Blog Archives

Handpainted Wooden Truck

3/16/2013

As part of this years "Spring Eggstravaganza" at the First Baptist Junior Academy of Jacksonville, businesses and parents alike have donated an amazing array of baskets and items for one of the years biggest fundraisers. I offered my services on several of the projects and the latest one I've completed is what I will show you today! One of our parents has a uncle that makes the MOST adorable wooden toys and furniture and I was given the raw wood items to personalize for the event. If you are interested in supporting this wonderful school, please follow the links to find out how you can purchase tickets to the event, which takes place on April 5, 2013 from 6-8 pm and includes a fabulous catered mean from Buca di Beppo .

Spring Eggstravaganza Tickets

Make sure you spray the finished item OUTSIDE!

Now you have the finished truck! This specific item will be up for auction at the FBJA Spring Eggstravaganza along with much, MUCH more! Get your tickets and we'll see you at the auction!

Painting the Truck

The craftmanship of this truck is phenomenal and I will be returning to edit this blog when I have his information to share. The steps to painting the truck were as follows:
~Use acrylic paint and brushes. Acrylic paint is great because it is durable and washes up with water. Watch out though it will stain your clothes!
~Avoid painting gears, hinges and metal parts for two reasons (1) Trucks hate it when paint gunks up their gears...it makes it harder for their wheels to turn and (2) acrylic paint isn't wild about sticking to metal either, especially on a toy that will bump or crash into things. It would eventually peel off and not look very nice.
~Make sure you do paint all the surfaces that you will be able to see! I painted the bottom because I have a son with about a hundred toy cars and I think I see them upside down more than right-side up. Ha!
~decorate your truck! I have used the school mascot and colors to embellish mine! To make the truck look a little more vintage, I used a darker coat of red for the base coats and then used the brighter red on the top layer.
~ SEAL IT! The final step of the process is to cover the truck with a sealant. I used a spray, but there are also paintable ones out there. I like the spray because it is easier to get an even coat. Remember to let the truck dry between coats and turn it over to get the bottom too! Below is a photo of the product I used:

For the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels!

3/15/2013

Link to Auction Album To Bid Directly!

The Cavalier Brigade Online Auction Page

"This online fundraiser was initiated to raise funds to support the efforts of Rescue organizations of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels."
-Cavalier Brigade Online Auction-

Help rescue the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Support the Arts! I'm helping, you can too!

In my family, we have a few dog breeds that tickle the heart strings a bit more than the rest, though we love them all! Among our favorites is The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and there have been many precious and well-remembered members of the family from the breed. An opportunity to support an event benefiting rescue organizations dedicated to the King Charles Spaniel came across my table. I did not have to think long about whether or not to participate. I didn't have much time, but I created an original piece for the auction from my imagination. (I really just wondered what it would be like to be my Aunt Susan...walking her brood of boys down the street.) Thus "Morning Out With The Boys," (pictured above) was created, and I am hoping that it will help those honorable dog lovers out there and these precious animals they are fighting to rescue. Would you like to be a fan of the Cavalier Brigade?! Would you like to participate in The auction or offer to assit your aid in a future event? Please follow the links above to view the MANY ADORABLE items up for bid. It isn't just art either! The Auction is open from March 17-23, 2013. Highest bidder wins! It's all for the puppies! Thanks for stopping by and we'll see you at the auction!

Handprint Animals

3/12/2013

One of my newest and more hilarious endeavors lately has been the "Handprint Animals." My daughter is in Pre-K and I was asked by the office staff if I could help turn students hands and footprints into animals for a quilt they were putting together for a fundraiser. Well, suffice to say that I became slightly obsessed with creating these fun keepsakes...and I can't wait to see the finished quilt with all 130 hands from the entire Junior Academy! I am sorry I don't have ALL of the before shots to go along with the finished painted squares...but if you can see the hand or foot inside the image (Which I certainly hope you can,) then you can create them at home with your own children (or alone in your room...I won't tell.) Like this idea? Don't fret...I'm full of these! Check back next time for a new batch of critters!
Thanks so much for stopping by. See ya real soon!

Make your own Lion and Clown Fish Handprint Art!

Start with just a simple yellow handprint. These were done on fabric with both acrylic paint and fabric paint.

To make our clown fish, we again start with just a plain handprint in orange. I have two different examples here and will show you the painted layers to make the fish. The white and black stripes of this species of fish is what makes them so recognizable. We LOVE the movie Finding Nemo at our house, and watching it is fun to do when making this project!

I did the details with acrylic paint and a small brush. Adding a tail, toes and turning the thumb into a head.

First I add a light orange to fill in the gaps between the fingers and add the white stripes.

With the Lioness, as with most of the animals that I have done, I used photographs as my inspiration. Simply browsing images of real animals (or actually looking at your pet) can help you make the most realistic creation by adding small details. I just added the lion cub to make the angle of the mothers head make sense, but don't forget: you can make your own baby animals out of thumbprints!

Finally I add the black details around the fins and the stripes as well as a little eye. Now you have a Clown fish handprint!

Handpainted Wooden Truck

Painting the Truck

For the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels!

Handprint Animals

Make your own Lion and Clown Fish Handprint Art!

Emily Ivey

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