Crafts Inspire Me

What's Your Inspiration?

Painting 101 – Part 1

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Crafts Inspire Me

Have you ever wanted to give painting a try? Anyone can paint. With a little patience and a lot of creativity, you will feel like an accomplished artist in no time. It’s fun, relaxing and reduces stress. What are you waiting for? Let’s get started!

Acrylic Painting: Bold colors, unlimited finishes and surfaces, ease of use

Paint by Number

One of the easiest ways for beginners is with an acrylic “Paint by Number” kit, which comes complete with paints, brushes, and a preprinted canvas. Simply match the numbered paints with their corresponding locations on the canvas. There is a wide range of themes for all ages and skill levels.

Decorative Painting & Wall Art

Acrylic paints can be used in almost any application. Brushes are cleaned with soap and water, and the paints have low or no odor, which is great for those sensitive to strong fumes.

Furniture Painting

Make a new piece of furniture look like an old friend with decorative designs and an antiquing finish.

Statues & Figurines

Upcycle a garage sale purchase with a fresh coat of paint and colorful accents.

Faux Finishes & Decorative Painting

Painted Wall Faux Finish Sponge Painting

Upgrade walls, or any surface with acrylic faux finishes and decorative painting, including Sponge Painting, Marbleized, Faux Wood Grain, Crackle, Metallic, Plaster, Textured, Stenciling, Stippling, Mural Painting, & Tromp l’oeil.

Airbrush Painting: Street art, murals, and no size limitations

Airbrushing

Airbrushing requires compressed air to disperse paint onto any surface. Cans of spray paint work in the same way and are often used on building-sized murals.

Large-Scale Painting

This handsome German shepherd painting disguises an otherwise unsightly telecommunications box.

Automobile Painting

Riding in style has a whole new meaning when your car becomes a mobile work of art.

Mural Painting

Let imagination run wild as any wall, inside or out, can be adorned with flights of fancy.

Tromp l’oeil Painting

Tromp l’oeil means “Fool the Eye” and in this photo three-dimensional painting turns this electrical transformer into a lovely stable, complete with bales of hay and a friendly face.

Fabric Painting: Art, fashion, and home furnishings

Hand Painting

Fabric markers can be used to layout your design, followed by fabric paint applied via brush or easy-squeeze bottles for three-dimensional paints.

Silk-Screening

Silk-screening is like stenciling for fabrics. A separate screen is used for each color, which is applied using a squeegee.

3-D Painting & Appliques

Fabric paints can be applied to any surface, bringing designs to life in three dimensions. They also function as glue, sealing the edges of appliques and adhering beads and other embellishments.

Tie Dyeing

Tie dyeing is easy for kids of all ages, and the end results are always a surprise.

Designing Home Furnishing & Apparel Fabrics

Large-scale patterns are perfect for upholstery, draperies, and pillows. Apparel styles are constantly changing. Launch the next fashion trend by creating and wearing your own designs.

Glass Painting: Illuminating color, and painting with light

Wall Hangings & Suncatchers

Luminous colors and intricate eye-catching details, hallmarks of stained glass, bring character and beautiful style to any décor.

Mosaic Glass Gems & Jewelry

Earrings, bracelets, necklaces sparkle with colorful glass beads. Mosaic glass gems are perfect accent on crafts as well as vases, flowerpots, etc.

Glassware

Drinking glasses and pitchers take center stage with hand-painted colorful accents.

Christmas Ornaments

With a box of clear glass ornaments, you can let your creativity sore. Paints can be applied inside and out, and the finishes range from metallic, pearlescent, iridescent, and glitter in every color of the rainbow.

Stained Glass Windows

Museums, churches, and many secular buildings are adorned with spectacular stained glass. Sunbeams are transformed into a dazzling kaleidoscope of heavenly light.

Painting Gallery:

Acrylic Painting, Airbrushing, & Paint Pens

Airbrushing

Acrylic Painting & Airbrushing

Fabric Painting

Glass Painting

Airbrushing

Acrylic Painting

Acrylic Painting & Airbrushing

Glass Painting

Acrylic Painting

Acrylic Painting & 3D Fabric Painting

Glass Painting

Painting is a wonderful pastime, which enriches your life and can be easily shared with family and friends. No matter what your style and interests may be, there’s a type of painting to challenge your skills and engage your mind for experiences that will last a lifetime. Enjoy the journey!

Please stay tuned for part two next week.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

A View from Above – Giraffes

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Crafts Inspire Me

One of the most easily identifiable animals upon the face of the earth is the giraffe. There is nothing else like it – that long neck, towering legs and a fur pattern that resembles mosaics. Giraffes are so tall, that the babies are born at a minimum height of six-feet tall to feed from the mother.

Each subspecies has unique fur patterns and colors. There is a ridge on the forehead and two horn-like protrusions on top of the head.

