These charming creatures add a bit of whimsey along with merry Americana® Acrylic color.

SUPPLIES

• water container
• palette or plastic plate
• paper towels
• tracing paper
• transfer paper
• sandpaper
• #6 flat brush
• toothpicks
• #0 liner brush
• #4 flat brush
• ultra-fine point black marker
• 1" flat shader brush
• ballpoint pen
• mini canvas and easel set
• small pinecones (1/2" x 3/4")
• small pieces of pine needles (3/4" x 3/4")
• two 7" pieces of 26-gauge wire
• small wire cutters

INSTRUCTIONS

NOTES:

Let dry completely between painting steps.

1. Sand any rough spots on the easels smooth with sandpaper. Remove any dust with a damp paper towel.
2. Using a #6 flat shader brush, apply a coat of Walnut Gel Stain over the entire easel. Immediately remove the stain with a damp paper towel until the look shown in photo is achieved. Do the same to the other easel.
3. Copy the pattern for the owl onto tracing paper. Center the tracing paper on the canvas and, using a ballpoint pen, go over the pattern on the canvas with graphite transfer paper underneath.
4. Using the #4 flat shader brush, basecoat the sky Baby Blue. (When basecoating, two coats in most cases will be necessary to cover completely.)
5. Using the #1 shader brush and a 1:2 mix of Terra Cotta and Snow White, basecoat the owl. Basecoat the hat Santa Red; trim and pompon on hat, eyes, and snow on the tree limb, Snow White; and centers of the eyes, Lamp Black. The beak and feet are Pumpkin, and the tree limb is a 1:2 mix of Khaki Tan and Snow White.
6. Using the handle end of a medium paintbrush, dot Snow White snowflakes on the canvas.
7. Using an ultra-fine black marker, line around the owl, tree limb, and snowflakes and add feathers on the front of the owl. (Refer to photo.)
8. Using a toothpick, dot in eye highlights with Snow White.
9. Transfer the hedgehog onto the other canvas, following the technique in step 3.
10. Basecoat the background with Baby Blue and the #4 flat shader brush. Using the #1 flat shader brush, basecoat the hedgehog body with a 1:2 mix of Khaki Tan and Snow White. The spines are Light Cinnamon; the gift is a 1:5 mix of Hauser Light Green and Snow White; and the snow is Snow White.
11. Using the #0 liner brush, paint the ribbon and bow with Santa Red.
12. Using the end of a toothpick, dot in the eyes and nose with Lamp Black.
13. Using the handle end of a medium paintbrush, dot in snowflakes with Snow White.
14. Using the ultra-fine black marker, line around the hedgehog, present, snow, and snowflakes as shown. Also line in the mouth and spines.
15. Using the #4 flat shader brush, paint around the sides of the canvas with Santa Red for the hedgehog and Hauser Light Green for the owl.
16. Transfer the lettering onto the easels using the technique from step 3.
17. Trace over the lettering with the ultra-fine black marker.
18. Wrap a piece of wire around two pinecones and pine needles. Wrap around the top of the easel and twist in back to secure. Trim the excess wire. Repeat with the other easel.

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