Watercolor is a wonderful, fluid medium that can capture subtle or sweeping motion in vivid color.


The wonderful red, peach and yellow hues in this painting are created by allowing two pigments to mix directly on the paper as opposed to mixing them on the palette.

This building color with watercolor free project comes from the book Water Color in Motion by Birgit O’Connor. In the book you’ll get:
* complete information on selecting the best papers, paints and brushes and how to achieve intense color passages, the illusion of depth and lively shadows.
* 10 exercises and 15 step-by-step demonstrations that illustrate important lessons on shapes, complementary colors, masking fluid, glazing and more.
* a DVD that shows key techniques in action as well as troubleshooting common problems with washes.

Purchase a copy of Water Color in Motion by Birgit O’Conner here. In the U.K., click here.

Other watercolor books you might enjoy:

A Celebration of Light

Paint Watercolors That Dance with Light

A soft, painted floral ceiling border can add the perfect, romantic touch to any room.

This design was inspired by the English Country decorating style. The color palette in this project is simple, but you can customize it to match your décor.

This painted floral ceiling border project comes from the book Paint Effects for a Timeless Home by Tobias Freccia. In the book you’ll get:
* Thirty-five step-by-step demonstration that teach great paint effects, from painted faux leather walls to faux marble to painted furniture
* Five chapters that take you on a tour of popular decorating styles from around the world: Country Tuscan, English Country, French Country, Early American and Rural Mexican.
* Stunning photo galleries that provide further decorating ideas

Purchase a copy of Paint Effects for a Timeless Home by Tobias Freccia here. In the U.K. click here.

Other painting books for the home you might enjoy:

Your Home a Living Canvas In the U.K. click here.

Mural Painting Secrets for Success In the U.K. click here.

A happy hour with friends is a great way to end a long day of work. This week’s free Painting + More project let’s you create that same carefree five-o’clock feeling any time with a great bracelet made from polymer clay.

This unique bracelet is easy to wear and remove because it’s flexible. Martinis are optional, but good times are guaranteed while wearing this fun bracelet.

This flexible olive bracelet comes from the book Polymer Clay for the Fun of It! by Kim Cavender. In the book you’ll get:
* more than 20 simple step-by-step polymer clay projects
* projects on a variety of subjects from jewelry to handbag accessories to office accessories to home décor.

Purchase a copy of Polymer Clay for the Fun of It! by Kim Cavender here.

Other polymer clay books you might enjoy:

Polymer Clay Extravaganza

Elegant Gifts in Polymer Clay

This week’s projects let your house address sign identify the location and personality of your home.

This beaded house number is the ultimate in functional art. You can customize the beads, stained glass and numbers to perfectly fit the style and mood of your home.

This stained glass house number project comes from Creative Techniques for Stained Glass by Cliff Kennedy & Jane Wendling Pompilio. In the book you’ll get:
* 20 exciting stained glass projects with complete instruction, easy-to-use templates and helpful hints.
* traditional stained glass methods combined with popular crafting trends including wire, beading and metal.

Purchase a copy of Creative Techniques for Stained Glass here. In the U.K. click here.

Other related books you may enjoy:

Stained Glass for the Beginner In the U.K. click here.

Garden Mosaics Made Easy In the U.K. click here.

Birthday parties are always special, and you can add to the happy memories with festive, hand-painted party plates.

Painting this happy party scene is a snap using Donna Dewberry’s one-stroke method. And painting a cake or cookies to match the place settings is a special detail that won’t go unnoticed.

The ceramic painting project comes from Donna Dewberry’s Designs for Entertaining. In the book you’ll get:
* More than 60 easy, one-stroke painting projects with fabulous decorating ideas
* projects on a variety of surfaces, from glass and ceramics to wooden baskets, paper, and seasonal items like pumpkins and Christmas ornaments.

Purchase a copy of Donna Dewberry’s Designs for Entertaining here. In the U.K. click here.

Other Donna Dewberry books you might enjoy:

Fabric Painting with Donna Dewberry In the U.K., click here.

Donna Dewberry’s Painted Garden In the U.K., click here.