Here I will show you how you can quite easily pull together your own Christmas light Garland like the one on the left.

I hope you enjoy making your garlands.

Wealie x

What do you need?

• covered bells in silver and/or white.
• 15-20 medium coloured metal bells.
• 6mm Jute string – approx. 6 metres.

• 6mm christmas style butcher’s string – approx. 6 metres.
• One set of LED Christmas lights approx. 4 metres, with 80 bulbs and preferably battery operated.
• Approx. 15 Christmas wooden shapes – I used three different types, but you could use more or less.

Putting it together

Cut three lengths of the Jute string approximately 2 metres long. Knot the three lengths together at one end leaving about 5 cm of string above the knot and plait together. You could also substitute one of the lengths for butcher’s string for a different effect.

Leave about 5 cm of string free at the end of the plait and knot the lengths together - you should have around 1 – 1.5 metre plait length.

Attach the light furthest away from the battery pack to the beginning of the plait using the 5 cm of free string. Weave the plait over and around the lights. At the end of the plait tie the closest light to the end and then turn the lights, tie down the first light after the turn half way between the next two lights. Weave the rest of the lights in and out of the plait and lights so that they are evenly spaced and you have lights on both sides of the plait. Tie the final light to the plait using the free string at the end.

Cut a length of about 1.5 metres of the butcher’s string and tie it around the first light on the plait leaving about 10 cm of string free. Weave the string around the lights tying it around every second light until you reach the end of the plait and tie it around the final light and again leave about 10 cm of string free at the end. Cut off any excess string and knot the 10 cm ends so that they form loops for hanging the garland

Using the jute string attach one of the small coloured bells aroud every second light. In the lights without bells proceed to knot your shapes and the larger bells in sequential order.

You’ve now got your very own Christmas lights garland!

For extra colour why not incorporate some ribbons or faux berries and holly.

Where to buy the materials

If you would like to make the same garland as me you can buy all the materials I used here:

• You can buy a variety of pre-cut wood shapes on Amazon
• Buy three rolls of  the jute twine string on Amazon
• Buy the red and white butcher’s twine on Amazon
• You can buy two sets of the battery operated christmas lights on Amazon
• I bought the coloured small bells in my local Rymans stationers
• The large white and silver covered bells I bought in Waitrose, red and white versions are available to buy online

All materials are included in the price and of course you get to keep your finished artwork and the opportunity to buy additional materials to create more art. These prices are based on me coming to your home or a pre-paid location and there may be an additional charge for fuel and materials, which will be discussed at the time of booking. See the sections below for more details about the types of arts and crafts activities I can do with you.

Abstract Mixed Media

Whether you want to make a canvas, a box or maybe a mask; I will teach you my all in one decoupage technique.

We’ll be using tissue paper, textured materials, fabrics, ribbons, re-purposed jewellery, oodles of glitter and sequins and anything else you can think to find in your craft draw!

Organic Ink Art

Using glossy card and high quality watercolour spray inks and shimmering mica powders, I will demonstrate how to manipulate the inks and mica powders to create gorgeous one off organic designs

You’ll make excellent abstract pictures and take home some ready made greeting cards to share with friends and loved ones.

Tangle Patterned Piggy Bank

Using ceramic paint pens I will demonstrate how to draw intricate designs onto the pottery piece of your choice from: plates, mugs, bowls, cup and saucer, tea pots, plant pots, piggy banks, etc.

We can also personalise your design with a name or special words or saying of your choosing.

Tangle Pattern

Using high quality Indian rag paper or quality card stock with water colours, water colour brushes and micron fine liners and specialist gel and alcohol ink art pens.

You can explore your inner patterns to create intricate designs remincient of paisley and zentangle art. These designs make lovely pictures and greeting cards and are a very therapeutic art form.

Using quality card, aluminium plumbers tape and some standard embossing tools I will demonstrate how you can make great embossed metal designs on a budget and how to colour them with alcohol inks to bring them to vibrant life.

These designs are affordable and make great pictures, greeting cards and bookmarks with very little materials.

