Homemade Watercolor Kits

It's fun and economical to make your own watercolor travel kit--I can't resist trying out the possibilities.
And now I'm eyeing the Ice Chips candy boxes we get at the health food store...they're already white enamel inside!

[@lwei7617]

Inspired by you I made so many mini palettes using various things in the last few years. Some of them have been sleeping in the drawer but this week I gave one of them to my 1.5 year old little girl and she keeps on opening it and playing with it and asking to paint!

[@DharmaWorkChannel]

Oh, and the little piece of blue tack to hold the tiny water cup in place. Also genius.

[@BookandPaperArts]

Drinking straw! Now that is clever and I thought I had seen it all. Thanks for the inspiration, Cathy.

[@lisamr40]

Love the way you sharper the ends of the brushes! Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

[@DharmaWorkChannel]

I love your kits! Genius ideas for resist. Can't wait to try them all now. I swear, my hobby could just be putting together travel kits I love them so much. :)

[@wexfordfilmworkshop]

Well done. Great ideas you gave us there.

[@140288albert]

Amazing! You fit your whole studio into that tiny Altoids box! lol!

[@stanky6261973]

Awesome ideas and hilarious video :) TFS

[@CathyJohnson]

Not goofy at all! And yes, you're right, exactly. I don't really need them to be completely dry, just set up enough that they won't run all over when I carry the box. Usually a day or two is sufficient before taking them out! And thanks, glad you like the videos!

[@CathyJohnson]

That's nifty! I haven't seen the Richeson ones...

[@peachiegrinsxd]

Never thought you could fit so much in a little box! Thanks you for all the inspiration 😁

[@lionpaw55]

Love this video.....thanks for the tips!!! Hugs~Lisa

[@TheJudplay]

Thanks for this informative and resourceful video. I have collected too much stuff in my watercolor endeavors, so this is right on time for me. I'm ready to travel light!

[@aleks1616]

it's crazy the number of things you managed to fit into your altoids box !!! excllent :)

[@angel292005]

I love all your containers! All those tins are inspiring, thanks for sharing your ideas. :)

[@nuvoclassic]

great tips - fun video - my fave is sharpening the end of the paintbrushes!

[@CathyJohnson]

Thank you!

[@ReginaFeralis]

Oh, these are darling! I love the wax paper technique, I've never heard of that, but it sounds super quick and easy. Thanks for sharing!

[@tiggeresse]

God I love you . . . . so like me! There is never the "right" thing for the different situations I find myself working in or accommodating. I save tins, empty packaging, etc. so I have just the right thing for my "unique" purpose. Since I have only begun working with watercolor, you are giving me a jump on my organization creativity. Thank you!

[@CathyJohnson]

Thank you! Have fun!

[@thefrugalcrafter]

Thanks for this Cathy, I too love travel watercolors;) and now I do not feel sill about all of the palettes I have and made. The only downside to this video is that I will hoard even more tins now! Have a great day!

[@CathyJohnson]

Yes, I can't resist seeing how this or that will work as a palette!

[@BrucePenny]

Hi Fruge, When I first started mucking about with watercolours seriously a couple of years ago I was fascinated with the equipment and made some of my own, customised really cheap stuff by adding good quality ingredients in them and buying all sorts of stuff to use and experiment with. Most of this stuff has now become a bit of a waste. Fun while it lasted and though I still have the "ooh, what can I make with this" bug, I have slowly graduated to fewer and fewer pieces of equipment which I actually use. The boot of my car and a cupboard in the house are full of stuff I just don't use or need. I'm, hopefully. moving more into the realm of actually drawing and painting and away from collecting equipment, reading articles and basically procrastinating and avoiding the whole point of having all this stuff. Mind you, I have this particular mint tin which would make a seriously cute pocket paint box.....

[@CathyJohnson]

Bruce Penny , that's exactly where I am right now, passing things along I no longer need or use. I explored them, I learned, some I keep a bit longer, and some go to friends and family--or eBay!

