Pop Bottle Tree Canvas

Much like this week's first post, we're going to be making a fun, colorful, and easy canvas project with acrylic paints & just a few other items that you probably already have around your house.  We'll be using the bottom of a pop (or soda) bottle to create floral-y tree leaves with our paint.  In case you couldn't tell, I have a tree theme in my living room at home.

(Image by Etsy on their website: {https://img0.etsystatic.com/007/0/7186093/il_570xN.368858828_hbhi.jpg}.)

To Complete This Project You Will Need:

• Any Size Canvas You Like
• An Empty, Clean Pop Bottle
• Mod Podge Craft Glue
• A Sponge Paint Brush
• Colored Pencils 
• Assorted Acrylic Paints
• A Paper Plate
  
  
  Canvases can cost about $3 or $4, depending on where you purchase them.  Mine is from Ollie's Bargain Outlet.
  
  
  Mod Podge comes in a variety of sizes, but for a project this size, the bottle you need is only about $4 (with the majority of the bottle left over afterwards.)  You can find this at Walmart or any craft retailer.
  
  Acrylic Paints can be purchased at many superstores, such as Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc. who have craft sections and at all craft retailers.  Depending on the type of paint (white kind of surface it's meant for), the brand, and size, the acrylic paints I've bought personally have run anywhere from 50¢ to about $1.98.  The number and colors of acrylic paints you would like for your canvas is completely up to you.
  
  
  Sponge Brushes are easy to find at just about any retailer.  I purchased mine in a package of about 10 at Dollar Tree for $1.  

I first squirted some paint onto my paper plate, and then dipped the bottom of my pop bottle into it, making sure the paint covered the 4 sections and middle.

Next, I pressed the bottom of the pop bottle onto my canvas where I wanted my tree leaves to be.  I wanted to do this placement first so that I'd have a started point to combine with my drawn tree trunks.

 

I then continued with my base leaf color of green to more fully develop the shapes of the trees and leaves.  This project is a little more abstract and playful.  I kinda felt like it looked like a kid's finger painting, but I didn't really care.

As you can see in the above picture, after I added more "leaves" to my tree, I also made a rough sketch of my tree trunks.

Next, I colored in my tree trunks with colored pencil, to give them some depth & definition, while also letting my first layer of "leaf" paint dry.

I then chose 3 more colors of acrylic paint to add on top of the green (which I did not wait for each color to dry before applying the next.)  I wanted to show the changing of seasons through the leaves of the two trees, so I layered red, orange, blue, & white paint onto the leaves.

Once you've painted each of your leaf colors onto the canvas, it's a good idea to let the paint dry overnight.  Afterwards, you can paint on your Mod Podge craft glue with the sponge brush to give your canvas a seal, as well as a nice matte or glossy finish.

 Voila! You've Made Your Own Pop Bottle Tree Canvas!
Thank You & Enjoy!

Eggshell Paint Splatter Canvas

This week we're back with some fun canvas projects.  Today's will be making our own paint splatter canvas using old eggshells. This project is fun, colorful, creative, and very inexpensive.

 (Image by Graphic Leftovers Design Blog on their website: {http://graphicleftovers.com/blog/vector-rainbow-paint-splatter/}.)


Items You'll Need for this Project:

• At Least 6 or More Emptied and Rinsed Eggshells
• Any Size Canvas You Like
• Mod Podge Craft Glue
• A Variety of Acrylic Paint
• A Sponge Craft Brush

 Canvases can cost about $3 or $4, depending on where you purchase them.  Mine is from Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

Mod Podge comes in a variety of sizes, but for a project this size, the bottle you need is only about $4 (with the majority of the bottle left over afterwards.)  You can find this at Walmart or any craft retailer.

Acrylic Paints can be purchased at many superstores, such as Walmart, Target, Kmart, etc. who have craft sections and at all craft retailers.  Depending on the type of paint (white kind of surface it's meant for), the brand, and size, the acrylic paints I've bought personally have run anywhere from 50¢ to about $1.98.  The number and colors of acrylic paints you would like for your canvas is completely up to you.

Sponge Brushes are easy to find at just about any retailer.  I purchased mine in a package of about 10 at Dollar Tree for $1. 

In order to keep the eggs in good enough shape to use for this project, I cracked them as delicately as I could, while trying to keep the shells as intact as possible.

 Once you've rinsed your eggshells, fill them about ½ to ¾ of the way full with your desired acrylic paint colors. Until you're ready to actually use the paint-filled eggshells on your canvas, it's probably a good idea to carefully place them back into their carton.

After you've filled your eggshells, set your canvas up somewhere clean and protected, as to not get paint all over your floor or house.  I completed this project before it was cold outside, so I just leaned my canvas against a tree trunk. 

 (Image by Raspberry Rain on their website: {http://raspberryrain.co.uk/2014/06/24/fun-things-to-do-paint-filled-eggs/}.)


Now comes the fun part!  Take your paint-filled eggshells, one or two at a time, and fire them at your canvas.  Some eggshells will stick with the paint of your canvas, giving it a cool "mixed medium" effect, while others will fall off, just leaving their paint behind. 



Once you've splattered your eggshells onto the canvas, it's a good idea to let the paint dry overnight.  Afterwards, you can paint on your Mod Podge craft glue with the sponge brush to give your canvas a seal, as well as a nice matte or glossy finish.



Voila! You've Made Your Own Eggshell Paint Splatter Canvas!
Thank You & Enjoy!