Swatching a New Watercolor Set

Learn how to swatch a watercolor set.

I love getting new craft materials. I purchased a new watercolor set on Amazon because my daughter has been powering through my supply of watercolor paints. Before diving into painting, I swatch the colors. It doesn’t matter if the material is watercolor, markers, or such, I always swatch the colors and you should too.

I swatch them in the order they appear in the packaging. It might also be nice to swatch them in blending relationships or color family relationships if they aren’t packaged well together.

Amazon link (affiliate): https://amzn.to/2IV8DvT

Why should you swatch? Often colors won’t appear the same in a solid form. Even if you are provided a printed color chart, it might not relate to how you use the colors. This is often seen in the cap colors of markers. Many artists talk about how the cap colors don’t appear similar to the swatched colors.

I keep the swatch sample with the color materials and often refer to it before choosing a color.

Did you find this helpful. Let me know what materials you swatch before usage.

How to Make a Trinket Box with Little Birdie

I am participating in the Designer Crafts Connection group blog hop that is sponsored by Little Birdie this month. The decoupage trinket box is what I made with the supplies Little Birdie provided.

The Designer Crafts Connection group is hosting a blog hop that is sponsored by Little Birdie this month. The above decoupage trinket box is what I made with the supplies Little Birdie provided. I really enjoyed the creative process of making the trinket box and I added a few parts as I was creating that I had not originally envisioned. These additions were the stenciling and the feet. I am excited to see what the other designers made since I believe we all received different materials to work with. 

This is the box I received from Little Birdie.


The box contained two coasters, two packs of the decoupage paper, Deco Magic in matte and glossy, and Varnish.

This post and photos may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. If you purchase something through any link, I may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Any supplies used may be given to me free of charge, however, all projects and opinions are my own.

Materials:

If you shop at Little Birdie and would like to use a discount code(affiliate link),
Janet05 will give you a discount of 5%.Use the following affiliate linking discount code JANETTRIESCHMAN at Rinea for a 10% off savings.

Directions:


To begin, I mixed ivory chalk paint and blue together for the inside of the box.


I painted one coat inside.
 


The outside I covered in one coat of the chalk paint.
 


I began to decoupage over the outside painted surface, one side at a time.
 


After each side was decoupaged under and over the paper, and it had dried, I cut the paper for the opening.
 


I then decoupaged the inside of the box.
Note, the edges are messed up but they get fixed before I finish the box.


I stenciled the light blue color on the top of the box.
This hints at the inside color.
 


The focal image was fussy cut from the decoupage paper and added to the top of the box, then the entire box was covered three times with the decoupage glue.
 


I decided to add feet to the box and painted beads to match with blue paint and then sealed them with the decoupage glue.
 


Using mixed media glue, I added them to the bottom of the box.
 


Here is the inside of the finished box.
Notice those edges are all cleaned up!
This might be my favorite part of the trinket box.
 


Here is the finished box from the side.
I really think those feet are a great addition.

Don’t forget to check out the other designer posts for this blog hop with Little Birdie. Just click the logo above.