Some have spots down the length of their legs, while others have solid tan or white below the knee. For this project, you will need to look at giraffe photos and decide which pattern you prefer.

How to Paint a Wooden Giraffe:

Raw Wood Giraffe

Both sides and all the edges will need to be sanded and painted. Ensure the giraffe stands without wobbling. If needed, restore balance by gluing pieces of thin cardstock to the bottom the feet.

Supplies

Supplies:
Wooden Giraffe (8-1/4” high x 4-1/4” wide x 1-1/4” thick)
Acrylic Paints – red, brown, orange, black, tan
Bottles Fabric Paint – brown, black
Paintbrushes
Sandpaper
Pencil

Sand & Paint Base Color

After sanding, paint the entire body tan.

Reference – Giraffe’s Face

I bet you didn’t expect to have a Giraffe anatomy lesson! Typically, wood craft animals stand facing forward. If you look at the close-up photos above, you will notice this giraffe is turning his head to the side. This effects both sides of the head. Both eyes need to be on the same side. We will address the back of the head in a later step.

Hand Draw Details

Because this appears to be a baby giraffe, the facial features are cute but small, including the ridge between the eyes. I began drawing some of the spots to understand what the layout should be. To keep the pencil lines to a minimum, the remainder of the spots were freehanded with the paint brush.

Mix Custom Paint Color

Be sure to mix enough paint for the giraffe’s spots to last throughout the project. To keep the paint moist on a paint palette, cover it with plastic wrap, ensuring the plastic is pressed down upon the paint surface and the edges are sealed. You may need to moisten the paint, but the color will be preserved. I created a reddish-brown by mixing brown, red and orange acrylic paints.

Paint the Spots on the Neck

Use a fine brush for the spots. Be sure to leave space in between, which resembles mosaic tile set in grout.

Paint Spots – Right Side

As you work your way down the body, the size of the spots diminishes. Be sure to paint spots on the edges, including the front and back of each leg and the neck too.

Paint Spots – Left Side

For this step, the following areas will remain tan: the back of the head, the mane, the inside of each leg, the feet, and the tail.

Defining the Details – Right Side

Paint the head and facial details, except for the eyes, which will be completed in a later step. Paint the tail and hooves black. The muzzle and fur between the eyes are darker, while the cheeks are lightly spotted. The “horns” are a combination of black and brown.

Reference – Back of Giraffe’s Head

Figuring out the back of the head was difficult. Because our giraffe is looking off to the side, you will only see a portion of the face.

Reference – Back of Head & Mane

When the giraffe moves his head and neck, the mane twists and turns.

Reference – Back of Head & Mane

There are no spots on the ears. Notice how the mane twists as the neck shifts.

Defining the Details – Left Side

Draw the details on the back of the head. Be sure to show the twisting mane. Paint all the details except for the mane.

Paint 3D Details – Right Side

The eyes are painted with brown fabric paint for a 3D effect and outlined in black. After it dries, add black pupils and white dots in the center to bring life to the eyes. Using brown fabric paint, create a raised mane, centered down the entire length of the neck. It will take two coats to make the furry mane to stand upright. Create fur on the “horns” with black fabric paint.

Paint 3D Details – Left Side

Paint the eye with brown fabric paint and outline with black. Using brown fabric paint, complete the twisted mane on the back of the head. Create fur on the “horns” with black fabric paint. Allow it to dry overnight.

Finished Close Up – Face

The following steps apply to both sides: Because fabric paint is shiny, paint over the mane with brown acrylic and then highlight it with reddish brown and tan. Paint the horns with black acrylic. Some reddish-brown paint was brushed into the ears and up onto the furry horns.

Finished Close Up – Back of Head

Touch up any details as needed. The spots on the left side of the neck, closest to the face, curve toward the face to give a three-dimensional roundness to the upper portion of the neck.

Giraffe – Before & After

Here is a side-by-side comparison of the original raw wood giraffe and the fully detailed project at completion.

I had a lot of fun painting this little guy. Figuring out the anatomy was challenging and rewarding. There are many wooden animal crafts waiting for good homes. Check out your local craft stores or the internet to find one you will love. Good luck!

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

Decorating Easter Eggs

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Crafts Inspire Me

Dyed eggs are a staple of any Easter celebration. All you need is an egg dyeing kit and some vinegar, which makes it easily accessible for all ages. Decorating doesn’t have to be limited to dye and farm fresh eggs. Options include paints, fabrics, markers, ribbons, and appliques, while the eggs can be wooden, foam, or plastic, just to name a few. Let’s look at a variety of decorated eggs to get your creative juices flowing.

