This week has gotten away from me, with watching the Super Bowl,
Mardi Gras, and Valentine’s Day…
Valentine’s Day is my son’s birthday and we had quite a celebration
which involved the delivery of a new truck!
So being in the birthday mood right now,
I am re-sharing cute birthday things that anyone can paint
You don’t have to be an artist to paint these funky candles,
all you need is a rough sketch to plan the colors and design
It’s so much fun to use these party birthday candle plates
to celebrate a birthday
These are my go to brushes in several sizes for small acrylic work
from right to left
Flat: a square flat bristle with a fine edge
Round: a full fat oval shaped bristle with a pointed tip
Filbert: like a flat brush, but the tip is rounded on either side
Liner: very small thin bristle, good for detailing
Use a flat brush for the candle
Load brush with ample paint
{make a few practice strokes to get the feel
on a piece of paper or foil}
Draw brush along the area,
pressing firmly and lifting off quickly
at the end of stroke for a clean edge
The stroke will be fatter than the brush,
so try a few different brush sizes to determine the size to use
When painting multiple pieces with the same design,
lay them out on your work surface like an assembly line,
that way you paint all the pink, then all the purple, etc,
and don’t have to clean your brush as often
Use a large round brush for the flame, load it,
then press down firmly using the brush
to make the flame shape
Quickly lift and twist the brush to finish stroke
which will leave a tip on the flame
Once candles are dry add patterns, dots, stripes, swirls
Use the handle tip for making dots
by dipping the opposite end of the brush, the tip of the handle,
into paint and then applying it to the piece with a firm dab
Use the liner brush for swirls,
a small round brush to place a smaller orange flame
inside the large yellow one,
and a small flat brush for stripes
You can use little buckets too for party favors or small gifts
Since you’re painting on metal,
you can use regular acrylic paint, matte or gloss
I found these mini buckets in the $1 bin at Target
You can fill them with popcorn or a snack mix for party fun or favors
Here are the steps to the birthday cake design
2 things to remember:
*If painting glasses or dishes, use curable paint made for glass. There are lots of varieties and brands available, I prefer the opaque rather than transparent, for depth of color. I also like to use gloss rather than matte finish. Check the different brands and choose the one that meets your preference
Paint only the surfaces that won’t come in contact with food or utensils. Utensils can scratch the paint. Look for dishes that have a raised border or an upturned edge, like the square plates I used
Deco Art offers a reasonably priced sample pack of opaque glossy paint here
Sources for white dinnerware:
Bed Bath Beyond, Old Time Pottery, Target, Walmart
Have fun and Be Fearless!
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Sundays on Silverado/ Happiness is Homemade
What’s for Dinner / Love Your Creativity
Between Naps on the Porch / Turn About Tuesday
Wednesday Linky Party / Karin’s Cottage Linky Party / Creative Crafts