Kids will love this hands-on DIY

11 Sep 2019

Birds and ladybirds are brought to life with some imagination and a few Resene testpots in this quick and easy kid-friendly DIY. Permission to get a little messy: granted.

You will need

• Plain calico cloth bags
• Stiff cardboard
• Resene testpots in your choice of colours – Fleur used Resene Valour, Resene Tango, Resene Jalapeno and Resene Black
• Medium and fine artist’s paintbrushes
• Willing hand participants

Bird Bag

Step 1 Iron your bags, then cut a piece of cardboard large enough to fit inside the bag. It will keep the surface smooth and flat while you’re working and also prevent paint from seeping through to the other side.

Step 2 Use a pencil to mark where you want the handprints to go.

Step 2 Use a medium-sized craft paintbrush to apply paint directly onto the palms of the willing hand. Fleur recommends doing so in two layers of paint as the first layer of paint dries quickly due to the heat of the hand.  Be liberal with the second layer of paint – it won’t dry so quickly as the first coat, which acts as an insulating layer.

Step 3 Carefully put the hand in position and press down firmly, making sure to apply equal pressure to the whole hand and each finger so that a good handprint is made. Remove the hand by peeling it off in a rolling motion.

Step 4 Use a small craft paintbrush to fill in any areas, such as the hole made with the palm of the hand.  Add eyes in Resene Black, a beak in Resene Tango and branches in Resene Black. Allow the bag to dry completely before using it.

Ladybird Bag

Step 1 Iron your bags, then cut a piece of cardboard large enough to fit inside the bag. It will keep the surface smooth and flat while you’re working and also prevent paint from seeping through to the other side.

Step 2 Use a pencil to sketch out your bug shape and then use a medium-sized craft paintbrush to paint in the outline. Use the same paintbrush to fill in the whole area.

Step 3 Use a medium-sized craft paintbrush to apply paint in Resene Jalapeno directly onto the palms of the willing hand. Fleur recommends doing so in two layers of paint as the first layer of paint dries quickly due to the heat of the hand.  Be liberal with the second layer of paint – it won’t dry so quickly as the first coat, which acts as an insulating layer.

Step 4 Carefully put the hand in position to create the wings and press down firmly, making sure to apply equal pressure to the whole hand and each finger so that a good handprint is made. Remove the hand by peeling it off in a rolling motion.

Step 5 Use a small craft paintbrush to paint on the antennae, wing spots and flight path in Resene Black. Allow the bag to dry completely before using.

Step 6 Keep your bags in your car so that they’re always at hand for shopping.

Ladybird bag in Resene Black and Resene Jalapeno, bird bag in Resene Valour, Resene Tango and Resene Black, wall in Resene Carrara and skirting board in Resene Rice Cake.

Styling and images Fleur Thorpe

Published: 11 Sep 2019