Your wood carving steps can be just the first steps in a larger project. In this sample, Mandala Fish, the basic fish shape has been relief wood carved on a 3/4″ basswood slab. This is a simple rounded over carving that was sanded smooth after the cutting strokes were done. Next I traced my mandala pattern and used my wood burner to outline the pattern details. Colored pencils finish this project bring a bright rainbow of hues to my design.
Is it a carving? Is it a wood burning? Is it mandala work? Is it colored pencil art?
YES!
Many of our carving and pyrography ideas come directly from other fine art styles and media of works. This Lantern fish is a permanent marking pen drawing on Bristol board, brightly accented with colored pencils. It was the inspiration for the wood carving fish above. Want a free pattern to try your own mixed media fish design. Here’s one! And I have two free pattern packs, ready to download, on my pattern website at ArtDesignsStudio.com.
And … one more idea that fits better in the fish tank then in the standard hobby box. You can use any pattern as the bases for your next practice board. Just because you want a chance to check your tip temperature, establish your strokes and textures, or set your tonal value before you work on your main project doesn’t mean that practice board needs to be a boring, useless grid design.
This wind chimes will add a touch of country delight to your back porch. Its quick, easy, and fun to make a large set using graduated sizes of clay pots.
Step 1: Download your free doodle patterns, here at LSIrish.com. To discover more free patterns type doodle into the search box in the header of this page.
Step 2: Using a fine-point permanent marking pen, doodle around the lower section of the outside of your clay pot. For contrast, leave the rim of the pot without decoration. Work over some of your pattern lines several times to create a thick-and-thin outline effect.
Step 3: Wrap the thin twin around the bottom edge of the rim three times. Tie the twine tightly. Use a few drops of acrylic glue to hold the knot and twine into place. Allow the glue to dry.
Step 4: Cut a 2 yard long piece of thin twine. Thread the three gold-colored bells onto the thread, and move them to the center point of the thread. Bring the two ends of the thread together, tie a knot with the two threads about 1 1/2″ above the bells.
Step 5: Slide one 3/4″ twine bead onto the two threads and position the bead above the knot made in step 4. Tie a knot in the threads that sits on top of the bead.
This wind chimes follows the same step-by-step instructions as our Doodle Wind Chimes. The free doodles where printed on card stock paper, cut, and double-stick taped into place. This is a quick wedding decoration.
Step 6: Tie the two twine threads into a third knot the height of your clay pot away from the top of the bead. If your clay pot is 3 1/2″ tall, this third knot is made 3 1/2″ away from the bead.
Step 7: Cut two 1 1/4″ long pieces from the bamboo kitchen skewer. Tie one piece with a knot tightly above the third knot. Slide the twine, from the inside to the outside, through the hole in the bottom of the clay pot. Lay the second bamboo piece between the two twine ends, on the bottom of the pot, and secure with a tight knot. These two bamboo sticks hold the bell clapper in place.
Step 8: Hold one end of the burlap ribbon between your thumb and the side of your palm. Open your fingers as wide as possible. Wrap the ribbon over your fingers four to five times, leaving at least a 4″ long end.
Step 9: Carefully remove the wrapped burlap ribbon from your hand and place it, centered, between the two twine threads. Tie a tight knot in the twine to secure the burlap ribbons.
Step 10: Tie a knot in the twine threads 4″ to 5″ from what is now the top of your wind chime. Clip the ends to about 1/2″ long.
Step 11: Working one burlap ribbon loop at a time, turn each loop inside-out. This gives your ribbon that lovely curl.
Step 12: Use gold glitter glue to add little dots of bright, sparkling accents to your doodle pattern. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly, and your wind chime is ready to hang.
Artist morgue files are more than just a pile of pattern ideas. Your morgue file is a great place to keep those project ideas that catch your interest.
DIY Gift Pin Cushion Project
Supplies:
a ball of scrap yarn a 3 /12″ clay flower-pot 2 yards of burlap twine acrylic glue 6 rubber bands assorted marking pens assorted glitter gel pens.
