Thyme for some Peppermint Stix

I love going junking

 so I can

find pieces to add

 to

 my stash to paint

I found this wood tray  at a thrift shop a long time ago.

I finally decided on a design to paint on it!

Today I would like to show you a design 

by

Lonna Lamb

called

PEPPERMINT STIX

that I have painted

My palette for this project

DecoArt Americana Acryllics

Lamp Black, Snow White, Tomatoe Red, Cranberry Wine, Tangelo Orange, Leaf Green, Avocado, Olive Green, Black Green, Warm White, Cadium Red, Rockwood Red

Speciality Paint

Glamour Dust Ice Crystal,

Finish

Dura Clear Varnish

I use the matte finish to complete my project . 

It also comes in Satin and Gloss.

Let's Paint!!

I mixed equal parts of Americana Gesso with Lamp Black for my initial basecoat.

I applied with a 2" foam roller. 

When dry I applied a second coat with Lamp Black again using a 2" foam roller.

I used WHITE graphite paper to transfer my design to the tray.

I began by first painting in the evergreens in the background of the design

I used painters tape to tape off the peppermint stix one at a time to paint.

I used a small wedge cosmetic sponge to "paint" the peppermint stix using Snow White.

Now for the FUN part! 

Lets add some STRIPES!

 STRIPES 

require

 a 

STEADY HAND and GOOD EYE !!!

It's one thing that is getting harder and harder for me to do!

I've added shading to my peppermint stix's.

I am now adding the holly and berries on top of design

I decided to add some

 peppermints and holly vine 

to the upper and lower corners 

of

 the tray

I used a CIRCLE template 

and 

a wedge cosmetic sponge with Snow White to base in the

 peppermints

in the corners of my design

I added 2 coats of

GLAMOUR DUST Ice Crystal
to all my peppermints
to make them
SPARKLE !

I painted the rim of the tray with

Tomatoe Red
for
contrast

I finished my piece with several coats
of
Americana Dura Clear Matte Varnish

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint

Peppermint Stix

This pattern can be found 

at

Lonna's Strokes of Art

HERE

Deco Art provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their

Helping Artist 

and 

Blogger Outreach Programs

Thank you Deco Art for the opportunity to use your products!

You can read my 

Deco Art Blogger Profile

HERE

Happy Painting!

Lynn

"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon.
Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness,
and
at the end of the day you don't look at it
and
wish you had painted something different."
 ~Author Unknown

It's THYME for some WINTER TIME MAGIC

Living 

in 

New England 

I have to say that we have been very 

LUCKY 

so far this winter 

because we have not seen much of the 

WHITE stuff 

yet!

Listening to the weather forecast

 for

the next few days there is a possibility 

that 

could change!

We could be in for some

WINTER TIME MAGIC!

Even 

IF 

the weathermen 

are wrong 

I have decided to paint some winter MAGIC!

I love to paint on ice skates!

They can usually be found at yard sales thrift shops or even in your own basement!

I use grey metal primer to prep skates 

after cleaning them well

 and 

taping off the heel and runner.

I used a design from 

Viki Sherman's 

Kindred Hearts Book

called

WINTER TIME MAGIC

My Pallette

DecoArt Americana Acrylic

Burnt Umber, Soft Black, Mississippi Mud, Titanium White, Paynes Grey, Black Green, Evergreen, Antique White, Burnt Orange, Light French Blue, Black Plum, Avacado, Lamp Black, Light Buttermilk, Heritage Brick, Deep Midnight Blue, Cherry Red

After the primer had dried well I basecoated my skates with 2 good coats 

of

Mississippi Mud

Ice Skates 

are 

a fun surface to paint on!

Just paint right over the existing stitching.

After painting my design I painted the eyelets Lamp Black for contrast. 

I added some

GLITTER SNOW

along the sole of the skate.

I varnished my skate with 2 coats of

Americana Dura Clear Matte Varnish

When dry 

I lightly sprayed my skate with a spray glue for glitter

I then sprinkled my skate 

with

DIAMOND DUST 

to

 make it sparkle!

