October 2021 Newsletter 

Welcome the our Monthly Newsletter! 
This is where we will be sharing tips, (both beginner and expert), discounts & sales and what's happening in the dotting world.

(For the latest monthly Newsletter - click here)

What's new?

Holiday Shipping

Holiday season is fast approaching!!  I suggest you stock up for the holiday season now!!!  Due to the unreliability of the postal service due to covid, the increase in online shipping and the extra demand on transportation at the moment, it is better to be safe than sorry.  

Since Oct 1st, Airmail to Australia & New Zealand from Canada and the USA has been suspended. Orders sent via the postal system will be send via ship and can take up to 3 months for delivery

DIY Mandala Stones shipping dates are 

• USA (December 8th)
• Canada (BC - December 8th, rest of Canada December 1st)
• International (November 10th) -
• Australasia, Central & South America, Asia, and Middle east (Please contact us for shipping options) 
• Please note that all couriers and mail services cannot guarantee delivery dates, so we therefore cannot guarantee delivery dates
• We can always courier for an additional price 

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Sales

25% off
​Christmas Bonus Pack - Dot Mandala Patterns 

**Expires 31st October** 

Our friend at Poppy Rocks is having a sale on her Christmas (bonus packs) patterns.​ - $18CAD for a pack of 4 patterned designs

Click here to see her other patterns on Etsy.

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 Clearance -
​32 mixed sets for a non-profit/school 
$160CAD

**Only one set available**

Contains 32 sets of mixed tool. (sizes, 3&4, 5&6, 7&8, 11&12, 17&18, 25&26)
(@$5 per set).  Perfect select of large and small sizes.

​This set is suitable for a non-profit group, or a school.  

​Please contact us at hello@diymandalastones.com for more information and shipping costs 

Sold out

Shop

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20% off
Mandala Dotting Beginner Kit

**Expires 31st October**

These kits are perfect for Christmas presents for kids and adults alike! 

Contains: 

• 5 x 10ml paints
• Regular Mandala Dotting Tools (Size 1-16 **with large sized numbering**) 
• Instructions 

Mandala Dotting Kit - Beginner

CA$38.00

Shop

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Beginner tips

Block Dot Art 

Block Dot art is where you fill in the space with random dots of different sizes.  The trick is to use all of the space so your eyes sees the shape, not the individual dots.  

Always start with the big dots first 

Add medium sized dots, then smaller sized dots (as big as you can fit in the spaces).  Use as many different sizes as needed

Keep adding smaller sized dots to fill in the space.  This picture shows the small #2 dotting tool (1mm diameter) sized dots.

To bring the shape together, add the tiniest dots to all the spaces - I have used #1 dotting tool (.5mm diameter) or smaller sized to fill in all spaces

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Expert tips

High pigment paint 

High pigment paint essentially means that it has more pigment (or true colour) per milliliter.  A lot of the craft acrylic paint has less pigment and is often mixed with a white to make the paint cheaper.

• More expensive (usually $6-$12 for 30 mls) than regular craft acrylic paint
• Is more vibrant and often has more of a shine when it is dried
• Most colours have less transparency (see through the paint) than regular acrylic paint. 
• Most suitable if you have a white or light background, as the colours really pop
• Has more coverage and less 'streaks' when brushing on a surface
• Has more of a binder in the paint, which helps reduce the paint cracking when it dries
• The binder can also cause more bubbles when mixing or pouring out of the container
• The binder can also give more volume to the paint so it can dry with a little peak

**Please note that this is not high fluid paint or ready to pour pouring paint **
Below are a few 'ready to use' high pigment paints. (click the photo for the websites)

Golden fluid acrylic paint - The most widely available

Opus Fluid Acrylic Paint - available in Canada in Opus stores 

Deco Art Media Fluid Acrylic paints - available on Deco-Art's website

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Meet your fellow dotter 

Meet Kim Mackay 

Owner of DIY Mandala Stones and Creator of the first Mandala Dotting Tools ​

Describe yourself?
I am a self described non-artist that has always had a creative streak.  As a kid I loved reading crafts books from the library.  I am a mama to my son and an angel daughter.

How did you get into dotting
In 2016, my baby daughter passed away, and I had a lot of anxiety about returning to work.  I turned to my creative side to ease my anxiety, by making a fairy garden.  While searching for ideas, I came across Mandala Stones created by Elspeth Mclean (the grandmother of mandala dotting).  I was immediately hooked, but had zero brush skills.  From this frustration, I created the flat-ended Mandala Dotting Tools and have been spreading the art of dotting for over 5 years.

Why do you love dotting?
I love the therapeutic aspect of dotting - the relaxing, anxiety reducing benefits.  It is also less messy than other activities (I am very messy!)

Where do you see dotting in the next few years?
Dotting still hasn't quite hit mainstream yet, so I anticipate this in the next few years

What type of dotting do you like to do?
I love doing dots in geometric designs.  I love the thought of a round dot creating sharp angles, lines and shapes  - check out some geometric designs here.

What is your favourite tip/saying?
"When we look at a mandala, we see every imperfection that we did.  But everyone else sees a beautiful Mandala. Much like how we see ourselves.  We see our own imperfections and everyone else sees something beautiful"

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If you know of any sales, tips or groups that would help other dotters, please send us a message so we can share it with others!

Our monthly newsletter contains tips, designs and our latest product information.