[@kimtr111]

Cathy Johnson I love the prang kit :D, please tell me when you put any of them on ebay. Thanks for your video

[@tammydegrasse8606]

Thanks for sharing this,I love the straw thing,I'll use that with my pencils to! Also liked the sharpening the end of a brush for texture.💜😄🎨

[@pinkstarskye]

Thank you for this! These watercolour kits are really handy :D on a side note, i love the way you laugh, it sounds like my aunt's :D

[@CathyJohnson]

No, a long way from NC! I'm glad you enjoyed the video, have fun with watercolor.

[@TheImaginaryCat]

So many really nice palette ideas makes me want to go out tin hunting 😊💕

[@CathyJohnson]

I hope you find the perfect tin!

[@KarenMcLain]

I have long admired your work. It is great to see the way you put together your kits. Thank you!

[@CathyJohnson]

Thanks Karen, glad to help!

[@Lili-sk8zr]

Cathy, you've just earned a new subscriber

[@CathyJohnson]

Well, hello!

[@robertsloan2]

Cool little watercolor kits! I collect them and sometimes improvise them too. One of my favorites started out as something I got for my grandkids for Christmas - a Richeson keychain watercolor set with 8 colors of children's colors. I saw it online, got one each for the grandkids for stocking stuffers and ordered an extra one for myself. Popped out the tiny maybe eighth pan tabs of children's color and replaced those with dots of Daniel Smith watercolors. 8 color DS kit in my pocket most times!

[@CathyJohnson]

Well how cool! Glad to help, I know the recipients will be pleased.

[@suzysholar5151]

Wow! I have watched dozens of videos on making little mini watercolor tips, but yours was by far the best! It was informative and inspirational! I really enjoyed all the bits of things you carry to use. Things like a China market, a straw, wax paper, blue tax, dip pens... all unexpected but VERY helpful!! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing all of this!!! Now, I am eager to go watch more of your videos!! 😃

[@CathyJohnson]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@GirlGeekLovesStampin]

I was putting a Christmas gift together and this helped A LOT! Thanks.

[@KisabellaLopez]

You have some rather ingenious little ideas. :)

[@wow5lolli]

This is Amazing!!!! Thank you so much for sharing! I can't wait to customize my own!!

[@CathyJohnson]

It's a lot of fun...I use my customized kits FAR more often than commercial ones!

[@Betolung]

Thanks for sharing your portable kits ideas. It never occurred to me to use a Caran D'Ache Neocolor Tin or a straw in such manner before.

[@judithloganart8794]

blu-tac is a great idea, thanks! Great videos!

[@davidcross30]

Thanks for all the great ideas.

[@1deleau]

Lovely little discovery for me on my 5th day home sick! I love making my own travel palettes as well, however i like to use empty eyeshadow cases that already have little compartments. You can go from just one for monochromatic painting, to the big kits that have a dozen or more...then i use an empty eyedropper for my water...they come very tiny....a piece of 'shamwow' type cloth is super absorbent and fits well also...i did get a few ideas here though! Looking forward to more of your posts!

[@ambarrose]

Amazing. I will try one.

[@pamorale]

That sticky thing is a really good idea

[@CathyJohnson]

Glad you enjoyed it! I've made a couple of the little Altoids kits now.

[@JellicleKat]

I love this, you're so creative. I'm just getting back into painting and watercolors are my favorite so I will keep these tips in mind. Thank you, I can't wait to post this to my group next week for Crafty Monday!

[@CathyJohnson]

Thank you, and thanks for sharing!

[@bardotte5757]

Good ideas. I too love adapting and bought six different types of antique wooden boxes on eBay (one is a lovely old wine box from Italy) and keep my tubes of paints and pens and pencils in them and they look lovely on the shelves. I also adapt tins and put pans of paints in them. Thank you 🌹

[@CathyJohnson]

It's a less expensive paint, with different fillers, I believe--it might work to fill pans with without crumbling (I don't know), but it can be harder to re-wet if you're using tubes.

[@CathyJohnson]

Hi Joe! I use rubber cement, that way I can pull them out and change them if i want.

[@CathyJohnson]

Hi Joe...sometimes I use Stillman & Birn or Strathmore, but usually I bind my own books!

[@katstar01]

The drinking straw tip just blew my mind

[@CathyJohnson]

Sometimes it's the simple things!

[@MrAdrianaangel]

I like the first one the best.

