Free Russian Nesting Doll (Matryoshka) Project Plan

Paint your own set of Matryoshka dolls. These designs originate from Russia and feature a repeating pattern on different sizes of dolls. They would also be cute painted up to resemble family members. Follow the instructions below or download our free project plan PDF:

General Instructions for all 4 dolls: 

• Sand & seal all pieces. 
• Basecoat as follows: Fleshtone – Arm & Faces, Tomato Red - Kerchiefs, True Ochre - Dresses, Victorian Blue - Capes, Black - Hair. 

Details:

• Transfer details for faces & outfits. 
• Using a stylus “dip-dot" the flowers with a variety of colours from your palette. 
• Paint tiny leaf swoops with Hauser Medium Green. 
• Basecoat the eyes White. 
• Paint the irises Black and highlight in the top center with a White dot. 
• Using Antique Rose, paint the lips and dry-brush the cheeks. 
• The largest doll has thin white stripes running along the edge of her cape. 

Finishing: 

• Varnish with your choice of finish. Add detail lines using an Identipen.

Supplies:

• 1 1/2" Russian Doll #RR9530, 2 1/4" Russian Doll #RR9531, 3" Russian Doll #RR9532, 4" Russian Doll #RR9533. DecoArt Americana Paints: Antique Rose #7156, Flesh Tone #7078, Hauser Medium Green #7132, Lamp Black #7067, Snow (Titanium) White #7001, Tomato Red #7169, True Ochre #7143, Victorian Blue #7039. 

DIY 3-Dimensional Butterfly Magnets

These butterfly magnets showcase the great new colours of Patio Paint that have recently been released. They are super easy to make by stacking a Classic Butterfly over a Scrolled Butterfly wood piece.

Painting Instructions:
Prepare all surfaces with DecoArt Sealer.

Large Butterfly: Basecoat both butterflies (scroll and non-scroll) with Desert Turquoise. Paint one side of the non-scroll butterfly with Honeydew and apply a light wash of Coastal Surf to the wing centres. Using both Honeydew and Coastal Surf decorate the scroll butterfly with dots, dashes and swoops of your liking.

Small Butterfly: Basecoat both butterflies (scroll and non-scroll) with Salmon. Paint one side of the non-scroll butterfly with Grey Skies and apply a light wash of Orange Poppy to the wing centres. Using both Grey Skies and Orange Poppy decorate the scroll butterfly with dots, dashes and swoops of your liking. Paint the butterfly body with Grey Skies.

Finishing: Cut two pieces of 26g wire and bend into antenae shapes. These wires should be long enough to lay down along the inside of the butterfly's body. Apply a light layer of glue to the scroll butterfly, lay the wire antennas in place and cover with the non-scroll butterfly. Attach a magnet to the back and decorate any space. Because Patio Paints were used these butterflies do not require an additional varnish or finish.

Small Butterfly:

#RR4092 - Classic 2" Butterfly

#RR4096 - Classic 2" Scroll Butterfly

#PP282 - Orange Poppy Patio Paint

#PP283 - Salmon Patio Paint

#PP278 - Grey Skies Patio Paint

#WR092 - 26g Wire (your choice of colour)

#MAG50 - 1/2" Dot Magnet

Large Butterfly:

#RR4093 - Classic 3" Butterfly

#RR4097 - Classic 3" Scroll Butterfly

#PP279 - Desert Turquoise Patio Paint

#PP280 - Coastal Surf Patio Paint

#PP281 - Honeydew Patio Paint

#WR092 - 26g Wire (your choice of colour)

#MAG50 - 1/2" Dot Magnet

DIY Garden Planter

Accent your garden or porch with a beautiful and functional planter. Home & Away With Lisa features a tutorial for creating this lovely square planter. Lisa includes step-by-step instructions with photos plus a detailed materials list. View her tutorial here.

For other outdoor structures and garden planters visit Stockade's selection of over 30 woodworking plans.

Zentangle on wood!

Let your creativity flow using a woodburner and Zentangle designs. Woodburning is easy (just like using a pen) and allows great opportunities for shading. Darker lines and subtle shading are created by altering the amount of time the burner touches the wood surface. The samples shown above show how easy it is to use regular Zentangle designs on both paper and wood (plywood shapes look great Zentangled). Walnut Hollow's Creative Woodburner is a great tool to use and you can find inspiration for Zentangle designs in Stockade's selection of books.