Instead of hot glue or white glue, we will be using the rubber bands around the yarn ball to hold the yarn in place against the inside wall of the clay pot. This secures the yarn tightly into the pot, yet allows you to remove and replace the yarn ball if necessary.
For more free LSIrish.com Doodle Patterns type ‘doodle’ into the search box in the header of this page.
Step 1: Using a fine point permanent marking pen, doodle assorted designs onto the lower section of your clay pot.
Step 2: Accent the doodle designs with colored marking pens and with glitter gel pens. Allow the gel pen work to dry for about 10 minutes before you move to the next step.
Step 3: Wrap the burlap twine around the underside of the clay pot rim three times. Tie the ends into a bow and clip the ends to about 2″ long. Use several drops of acrylic glue to secure the bow and to hold the twine to the pot. Allow to dry.
Step 4: Grab those little bits of scrap yarn that you have been saving. Wrap the yarn into a semi-tight ball … tighter than you would normally wrap for knitting or crochet, but not so tight that the ball becomes excessively hard. You want your yarn ball about 1/2″ wider in diameter than the opening of your clay pot. Tie off the end of the yarn.
Step 5: Place five to six rubber bands around the center of your yarn ball. Slid the yarn ball into the top of your clay pot so that the rubber bands are about 1/2″ below the pot rim. Tuck in any loose yarn loops with your scissors.
Step 6: Your loose straight pins, needles, and safety pins will sit nicely in the yarn ball, while your doodling will add a little sparkle and decoration to your sewing table.
Step 7: Make another one for your favorite sewing friend!
Step 1: You can trace one of the free doodle patterns that I will be posting this month onto your kraft star tag. Begin by printing a copy of the pattern. Cut out the pattern, allowing about 1/4″ to 3/8″ margins. Rub a Soft, #2 to #4 pencil, all over the back of the pattern paper. Lay the pattern, face up, onto your star. With the soft pencil trace along the outlines. When you lift the pattern paper, the graphite from the pencil rubbing will leave a grey trace line on the kraft tag.
After you have finished the pen and ink work and adding any coloring, and allowed the ink to dry well, use a document cleaning pad to erase any remaining graphite lines from your star tag.
Free Doodle Pattern 004
Step 2: Use the fine point, black marking pen to create the lines of your doodle design. Rework some areas of the lines with a second layer of black pen to create a ‘thick and thin’ effect – this adds interest to the line work. Let the pen ink dry for at least 10 minutes before you begin the coloring steps.
Step 3: Clean the tag with your document cleaning pad by gently rubbing the pad over the tag. The pad is filled with finely ground eraser particles and will neatly clean any remaining graphite marks.
Step 4: Add any coloring that you want using the gel pens. You can also use colored marking pens, colored pencils, and even watercolor paint to accent the doodle pattern with just a touch of bright color. Allow to dry.
Step 5: Using acrylic glue, apply one line of glue along the edge of the star tag on the back side of the tag. Lay the tag onto the burlap ribbon. Weight the tag down against the ribbon with a heavy book. Allow to dry for at least one-half hour.
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Step 6: Cut the burlap 1/4″ to 3/8″ away from the edge of the star tag to create a fabric frame. You can tease a few strands of burlap off to make a ragged edge. Turn the burlap-back tag face down onto a piece of wax paper. Run a thin line of acrylic glue along the outer edge of the burlap to stop any further raveling of the fibers. Let the glue dry for at least one-half hour.
Step 7: Run a thin line of hot glue along the outer edge of the tag, on the burlap back. Begin by allowing a 4″ tail of paper twine string before you begin gluing. Gently press your paper twin string onto the glue. This covers the joint line between the tag and burlap, while framing the tag area. Work one straight side of the star tag at a time. This will let you easily make the sharp inside corners crisp. Cut the paper twine string 4″ away from the tag, when you have glue the entire outer edge of the tag. Tie the two paper twine ends together, once close to the tag and once at the end of the strings to create your hanging loop.
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Step 8: To add that extra holiday sparkle, use glitter glue in the design area. Let the glitter glue dry completely and your star tag is ready to hand.