Painted Broken Eggs

Crackle Finish Egg

Pierced Eggs with 3D Painted Accents

Fabric Wrapped Eggs with Decorative Trims

Dyed & Lace Appliqued Eggs

Scrapbooking Eggs

Quilled Egg

Decoupage Egg

Multicolor Marker Egg

Illustrated Egg

Silk Flower Applique Egg

Dyed & Beaded Eggs

Paint Pour Egg

Sponge Painted Egg

Hand Painting Eggs

Hand Painted Eggs

3D Hand Painting Eggs

Hand Painted 3D Metallic Eggs

Romanian 3D Metallic Eggs

Ukrainian Egg

Fine Art Eggs

Fine Art Eggs

Hand Painted Abstract Art Egg

Chocolate Eggs

If you have an egg allergy or if painting is not in your skill set, chocolate eggs can be decorated using the same design principles shown throughout these photos.

I hope you have found some inspiration and will try your hand at decorating eggs. Do you have a favorite? Please let me know in the comments section.

Have fun decorating and thanks for reading.

Happy Easter & Happy Crafting!

Walk on the Wild Side

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Crafts Inspire Me

Triceratops
Whose turn is it to walk the dog – I mean dinosaur? Something tells me that 25-foot leash will not be long enough! Dinosaurs are real fan favorites. You can’t get much wilder than that. And what’s not to love?

Dinosaur Eggs
A Dinosaur Nursery – They’re kind of cute at this stage.

Dinosaur
Somewhere between adolescence and adulthood they seem to lose their charm! (lol)

Dinosaur Skeleton
Even when they’re dead, they instill an odd mixture of fear and fascination. Movie Director Steven Spielberg brought dinosaurs back to life on the big screen in the epic movie, Jurassic Park – an emotional roller coaster, that started with awe and wonder, but quickly escalated to bone chilling terror.

Stegosaurus
We love dinosaurs anyway. Want proof? Look at all the books, movies, television shows, and merchandise. At some point, every kid draws and colors his or her favorite dinosaur. Here’s your chance to feel like a kid again. Grab some paints and brushes and let’s go!

How to Paint a Wooden Stegosaurus
With a little paint you can design your own dinosaur. It can be as simple as a single coat of paint, or as detailed as you like. First we need a little inspiration.
Iguana
Iguana Closeup
Since dinosaurs lived sixty-five million years ago, there’s no one around to tell us exactly what they looked like. For this project, photos of creatures living today, such as iguanas and lizards, can be inspirational. Check out those spines!

Raw Wood Dinosaur
This carved wood stegosaurus, available at AC Moore, has sturdy legs, making it a freestanding, three-dimensional piece. Both sides and all the edges will need to be painted. Due to the raw nature of wood, it may require sanding, especially along the edges. (There are several types of animals in this carved wood collection. To see a painted flamingo project, please click here.)

Paints
Supplies:
Wooden Stegosaurus (4-1/4” high x 7-1/4” wide x 1-1/4” thick)
Acrylic Paints – black, brown & metallic green
1) Bottle fabric paint – brown
Paintbrushes
Sandpaper

Dinosaur Painted Green
Step 1 – Paint the dinosaur with green acrylic paint, including both sides and all edges. The great thing about paint is that it’s cheap. Feel free to experiment. If you don’t like the results, it can be easily changed.

Dinosaur Tail Detail
Seeing it in color revealed a major anatomical mistake in the tail design. If you loved dinosaurs as a kid, you’ll remember that the stegosaurus has spikes on the top of its tail. The artist chose to curl the tail underneath, and as a result, mistakenly placed the spikes on the underside of the tail. This poor animal would have trouble walking because the spikes would continually get caught on the ground as it moved through the forest, making it easy prey.

Dinosaur with Cut Tail
Step 2 – To make it right, cut off the tip of the tail as shown.

Dinosaur Painted Black
Step 3 – Turn the cut tail piece around, and glue it in place. Paint the entire figure black as a base coat, which will help delineate the scales added in a later step. Looks much better doesn’t it?

Dinosaur with Fabric Paint
Step 4 – Paint the top of the head, the back plates, and the tail with brown fabric paint. Paint the sides of each plate with green fabric paint and add spikes along the sides of the tail. Brown acrylic paint was applied with a brush in between the back plates, because it was too narrow to fit the tube of fabric paint.

Dinosaur Scale Pattern
Step 5 – Add brown fabric paint on top of each leg and more spikes along the entire length of body. Create a scale pattern on the body using metallic green paint, and use the same color in the sides of the plates on his back.

Finished Dinosaur
Step 6 – Add a small dotted pattern to each leg. Paint the head brown, and add a few green scales along with the eyes. Congratulations! You now have your very own pet dinosaur. Fortunately for you, he’s a “Veggiesaurus,” unlike the one in the next photo.