[@higherground711]

The Prang and a lot of other vintage metal tins are available on eBay for under $30. So if you like a colorful classic tin you can find them in Disney, Finest Watercolor etc. There are plenty of basic vintage tins for the same prices. I'm very much a beginner and am using the Prang 16 color oval box to learn. I have three Simply Simmons short handle round brushes 2 4 & 6. I'll be removing the strips the pans are in and anchoring them in place with Scotch mounting putty or mounting squares. That edit to the box's design should let me fit all three brushes in the box with the pans. Teoh Yi Chie reviewed the 8 color half pan Prang box. He said one could fit roughly 24 empty half pans in the 8 color box. With the 16 color box it's roughly 48 half pans if one wanted that many colors lol. Mine's the current plastic box, not the vintage metal tin. But when the pans run out I'll be keeping it. It's flat and will fit neatly in my military style rover sling backpack. The whole for hanging it in stores will work for a strap to keep it safely in place. Let me share some links in case they might be of interest to anyone. Teoh Yi Chie's Review Of Prang 16 Color Half Pan Set (He shows how the half pans fit) kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4uYpXl4eaiZkLs Red Rock Outdoor Gear Rover Sling Backpack (What I refer to as a day pack cause of its size) kzbin.info/www/bejne/iImYmGuul7uEeqc At 5 : 58 he begins actually opening and demonstrating the backpack's abilities and features. This is a military style tactical pack, but with all of its molle webbing loops one can get a lot inside and on the outside. Under the black mesh flap is another compartment into which I can fit my 6 x 9inch (when collapsed) Amazing Folding Pocket Chair. The bag easily accommodates all of my urban sketching tools and more: + Prang watercolor set + 5 x 8inch watercolor sketchbook + Sakura Pigma Micron Pens in carry case + 0.7mm mechanical pencil & leads + Staedtlar Rasoplast Eraser + Staedtlar Mars Lumograph pencil sharpener + Small water jar + Travel water sprayer + Battery powered pocket fan (For drying ink and watercolor) + 10 pack of pocket tissues + Artificial tears + Sunglasses + 15 count roll of gallon size dog waste bags (For trash in case I can't get to a trash bin) + Amazing Folding Pocket Chair + Water bottle or pop, energy bar or snacks, various necessities etc All of this in a convenient half size or what I like to call a day pack. I'm not trying to be their poster boy lol, but it has worked out great and with the addition of molle straps , black hawk quick straps and/or d-ring clips you can add small items clipped to the loops on the outside. This is how I go about it. And the pack doesn't wear you out. Nice. :-D

[@Essuna]

I've been getting into watercolors and this is such great inspiration! I made a watercolor kit sometime ago out of a colour pencils box, but still haven't painted the inside white, so I was wondering what type of paint did you use? Love your videos! Thanks so much for making them!

[@christianschultz9858]

I showing all your water colors. laaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmm. lol!

[@CathyJohnson]

Sometimes it depends on the brand of paint...I mostly have good luck with Winsor & Newton artist grade colors (not Cotman) or Daniel Smith. You can also put a bit of paint in, let it set, add a bit more, let it set. Or perhaps stir in a little gum arabic!

[@CathyJohnson]

Thank you, and thanks for the reminder, I need to add a fresh piece to my kit! Eventually you use up the wax...

[@CathyJohnson]

Yes, with rubber cement so I can change them out easily!

[@CathyJohnson]

I used a white, spray appliance paint, actually! I think it might have been Rustoleum. It still stains, some, with Phthalo Blue, but then so do my commercial palettes. I don't know how appliance paint will do on plastic...you might want to lightly sand it with a very find sandpaper or use liquid sander (though that might melt the plastic.) It worked well in my Caran D'Ache Neocolor II case, but then it's metal...

[@cheyannes685]

Nice ideas i think I'll try to make my own with her advice

[@Windkisssed]

Oh yippee I learned a few new things!! I love your "cannibalization" to create more working space; the wax paper resist!; and the straw... Thanks for posting... New subbie! I heard about you from Elaine Magliacane.

[@thatericguy1]

I second this! brilliant!

