You know those times where you are looking for the perfect gift for your parents because they watched your really rambunctious 2 year old and infant son for a whole weekend while you took a vacation? That was me when John and I went to Mackinac. We so wanted to pick out the perfect thing to bring back for my parents for taking the boys for the weekend, but nothing was really sticking out to us.
I saw a few little prints of Michigan in the different stores, but they were priced pretty high (not that you aren’t worth it mom and dad!) but if you know me at all, I can’t pay $40 for something I can make myself. It’s just not me.
So, when we got home, I got to work on what I knew was going to be a great gift for them.
I fell in love with watercolor over at The Handmade Home when they made their watercolor ampersand art. I mean, come on. Stop it. Shut the front door. That is adorable and I need 10 right now.
I figured I would combine that with my idea of doing a print of Michigan for them. So, I picked up a thing of watercolor paper and some craft paint from Wal-Mart and got my art on.
I started out by going old-school and taping up an outline of Michigan that I printed to my window so I could trace it onto my watercolor paper. I did that lightly with a pencil.
Then, I put a little of each color that I picked out onto a paper plate and got a cup of water. Next time, I probably won’t bother putting the paint onto a paper place because you use so little. I’ll just take it out of the cap or bottle.
I used The Handmade Home’s tutorial as a guide, but you really just have to go with it. No two pieces or techniques are going to be the same. I had so much fun with this project! I used to paint and draw a lot when I was younger, but haven’t recently, so it was nice to get back to that. The greatest thing about this project is that you do not need any artistic talent. I repeat: No. Artistic. Talent. Needed.
I used a really thin brush and started out on the edge of the map, using a really small amount of paint then dipping the brush in the water and using that to thin the paint out, working my way in. Then you just add more paint, change colors, repeat until it’s looking how you want it to. You can always dab up some paint, thin it out more, make it darker, etc. Just roll with it!
And you know I had to do one for our house, down here in Ohio!
Love. It.
I’m now dreaming of all the things I can paint in watercolor. Any suggestions?? I could totally do this for a living.
Do you home-make your gifts or prefer to buy them? Sometimes I really wish I could just buy stuff, but I inherited the “I can make that” gene from my father. Thanks, dad! 😉
Have a super day!
xo
Sam