Geli Plate Mono Print

Using a gelatin plate I will show you how to make great abstract acrylic mono prints using a variety of tools and materials.

These make excellent tools for those interested in art journaling and wonderful backgrounds for zentangle pattern makers.

If you are interested in arranging an adult workshop or children’s party please email me at info@wealie.co.uk with a contact number so I can call to discuss your requirements.

The Caterinas

All you have to do is download the entry form, print it off and colour in the design. Once it’s coloured in fill in the form and email a picture of it to info@wealie.co.uk by 31 June 2014. All entries will be displayed on the Wealie Arts section of the website and the winner will be announced by 12 July 2014.

Thank you to everyone that entered the competition I had a difficult, but fun time judging, so much so that I couldn’t decide on just one winner, but more on that in a minute.  As the standard of the entries was so high I will be emailing a pdf copy of the halloween colouring book to everyone who entered.

There are three winners in three different age brackets, Millie Claridge in the 5 to 6 bracket, Sean O’Sullivan in the 7 to 8 bracket and Ashley Knight in the 9 to 10 bracket.  The winners prize is to request for me to draw their very own zentangle doodle art design on whatever subject they would like.  Once I’ve completed the drawing requests I will post the pictures on the website and then post the originals out to the winners

The Winners

I really loved how Millie incorporated some mixed media elements into her design and at 5 years old I think she has done an excellent job of colouring it in so brightly.  Any witch would be tickled pink to wear a hat like this.

Millie Clardige - Winner 5-6 age group

What I liked best about Sean’s entry was his great use of colour and how he really gave the hat a face with his bold and bright use of colour.  I also liked how Sean used vibrant wax crayons.

Sean O'Sullivan - Winner 7-8 age

Ashley really went to town on her design using sequins and glitter mixed media elements, but also colouring in the background, which I thought was really wonderful and she even sent me the original picture in the post when she must have really loved it.

Ashley Knight - Winner 9-10 age group

The Runner Ups

Tia’s entry was lovely and bright and again made some great use of mixed media.  I really liked how Ruby Elena went with a colour scheme and made good use of white space. Ned used cooking oil to give the paper a translucent effect when put up to a window or the light and I really liked his witchy green colour.

Tia Claridge

Ruby Elena Williams

Ned Roberts

Joelle used pencils and created a beautiful colour scheme.  Isobel had a great use of colour blocking that really made elements of the hat stand out.  Charlotte went for a bright and vibrant colour scheme and I liked how she incorporated her own patterning into the mix.

Joelle Chow

Isobel Stevens

Charlotte

Anya Daburn

Amy Moore

Olivia Daburn

Eleanor

Lauren Welsh

Thanks again to everyone for entering the competition

Wealie x

Hypnotica - Abstract fine liner doodle art zentangle

I’m looking forward to tomorrow as I get to have fun demonstrating my art at Hobbycraft Bristol, Cribbs Causeway as their Artist in residence.  I’m going to be doing some dylusion ink art, mono printing on my Gelli Arts Gel plate, see some examples of the different types of art I’ll be doing throughout this article.

Wealie Arts Halloween Colouring Book Cover

Dylusions Ink Art Design

I’m also going to be doing some abstract doodle art, or  zentangles as they are sometimes called and I’ll be launching my very first abstract doodle art colouring book, a snap at just £3.50  Don’t despair if you won’t be able to make it to pick up your copy, keep a watchful eye on this space as I’m hoping to upload it as a downloadable pdf at some point in the not too distant future.

I’ll also be launching a halloween colouring competition for kids up to the age of 13 to submit a coloured version of one of the designs (the witches’ hat) from the colouring book, with a prize of their very own zentangle doodle art design of whatever subject they would like me to create.

Firery Waves - Mono Print

The deadline is 31 October so there’s plenty of time for the kids to get colouring and you can download a copy of the competition form and rules here.  I’ll post the entries I receive on a special blog post on 05 November together with the announcement of the winner and will post a pic of the winner’s doodle choice once I’ve completed it.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

R
x