This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Winnie’s Picks.
All opinions are my own.
Happy Weekend, Friends!
Starting out the weekend with a review of Winnie’s Picks adult paint by number kits and a GIVEAWAY. So glad you are here! Before we get to your chance to win one of these fabulous kits, please let me share a little bit about what makes them such fun. I am so thankful to my friend Dee at Grammy’s Grid for inviting me to participate in this review.
I received a premium paint by number kit from Winnie’s Picks in exchange for my review.
Winnie’s Picks Premium Paint by Numbers for Adults
When Dee invited me to join her and some of our mutual blogging buddies for this review, I didn’t realize it would coincide with my trip to Ft. Worth. As a result, my painting is not finished – boo!! And you know that I struggle to finish things. Remember how I dedicated May to finishing up some projects? Well, now I have a new project to finish in August!
The folks at Winnie’s Picks create their premium paint by numbers to inspire adults to relieve stress while creating beautiful art. Don’t you love that? And working on my painting was such a pleasant experience. I turned on my Audible book, When All is Said, and kind of shut myself away from the world for a few moments.
Why Winnie’s Picks?
What sets Winnie’s Picks apart from other paint-by-number kits we knew as kids? Here’s what their customers have to say:
- We use up to 36 colors to ensure the best resemblance
- Free online proofing on demand
- Sent in a tube. No wrinkled canvas
- 100% Money Back Guarantee
- Multi-tiered quality control process
- World leader in custom paint by numbers. 12,000+ Satisfied customers
- Superior customer service. Contact us if you have any questions!
Winnie’s Picks features beautiful kits in a variety of themes to include:
- Best Sellers
- Easy Kits
- Framed Paintings
- Vintage
- Flowers
- Animal Kingdom
- City Life
- Landscapes
- By the water
- Portraits
And custom kits where they transform your favorite photo into a custom a paint by number canvas! Would LOVE to paint a canvas of my grand-angels!!
The Kit
I made an unboxing video to share with you. But in typical Leslie fashion, the video is sideways. Would you expect anything less? Tried to re-do the video about a half dozen times but the battery in the camera died, the SD card was full, my kitties would NOT get out of the way and then I ran out of time. Decided to upload it here anyway – figured you gals could turn your phones, laptops or PCs sideways to watch – but WordPress, in its infinite wisdom wouldn’t allow me to upload the video. Security reasons. So you’ve been spared!
I selected the kit named “The Beauty of Dance,” because of the lovely image and the beautiful color palette.
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Once I placed my order, the kit arrived promptly and was ‘boxed’ in a sturdy cardboard tube. The set contained everything I needed to get started.
- A high-quality linen canvas
- A color set (ranging from 24 to 36 colors); no need to mix the colors
- Three paintbrushes
- Complete instructions
I grabbed a jar and filled it with water to use in cleaning my brushes between colors. Winnie’s Picks also suggests that a drop or two or water may be added to a pot of paint if the paint is a bit too thick to easily apply to the canvas. Also gathered my readers (you’ve been spared seeing me in them since my video wouldn’t upload, you’re welcome!) and an especially bright craft light I use when working on my cross stitch projects. Thought they would both come in handy since some of the areas to be painted are very small.
And then I was ready to stretch my canvas.
Stretching the Canvas
This isn’t a required step but with my playful kitties scampering about the house just longing to tap dance across my canvas, I decided it would be a good idea. I purchased a large piece of foam core board on which to mount the canvas. And art tape with which to adhere the canvas to the foam core board. Both available at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s.
First, I ironed the back of my canvas with the iron on a lower temperature setting.
Then I used an Exacto knife to cut the foam core board about 3″ larger than the dimensions of my canvas.
One of the gals shared this video on stretching a canvas.
I did a rather primitive version of this technique. Mainly just to keep my canvas adhered to the foam core board. Thought it would be easier to paint with something hard underneath the canvas. Could probably use regular cardboard, or even an inexpensive canvas board underneath for support.
Once my canvas was stretched and my readers were on, I was ready to begin painting.
Creating Art
Began painting at the top left hand corner of the canvas so as to avoid resting my arm on areas I had painted. By moving down from the corner to the center of the art, my arm was always touching unpainted parts of the canvas. Also kept a clean piece of white paper under my arm, just in case.
