LOVE birds

Create this striking bird jug with just a little paint and some mindful creativity

- EMILY DAWE

Emily Dawe, founder of craft subscription box Oh Hello Maker, shows you how to transform a plain, unglazed jug into a real showstopper piece, ideal for displaying some colourful blooms. This project was designed to help you slow down and really focus on the mindful technique of painting.

If you love the idea of this project but don't have the materials, you could take advantage of our offer and get the kit at a discounted rate; see the box on the right.

YOU WILL NEED

Ceramic blank jug, unglazed

Round paintbrush

Flat paintbrush

Acrylic paints in pink and red

Mod Podge

Tracing paper

Pencil

Paper for practising

KNOW YOUR BRUSHES

Round paintbrush Bristles close together with a pointed tip - great for adding detail.

Flat paintbrush For spreading paint quickly and evenly over a surface area.

TO PAINT YOUR JUG

1 Using the templates above (or you can draw your own design), trace off a bird onto some paper. Then you can use the paints to practise first, if you like.

2 Feel free to trace the bird designs lightly onto the jug. Or if you’re feeling confident, you can go straight in with very watered-down pink paint, drawing just the outline of the bird shapes first.