Add some 

DIAMOND DUST

 to the blade also 

so it will look like there is

 ICE 

on the blade.

I like to fill my skates with a mix of 

"winter thyme" greenery

I secure a piece of floral styrofoam inside the skate with hot glue

I make some "snowballs" using various size styrofoam balls.

Spray the styrofoam balls

 with 

spray glue for glitter

 then sprinkle them 

with 

DIAMOND DUST

I use wooden skewers to make my snowballs into picks to stick in my arrangement.

Use green floral tape to cover the wooden stick

I tore strips of homespun to use as laces 

and 

added a large bell

I attached a small tag that 

said

BELIEVE

Attach a piece of wire in the back for hanging

Or

if you prefer to use your skate as a table centerpiece

cut a block of wood, paint it , cut a groove down the center of the wood

 and 

insert the blade of your skate!

DecoArt provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of their

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs.

Thank you DecoArt for the opportunity to use your products!

You can visit my DecoArt Profile

HERE

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint 

WINTER TIME MAGIC!

Happy Painting!

Lynn

"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, and at the end of the day you don't look at it and wish you had painted something different." ~Author Unknown

Thyme for a ROLY POLY SANTA

Are you 

READY 

for

Santa?

I am still 

VERY BUSY 

in my 

STUDIO

I was gifted this large gourd by a friend
It came to me "paint ready" so I had no prepping or cleaning to do first!

I decided to paint a 

Lynne Andrews design 

on it called

ROLY POLY SANTA

My pallette for this project

DecoArt Americana

Antique Gold, Buttermilk, Flesh Tone, Burnt Umber, Country Red, Hauser Medium Grenn, Plantation Pine, Titanium Snow White, Lamp Black

Speciality Paints

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Emperor's Gold, DecoArt Glamour Dust, Americana Sealer Dura Clear Matte Varnish

I used graphite paper to transfer my design to the gourd surface.

Transferring your design to a round surface can be a little tricky.

You may have to make some adjustments as you go along.

We are now ready to paint!

I first basecoated 2 coats 

Antique Gold 

drying well between each coat.

I then began the 

face details, beard and wreath on Santa's hat.

I used 

DecoArt Dazzling Metallics Emperor's Gold

to add to the holly wreath on Santa's hat

The pattern directions called for the mittens to be 

PLAID

  They were painted with a wash technique.

I then began painting the twig christmas tree and candy cane.

At this point I began to think that the mittens 

stood out a little more than I wanted them to

but I continued with the rest of the design.

I started working on the FUR on the cuffs of Santa's coat.

Lynne Andrew's often adds a checkerboard pattern to many of her designs

You can use a Koh-i-noor Radiograph pen size 00/.30 for this or a good quality permanent marker (medium point) or you can also use your liner brush and Lamp Black paint.

I painted the Lamp Black checkerboard design on my Santa with a tiny liner brush.

As I continued to paint the Santa I still was still not sure about the mittens as I felt the plaid competed 

with the candy cane and the black checkerboard design on sleeve.

  

I even changed the color of the plaid!

Working on the sleeves of the coat

Painting the fur on the bottom of Santa's coat.

I used

DecoArt Glamour Dust Ice Crystal 

to add some sparkle to the fur 

on the

cuffs and bottom of coat.

I finally decided to paint the mittens a 

SOLID color 

and 

just add a snowflake to them

I painted the mittens using Antique Gold to match Santa's jacket.

I liked them a LOT better!

I sealed my Santa with several coats of 

DecoArt Dura Clear Matte Varnish

I added some buttons to the botton of his coat

This was a fun design to paint. 

You can find Lynne Andrews wonderful patterns 

HERE

DecoArt provided me with the paints to complete this project as part of thier

Helping Artist Program

and

Blogger Outreach Program

Thank you DecoArt for giving me the opportunity to try your wonderful products in my paintings!

You can read my 

DecoArt Blogger Profile 

HERE

I hope you have enjoyed watching me paint

ROLY POLY SANTA!

Keep those brushes flying!
Happy Painting!
Lynn


"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon.
Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness,
and
at the end of the day you don't look at it
and
wish you had painted something different."
 ~Author Unknown