A Big Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You All!!
Do you all feel like I do! this time of the year is pure madness and I feel like I am constantly on the Go! Even though I am very lucky to have such a good holiday break due to my line of work it always take me a while to wind down and usually by then its bakc to work again LOL!
Fulltime work does mean I dont get a lot of time for my creative endeavours however I am working hard behind the scenes developing tutorials, videos, patterns, book and a million other things as I attempt to reach my goal of retiring at 55! I am determined lets put it that way.
One of these pursuits is putting together a store at red bubble so if you have a spare minute head over to check it out. If you are keen add a few likes it would help me out and leave a comment if you might like me to return the favour.
I created a gift box and a watercolour sketch book cover using my pattern papers today. I will post the video to the watercolour sketchbook cover this week so keep an eye out for that one! I am pretty excited to be releasing something that I was a part of. if you like you can find them RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW LOL
I did use the stampin up gift box tool to create this project however you could easily use a cricut machine or other diecut machine to whip these up in a flash.
The hardes thing for me was remembering how to use the damn thing!
I hope you enjoyed watching! A little different but Hey isnt that what being creative is all about? The Himi Paints that you see in the video were purchased probably over 18 months ago. They were featured online everywhere and were quite cheap when I was just starting out in exploring watercolours so I, like everyone else, got myself the 24 colour kit. It came with a few brushed as well ..bonus! And a tray to mix paint... wait what? bargain right? well maybe... make sure you shop arouns as the price on these fluctuated depending upon the dropshipper.
It was fun peeling off the individually wrapped tubs and seeing the colours, although it was also incredibly messy so make sure to keep some wet towels handy.
Given that I have the attention span of a goldfish and I also have to commit myself to a fulltime career that often eats away at the last morsel of time I have free to myself its fair to say that these paints were left on the shelf for months at a time. I had sprayed them with water when I didnt open them and then stressed that I had wasted my money as they were going to dry to death!
Prior to making the video above I poured a 1/2 teaspoon of water in each, left it for 30 minutes then starting stirring wih my palette knife. I was completely surpised by the results. A few colours I didnt need to stir as they were obviously ones I use a lot but there were a few that we almost had it.
I am going to use a piece of Glad wrap (or cling film for those of you overseas) between the paint and the lid just to assist to lesson them drying out.Once I had finished activating the Himi Jelly Gouache I felt re energised to really make a start in using them again - this and the fact that I just ordered another lot!! Yep watch for unwrapping ASMR coming soon to the channel.
Are they a Good Buy???
I have watched some other painters on you tube who dont recommend these as a way to start in Gouache. So I have analysed the Pro's and Con's below so that you are well informed with your purchases. Obviously Jelly Gouache is not the Holbien or Windsor Newton of this world but after working with this medium I can not see any reason why you should feel these dont belong in your art room or to give them a bit of a try.