Home Forums Explore Media Watercolor The Learning Zone Anybody have small Watercolor homemade gift ideas??

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  • #988864
    molly007
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        Hi All! I need some fresh ideas and encourage others to let everybody know what they are doing in the response so we all can “copy”.

        I’ve been watercolor painting Xmas ornaments for family and friends using a template of a Xmas ball on 300# paper, painting them to taste, seasonal, or individualized for the person etc., punching a hole and threading a cute ribbon through it and away it goes.

        I’m needing some new ideas for something I can “mass produce”, so to speak, to change things up a bit, that will show off the properties of watercolor and would make a cute small gift (no frame needed) to give to a friend or relative. Could be seasonal or for anytime of the year.

        What are you all making out there? I know about handpainted Xmas cards already, so there is that…

        Traditional, clever or unique, it doesn’t matter. I want to hear about it.

        Oh, what would you say is the best spray “fixative” out there for “sealing” your watercolor projects since these type of things won’t be framed or behind glass?

        Thanks for the ideas,
        Cheers!! Nicole

        #1144313

        You could do bookmarks and either seal with acrylic spray varnish or use a laminating machine to laminate in bulk before cutting them up.

        Doug


        We must leave our mark on this world

        #1144336
        molly007
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            Good one! Thank you. Does the acrylic spray varnish need to have any special ingredient/chemical to prevent it from yellowing over time or should I make sure “XYZ” is not in the formulation when I’m going to buy it?

            Appreciate it. Nicole

            #1144314

            I wouldn’t worry with a thing like a bookmark. I use it to protect maps printed on the ink jet from accidental water and haven’t noticed any yellowing. I suggest for bookmarks laminating would be the best option, and don’t forget to put your details on the back – free advertising.

            Doug


            We must leave our mark on this world

            #1144315
            Surfinia
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                You could do bookmarks and either seal with acrylic spray varnish or use a laminating machine to [B]laminate [/B]in bulk before cutting them up.

                I “laminate” book marks with clear packing tape. I tape first, then trim with scissors or a blade. Press well and the tape will seal well and not peel off.

                GIFT BAG
                You can make small gift bags with painted watercolor paper. I’ve seen this done in a book. You’d need to maybe take apart a small purchased gift bag to use as a pattern for cutting the paper and to know where to make the folds. Then punch holes at the top and add a cord for the handle.

                BOOK
                300 lb paper would make a heavy paper cover to a small, handmade diary or book of scripture or poems. Stitch the cover and pages together with heavy thread.

                #1144316
                Surfinia
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                    PAINTED MAT FOR PHOTO
                    Instead of a regular mat, make a mat for a photo that will fit into an easle-backed frame. Draw the dimensions on watercolor paper (don’t cut yet). Design a border within the area that will be the mat. Paint. When dry, trim to the correct outside dimension and cut out the opening.

                    The designs can be seasonal, or be specific for individuals. (i.e.: football theme for a boy, flowers for a woman, sports stuff for teens, etc.)

                    PS: most of the easle-backed frames have easy to open and close backs. The mats and photos can be changed whenever wanted.

                    #1144330
                    Marcio C
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                        A custom-made dust jacket (or dust cover) for daily planners, diaries or notebooks? You could use cheaper craft-like paper, in a medium toned color, paint darks with watercolor and use gouache for the lights…
                        Or laminated watercolor coasters for glasses? Customized watercolor name tags? Personalized business or personal cards? A watercolor mobile for babies and toddlers? A watercolor laminated chessboard?

                        #1144337
                        molly007
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                            Surfinia, I like the hand painted WC mat idea!!!!!

                            You can even make mini ones (any size for that matter) that people can use to kind of “frame” their own pictures of vacation or whatever. Common printed pictures sizes (i.e. 4×6 or 5×7 for the inside of the mat opening,,,well maybe a just tiny bit smaller so they can tape their picture to the back of the mat perhaps..) would make it easy for the receiver to just put a new or old picture that’s printed out from their standard photoshop, Costco etc. and wahlaaa!

                            You have me thinking now. That would be an easy template and you could get several out of a whole sheet of WC paper.

                            I got 35 ornament cutouts out of one whole sheet of WC paper. So when you are making a “set” for a family or whatever it works out economically….

                            Oh, I shouldn’t be talking right now…. I should be painting them….

                            Thx and keep the ideas comin’
                            Nicole

                            #1144322
                            Grainne
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                                Nicole, HERE is a thread about a watercolor bookmark that I made.

                                And here is another one of a bookmark that I made which is more seasonal, although I don’t think that anyone would mind using a bookmark any time of year that reminds them that they got this as a special Christmas gift from you :)

                                I usually put a personal message, a quote, a bit of poetry, or a scripture, my signature and the date and/or the occasion on the back of the bookmark, writing longwise. I put the handwritten material on the back of the bookmark even if it is only a print of the original painted one, which makes the bookmark very personal.

