DIY Kits - Tips and Tricks

If you’ve purchased a DIY Kit from me, read on for some tips and tricks on how to get creating!

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My most popular kit so far has been the DIY Fairy Doors. A cute and simple way to add a little magic to your home. You can stick one to your baseboards, a stair riser, or even a closet door…anywhere the fairies might need an entry point!

I currently offer 2 styles of Fairy Doors:

• Pointed

• Round

Each of the doors are my own design cut out on my scroll saw from Solid Pine and Plywood. They include a backing board, a top piece, embellishments, and a doorknob.

The paints are included and are the same for both doors - but use your imagination and paint them however you choose! Or, if you have your own paints, feel free to use those as well.

The kit also includes 2 sizes of brushes. The flat brush is good for overall coverage - use it to paint the background colors. THe fine tip brush is good for detail work - use it for flowers, rocks, lettering, etc.

Tip: If you want to make polka dots, dip the plastic end of the paint brush into the paint. Perfect polka dot every time!

If you are interested in keeping your Fairy Door outside, there are a few things you should do to ensure it holds up as long as possible.

• Make sure to cover the entire piece with paint, especially the edges of the plywood backer board

• Use extra glue to ensure the pieces stay stuck together

• Purchase a can of outdoor polyurethane Spray and give the finished door a few light coats on all sides (Not included in kit)

Of course, rainy weather can still damage such a delicate little door over time. But keep an eye on it and touch it up every year and it should give your outdoor fairies a good place to call home.

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Houseplants are big right now. like…really big. But not all of us have green thumbs. If you suffer from not being able to keep a potted plant alive, rejoice! My DIy plant kits are just for you.

I have 3 unique styles to choose from - all designed by me:

• Teal Bullet Planter

• Purple Snake Plant

• Coral/grey Snake Plant

Each kit comes with a backer board featuring the black and white floral line drawing with attached sawtooth hanger. The paint and stain is included and is different for each kit, depending on which one you choose.

Each plant is cut from 1/2” solid pine on the scroll saw and each piece of the plant is individual and painted separately.

The unique part about these plant kits is that they feature carved detail on the leaves. The water-based stain that is included can be used to add dimension and color in those grooves.

Don’t be intimidated at all about painting your own plant art! anyone can do it with a little guidance, even if you’ve never picked up a brush. I’ve constructed a quick 3 minute video of my process from start to finish. In the video, I paint the teal bullet planter, but the steps can be applied to each of the designs I offer. I suggest watching it all the way through first before beginning to paint if you are unsure of where to start.

tip; when painting the leaves, don’t be afraid to use all 3 greens at once. and don’t bother rinsing your brush out when switching back and forth. the 3 different shades were chosen to add shadows and highlights. let the base color dry a little bit first, then go back over it in areas with the other 2 shades to add dimension. but just remember - there is no wrong or right way to paint these!!

*A password for the below video will be given when you purchase one of the DIY kits either in person or on our website. If you did not receive the password or are having trouble accessing the video, please reach out to hellojparisdesigns@gmail.com for assistance!*

i hope to add more diy kits to my offerings in the future, so please check back!

I’ve designed these kits to be intended for both children and Adults. There are a few parts of the process that will need adult supervision or assistance (staining/gluing, etc). the paints used are latex and water-based stains - all to be cleaned up with soap and water.

I’d love to see your finished creations! email me photos at hellojparisdesigns@gmail.com

or tag me on instagram @jparisdesigns.