Make it Merry: Week 2
Create a Pumpkin Candle
What better to put in the middle of the feast. David Fisher will show you how to make this easy and impressive pumpkin tealight holder.
Make a Sesame Street Wreath
For 40 years, Sesame Street has been part of our lives and has encouraged us to accept all holiday traditions. Barbara Crews will show you how to create this wreath dedicated to some of our favorite Muppets.
Draw a Penguin Pilgrim
For Thanksgiving crafts like place mats and name cards, you'll need some festive art. How about a lesson from Shawn Encarnacion on drawing this cutie penguin.
Embroider a Gift Bag
Save cash for presents when you reuse gift bags or buy those inexpensive plain bags. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how to dress them up for the re-gifting process with a touch of delightful embroidery.
Stitch a Swedish Ornament
If you've got an ornament exchange to attend this year, a traditional Swedish ornament will really stand out in the crowd. Cheryl Fall will show you how to hand stitch this original piece.
Wax Resist Holiday Cards
Add a contemporary look to your holiday while saving some cash on Christmas Cards. This wax resist technique from Marion Boddy-Evans is just what you need.
Pumpkin Foam Sticker Earrings
For a quick Fall look in a pinch, try these pumpkin sticker earrings from Tammy Powley. She'll show you how to make them in five easy steps.
Paper Globe Ornament
This dimensional ornament has an intricate look, but is actually simple in design. Kate Pullen will show you how to cut and stamp this delightful addition to your decor.
Knit a Stocking Ornament
A mini stocking is a creative way to give a gift card, or hide a little treat on the tree. Sarah E. White shows us how to knit this cute little sock.
Christmas Tree Bunting
Decking the Halls has never been so fun, and this one is perfect for helpful kids to take part in. Use up those scraps of fabric with this decorative craft from the Sadie and Lance blog.
Make a Mini Hippo
Stuffed animals add a bit of fun and tenderness to any slew of presents. Stuff a stocking with a smile when you sew this little hippo from Lesley Shepherd.
Snowman Candy Jar
Top off your candy jar with a snowman face as sweet as the treats inside. Sherri Osborn will show you how to paint and assemble this wintry decoration that is appropriate to show off all season long.
Joy Ornament Crosstitch
Stitch a little bit of joy for someone this Christmas. Connie G. Barwick has the free pattern for this jolly cross stitch project.
Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.
Colored Pencil Basics
Colored pencils are an excellent medium for drawing your own greeting cards. They are easy to control and can deliver plenty of color if you choose a good quality pencil. Make sure you keep them sharp and don't be afraid to lay down plenty of color - don't be tentative with them. This article on Colored Pencil Techniques shows you some basic pencil strokes for creating texture. To get the best results in your colored pencil drawings, check out these colored pencil drawing tips.
More Colored Pencil:
Draw a Candle Flame in colored pencil
Draw Shiny Metal in color.
Colored Pencil Rose
A Pilgrim Penguin for Thanksgiving
Here's a fun Thanksgiving cartoon with a difference - a cute Pilgrim Penguin. Just the thing to impress a Linux geek with (the Linux mascot is Tux, the Fairy Penguin) or to keep your little Club Penguin fan occupied coloring-in. Check out the Pilgrim Penguin Cartoon Step by Step, created by our regular guest artist, Shawn Encarnacion.Show and Tell
It's show and tell time! We have a terrific new template that lets you share your drawings and stories without having to wait for your ever-disorganized guide to upload them to a gallery. She (ahem) just has to add a bit of text and hit 'approve'....
I've started a few topics so please jump in and have your say. Bear in mind, with the time difference in Australia, it may take a day or two before I approve it. When viewing Show-and-Tells, you can click on the image to see the full-size picture. Feel free to add topic suggestions to the blog post. I'll be adding some more soon, and we'll be able to use it to share projects, too!
Make it Merry: Week 1
Clothes Pin Holiday Card Holders
What to do with all those holiday cards? Hold them up with clothes pins as dazzling as twinkling lights with this how-to from Kate Pullen.
Make a Gingerbread House
Ever want to create the perfect gingerbread house? Okay, I have yet to master this skill..but you can! Our Barbara Rolek will show you how.
How to Draw a Christmas Tree
Here is one that will come in handy for all those handmade cards. Learn how to draw the perfect tree from start to finish, right here on About Drawing/Sketching.
Paint a Glass Ornament
Turn a plain glass ball into a work of stained glass art. Our Guide to Painting will show you how to create this delicate trimming.
Silent Night Cross Stitch Pattern
Don't just get cozy, get your stitch on. Create a Silent Night design with this free pattern from Connie G. Barwick.
Stitch a Pear Trio
Hang up something special in your home for that Thanksgiving gathering. This free 'Pear Trio' needlepoint pattern from Cheryl Fall is just what your walls needed.
Easy Christmas Ornaments
Start a tradition for the kids to make new ornaments each year. Sherri Osborne has the shape patterns and project ideas for these ornaments that reflect Christmas traditions.
Print Thanksgiving Placecards
Add some warmth to your table with these Thanksgiving place cards that will have your guests saying 'awwwww'. Barbara Crews has the free printable for you to personalize.
Wine Bottle Wrap Pattern
Instead of giving a bottle of wine in one of those skinny bags, make a felt wrap that the bottle can be displayed in all season. Phyllis Dobbs will show you how.
Make a Miniature Christmas Tree
Why are tiny things always so darn cute? Learn how to make a little pine tree with Lesley Shepherd.
Interchangeable Thanksgiving Pins
Sometimes you just can't commit to just one pin. With this interchangeable Thanksgiving pin by Tammy Powley, you can tell everyone when you're ready for pie...and when you're overstuffed.
Want to Join Make it Merry to show off your holiday crafts? We will showcase your crafts and recipes of all holiday traditions. Learn more.
Back to Basics: Pencil Shading
Good pencil shading takes a little thought and practice to master. Beginners often make their shading being too light and have unwanted changes of tone, or dark bands through what should be a solid area. The challenge for more advanced artists is to really control their range of tone, getting every subtle variation from white to black and all the greys in between. Working on some simple swatches, without trying to draw a subject, is a good way to improve your pencil shading and learn to control your values. Just focus on what you are putting on the paper, and experiment with pencil selection, pressure and method.
Pencil Shading Tips and Exercises:
Introduction to Pencil Shading - basic techniques
Graded and Continuous Shading - value exercise
Newspaper Shading - fun value drawing activity
Soft Shading - working from middle values
Graphite Pencil FAQ - choosing and using pencils
Miniature Animal Portrait Sculptures
Draw a Halloween Ghost
Here's a fun friendly Halloween ghost for you to draw for Halloween art and crafts - great for a card or decoration, created by our regular guest artist Shawn Encarnacion.
More Halloween Crafts:
Halloween Party Printables
Cross Stitch Skull and Crossbones
Halloween Cards and Printables
21st Century Still Life.
When you think 'still life' don't automatically think bunches of grapes and big old vases on swathes of velvet. We aren't living in the 18th century! Sure, rustic can look lovely, but when was the last time you had a Venetian urn laden with pomegranates in your kitchen? For a refreshing change, drag your Still Life into the contemporary world and look for some interesting compositions with things you actually use. Plastic, steel, glass and hard-edged manufactured objects are challenging to draw but worth the effort.
Image: (c) Iker, licensed to About.com, Inc.