Snowman Bottle
by Mary Lynn Parson
This is a very simple, easy to paint project. It’s a chance to interject your own style onto your sweet little snowman. They sell well at craft shows for me, give them a try!
Surface: Old, interestingly shaped bottle.
Supplies:
Black spray paint
General white charcoal pencil
Primitive star stencil
Palette paper
Towels
Greenery
Berry sprig
Homespun fabric strip, 18 inches long
German mica glitter
Tracing paper Saral (or white transfer paper)
Krylon Matte Spray 1311
Cork to fit the top of the bottle, if needed.
Palette:
DecoArt Americana
Antique Gold
Avocado
Gooseberry Pink
Lamp Black
Light Buttermilk
Raw Umber
Slate Grey
Terra Cotta
Gel Stain - Oak
Brushes:
Royal
Majestic Series
Round - 4055
Shader #4 - R4150-4
Shader #10 - R4150-10
Liner - R4595-1
Stylus
Preparation: Thoroughly clean and dry bottle. Spray with light coats of black flat spray paint. Spray your lid if you have one, if not, a cork works well.
Transfer your snowman pattern onto the front of the bottle, OR take your chalk pencil and draw him directly onto the bottle. You will find you will be able to work much faster without having to transfer the pattern and will begin introducing your own elements into the design with this great pencil! Press lightly with either method so as not to remove any basecoat paint.
Painting:
1. Using your soft round brush, pick up Light Buttermilk, swirling it onto your paper towel, removing much of the paint. Lightly stipple into your snowman area, starting in the center, and moving out to the edges. Pick up small amounts of paint and stipple as the areas dry, adding depth to your design. When snowman shape is dry, use Slate Grey and #10 shader brush and float shading around the bottom and left of each “snowball”, defining the ball shape. Using the same brush, lightly stipple cheeks using Gooseberry Pink.
2. Use the large end of the stylus to dot eyes and buttons with Lamp Black. After they dry, use the smaller end to highlight the eyes with Light Buttermilk. A liner is used for tiny eyelashes and eyebrows. Use thinned Lamp Black for this.
3. Again, using the large end of the stylus, pick up Terra Cotta, dot, and drag for your snowman nose. This makes a perfect nose with a pointed end. (You may wish to practice this on your palette until you are satisfied.) You can leave them without mouths, or use a single dot for that surprised look. I used my liner for a tiny curved mouth in Lamp Black.
4. Using your liner brush, pick up Raw Umber and touch it into Light Buttermilk. Paint the snowman’s arms. If you allow the Light Buttermilk to stay at the top of the design, it will look highlighted in one stroke.
5. The scarf is painted with the #4 shader brush and Avocado. Make a small upside-down “C-stroke” under the snowman’s head and paint the tail on the scarf as shown. When dry, I add Light Buttermilk lines and fringe to the scarf, using the liner brush. After scarf dries completely, highlight Light Buttermilk to the top of your scarf along the snowman’s head, and also the right side of the scarf tail. Float Raw Umber shading where the tail meets the neck section.
6. Take the small round brush and stencil Antique Gold stars around your snowman. I like to put a large one in his hands.
7. Using your stylus, add Light Buttermilk dots amidst the stars.
8. Allow to dry, give a light sealing spray with the Krylon Matte, and antique if you like. I use the Gel Stain in Oak. Seal after Stain is dry. Finishing: Take the homespun tie, hold the greenery and berry spring together, and tie them onto the top of the bottle. Tie into a bow, sprinkle with glitter. Done!
DOWNLOAD ORIGINAL PATTERN FILE HERE
Be sure to check out Mary Lynn's Etsy shop...School St. Primitives. Mary Lynn is multitalented and you will love the treasures she has in her shop. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SchoolStPrimitives