Your project has be smiling as always. This is adorable, and I am longing for fall. - Gail

I just "LUV" the expression on his face! And those acorns are darling!

Dern!! Wish I could paint.

Betty

OMG! Another WONDERFUL paintings!

I really have to learn how to paint as I WANT plates like those you create into my home for any season!

I'm looking for a painting course!

Luvs,
Your painting looks great. And thanks for showing us how it started out - I liked seeing the outline pic and then how you filled it out. Very nice. Were the white speckles part of the design or did you add them? They really finish out the painting.

I am not thinking of fall yet although I do love fall - because that would mean my tomatoes will rot out before ripening. :)

Mo

Sorry, I hadn't got back to this post sooner. Glad you enjoyed seeing the painted metal tray. Not bad for a redo on a 99 cent TS find I guess. ;o)

Mo, the speckles are part of the design. The tray the designer had used was metal with star cutouts and the rim was a bit wider. But this little tray was a lot less expensive and will add a bit of Fall color. Haven't decided if I will use it as a tray, prop it on a picture easel, or fix it so it can be hung. When I pull out all the Fall decorations, I'll decide. Don't let those tomatoes rot--nothing tastier than fresh picked home grown tomatoes! ;o)

Betty and Prosperity, when you have more time, you might want to try your hand at painting. It's a great way to recycle while making things for your home and gifts. Even coffee or vegetable cans look great when painted with a cute design on them. And glass jars for storage look so much nicer in the cupboard when painted pretty. It's really not hard, if you can color in a coloring book, you can paint. Even very basic designs add color and character--you don't have to do the harder more realistic painting to get nice results.

Gail, I seem to prefer these types of designs--and I think it is because they make me smile too! (And they are easy ones) I like to paint the faces on as soon as possible--just gives them "character" and I can enjoy it as I finish up the rest.

Thanks for all your sweet comments. Here's some cans and jars for you to see what they can look like.

Luvs

Luvs..I'm always amazed over how talented you are. You always turn something ordinary, into such a beautiful piece of Art!!
I can picture you 'eyeing' everything you see and saying,
'hmmmmmmm now what can I do with this' ..lol
You give everything a 'New Life with a New Look'! Also, in doing so, you really do put a smile on everyone's face, with your creations. They are all so lovely.
jane

I love the everything, but those rose jars are spectacular. - Gail

Girl, you are so talented - all of your work makes me smile too! I took a couple of painting classes at Michael's (as in Donna Dewberry's technique) but it just didn't come easy for me so I gave up. Perhaps I could try something like the santa's on the cans? Do you use a pattern or is it just it free-hand?

So glad to hear my little creations cause some smiles--we all need lots of those. Gail, Jane, and Gersch, thanks for your sweet comments.

I really want to encourage anyone who's interested in painting to give it a try. It's a great way to have things to decorate your home for the holidays and to give as gifts. And it has always been such a stress reliever for me and satisfied my need to be a bit creative!

I wanted to share the cans and jars just so everyone knows it doesn't have to cost allot for projects. And you don't have to have lots of expensive brushes or bottles and bottles of paints either. Just some soft grip brushes for $1.99 at Michael's (angle, flat, and liner) and a few basic colors of paints--remember you can mix your paints to create even more colors. Find a picture you like--even from a kid's coloring book--and just trace it on. Now just fill it in with paints, then add a few darker colors where there would be "shadows" and some lighter color on the edges where the "light" would hit it and it looks great!

Gersch, if I did it "freehand" it probably wouldn't make you smile! LOL I mostly use patterns that I trace on using graphite paper. The one stroke, I do freehand but I look at the picture for placement.

Don't give up on the One Stroke, it is the quickest way to paint something pretty. Get yourself a video so you can REALLY watch the instructor. You can rewind and watch again and again how she loads the brush, how she holds the brush, how she makes the stroke. I thought I would never figure out how to do the middle section of the rose, but by watching the video--I got it! It takes some practice, and the more you do it, the easier it gets--but it is so worth it. I wish you lived close so I could share some tips and paint with you. Come on over to the Painting forum and chat with us-there are four or five regulars there all with their own "styles" and lots of knowledge they'd love to share.

Luvs

Wow, you always amaze me. Those are great. I love the flower ones, but the Christmas cans are so cute. I wish I could paint, but even my stick figures look strange!

Thanks Luvs for your words! You gave me a few ideas on what to do with cans and other bottles - we use to have so many of them and we can only throw them away once a month. Now I'm going to recycle a few of them this way I'll have free Halloween and Christmas stuff ready on time and have fun at the same time.
I liked your cans a lot especially those of Christmas (while those with roses are wonderful too)!

Luvs,
I love those christmas cans and the halloween bottle with the ghosts. Very cute! You are totally inspiring me to paint something. I cannot draw anything - like PD says, my stick figures look wierd too. But, I can trace! :) I have a few empty glass jars lying around just waiting for me to do something with.

Mo

Mo, I find it easiest to paint on the glass jars if I spray paint them first. Then I don't have to use any special paints or mediums mixed with my regular acrylics. Then spray on two or three coats of sealer afterwards and they are ready to use. Can't be put in water, but can be wiped off with a damp cloth. I use mine in my craft room for supplies.

I hope both you and prosperity give it a try. Any simple design will work, just trace it on with graphite paper --not carbon paper. Prosperity, you can recycle some of those cans and jars and make them pretty for holding office supplies like rubberbands, paperclips and pencils even.

Have fun all.

Luvs