| Watercolor Gift Bag |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-108 |
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Betty Denton, author of Beyond the Garden of Watercolors (Giftways, 1992), teaches how to paint subtle watercolors on a gift bag. Materials:
One 9" x 24" sheet of 140-lb. watercolor paper
Design to paint, reduced on a copy machine if necessary
Watercolor paints, professional quality
Watercolor brushes, combination of squirrel hair and synthetic, in thin, medium and wide sizes
Watercolor palette
Double-sided tape
- Place the design under the watercolor paper, and hold both up against a window so the light comes through. Position the design so it will be centered on the front of the gift bag. Trace over the design. The bag can be folded before or after painting.
- Brush water onto the area to be painted to wet the paper (figure A). Blend in the desired background colors of the design first by picking up watercolor paint on the brush and painting background areas of the design (figure B). Wash brushes between color changes. Let the background colors dry.
- Add detail to the design with a small brush. Betty Denton chose a hibiscus design and added detail to the stamens (figure C).
- Add more intense shading colors to the design and blend (figure D). Let dry.
- To fold the bag, start by folding the lengthwise edge toward the center about a third of the way up the sides. This will be the bottom of the bag. On the short edge, fold in a little tab (about an inch) to be used to tape the bag together. This crease will be the first corner of the bag. Divide the remaining paper into four equal parts, and fold three more creases, creating four sides. Fold the bottom flap like a package on the second and fourth sides, working between the creases. Form the bag, place double-sided tape on the tab, and stick to the edge of one side. Finish the bottom. Measurements can vary, and if you want the sides of the bag to be narrower than the front and back, adjust accordingly.
Tips: - Use brushes made of 100 percent natural hair or those with some natural-hair content.
- Place watercolors on a watercolor palette designed to blend the water with the paint and allow control of the color value.
- Professional-quality watercolor paints blend more easily and won't fade.
- Paint the background colors first and let them dry before adding the detail color.
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