[@peachiegrinsxd]

I've also seen people use those small binder clips to attach the extra mixing tray to the palette so you don't gotta hold it or fiddle while working

[@CathyJohnson]

Yep, I do that sometimes! I have a small one tht fits right in the kit.

[@sueholloway1406]

Windkisssed

[@ritahellmann605]

Good ideas. Never thought of your idea. Rita Hellmann, learning Artist.

[@patriotridge]

Genius!

[@CathyJohnson]

I order about everything online. One is a folding Koi watercolor brush and I think another is a travel brush from Daniel Smith.

[@mollymoon510]

awesome video! im just getting started and this is really helpful

[@CathyJohnson]

Glad you like! I've just been going through my old photos of these kits, what a coincidence...

[@kjb2n5ctr]

Did enjoy!

[@FairyWebmother]

Wonderful video! I'm always looking for ways to make art kits smaller and lighter. Thank you!

[@galvosaur]

what a great video! thank you! what brand was that last tin kit you showed? the one with the extra heavy metal pieces, i love the additional folding palettes!

[@c8Lorraine1]

great advice....thank you

[@lhastingscfa]

Thank you for this wonderful video. Which paint colors do you include in your Prang palette?

[@CathyJohnson]

Rene, I'm not given the option to reply to you, no idea why...but acrylic paint may peel off when wet. It does off my enamel palette!

[@santaaugustino1]

Hi Cathy Johnson I really like your homemade travel kits and I also like your...oofs :d

[@CathyJohnson]

Glad to help, Lorraine.

[@musciart65]

thanks. very useful!

[@MrJoe7784]

Thanks for the video.. Just putting a little kit together. What kind of paper/journal do you use ?

[@deezynar]

Yay, a new video! Do you glue the pans in place? They seem to stay in place.

[@CathyJohnson]

Glad you liked!

[@CathyJohnson]

Sorry, the pen's an antique I just found by accident--the folding waterbrush is a Sakura, I think. Other things I just cut off myself.

[@devonabdoart]

This is great! Are you in NC? I love this idea, I usually work in acrylic and oil, but i just decided to look into more watercolor, ink, and water brushes. Thank you for this video

[@lexielom2454]

What did you paint that black ton with? And also I love this video watch it all the time when I want to get inspired. Made a tin based off yours absolute love it! My favorite is the black ton love what you've came up with..

[@CathyJohnson]

+ClassyCrafter101, it was a spray enamel from the hardware store. Glad you like your little tin!

[@nairomoleda]

good!

[@zoilarivera8866]

Love this video :) I am new, and love the idea of having a travel set. What colors should I put in my first travel kit? Thank you so much :)

[@CathyJohnson]

It really depends on how big your kit is going to be! I can get by with three primaries and two convenience colors, usually burnt sienna and Payne's gray.

[@ilovetobemom]

Do you ever wish you had one kit with you rather than another you made because another box has a couple of different supplies?

[@CathyJohnson]

Oh, of course! I just recently went back to my old re-purposed Prang box. I keep some of the others in my car, or near the couch, but the one that goes everywhere is the Prang.

[@KDubTwin2]

I love your videos! So informative! I see you are from Kansas City area. I was raised in Overland Park:)

[@CathyJohnson]

Small world!

[@bonnieholeman4624]

I'm from Overland Park myself, but now live in Wichita. Cathy, are you still in KC? I really enjoyed this video. You're so creative...even in making travel kits!

[@CathyJohnson]

Bonnie Holeman , yes, still in the KC area! And thank you!

[@e20cboy]

It's awesome!! I love your handmade items and I'd like to make my own, too. By the way, what did you paint for white mixing palette?

[@CathyJohnson]

It was a white spray appliance paint--stinky but it worked well.

[@e20cboy]

Cathy Johnson Thanks a lot.

[@joegoblyn4662]

What do you use to hold the pans in place? I'm going to order some empty ones and put them into an old tin I have, but don't understand if they're just pressure-fit in there or what you used for adhesive.

[@bugeyedmonster2]

Cool video, thanks for posting. One question, how do you carry water? Do you have a small separate water container in your purse? When I took a bus often, I found obtaining water to do watercolor sketches a problem. And not every screw top bottle holds water well. (I've had a few tops that have popped off. Not fun.) Anyway, thanks for posting this. I have the Neocolor tin and I never would have thought of using it in this fashion.

