12 Day Painter's Extravaganza Announced

This is the place to check for some extra goodies for our 12 Day Christmas Extravaganza.  I know that people are busy getting ready to celebrate but we all love good deals and goodies for ourselves.  We decided to get a head start on 2012 and start with some new items and activities.  Check often because we have some opportunities for give-aways and prizes.  Stay tuned...

Today was a great special on our stencils.  It is a shame if you miss this one.  This is only the beginning. 

Dog Days of Summer Approaching

Hi all.  My dog Jasmine is catching every bit of sun that she can.  We have had so much rain that I actually feel sorry for her.  She wants to run so badly but it's not so much fun in grass that has standing water.  Just finishing final editing on our new book series. "Laurie Speltz's Words to Paint With..." Check them out, only a couple more days of the preorder special.  Don't miss out on this great offer.

Next up...
I am also finishing up on 2 new painting books.  Sneak peeks starting in a few days.

Laurie:)

Welcome to Summer Fun

Welcome to all those coming to join us for the first time.  Welcome back to all those returning.  We are so excited with the release of our new book series "Laurie Speltz's Words to Paint With..."  I have been working on these for months and can't wait to share them.  These books work great with our word stencils and also with our Alpha series of stencils.  Anything goes... Oh, sorry I just got done watching the Tony awards and that song is stuck in my head.  Now it is stuck in yours!!!

There is a great special going on for preorders of the books.  Don't miss out.  http://www.lauriespeltz.com/

This will be your summer place for entertainment, a few laughs, a video or two and lots of ideas.  Put your summer to good use.  Dust off your paint brushes and beat the heat.  Keep a smile in your brush - Laurie :)

We're Back.....

Sorry for being away for so long.  We have been trying to reorganize to provide new things for you all.  We are making many new additions and adjustments to better serve you and to provide more services.  We are excited about what's ahead and look forward to sharing.  We plan to use the blog to help suppliment upcoming products and to help explain some techniques in greater detail too.  We will notify updates on facebook and on the front page of the website. 

Talk to you soon...
Laurie

Painting for a New Year

Painting has started for the New Year.  Patterns are in the works and will start to be shared next week.  Stencils are being cut and we should be coming our way....

Hope everyone had a great holiday and are ready for some new projects.  I sure am.

Laurie:)

Count Down to Christmas

There are only a few days left before Christmas.  I have several days to put my creative juices to work and start new items for the new year.  Also busy finishing some last minute gifts.  Paint...faster!

Gingerbread House Tutorial

How about a quick tutorial with tips on using the new gingerbread stencil.  If you downloaded the free Gingerbread Jumbo Tag pattern off the website, you will hopefully find this helpful.  You can use this by itself or add a stand for decoration on a table, desk or in a kitchen.

I won't cover all of the step but will try to point out some pointers and hopefully will get your mind working on how you could take advantage of this and more...

Start with the blank jumbo tag.  I like to spatter my background before starting anything else.  That way I don't have to work around objects.  I also like to background stencils when I can.  Lay it down once and you are done.  You will then add and layer all the shapes on top of it.  

Tape off any area around the object you are trying to add.

Then add the roof.  Again you want to tape off any area that you don't want color to enter.  You will move the roof down to meet up with the house shape.  If you don't move it down there will be a gap.

Add shading on the house and roof.  Don't forget to add shading around the object also.  This will allow the shape to come forward and make it stand out.  Pounce color around the bottom so the object isn't floating in the air.

 Add all the candy canes and peppermint.  The shapes can be flipped either direction by just turning over the stencil and using the other side. The doorway is made by stacking long cylinder shapes.  

Shading adds a lot to the images and helps give them dimension.

Add stripes with a flat/shader brush.  The small stripes are done with a short liner.  A highlight line on the candy cane adds additional dimension.  There is an overlay for the round peppermint candy.

By adding snow on top of the candy canes you add an additional look of dimension and interest.  I use a #1 short liner to do this.  By varying your pressure on your brush you can create a lot of interest.

The stencil provides for a variety of gingerbread "people" shapes.  I chose a shape that works well to create a female shape. There are also a lot different possibilities with circles and gumdrop shapes.  I added lollipops and gumdrops to decorate my front lawn.

The gumdrops can be stippled with white to resemble sugar.  Add additional dots of color to make them stand out.  You could also use the new DecoArt Glitter paints on these to give them some sparkle.
Notice that I created the decoration on the gingerbread by just creating lines.

 

I found these fun swirls on the Haunted Mansion stencil.  You could also do them with a liner brush.  The dots are created with dots of color and the end of brushes or a stylus.

 You can test out lettering with a good chalk pencil.  A pencil used for quilting works great for this.  You can easily remove the chalk with a damp cloth or eraser.  No additional mess to deal with.

 Once you determine your lettering position, add two even coats of paint.  Shade on the sides of the lettering and under the lettering.  You can do your shading between coats.

 Finish by adding additional dots and swirls.  You can get some great ideas for decorating houses by looking at the examples of real gingerbread houses in ads or used as examples in gingerbread house making kits.  You can find them at your local craft store and in your holiday sections.

Hope you have fun and let your creativity soar.  So much can be done.  Enjoy!!!!

Laurie