DIY Art With A Sharpie

I needed a piece of fall oriented artwork for the hutch top in my living room. For over a year now I have been using a free printable piece to work from. Until now I have given them away as gifts but today, this one is for me.

I start with a printed piece. I found it on the internet years ago when searching "free printable pumpkins". You can find it here or go to my Pinterest account and in the Autumn board.

Now, I am going to talk about taping paper but it is not actually tape, it is Loctite blue mounting putty that I pick up from Staples. I use it everywhere. I attach it to back of frames to keep them straight on the wall, I use if for lightweight seasonal decorating. I have note cards with Scripture tacked all over the house. I use it to hang Christmas cards we receive each year. I always have it on hand. It can be reused as long as it is clean. It does not leave marks or stains on the walls and it doesn't damage photos that I use it on. Sometimes, on old pieces of paper it sticks and won't come off clean but that is rare.

Ok, so I enlarged the pumpkin image to fit what I wanted to do with it. I then "taped" it to the window. You can use a light box if you have one but I don't so the window does the trick for me. Next I taped a page from an old book I use for decorating and crafts over the top, positioning it where I wanted my image to show up.

Using a Sharpie, I traced the image onto the book page. Simple, right? Now, I realize I could have just printed this onto the book page using my printer but I did not want it to look that perfect.

You can leave your piece just like that, frame it and you're done....but I can't leave well enough alone so I added color. I have a set of chalks that I purchased from a Stampin Up party years and years ago (like 15+). Craft supply hoarder...not just a title-it's who I am. I accept it.

They work perfect for this? I use a paint brush and brush/scrub in my colors. The first time around leaves a light coloring.

You build color up with the chalks so you will want to go back in two or three times. It is very easy to blend colors with the chalks. Make sure to not smudge your work as you hand rests on the piece. Blow off any chalk dust periodically.

When you are happy with the color mat it and frame it.

I have done this on paper several times but my favorite is to do it on muslin.

I like the look of leaving in black and white but the chalks work very nice on the muslin. They blend beautifully into one another but you'll have to take my word on it for now.

And, there it is; easy-peasy and super cheap! I had the frames, matting, muslin, chalks and book pages. Free art=yippee!  If you try this project send me a picture of it! Oh! And if you haven't signed up to follow by email, please consider doing so. Thanks.

Party Time!
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