Dinosaur Jaws
What a view, right? Thank goodness this is only an observation tower! Because if it was real… It would be the last thing you ever saw.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

Inspirational Christmas Tree

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Crafts Inspire Me

This Christmas tree is unlike most. It consists of individual flat pieces of wood, much like a signpost, ready for your painted decorations and inspiring words.

Words/Poetry

Most of my craft projects do not call for poetic or inspirational words. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and scribble down some possibilities. Take as much time as you need. Listen to song lyrics, read poems, or notice seasonal phrases from movies, books, or advertising.

Christmas Magic Sign

You will need to consider how many words/lines will fit.

Santa Christmas Sign

Use any fonts you like. You could use stencils for the lettering or freehand.

Merry Christmas Sign

Add decorative painted accents such as holly leaves and berries, or enhance your project with accessories like garland, and lights.

Decorated Christmas Tree

Even though this Christmas tree is made with flat pieces of wood, you still need to consider how to decorate it, starting with a color scheme.

Warm Colors

The warm color palette consists of reds, oranges, and yellows.

Cool Colors

The cool color palette includes greens, blues, and purples.

Monochromatic

With a monochromatic scheme, all decorations are the same color, and the variety comes from unique designs.

Multicolor

Create a festive atmosphere with all the colors of the rainbow.

Christmas Tree Lights

Instead of painting Christmas ornaments, you may want to paint lights with metallic acrylics. Another option is wrapping the tree with mini, battery-operated string lights.

How to Paint a Wooden Christmas Tree:

Raw Wood Tree

This freestanding, raw wood tree may need light sanding, especially the edges.

Supplies

Supplies:
Wooden Signpost Tree (28-1/2” high x 10-1/4” wide x 1/4” thick) (base 8”x4”x1/2” thick)
Acrylic Paints – green, yellow, brown
6) Bottles fabric paint: black, purple, blue, orange, pink, glow in the dark white
Paintbrushes

Paint the Tree & Star – Front

Using acrylics, paint the star, the “branches” and the trunk. You will need a thin brush to paint the trunk between the slats of green. Paint both sides of the tree, the base and all the edges.

Paint the Tree & Star – Back

Because this tree is meant to be seen from both sides, I came up with a finished design for the back. Paint the trunk brown from the base to the bottom “branch,” and green for the remainder.

Paint Details – Back

Apply fabric paints in thick dots to resemble ornaments upon the tree.

Repaint Star – Back

I didn’t like the look of the squared off piece of wood on the back of the star and thought it would better to see the full star on both sides. To accomplish this, I extended the star shape and filled it in with yellow as shown. A smiling face was added to the star, using black fabric paint, to give it personality.

Finished Tree – Back

The back of the tree is now complete. Only two more steps to complete this project.

Finishing the Tree – Front

Using black fabric paint, write the words you have chosen upon each board. Finish by giving the star a cute face. Allow it to dry overnight.

Finishing the Tree – Front

Using glow in the dark white fabric paint, trace the black letters to make them stand out better against the green tree. Every night, when you turn out the lights, the glowing words will make you smile. And what a nice way to fall asleep with inspirational thoughts floating in your dreams.

I hope you enjoy this project and are inspired to explore your creativity. Good luck in all your artistic endeavors and have fun decorating for the coming holidays!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays & Happy Crafting!

Dashing through the Snow

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Crafts Inspire Me

“Dashing through the Snow” calls to mind sleigh rides and Santa Claus on his gift giving journey. With a wooden sleigh and a few accessories, you can create a wonderful holiday centerpiece. Before we begin, let’s look at color schemes and designs of several sleighs to get your creative ideas flowing:

Antique Sleigh

Although this sleigh needs some love, wood in its natural state is attractive. With a little polish, the brass runners will shine again. The lights and evergreen garland are great seasonal details.

Stained Wood Sleigh

The beauty of natural wood grain may not require color. A clear sealant coat helps preserve wood for years to come. Wood stain is optional.

Green, Gold & White Sleigh

Green and gold are nice alternatives to the standard red and green Christmas colors.

One Horse Open Sleigh

A clear finish protects the natural wood color, while the open sides provide decorative opportunities for colorful pillows and blankets to keep riders warm on a cold winter day.

Formula 1 Sleigh?

If Ferrari built sleighs, this would be the one. This sleek aerodynamic design would allow Santa Claus to complete his rounds in half the time.

Red & Gold Sleigh

The brilliant red and shiny gold trim are popular choices for Santa’s sleigh.

Red & Gold Sleigh with Lights

Dazzling string lights create a magical ambiance, day or night.

How to Paint a Wooden Sleigh:

Unpainted Sleigh

There are many wooden sleighs available through craft stores or online.

Supplies

Supplies:
Wooden Sleigh (10-1/2” high x 14” long x 6” wide)
Acrylic Paints – red, black, metallic gold, & white
1) Bottle fabric paint: white
Paintbrushes

Sleigh Painted Red

Paint the sleigh with red acrylic paint. It may take a couple coats to ensure smooth, even color.