DIY Giant Clothespin Noteholder

Painting a giant (or small) clothespin is easy when you take it apart. Each clothespin is made up of three parts and the two wood pieces can easily be disassembled from the spring. On Ashely's blog, Caught on a Whim she has a tutorial on how to do just this and has created a beautiful photo holder worthy of any space. Check out her tutorial here and have a look around her blog for other great crafty projects.

Shown here are Stockade's large clothespins with a $5 to reference their height. Find more clothespins at www.stockade.ca.

Rebecca Trimble's Classes at the C2C show

The Coast to Coast Creative Arts decorative painting show is coming up soon. Rebecca Trimble will be attending and teaching three classes (all of which still have space available). This show offers you the opportunity to attend classes by some of today's top artists. Visit the Coast to Coast website to find a complete list of teachers. 

Stockade proudly carries Rebecca's books:

Stockade will have a booth at the show and we'll be featuring a great lineup of items and some super deals. Hopefully you will be able to visit us and say hello. The exhibit hall hours are open to the public during the dates and times listed above.

Debbie Cotton's Classes at the C2C Show

The Coast to Coast Creative Arts decorative painting show is coming up soon! Debbie Cotton is teaching two classes (both of which still have available space - sign up soon!). Aren't these boats beautiful? Both projects are painted with acrylic and take about six hours to finish. Stockade carries Debbie's "Painting Vintage Style" book which contains twelve of her gorgeous, classic designs.

Stockade will have a booth at the show and we'll be featuring a great lineup of items and some super deals. Hopefully you will be able to visit us and say hello. The exhibit hall hours are open to the public during the dates and times listed above. Visit the Coast to Coast website to find a complete list of available classes (many sell out quickly so be sure to register soon).

Wendy Fahey Classes at the Coast to Coast 2013 Show

You have the opportunity to learn from one of Canada's great decorative painters. Wendy Fahey is teaching two classes at the Coast to Coast Creative Arts decorative painting show and there are still spots available. Wendy is great teacher and you'd be sure to enjoy your time in one of her classes. Both classes are geared towards beginner painters and within 4 to 6 hours you'd have your own beautiful finished piece. 

Stockade proudly carries Wendy's books, packets and DVDs:

Stockade will have a booth at the show and we'll be featuring a great lineup of items and some super deals. Hopefully you will be able to visit us and say hello. The exhibit hall hours are open to the public during the dates and times listed above. Visit the Coast to Coast website to find a complete list of available classes (many sell out quickly so be sure to register soon).

Holly Hanley Classes at the Coast to Coast 2013 Show

The Coast to Coast Creative Arts decorative painting show is coming up soon! This show offers you the opportunity to attend classes by some of today's top artists. Holly Hanley will be teaching the three designs shown here. Holly is a very talented painter and is traveling to the show from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 

Stockade proudly carries Holly's books, packets and DVDs:

Stockade will have a booth at the show and we'll be featuring a great lineup of items and some super deals. Hopefully you will be able to visit us and say hello. The exhibit hall hours are open to the public during the dates and times listed above.

Visit the Coast to Coast website to find a complete list of available classes (many sell out quickly so be sure to register soon). Here is the 2013 Artist line up:

ANTONICK, Deb

ANDREWS, Lynne

CHRISTENSEN, Karen

CLARK, Connie

COLE, Val

COLMAN, Anna-Maria

COTTON, Debbie

DAWBON, Georgia

ECKMIER, Debbie

ELLIS, Karen

FAHEY, Wendy

FINDLAY, Carolyn

FLECK, Amelia

GAIT, Sue

GARCIA, Liz

GREENCORN, Terrie

GRENIER, Gisele

HANLEY, Holly

JAMES, Debbie

JANSEN, Jessica

KRAMER, Jolanda

KUNESCH, Barbara

LAFAILLE, Julie

LEMAY, Suzane

LEVERT, Brenda

LOCKYER, Mary Ellen

MACAULEY, Kathy

MCLEAN, Joann

MCMICHAEL, Donna

MCNAMARA BLACK, Sharon

MIDDLEBROOK, Joanne

MORGAN, Bev

MORIN, Anita

MOREAU, Tracy

NEWMAN, Arlene

NIEMINEN, Esa

OKE, Anna Marie

OWENS, Mary

PRIOR, Shelley

RIBITCH, Judy

SMITH, Linda

TRIMBLE, Rebecca

WALKER, Ruth

WOLFE, Willow