Watercolor pencils work great for making a base drawing, for when you want to paint it in with acrylics and/or watercolors. A big plus is that you can now have your base drawing be in color, making the drawing so much easier to paint in. This comes in especially handy when making a rather large and/or intricate drawing. The watercolor pencil markings will blend right in with the acrylic and watercolor paint. Any exposed watercolor pencils markings, can be wiped off with a damp paper towel after the paint has dried (when painting on a canvas or such surface with acrylic paint,) giving your painting a nice clean and blended look when finished. No more dark pencil marks showing through!
I've used black drawing pencils before, and it had blended in the dark of the pencil with the acrylic paint, which I then had to go back over again and touch up. Using the watercolor pencils alleviated that extra step.
If you're looking for a watercolor pencil with a good grip, I recommend The Ergosoft watercolor pencils, by Staedtler. They have a thin rubber type coating on the outer layer of the pencil. The body of these pencils have a rounded triangular shape, which I also find pretty comfortable to hold.
Cheryl Paton
CherylsArt creates custom designs on a variety of products, including custom greeting cards, postage stamps, postcards, magnets, mouse pads, and key chains. She also writes reviews on products that she has purchased and/or owns.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Check out this idea for bringing gerbils home from the pet store
Over the years we have owned several sets of gerbils; they are such cute littlepets. However, one time we purchased a pair from a local pet store that was only ten minutes away. We didn't think to bring our little plastic insect cage with us. The sales clerk placed each one in a little cardboard box.
By the time we had gotten home, the one gerbil had nearly chewed a hole big enough to get out. Luckily we all made it into the house safely. Lesson learned, bring a container that the gerbils can't chew their way out of, at least before getting home.
For one or two gerbils, an insect cage works fine for transporting them. The lids are ventilated, allowing them to breathe. The container we used was made of plastic, making it a bit harder for them to chew their way out in a short amount of time.
If you need a cage or two for bringing your gerbils home from the pet store, you can purchase them online. Here is a cute one shaped like a school bus.
The small carriers also come in handy for when their larger home is being cleaned.
Enjoy your pet gerbils.
Cheryl Paton
www.zazzle.com/CherylsArt*/
By the time we had gotten home, the one gerbil had nearly chewed a hole big enough to get out. Luckily we all made it into the house safely. Lesson learned, bring a container that the gerbils can't chew their way out of, at least before getting home.
For one or two gerbils, an insect cage works fine for transporting them. The lids are ventilated, allowing them to breathe. The container we used was made of plastic, making it a bit harder for them to chew their way out in a short amount of time.
If you need a cage or two for bringing your gerbils home from the pet store, you can purchase them online. Here is a cute one shaped like a school bus.
The small carriers also come in handy for when their larger home is being cleaned.
Enjoy your pet gerbils.
Cheryl Paton
www.zazzle.com/CherylsArt*/
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Are you puzzled about working 3D crystal puzzles?
The first time I saw a 3D crystal puzzle, I was intrigued. 3D crystal puzzles are jigsaw puzzles that are made out of translucent plastic pieces. They looked so neat, and after it was complete, I would have a neat little item to display, and showcase my achievement. But first, I had some figuring out to do.
The first one I purchased was the pyramid. The part that helped me figure out this puzzle was that there was one little piece that was the tip for the top of the pyramid. After inspecting that piece, it helped me to figure out what kind and size of puzzle piece I needed to add next. The other helpful tip for putting the pyramid puzzle together, was that the side edges are smooth, and have an angled direction to them. (The slanted sides will all have to go the same direction in order to make a smooth edged pyramid.) With those things in mind, I made a lot better progress in putting it all together.
By the way, do you know how many sides a pyramid has? Three or four. Check at the bottom for the answer.
The second 3d puzzle I purchased was the diamond. With previous knowledge in mind, of working the pyramid puzzle, I looked for the tip, for the point of the diamond. There was no such piece! No point was to be found. But I did find a piece that had a rod or spoke coming out from it. Ah ha, pieces got added to this rod piece. I started building from there.
Then I came across another piece with a rod coming from it. It was identical to the first spoke piece that I had found. So I started adding pieces to this spoke piece as well. I continued building both sides of the diamond on these spoke pieces, until all the pieces were used, and then the two sides got snapped together, and placed in it's base. Cool. Another challenge was completed. And the tip was formed at the end!
Are you ready for your challenge? Have you already worked a 3D crystal puzzle, or is this your first? You're welcome to share your tips and/or experience too.
And in case you were wondering, the pyramid has four sides. Take a look at the pyramid shown above. The view is showing two sides. Those two sides are half of the pyramid. There are two more triangular sides on the other side of the pyramid.
Happy puzzling.
Cheryl Paton
The first one I purchased was the pyramid. The part that helped me figure out this puzzle was that there was one little piece that was the tip for the top of the pyramid. After inspecting that piece, it helped me to figure out what kind and size of puzzle piece I needed to add next. The other helpful tip for putting the pyramid puzzle together, was that the side edges are smooth, and have an angled direction to them. (The slanted sides will all have to go the same direction in order to make a smooth edged pyramid.) With those things in mind, I made a lot better progress in putting it all together.
By the way, do you know how many sides a pyramid has? Three or four. Check at the bottom for the answer.
The second 3d puzzle I purchased was the diamond. With previous knowledge in mind, of working the pyramid puzzle, I looked for the tip, for the point of the diamond. There was no such piece! No point was to be found. But I did find a piece that had a rod or spoke coming out from it. Ah ha, pieces got added to this rod piece. I started building from there.
Then I came across another piece with a rod coming from it. It was identical to the first spoke piece that I had found. So I started adding pieces to this spoke piece as well. I continued building both sides of the diamond on these spoke pieces, until all the pieces were used, and then the two sides got snapped together, and placed in it's base. Cool. Another challenge was completed. And the tip was formed at the end!
Are you ready for your challenge? Have you already worked a 3D crystal puzzle, or is this your first? You're welcome to share your tips and/or experience too.
And in case you were wondering, the pyramid has four sides. Take a look at the pyramid shown above. The view is showing two sides. Those two sides are half of the pyramid. There are two more triangular sides on the other side of the pyramid.
Happy puzzling.
Cheryl Paton
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)