Black Painted Rails

Paint the rails black on both sides and all edges.

Painted Snow & Gold Trim

Draw snowflakes on all four sides and paint each with white acrylic paint. To enhance the designs, go over each snowflake with white dimensional fabric paint. Paint the edges of the sleigh with metallic gold paint. This will most likely require two coats.

This completes the sleigh. Now it is time to think about making it the focal point of a new centerpiece. Your next decision is: Who will pull the sleigh?

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding teams compete every year in an Alaskan race called the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Horse Drawn Sleigh

Riding in a horse drawn sleigh has been a tradition for centuries. In warmer seasons the sleighs are swapped out with carriages for year-round enjoyment.

Reindeer Drawn Sleigh

Santa isn’t the only one using reindeer to guide his sleigh.

A perfect 10 on the Cuteness Scale

Holding the reins securely in his paws, this adorable yorkie steers a course straight into the hearts of viewers in this moose drawn sleigh.

With your selections in mind, it is time to complete this project. There are no wrong answers. You may already have everything you need.

Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece

I chose a pig to pull the sleigh. His hat is a floral pick, without the stick. Fabric ribbon serves as reins, and I made a collar with a few jingle bells. Tuck one end of the reins into the collar, and the other is held by a squirrel, wearing a red crocheted hat.

Christmas Sleigh Centerpiece

A floral garland fills the sleigh with a harvest of red berries and green leaves. It looks like this cute little squirrel is stocking up for the winter. A male cardinal hitches a ride on the sleigh. All the red accents unify this design, while the pig provides a bit of whimsy.

Who will pull your sleigh and who will ride? Please let me know in the comments.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

No Bones About It

Posted on October 20, 2021 by Crafts Inspire Me

When it comes to Halloween decorating, skeletons are featured favorites.

T-Rex Skeleton

Terrifying dragons and dinosaurs are a few of the latest décor entries.

Saber Tooth Tiger Skeleton

Wild dogs and Sabre Tooth tigers are sure to follow.

Close-Up Rooster Skeleton

What about ferocious chickens? Ferocious may be a bit of a stretch, but “cocky” is a well-earned title.

Confident & Cocky

At a farm near my home, I saw a defiant rooster face off against a slow-moving minivan. That bird crowed at the top of his lungs. I wonder if roosters use curse words. The bird won the battle of wills! Apparently, roosters always have the right of way. lol.

Unpainted Rooster Skeleton

There are many Halloween bird skeletons, including vultures, crows, ravens, and ducks. When I saw this rooster, I knew I had to do something to make him stand out in a crowd.

How to Paint a Rooster Skeleton:

Inspiration

A rooster’s crown and wattle tend to be red, but anything goes for the feathers.

Inspiration

Because my favorite color is blue, I chose inspirational photos accordingly, but you can choose whatever colors you prefer.

Supplies

Supplies:
Rooster Skeleton (12-1/2” high x 11-1/2” long x 7-1/2” wide) sold at JoAnn Crafts
Acrylic Paints – red, black, metallic sapphire blue, & metallic periwinkle blue
Paintbrushes

Painted Head Details

Brush red paint onto both sides of the two most recognizable traits of roosters, the comb and wattle. Darken the eye sockets with black paint.

Unpainted Rooster Tail

As you might imagine, roosters are very proud of their plumage. Those tail feathers should be bold and colorful to make their presence known and to impress the ladies!

Painted Tail – Option 1

Paint the tail black, which tends to be the most common tail feather color.

Painted Tail – Option 2

Paint the tail a combination of metallic green and metallic blue.

Painted Tail – Option 3

Paint the tail metallic blue. I love the iridescent blue feathers shown in the two inspirational photos. What bothered me about the skeleton was the five bones in the tail, which resemble a metallic hand.

Defining the Tail Feathers

Carefully apply a line of black paint down the length of each tail bone and angled short strokes to create a feathered appearance.

Side by Side

Minimally painted head details versus fully defined tail feathers. If you are satisfied with your results, you could stop at this point. Additional steps below will give the rooster a more frightening appearance.

Painted Eye Detail

Outline both eyes with red paint. This changes the entire expression with a few easy strokes.

Eerie Glow from Within

Paint the inside of the ribs with metallic periwinkle paint. Many Halloween skeletons come with LED lights hidden inside to illuminate the rib cage. This one did not come with lights, but the metallic paint produces a similar visual effect.

Joint Details

Add red on each of the ball joints for the wings and the knees.

Unpainted Rooster versus Completed Rooster

As you can see, this rooster has come a long way from its humble beginnings. At a distance, you can easily recognize it, and the extra painted details catch the light, drawing your attention to this demanding and amusing creature.