The shading in my kit was amazing. So there was just the slightest difference in shade between one color and the next. In the area painted above, I used 4-5 colors but they ‘read’ as being very similar tones.
Wanted to begin using a different color so you and I could get a better impression of how the colors in the finished art would look. And ran into a slight problem.
Ooops!
When I pulled out the link of paint pots for the areas labeled #10 and #11, I discovered that those pots were possibly mislabeled. Each pot is identified with a number that corresponds to areas on the canvas with the same number. The pots are numbered in chronological order but the numbers for the pots for colors #10 and #11 were reversed. Decided that maybe just the number stickers were reversed on the tops of the paint pots, so changed them and began to paint again.
But in looking at the color, once I began painting with it, wondering if the pots were mixed up and not the number labels on the top of the pots. This dark plum color doesn’t seem to fit with the other colors in this area of the canvas.
The Winnie’s Picks folks pride themselves on excellent customer service. However, they are in Belgium so I am unable to call for help. Decided to send Winnie’s Picks a message through the contact form on their website to clarify which color is correct. A dark plum or a gray blue.
In the meantime, I will continue painting the other areas.
When I first opened up this kit, I was a little concerned about the small areas, some not much larger than a pin head. Wasn’t sure how well I would be able to paint such teensy spaces. But I took a breath and jumped in, and have so enjoyed working on this canvas. The brushes are a very good quality with very pointed tips that allow painting in small areas to be easier and more successful. Have been able to paint for a few moments at a time, then close up the paint pots I used in order to return to my project later. Having the canvas mounted on the foam core has made it easy to transport everything from one place to the next. So I have painted in my loft/craft area and on the kitchen table so I can watch TV and be with my Prince. So enjoying this opportunity to be creative!! And you would, too!
A Giveaway
It is your lucky day! Enter our giveaway for a chance to win your own Winnie’s Pick Premium Paint by Numbers kit. Here are the details.
• This giveaway is open to everyone worldwide age 18+
• Three winners will be chosen
• Each winner will receive a $50 gift card to be redeemed at Winnie’s Picks
• Starts on August 3, 2019 at 9:00 PM Central
• Ends on August 17, 2019 at 9:00 PM Central
• You may enter once per day
• Winners will be randomly selected using Giveaway Tools
• Winners will be notified via email
• Winners will have 24 hours to respond or new winners will be chosen
• This giveaway is void where prohibited
• No purchase necessary
Disclosure: This giveaway is not endorsed by Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.
Each of us have each been given a code to offer our readers $5.00 off if they purchase a kit. My personal code for your blog is:
Leslie – onceuponatimehappilyeverafter
Would love for you to use it to purchase a kit. Please let me know if you do, and I will feature your art in a blog post on my blog.
Your Turn
How long has it been since you painted by number? I used to buy those little kits at the discount store when I was a child. How ’bout you? It was great fun then but Winnie’s Picks has made that experience even more enjoyable. Hope you stop by to visit them on one of their social media outlets. And show them some love!
Winnie’s Picks https://www.winniespicks.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WinniesPicks/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Winnies_Picks/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/winniespicks/
Thank you, sweet friends, for coming by today. My heart has broken with the news of a mass shooting in here in my home town of El Paso. Have been paralyzed on the couch watching the details unfold. Wanted to paint but my heart just wasn’t in it. Hope to work on my canvas tonight. Please join me in saying a prayer for the victims and their families.
Hugs and kisses,
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Thanks Leslie for reviewing and co-hosting the giveaway!!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for the opportunity!!
Deb
We were driving home from a meal out in town with my sister and brother in law when I checked the BBC news on my phone and saw what had happened. My first thought was ‘Leslie’ and quickly checked Facebook where I thankfully saw you were safe. What a horrendous thing to happen, my heart goes out to the families of those people lost or injured. Your whole neighbourhood must be heartbroken.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
My sweet, sweet friend. Thank you for thinking of me after the shooting. You are a dear. I am so blessed by the friends I have developed through blogging. Thank you.
Dara
The painting you chose is so pretty! It looks like hard work, but fun!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you. It is relaxing to paint on the paint by number kit but overwhelming seeing all of those tiny spaces.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
Oh wow, I have never seen anything quite like this… maybe something simpler when I was a kid (hee!). But, how fun and I love the one you selected.
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you!! Now to get my canvas painted, my mosaic finished, my scrapbooking caught up. I need a year of all-nighters!!