Annie Lang's Blog!

Christmas is getting closer, the kids are filled anticipation, holiday parties are in full swing and Christmas lights are shining bright.  There is still time to wrap up those last minute gifts and tag them with some adorable printable tags.  Simply download and print out as many pages as you need in just minutes for FREE ! There's also time to paint up a   FREE festive Penguin Circle and Wooden wreath projects for plates, tree skirts, embellishments and more with Annie's easy to use line art patters and project instructions.  If you haven't already downloaded your free printables and patterns, now is the perfect time to visit Annie's FREE DIY page with my very best wishes for a happy handmade holiday! 

Here's a fun line art pattern you'll use over and over again!  Just print, trace and transfer the design onto any creative surface and paint or color any way you please to suit your creative project.  You'll find this design and many more on Annie Lan'g DIY website page.  Download Annie Lang's Americana Butterfly pattern for FREE right now and let's get flying because Annie Things Possible when you DIY!

Here's a fun decorative project you can paint up on a rainy day and use it as an accent piece on a shelf, bookcase cubby or even outdoors in the garden.  If using outdoors, be sure to give it a good coat of clear sealer finish once the project is completed to protect it from the elements.  This house can also be modified to create a cute gingerbread house, mock birdhouse, fairy garden house or anything else your imagination can come up with!  Here's how I painted the pictured sample but you can use any color, painting technique or brushes you desire. I hope you'll give it a try because anything IS possible when you're on a creative adventure!   NOTE:  Here's the online links to my wood suppliers... Stand Alone House Shape:    https://www.craftdealz.com/deal/stand-alone-house-shape 5" Garden Gate Ornament:    https://www.cdwood.com/collections/garden-gate/products/5-garden-gate-ornament

Here's a fun and easy way to brighten up both your world and your day with painted wooden Flower Swags!  You don't need to be a decorative painter to make these fun little flowers in only a few hours or less.  All you need are some craft paints, brushes and glue and then use the finished painted items to decorate and embellish all kinds of items for your home or friends.  Enjoy this step by step tutorial along with a few ideas to get you inspired.  Happy Crafting!

Anyone can paint up this fun DIY wood project to decorate any way you wish for any season of the year!  Here's the basic step-by-step project to get you inspired to welcome the Autumn Season.  So grab your craft supplies and get started...no pattern needed!  You can find the  10" x 20" Door with Panel Kit used for the sample project online from Cupboard Distributing (also comes in smaller sizes!)  Just click the images below to see full size how-to instructions. Please Enjoy and feel free to SHARE THIS PAGE LINK!

Here's an enchanting project that will fill the air with a music box tune!  I designed this paper mache music box as a fairy garden collectible with my granddaughters in mind and I can't wait for them to add it to their rapidly expanding fairy village.  The project requires only a few basic craft supplies along with a paper mache house and wind-up music box.  The paper mache house was easy to find locally, but you can also order it online from Factory Direct Craft or  Amazon .  However, I had quite a difficult time locating wind-up music boxes at a reasonable price and finally stumbled onto an online source with fast service, good prices and easy ordering at Glaser Ceramics  .  I ordered several and mix and matched the tunes in the event I want to paint another Enchanting Musical Cottage for the Holidays.  So grab your brushes and get ready to create your own magical cottage and fill your days with a happy tune.  Enjoy!   House photo from Factory Direct Craft   CLICK PHOTOS TO

There are so many fun things you can make with wood slice rounds and the possibilities are simply endless!  Here are just a few items I made for my seasonal Fall, Winter Holiday and Fairy Garden decor to get you started on your own creative adventures.  I recommend you lightly sand and apply wood  sealer to both sides of the wood slices before you begin your projects.  Not only will it help preserve the wood, but it also helps prevent paint from bleeding when it hits the porous surface.  The wood is usually soft which makes it quite easy to drill holes for inserting hangers.   Enjoy! Right Click and Save to your computer

You'll enjoy this fresh slice of country apple project design and it's so easy to paint, you'll find them addictive!  I used a beveled edge 8" unfinished wood heart for the sample project, but you can use any size heart and adjust the pattern to fit.  Smaller hearts are perfect for making coasters, trivets, ornaments and more.  To download the full size project, CLICK HERE to visit my DIY page.  I hope you enjoy your apples! NOTE: If you can't find wood heart shapes at you local store, I found some links on Amazon  .  Michaels had this one with handle attached and inexpensive large shapes made of luan that will work.

Here's one of my favorite designs that can be crafted on nearly any surface imaginable.  Whether you're a decorative painter, glass painter, papercrafter or artisan hobbyist, you'll bee delighted with the results of whatever project you use it for!  Included are both line art patterns and full color designs to use "as is" or as a painting guide.  CLICK HERE  to view a quick video if you need to find out how to trace and transfer lineart patterns.  Need a white ceramic teapot to paint? Here's one I found that's similar in size to the sample featured in the photo.  Enjoy your bumblebee tea! Download the full project from my DIY page for FREE and get started right away.  Enjoy your bumblebee tea!

Fun, Functional and FREE!  Turn a plain metal pail into a bright and cheery home for your plants, fill it with homemade goodies for a friend or just use it around the house to keep stuff in!  Anyone can make this project with a few basic craft supplies.  Follow my Blog over the next few weeks to get more free downloadables to keep you creatively busy as we anxiously await for brighter days ahead.  CLICK HERE to download the pattern and painting instructions for this free project and more!

You can download this DIY Serve it up Sweet whimsical gingerbread project designed by Annie Lang for FREE at Annie Things Possible!

You can download this DIY Penguin Treats whimsical character scene project designed by Annie Lang for FREE at Annie Things Possible!

Get your Chills on all month long and best of all...Annie Lang's lineart pattern book is   available in both paperback and downloadable .pdf editions!

I've always wanted to make a few birdhouses from gourds but never seemed to actually get around to actually making them until now.  I recently picked up a few gourds for $5 each while visiting the Past Tense Arts and Antiques Store in Lapeer Mi and within a week, these 2 birdhouses became part of my home landscaping!  Hopefully next spring I will find them fully occupied with happily nesting feathered families.  DESIGNING ...   Since no 2 gourds are exactly alike, it's difficult to create patterns for these natural surfaces.  I prefer to play with a variety of design ideas with my Photoshop image editor before grabbing my craft paints and brushes.  I first take a digital photo, open it in my editor, cut out the areas around the shape which I can then use as my basic shape template.  Digital designing allows me to experiment with the design without worry. Because I create a new layer for each design element and color, correcting unwanted errors is as simple as del

Digitally design before you paint by using your image editing program.   I use Adobe Photoshop.   Use a tape measure to get the height and width measurements to size your digital canvas Create a white layer over the background and a duplicate layer of your background image   I chose a blue color overlay but you can change this to anything you'd like to suit your design I always save a copy of each design layer I may want to use for future projects! I also created a cardinal and a Santa design before deciding to use this scenic for my project Digital designing allows you to group elements so you easily position them any way you'd like. I prefer to use my line art as a guide, but you can transfer directly onto your prepped surface. Make sure you remove any dirt or rust areas with steel wool before priming with your basecoat. I'll most likely be using this finished project as a small centerpiece filled with holiday greens.  However, I also