For more ideas, please click here to read last year’s post on skeleton painting.

Happy Halloween & Happy Crafting!

Abracadabra – Harry & Hermione’s Magic Wands

Posted on July 28, 2021 by Crafts Inspire Me

Hermione and Harry never go anywhere without their magic wands.

Logo/Sign at Ollivander’s Wand Store, Universal Studios

Every Hogwarts’ wizard goes to Ollivander’s to choose his or her magic wand.

Magic Wands at Ollivander’s Wand Store

While doing research, I was surprised to see that many of the wands in the Harry Potter series were rather lackluster. I expected wizards to have exquisite, highly personalized wands to express their personalities as well as their power.

Wooden Chopsticks

For this project, we will transform wooden chopsticks into magic wands for Hermione Grainger and Harry Potter. Use these techniques to create a wand for any character and add whatever embellishments feel right to you.

How to Make Hermione’s Magic Wand:

Inspiration

Hermione’s wand has a fairly simple design, consisting of English ivy wrapped around a monotone magic wand.

Supplies

Supplies:
Wooden Chopstick (9” long x 3/8” thick)
Acrylic Paint: yellow ochre
Bottle fabric paint: glow-in-the-dark white
Paintbrushes
Clear Spray Paint: Matte Finish
Optional 1) Faceted rhinestone & Acrylic Paint: metallic peridot. See “Advanced Painting” below.

Painting Chopstick

Step 1 – If the chopsticks are lacquer-coated, you may need to prime the surface first, and then apply two coats of acrylic paint. Puncture a hole in a box to hold the wand upright for drying, but don’t forget to paint the tip later. To prevent fingerprints and scratches, handle with a tissue.

Painting Vines & Leaves

Step 2 – Starting at the top, use three-dimensional paint to create an ivy vine wrapping around the wand. Add an interesting twist by using glow in the dark white paint, but if you prefer, you can use plain white. If you want to be true to Hermione’s original wand design, wait until the 3D paint dries, and then paint the vines with yellow ochre to match the rest of the wand.

Hermione’s Finished Wand

To seal the paints, spray the wand with clear spray paint. At this point, the wand is complete. If you have been following this blog for a while, you know there is usually an enhanced version, which is shown below in the “Advanced Painting” section.

How to Make Harry’s Magic Wand:

Inspiration

Harry’s wand has a textured, two-tone design. Rough “tree bark” at the top serves as a handgrip, and the rest is smooth wood.

Supplies

Supplies:
Wooden Chopstick (9” long x 3/8” thick)
Acrylic Paint – licorice black, coffee bean brown
1) Bottle fabric paint – brown
Paintbrushes
Clear Spray Paint: Matte Finish
Optional – Glue gun & 1) Faceted rhinestone. See “Advanced Painting” below.

Creating Texture

Step 1 – Using three-dimensional paint, draw long lines at top to create the basic texture as shown above.

Adding More Texture

Step 2 – Fill in with more texture, to create a rough tree bark appearance, including pointed edges across the top of the wand. Allow paint to dry overnight.

Painting Black

Step 3 – Paint the entire wand with black acrylic.

Dry Brushing Brown

Step 4 – Dry brush the rough bark with brown acrylic paint, allowing the black recessed areas to show through, as they do with real bark. Seal the paints with clear spray paint.

Harry & Hermione’s Finished Wands

This photo shows the two completed wands side by side. I wanted to take this project to the next level by creating more texture on Harry’s wand and more visual interest for Hermione’s.

Advanced Painting:

Hermione’s Wand – Defining the Leaves

Step 1 – Make the leaves more prominent by applying a thicker coat of the same three-dimensional glow in the dark paint on each individual leaf.

Close-Up Vines & Rhinestone

Step 2 – Create a glowing cap on the end of the wand and place a rhinestone in the center as shown. In case you didn’t know, fabric paint can be used in place of glue.

Glowing Wand

Step 3 – After being exposed to light, the vines, and leaves glow in the dark. You can test the glow by holding the wand under a bright light for several seconds and then switch off the lamp. Adjust the paint as needed.

Accent Painting the Leaves

Step 4 – Something still needed to be added, but I didn’t know what it was. Finally, I decided to apply a soft pastel green to the leaves, providing color as well as a subtle shimmer. Seal paints with clear spray paint. By day or night, this wand has stylish and surprisingly powerful.

Harry’s Wand – Creating Thicker Tree Bark

Step 1 – Using a glue gun, add long lines for more texture upon the handgrip.

Roughening the Texture

Step 2 – Use brown three-dimensional paint to roughen up the smooth lines of glue, to resemble tree bark more closely.

Painting Black

Step 3 – Paint the entire wand with black acrylic.

