Learn to paint with You Can Folk It: Twin hearts tutorial

With so much going on in the world at the moment, we don't know where we would be without our favourite escape.  Picking up our paintbrushes, even just sitting in our creative space is a welcome solace.  Last week, we talked about the need to spread a little love and joy to others and this week, we have created a little project for you. 

For this project you will need: 

YCFI Vintage Rose Kit

YCFI Oriental Blossom kit

YCFI Dotty Collection Sweetheart kit

Transfer paper 

Dotting tool 

No 3 Round Brush 

No 8 Flat Brush 

DecoArt Americana paints - we chose Frosted Plum, French Mauve, Warm White, Blue mist & Lamp Black. 

Begin by transferring the pattern to your project.  We painted ours onto A4 black card.  

To create this original project we drew around an MDF heart we had so if you didn't want to transfer it, feel free to draw around an MDF heart or one of our mountboard hearts. 

Begin by painting the roses and the blossom flowers. When painting the blossom flowers, we twisted our brush so unlike the outer two flowers, the centre flower had darker edges and a lighter centre.  

 NOTE: If you do not have either of these kits, why not try substituting them for daisies, hindeloopen flowers or a cluster of rosebuds?  

Paint the leaves and then add a little white to your green to add the stems.  Work with the heart shape when you are doing this.  If you want to add more than we have, make sure they are positioned within our close to the heart outline. You will notice we added s stroke leaves to the Oriental Blossom but you don't have to if you haven't learnt them.  The great thing about these patterns is that you can mix and match the techniques you have learnt and create something that's your own.  

Add a line of dots on either side of each flower/flower cluster using the large end of the dotting tool.  

Next, using the large end of the dotting tool, create alternate dots of green and the darker shade you've chosen (in our case Frosted Plum).  

When these dots are dry, using the smaller end of the dotting tool, add the lighter shade (we used French Mauve) to each Frosted Plum.  If you have our Sweethearts kit, this is explained in the pattern from our Candy Cane heart.  

OPTIONAL: Add a few triangles of dots around your design to fill any spaces as you wish. 

Paint your own pumpkin tray - perfect for Halloween

You will need:

You Can Folk It! Brushes & Tools: 

Medium Liner, Flat Brush, Dotting Tool

DecoArt Americana: Tangelo Orange, Burnt Umber, Warm White, 

Avocado, Bright Yellow

Other: Practice paper, tracing paper, transfer paper

Before painting your project, practice all the elements on the practice paper. (You can find the patterns on our Folk It patterns Pinterest board.)  It's always a good idea to try painting the larger Pumpkin from the practice sheet first before moving onto the smaller ones.

1. Add a touch of Burnt Umber to Tangelo Orange and paint around the stem

2. Add a touch of Burnt Umber to Warm White and paint the stem

3. Add water to Burnt Umber and with this watery mix & your liner brush apply uneven diagonal lines to the stem

4. Add a touch of Tangelo Orange to Warm White and starting at the back paint each section of the Pumpkin using a 'C' stoke. 

5. Apply a second coat of this mix if necessary.  Tangelo Orange is a transparent colour, therefore we are creating a base so that the colour stays vibrant.  If you are painting onto a light coloured surface you can omit this step.

6. Next apply a coat of Tangelo Orange to the front sections.

7. Float Burnt Umber. (This is a technique we teach in our Flat Brush Cupcakes and Babushka kit) Before beginning this step, study the pumpkin below for a moment, bearing the following in mind... The Burnt Umber is going to create a shade, so we are floating the darker colour to any section that is behind another.  

8. Float Warm White on the edges of the Pumpkin that sit in front of another.  By using this technique, we help flat objects take shape. To the eye, dark colours recede so look further away and light colours advance and so appear closer. 

9. Make a wash with your flat brush using plenty of water and Bright Yellow and apply over the whole Pumpkin, see how this has reduced the whiteness of the floated highlights, this is a great way to dull your floated colours if you have just started learning...it also gives the Pumpkin a lovely warm glow.

10. The leaves are created using the wiggle stroke as taught in the Butterflies lesson, a comma stroke using the flat brush and combining the 2 together.  If you have not yet progressed to this level, then use your favourite leaf. 

11. The blossoms are as taught in the Oriental Blossom Lesson.  Use Warm White to paint each of the Petals and apply dots using Burnt Umber & Tangelo Orange.  

Once you are happy with your skills, you can create your final design.  If you wanted to create your own wreath design, you can learn more about how to do that here. To create your wreath, begin by painting the pumpkins.  When painting the stalks, try to paint them in different directions to add variety. 

Next, add your leaves.  Using single leaves and clusters, aim to fill the majority of your circle.  If you do not feel comfortable using the ruffled technique, use whichever technique you do feel comfortable with.  We painted leaves in a few sizes, again to add interest to the design.  

Next, add single blossom flowers around the wreath - don't worry if they overlap areas you have already painted.  Finally, identify any areas that look empty and add dots (using the small end of your dotting tool) and small comma strokes using your liner brush.  

To seal your work, you could use DecoArt wax however, if you have painted a tray as we have done, it is better to opt for a couple of coats of varnish to protect your project.  

5 steps to beautiful bees

June is all about "Flora and Fauna" for our #funwithfolkit painting challenge.  Saying good bye to our Rainbow theme was difficult yet we have already been experimenting with a few new ideas including this sweet project.  

To complete this project you will need: 

Your chosen project - we chose this stone heart we originally bought from Matalan 

No 3 round brush 

Medium Liner Brush 

Flat Brush Starter kit 

Oriental Blossom Add on kit 

DecoArt Metallic in Bright Brass 

DecoArt Americana in Lamp Black and Warm white or Snow White 

Metallic Lustre in Champagne Ice 

Gold Glamour dust 

Stencil brush

Step 1. Using the Tracing and transfer paper from the Starter kit, transfer the bee design (below) on to your project. 

Step 2. Using the round brush and Bright Brass, fill the shapes (labelled Brass below). While the paint is still wet, sprinkle a little DecoArt Gold Glamour Dust over these areas to add a little sparkle*

 Step 3. Next, fill in the shapes labelled white with either Snow or Warm White.  Finally, fill the remaining shapes of the body with Lamp Black.  Using the Medium liner brush, paint the legs and antennas with Lamp black.  

Step 4. Using DecoArt Metallic in Bright Brass and Americana in White and Lamp Black (for the branches and flower centres), add our Oriental Blossom design around the edge of your project (we have added it round the side but this will depend on what you have chosen to paint e.g. for a plant pot, why not paint the Blossom around the lip? For a card, why not add a spray in the corner? 

Step 5. Using a small stencil brush, load a little Metallic Lustre on to the bristles.  Before you apply it to the project, rub the bristles in a circular motion on a piece of kitchen towel to remove the excess.  Dry brush the Champagne Ice over any raised areas on your project and over the bees wings.  

*Being a decorative item, we have left our project as it is. However, if you wish to use this design on outdoor plant pots, do not use Glamour Dust and finish your item with a couple of coats of Multi Purpose Sealer (which acts as a varnish) or weather proof varnish. If you wish to add this design on to furniture, again, forget the Glamour Dust and seal your finished piece with a coat of Chalky Finish Wax.