[@patriciabeeck2088]

Love your kits. Could you tell me where do you get those mini pens and what brand are they? Thanks

[@CathyJohnson]

Hi Patricia--we found them on eBay--I think we searched for mini-dip pens or some such! Or "demonstrator pens" maybe...

[@CathyJohnson]

I don't usually have much problem, Albert, but thanks!

[@melisars]

thanks!

[@nandanbalwalli2147]

Excellent ideas in practice....where did you get the last box you showed...the black one ? Also it would be nice if you showed us a. Few of your miniature paintings

[@CathyJohnson]

It's from Kremer Pigments, but Schmincke makes a similar one. Can't go back and add the miniatures though, sorry!

[@TimesJustTickingAway]

where do you get your water color brush?

[@CathyJohnson]

And of course I normally carry more, but I wouldn't HAVE to!

[@mb98030]

Did you glue the full pans and half pans into the little tin boxes?

[@140288albert]

May be you can mix some honey or glycerin with the tube paints so they remain moist and prevent cracking in pans (M Graham uses honey). That's also easier to rewet.

[@gcsegovi]

can you maybe give a link to where I might find those miniature things that you have in the tin?

[@1pirata24]

Thanks Cathy for the cool ideas. I wonder how you fix the pans into the boxes. I tried it with some kind of glue, but it won't really stay.

[@bunnii5813]

Uli Ulises magnets

[@jennyalfonsi1048]

I saw someone using rubberciment

[@LieutenantLion1]

Instead of using white enamel paint, you can use white acrylic to prime the inside of tins, right? I love all your kits by the way!

[@kerry5586]

Have you tried this and did it work?

[@todd_the_wraith]

where do you get the metal pans? I find that they're a pain to find.

[@JayH2003]

AHHH I just got enamel spray paint and I was wondering how you got yours so even! Mine wants to puddle in different places on the inside of the tin!

[@CathyJohnson]

+JayTheBirdFlyZ, I did light layers, and kept the spray moving.

[@CathyJohnson]

I'm glad it was useful!

[@ninjatops99]

great idea. i dont know where to buy pans or half pans at. none of those art stores you mentioned are in my area. we have michaels, hobby lobby, and united arts.

[@CathyJohnson]

+electrabot I have to order them online, you're right, the stores you mention don't seem to have them. Blick's does, though, so does Kremer Pigments.

[@JayH2003]

Just curious as to how you painted your altoids tin black. I've been wondering how to do it and give it that shiny surface yours has! I just have no clue what paint to use and if I'm supposed to put a certain over coat since in all the videos I've seen nobody really explains what they mean by painting it white on the inside or black on the outside and I'm very perplexed by it!

[@CathyJohnson]

+JayTheBirdFlyZ, it was a gloss black spray enamel, and an appliance spray paint in white on the inside. The black of course is just tradition. :)

[@JayH2003]

+Cathy Johnson hmm now I'm curious as to what would happen if I painted one of these with acrylic, and then went over that paint with mod podge as a sealant. Would it work just as well to create a white surface and would the mod podge stay dry and work as a mixing space? I think it says it's washable though, so maybe not :/

[@CathyJohnson]

+JayTheBirdFlyZ I guess the only way to find out is try it! :) I've never used ModPodge, so I have no idea...

[@pinkstarskye]

Thank you for

[@us5634]

What did you use to paint the inside of the palette. It was white.

[@CathyJohnson]

It's a white enamel appliance paint I got at the hardware store...a bit stinky for a while, but it works!

[@bugeyedmonster2]

@KateJosTube I found one pretty cheaply on eBay. The thing with ebay is that you have to set yourself a limit, and if the bidding goes over your limit, let the item go. Forget it exists! And then just prowl ebay looking for another.

[@CathyJohnson]

Great ideas, thanks!

[@tjduprey]

Maybe a little blutac on the coffee cup?

[@CathyJohnson]

I do use that sometimes on the bottom of my little water cup!

[@tjduprey]

Cathy Johnson I'm pretty sure I learned that from your video lol!

[@Windkisssed]

hahahaha