Dry Brushing Brown

Step 4 – Dry brush only the rough bark handle with brown acrylic paint, allowing the black recessed areas to show through, as they do with real bark. Use glow in the dark fabric paint to attach a rhinestone to the end of the wand as shown above. Seal paints with clear spray paint.

Harry’s Finished Wand

The thickened “tree bark” looks better, and the sleek black wand is the perfect choice for a powerful wizard.

Harry & Hermione’s Finished Wands

These two wands work well together, just like Harry and Hermione.

Close-Up – Both Finished Wands

I hope you have found a few inspirational ideas to create your own wands. Do you have a favorite wizard, or a favorite magical literary character? What kind of magic wand do you think that character would choose? Please let me know in the comments section. Enjoy the creative process, and let your ideas run wild.

For more Harry Potter crafts, please check out this post: “Harry Potter’s Magical Creatures.”

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

Birds of a Feather – Decorative Wood Crafts

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Crafts Inspire Me

For some reason, I often find myself drawn to the wood crafts aisle at my local hobby store. Maybe it’s the quick reward for very little effort at an inexpensive cost. Who doesn’t enjoy a little instant gratification? There’s always something new to discover. New trends and seasonal favorites compete for your attention on the shelves.

Painted Inspirational Words
The popularity of the television show, “Fixer Upper,” has brought farmhouse chic to the forefront of home design trends. As a result, oversize wood letters and words have become very popular wall art. If a particular word or phrase has special meaning for you, spell it out on a wall as a daily inspiration to share with your family and friends.

Birds on Wire
Looking for a quick and easy way to add some pizzazz to any flat wood surface? Apply contact paper or left over wallpaper for interesting colors and patterns.

Wooden Bird & Fish
For a distressed look, keep the color palette soft as if they faded over time, allow the paint to dry, and then use sandpaper to “age” the surface.

Painted Wood Boxes
The base coat for decorative boxes can be painted using brushes or spray paint. Intricate details and complex designs can be applied using fine point paint pens in solid or metallic finishes. Rhinestones and beads will provide a touch of sparkle.

Wood Owl
This adorable little owl has a painted face and the patterned wings were created with contact paper. For clean, crisp edges on the eyes and beak, use stencils.

Wooden Eggs
Painted eggs are a tradition in many cultures. Applying wax in intricate patterns and dipping the exposed areas into dyes created these beautiful designs.

How to Paint a Wooden Flamingo
Now that you’ve seen several woodcraft examples, it’s time to try your hand at decorating. Craft stores and Dollar Tree stores have several freestanding wood animals, including a flamingo, rhino, hippo, stegosaurus, peacock, elephant and more.

As with all projects, it helps to have a little inspiration. Seeing live flamingos really helps with color and feather pattern decisions as well as basic biology.

Raw Wood Flamingo
As you can see, the thick wood has been cut out in the shape of a flamingo and has the advantage of strong, sturdy legs, making this a freestanding, three-dimensional piece. Both sides and all the edges will need to be painted. Due to the raw nature of the wood, it may require a little sanding, especially along the edges.

Supplies:
Wooden Flamingo (7-1/2” high x 4-1/2” wide x 1-3/8” thick)
Acrylic Paint – orange, black, & white (plus optional yellow for eyes)
1) Bottle fabric paint – orange
1) Bottle fabric paint – pink
Paintbrush
Sandpaper

First Coat of Paint
Step 1 – Paint the flamingo with orange acrylic paint, including both sides and all edges.

Second Coat of Paint
Step 2 – Apply a second coat of orange acrylic paint, and add details to the face. The legs have been painted gray.

Textured Paint
Step 3 – Create a feathered texture by applying orange fabric paint. The paint on the head and neck was applied in a random dotted pattern because these areas are smoother than the lower body. Use long strokes on the torso, ensuring to go in the direction of the feathers. Refer to the inspiration photo as needed. Allow the paint to dry overnight. Using a small paintbrush, and orange acrylic paint, add the thin leg and feet details on the sides, front and back of each leg. This gives the illusion of thin legs like the live birds.

Second Coat Textured Paint
Step 4 – Create more texture by repeating the orange fabric paint process in Step 3. Add additional details with pink acrylic paint: Dot the pink over the head and neck, and create the wings on the torso. Refer to the inspiration photo as needed.

Finished Flamingo
Step 5 – Apply a second coat of pink fabric paint, thickening the wings and increasing the pink highlights on the head and neck. Allow the paint to dry overnight. Using a paintbrush, give the beak a second coat of white and black acrylic paint. To give the eyes more dimension, add a large dot of yellow fabric paint. Remember to add a black dot in the center of each pupil.

This completes your flamingo project. He may not take flight, but the bright colors and cheerful expression are sure to make you smile. For more painted wood crafts, please click here.

