for all the shapes. The head is a teardrop oval.  The body is a larger oval.  The beak is a small diamond shape. The feet are three claws on each side of the body. The eyes are two round circles on each side of the beak.  The waddle is a long fat comma shape.  And the feathers are spoke-like fan shapes with a curved top.  You will just fill in the spaces as you would a coloring book!  Super easy.  If you don’t like your pencil lines, erase them and start over.

3.     Use the paintbrush and brown paint to block in the head. Next, with the same brown, add a rounded shape. This is the body, which is approximately twice the size of the head.  Let dry.  (See photo)  You are blocking in the basic shapes working around the eyes, beak, and waddle. You will be going over all the lines on entire turkey with the marker when it is finished and dry.

4.     Now add the tail feathers.  Using the brown paint, start at the bottom and work all around the body making each feather like a fan shape, slightly curved at the top. Now use the white paint on the top of the feathers curving the top. Let dry.  Add the features.  Paint the eyes in white, the beak yellow, and feet yellow, and the waddle red.  Let dry.

5.     When all the painted areas are dry, Use the Sharpie or permanent fine line marker to outline all the feathers, body, and features.

6.     Highlight your turkey by making some light brown lines on the body. Add the pupils of the eyes with the marker.  You may also want to use a little thinned white paint to add some highlights on the feathers and body. (See photo)

7.     Finally use some white paint to add the name on the feathers, counting the letters so that they are in the center.

8.     Add the date and year on the back of the rock, or leave blank and let each guest write what they are thankful for.  Place at each place setting.  Your guests can take their turkey rock home as a party favor.