                                I “laminate” these bookmarks between two sheets of clear contact paper which you can purchase in rolls in almost any office supply store, Wal-Mart, school supply store, etc. This works perfectly because the backing of the contact paper is marked out in a grid, which is easy to use for measuring and cutting on straight lines. Simply measure out the desired piece of contact paper, making it big enough for a few bookmarks at a time, but not big enough to make it hard to handle. Lay it down on your worktable, backing side up, pull off the backing, lay out the bookmarks on the contact paper in rows with room to cut between them leaving a slight border all around. Pull the backing off another square of contact paper the same size as the first and lay it down carefully on top of the first contact paper with the book marks laid out on it and press the two together, smoothing them out from top to bottom, side to side. Then you can just cut around the bookmarks, leaving a slight border around each so that the contact papers stick together protecting the bookmark. Clear?

                                You might want to do a practice run on putting the two pieces of contact paper together with scraps of paper so you work out any problems before trying it with your actual bookmarks.

                                BTW, I “laminate” the printed ones as well as the handpainted ones because it makes them more sturdy and long-lasting.

                                As you can see in the case of the poinsettia card, I printed the card, and then cropped out a book-mark size section of the photo of the original painting (from which the card was made) and printed it on white card stock, which gives it some substance. Then I laminated them as above and included a bookmark inside each Christmas card as an extra little gift to be used all year, even after the Christmas card was put away or thrown away. I included some extra white space at the top and bottom of the bookmark. The top white space was wider so that I could punch two holes and thread a coordinating piece of gauzy ribbon through them to stick out of the book and show the place easily.

                                Grainne

                                Día Beannacht Leat :)

                                #1144328
                                Jakesgram
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                                    What a great thread, Molly. Several good ideas here that I might take advantage of.

                                    The picture frame idea made me think about making small fridge-magnet frames. You can buy sticky-backed magnet sheets in the craft stores and cut them to size.

                                    Grainne, your poinsettia card and bookmark are beautiful!

                                    I keep a stack of 4″ x 6″ watercolor cards and all my scrap w/c paper handy in my studio. Whenever I am working on a larger painting, I usually have colors / concepts / that I want to work out before putting my brush to the “real” thing, so I do it on these cards and scraps. Then I have a ready stash of small pictures that can be double-sticky-taped to the front of greeting card blanks and also “bookmarks” that I can grab when I need a quickie little gift.

                                    Also, this is a pretty unique situation, but when my first grandson was born, I had my daughter help me ink (with washable, non-toxic ink) his feet and stamp footprints onto small pieces of w/c paper. Then I painted in indistinct backgrounds to go with the decors of my daughter, her mother-in-law, and me. Then I printed his birth statistics over the background and popped them into small frames. May try this with handprints for the twins next year when they are old enough to cooperate a bit. (15 months now!)

                                    Thanks for the ideas.

                                    Jean

                                    Jean (aka Jakesgram)

                                    "People's dreams are made out of what they do all day. The same way a dog that runs after rabbits will dream of rabbits. It's what you do that makes your soul, not the other way around."

                                    #1144324
                                    troutbum
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                                        Around a couple of weeks ago, I saw something about how to make a gift bag using a piece of watercolor paper (naturally the bag is much nicer if it has a painting on it). The article showed a complete pattern with measurements, but unfortunately I cannot remember where I saw this article.
                                        troutbum

                                        [FONT=Times New Roman]troutbum

                                        #1144331
                                        Sandybells
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                                            My thoughts are to paint small works and then have the watercolors reprinted into photos that can be glued onto greeting card stock and/or calendars to be used through the year for those who would appreciate your efforts. Walmart and other places can make copies rather inexpensively and you do the cut and paste up to make them attractive. Make these on precut greeting card stock with envelopes included. Use plastic sleeves to package and present as a gift.
                                            So many people today would appreciate all-ocassion cards they can use. Don’t limit your art to Christmas themed art. Birthdays, missing you, sympathy etc. Most people are still using birthday cards and sympathy cards these days. Note cards and enclosure gift cards too.
                                            Sandy

                                            #1144323
                                            PierceClark
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                                                Once again, I am awed by what takes place on WetCanvas.
                                                There are so many beautiful, fun ideas here!

                                                Thanks!
                                                I don’t know which one to do first!!!

                                                #1144318

                                                Wonderful thread filled with terrific gift ideas using our skills and talent for homemade beauties sure to please the recipients. :thumbsup:

                                                I’ve added this to The Watercolor Handbook in the Miscellaneous section. :D

                                                Sylvia

                                                #1144320
                                                ingegerd
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                                                    I don’t know if you can call it small but I make a calender, I use a camera or scan the paintings, the months are scanned from a cheap calender. After putting it together in the computor I print it on thin 180gsm low grade watercolour paper.

                                                    This is the one I made last year.
                                                    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=179662&l=3d03c9c842&id=100000039881857

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