Binkers and Diva Dog: #Christmas

Believe it or not, Diva Doggie and I are already talking about how we are going to decorate the airstream for Christmas! That led to excitement over the Christmas parties we will go to which led to what we should do for Hostess Gifts this year. How many bottles of wine with an ornament around the neck can you give before you start feeling in a rut? We are here to help you! I am about to show you how to do the cutest little painting of Santa step by step! Yes you can do it! Stop whining! PLUS, you can tell the lucky hostess (or smile smugly to yourself when you keep one for yourself) that you painted it just for her! You will be seen as going to so much trouble which will mean fabulash Harry and David baskets will be showing up at your door to reciprocate! YES!

So here we go! Here is what you will be painting to give you a reference point:

So Precious!

Here is your supply list:

5 x 5 Gallery Wrapped pre primed canvas (For the purpose of the blog, I cut a beam I had on hand into a 5 x 5 square.)

Black Craft Paint

White Craft Paint

Brown Craft Paint

White Dimensional Paint

Cheap Paint Brush

Step One: Paint your canvas black. Include the sides in this.

Step Two: Mix as much or little white paint with the brown to create a skin tone you are happy with and do an elongated tear drop for the nose.

Step Three: On either side of the nose, create the shapes you see below for the cheeks. Make sure you do not mix it with the nose but make the shapes beside the nose. Diva Doggie always giggles at this part but that is because she has the sense of humor of a 12 year old boy. Just do it and stay with me.

Step Four: Eyebrows! You will basically be following the line of the upper part of the cheeks with your white paint. Remember, this does not have to be perfect! This is supposed to be adorable! Again, remember to get close to the cheek to leave the black showing through!

Step Five: The Moustache! Again, use your white paint to follow the lines of the cheeks while still allowing the black to show as a kind of outline.

Step Six: The Beard! I like to start from the outside in. It is ok to allow some of the black show through for character. Work from the outside in and don't worry if the point of the beard isn't centered..it's all about character!

Step Seven: The Fur Trim around the Hood! You are basically going to take the white paint and follow the lines of what you have painted so far. Give it a slight peak at the top and vary the width of your strokes. Easy Peasy! You can do it! We are almost done!!!

Step Eight: The Red Cloak! Simply follow the top with your Red Paint to make the peak of his hood and then follow the look below to create the shoulders. You can make him fatter by bringing the shoulders out all the way to the edge of the canvas. I just realized my Santa looks like he could use a sandwich!

Step Nine: Rosy Nose and Cheeks! Mix a tiny bit of your red paint with the brown and white you mixed for the skin tone and swirl it on the tip of the nose and around the bottom of the cheeks.