Sunflower Gift Bag

I enjoy creating! When I sit down at my craft table, it's an adventure every time to see what will evolve. I like to use a variety of textures for a multi-dimensional look. Sunflowers are wonderful subjects, so I started with the basic idea on watercolor paper. Then I added hot glue for the center texture, a clay pot, wooden crow and jute. Voila-another adventure complete!

Procedure


Preparation: Transfer the pattern for the pot and leaves onto the bag (note placement in photo), using transfer paper. Transfer the flower pattern onto watercolor paper and cut out. Using a glue gun, apply glue in random squiggles to the center of the flower for texture. Let dry.

Pot: Paint the pot, using Butterscotch. Shade under the pot rim and under the leaves with Rusty Nail; highlight with a small amount of Warm White, using a dry-brush technique and a fabric brush.

Leaves: Paint the leaves with Sea Foam. Add a touch of Licorice to the Sea Foam and shade on one edge and near the flower. Add Warm White to the Sea Foam and highlight the leaves with a dry-brush (see photo). Fill in the areas between the leaves with Nutmeg.

Flower: Paint the petals with School Bus Yellow. Shade with Harvest Gold where they meet the center. Highlight with a touch of Warm White on the petal edges. Paint the center with Cinnamon. Shade toward the middle with Nutmeg, then dry-brush Warm White in the very center area. Use the 01 permanent black marker to detail the flower petals and leaves (including veins) and to outline the pot.

Assembly: Using hot glue, attach the 1' square sponge to the back of the flower, and then glue the flower to the bag at the top of the leaves. Spatter the bag with an old toothbrush and watered down Licorice. Drill a small hole in the top of the bird body. Paint the bird with Licorice. Dot the eye with Warm White, using the tip of the brush. With the permanent marker, write "To" and "From" on a small clay pot. Thread the jute through the hole in the bird and tie a knot. Then thread up through the bottom of the clay pot and tie to the bag handle. Spray with matte finish.

While you're at it, paint several bags at once. They fold and stack up conveniently and can be assembled in a jiffy when you need a quick wrap.

MATERIALS Bag with handles, approx. 8" x 10", natural color
Acrylic Palette Butterscotch Cinnamon Harvest Gold Licorice Nutmeg Rusty Nail School Bus Yellow Sea Foam Warm White	Brushes Large basecoat brush or sponge #4 or #8 flats #6 round Fabric brush	Other Supplies Transfer paper 2" clay pot Jute, 1/2 yd. natural colored 1" square sponge Watercolor paper 01 permanent black marker Old toothbrush Hot glue gun Wooden bird cutout Matte spray
PRODUCT NOTES Paints by Plaid Folk Art. Brushes by Robert Simmons - #4 & #8 flats and Loew-Cornell - #6 round. Permanent black marker 01 by Sakura Pigma Micron.