Have you painted something for someone you LOVE?

Today

 I wanted to show you some 

HEART

keepsake boxes 

that 

I have painted

I removed the hinges on the boxes for easier painting!

Step inside 

my 

STUDIO

My Palette

Deco Art Americana Acrylics

Buttermilk, Slate Green, Silver Sage Green, Avocado, Plantation Pine, Peony Pink , Deep Burgundy, Soft Heather

DecoArt Metallic Lustre

Gold Rush

DecoArt Craft Twinkles

Gold Or

I began by lightly 

sanding and sealing 

my boxes

using

 DecoArt Multi Purpose Sealer

I applied 3 good coats 

of Buttermilk 

to the outsides of my boxes

I lightly sanded between each coat

I also gave the insides at least 2-3 good coats of paint

I used 

a 

scumbler brush 

to 

pounce on Avocado

I followed the shape of my box

When dry I scumbled again 

using a

 lighter shade of green

I randomly painted leaves

 using 

Plantation Pine

I randomly painted various size 

"roses"

within 

the 

green heart

using several shades of the same value

I added the centers of the roses using a tiny liner brush

You can also add some 

vines

using your liner brush

I dry brushed the rim of my box 

with 

Gold Rush Metallic Lustre

I let that dry completely then painted over it 

with

Gold Or Craft Twinkles

I loved the elegant look that it gave my box!

Now......let's make a tag!

I sanded and sealed the wood tag

I base coated it with 2 good coats of 

Buttermilk

Let dry completely!

Now for some fun 

with 

WashiTape!

I trimmed the tape 

to

fit my wood tag

 

I applied a gold border to my tag using 

a 

DecoColor Marker

I painted some roses on the tag

I painted my finished piece with several coats 

of 

Dura Clear Matte Varnish

I wanted to hide 

the 

ugly hinges

on the box

I used my drill to drill small holes in

 the 

rim of the box

I them treaded 

some

  satin ribbon and lace

thru the holes that I drilled

I tied it in a pretty bow!

Trim the edges neatly!

I painted over the base coat inside the box 

using

DecoArt Ice Crystal Glamour Dust

to 

add some additional 

SPARKLE

Top view of box

Tag with key

DecoArt provided me with the paints 

to complete this project 

as 

part of their

Helping Artist and Blogger Outreach Programs

Thank you DecoArt!

You can view my 

DecoArt Blogger Profile 

HERE

I hope you have enjoyed seeing me paint this

 HEART Keepsake box!

Happy Painting !

Lynn

Thyme to see a Sewing Circle Santa

I painted several pieces 

before 

Christmas that I intended to use as gifts

so

 I didn't post them!

Sewing Circle Santa 

is 

one of them!

Design

by

Cynthia Erekson

My Palette

DecoArt Americana Acrylics

Antique Gold, Avocado, Bleached Sand, Brandy Wine, Camel, Country Red, Dark Chocolate, Dusty Rose, Lamp Black, Milk  Chocolate, Red Iron Oxide, Snow White

Dazzling Metallics

Venetian Gold

Let's Paint!

I base coated my ornaments using a sponge brush.

Heavily load the flat side of your brush.

Begin in the center of your ornament 

and 

repeatedly "press and lift" the brush

 up and down 

to create 

a

 bubbly textured surface

The outside edge of the ornaments

 are 

wood grained

using a

  glazing medium and paint

I applied the 

glaze mixture I made 

around the outer edges of my ornament 

using 

a sponge brush

 I used the same press and lift method to apply to the outer edge

I then used 

a

  wood coffee stirrer

to 

achieve the wood grain look

I quickly and repeatedly

 pressed the stick 

and 

lifted 

moving around the circle

I then let that 

dry completely 

before beginning to paint my ornaments!

I then transferred the main elements 

of my design 

using

 graphite paper

Initial

  base coat 

of 

Santa

These ornaments measure 5 1/2" wide by 6 1/2" tall

I worked on 4 of these at once

I worked on 4 of these at once!

The wood graining is different on all of them!

In addition to using a coffee stirrer on some

I used a wood grain tool for the others

I loved the results on all of them!

I applied several coats 

of 

DecoArt Matte Varnish 

to the 

front and backs 

of my 

completed ornaments

I attached a grungy tag with rusty wire to the ornament

I also attached a little basket complete with a pin cushion and pins!

DecoArt provided me with the paints to complete this project

as part of their Helping Artist and Blogger programs!

Thank you DecoArt!

You can view my 

Blogger Profile

HERE

I hope you have enjoyed seeing me paint

Sewing Circle Santa!

Happy Painting !

Lynn