DIY MANDALA STONES
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"love your mistakes, and the adventures that follow"
​
- Kim Mackay 


TIPS TO MAKE THE PERFECT DOT ​
  • Holding the tool
    • ​Hold the tool close to the end you are using, to increase precision.
  • Dipping
    • Dip the dotting tool into the paint after each dot for perfection, or after every 2 dots. 
    • You only need to dip the tip in. 
    • If you get too much paint on it, do not try to scrape it off, it will still produce a perfect circle.
  •  ​Surface - (ie stone, canvas etc)
    • Try and pick a stone that does not have holes or a rough surface.
    • There is no need to seal the stone or prep the stone before using (when using acrylic paint).
    • The smoother the surface the better the circle.  Gentle polished stones provide a better surface than a raw stone.
    • Be warned that highly polished stones make the dots look great, but are prone to the paint (and sometimes) the sealant chipping and breaking.
    • If you are using canvas make sure you gesso it before painting or buy it pre-prepared or paint the background to ensure the paint doesn't bleed or spread.
    • Certain paper will have the same effect. (ie Watercolour paper)
  • Paint
    • The best paint to use on stones is acrylic paint.
    • Make sure your paint is thin enough (use extra water in the paint if thick).
    • How to test the paint consistency?  Tip the paint container, if it easily pours out, then it is thin enough.
    • If the paint is too thick then the paint will not be applied evenly.  It also will have a 'peak' on it.
  • ​Sealing 
    • ​To seal the stones, please use either Mod Podge or a spray sealant.
  • Cleaning 
    • Clean the tool to ensure old paint on the tool does not change the circular shape. See how to clean the tools.
  • Patience
    • ​If adding another dot on top of the first layer, make sure you wait for the paint to dry completely, before applying a top layer.
    • If you lift the dotting tool off the surface too quickly, paint can splash out of the circle.  Just slow down your application speed.

TIPS FOR MISTAKES - SMALL 
  • Dot is too small? 
    • Just add a larger dotting tool size over the top.
  • The dots are not in an even pattern
    • see Step by Step Instructions for tips. 
    • Ensure you start from the middle and work your way out.
    • Often our mistakes are very obvious to us, and not to others.   If you continue with this pattern, you will not notice one little mistake in the beautiful design.
    • Use a pencil outline (protractor, dinner plate, pot) if you have a large canvas.
  • The dots are not a perfect circle
    • See above tips to make a perfect circle
    • See How to Dot for the correct application.
  • I made a mistake when following a pattern
    • The best creativity happens when you veer off the pattern. Just embrace the mistake and make the pattern your own.
  • I slipped and now one dot is odd shaped
    • You do not need to make the design entirely of perfect circles, maybe use oblong shapes, lines, cone shaped, etc to hide it.
​TIPS FOR MISTAKES - LARGE 
  • Wipe the area with water before it drys and hardens.  If you have a polished stone, then this will be easy.
  • Made a huge major mistake? Then just cover to whole area/stone with black and start again!


"Life isn't perfect and neither should your art be."

Mandala Stone Method

how to Dot

Learn the basics here.
Mandala Stone Basics

Step by Step instructions

Learn how to do a basic mandala stone.
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DIY Mandala Stones

PO Box 44137, Kensington Square
Burnaby 
BC, V5B 4Y2
Canada

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  • Home
  • Design Information
    • How to dot
    • Painting tips
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Different Designs
    • Teachers & Therapists
  • Get involved
    • Monthly Newsletter
    • Events
    • Social groups
  • Shop
    • Find a Retailer
    • Clearance
    • Mandala Dotting Tools
    • Large Mandala Dotting Tools
    • Full Set dotting tools
    • Mandala Dotting Kit - Beginner
    • Mandala Dotting Kit - Large
    • Removable Wall Canvas
    • Removable Light Wall Canvas
    • Single Tool
  • Contact