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

Harry Potter’s Magical Creatures

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Crafts Inspire Me

Diagon Alley
During frustrating travel restrictions, wouldn’t it be nice to wave a magic wand to restore order once again to our lives. I suppose the next best thing is delving into a magical book or watching a movie about everyone’s favorite teen wizard, Harry Potter.

Harry Potter Owl & Griffin
While I appreciate all the characters created by J.K. Rowling, I must admit my favorites are the mysterious, magical creatures that inhabit that fantasy world. Whether real or imagined, each is endowed with exceptional powers and abilities – some for good and others not so much.

Harry Potter Goblin & Dragon
Don’t you just love goblins for balancing the books and dragons to keep it interesting?

Fire Breathing Dragon
Fire-breathing dragons are awesome, but perhaps we need to find something a little less flammable? lol

Harry Potter Monster Book
Every Harry Potter fan dreams of living in his magical world. You have read the books and seen the movies, but to experience it in the real world, you’ll need to make the trip to Universal Studio’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If travel isn’t on your agenda, perhaps you could bring a piece of Harry’s world into your own.

Harry Potter Monster Book
You can’t be a wizard without a few enchanted books. Who could forget the ferocious monster book? Ever wondered if you could make one?

How to Make a Monster Book Fit for a Wizard:

Raw Wood Book Box
Unfinished Wood Book Box
The moon and the stars must have aligned to make your wish come true with the discovery of this wooden book box, available through Michaels for $6.49. It’s the perfect size and thickness, and offers a strong foundation for building a monster book. As a bonus, there’s a secret compartment inside for storing your favorite spells (recipes), magic charms (office supplies), or wizardly collectibles.

Supplies:
Wooden Book Box (9.75″ x 7.5″ x 2.88″)
Black Paint – brush on Acrylic or spray paint
Sharpie Metallic gold marker – medium point
Vampire Teeth
Faux fur
4) Packing peanuts
4) Glass marbles – orange
1) Bottle fabric paint – black
1) Bottle fabric paint – white
1) Leather or vinyl belt
Glue gun
Scissors
Paintbrush

Book Box Painted Black
Book Painted Black
Paint the box black, inside and out. This dark color will make a great contrasting background for the gold paint applied in the next step.

Gilded Pages

To create the appearance of gilded pages, draw horizontal lines along all three sides of the book, using a Sharpie metallic gold pen. Don’t worry about crooked lines. Pages in old books become crinkled and curled. Imperfect lines will provide an aged look.

Toothy Expression
Attach Teeth
The next step is attaching teeth. Center the mouth as shown. The large fangs are from Fire Mountain Gems, and the smaller teeth are actually clear quartz crystal chips, painted to match. To simplify this step, purchase vampire teeth at a Halloween store or Amazon.

Hair Club for Monsters
Fur Cover
Faux fur from JoAnn Arts & Crafts is the perfect color and texture for this monster. Cut the piece large enough to allow a hem on all four sides. Be sure the fur will not interfere with the operation of the hinges. Please note: the raw edges of fur shed like crazy. Once they are hemmed and attached to the book the shedding stops. (Yeah!)

Faux Fur
Trim & Hem Fur
The sides could be hand sewn, but these hems were made with a glue gun.

Shaped & Glued Packing Peanuts
Packing Peanuts as Eye Sockets
I decided this monster would have four eyes. To make the eye sockets, use four packing peanuts. Each peanut is pinched in half and glued to hold its shape. Glue the four together end to end as shown.

Painted Black
Painted Packing Peanuts
Paint the foam with black fabric paint. Use a toothpick to keep the paint off your fingers.

Orange Glass Eyes
Marble Eyes
I found four orange glass marbles with red streaks resembling bloodshot eyes. Each was glued into the sockets, and outlined with white fabric paint. A white dot was added to each marble to give it that creepy glint in the eye appearance.

Final Assembly
Attach Eyes & Fur
Attach the eyes to the fur, and then secure the fur on top of the box.

Accessorize
Finished Monster Book
Last step: Wrap an old leather belt around the book to keep your monster under control.

For diehard Harry Potter fans with model building and wiring skills, there is one more step that would take this monster book to the ultimate level: mechanization! Hide a motor inside the box to operate remote controlled wheels and hinges for the jaws. Unleash the beast! lol

Congratulations! You’re now the proud owner of your very own Monster Book. Be sure to keep it on a short leash because we all know how much it loves to shred – shoes, feet, paper – anything within reach. For decades, kids have been telling their teachers, “The dog ate my homework!” With a monster book as a pet, this excuse might be believable!

Do you have a favorite Harry Potter creature? Please share your thoughts in the comments section. Until next time…

For more Harry Potter crafts, please check out this post: “Abracadabra – Hermione & Harry’s Magic Wands.”

Thanks for Reading & Happy Crafting!

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