Experimenting with colours and techniques is part of the fun of painting with watercolours.

In this project, spattering, lifting-out and blotting are used to create the effect of light dancing on moving water and waves breaking on the shoreline.

You will need

• A 300gsm (140lb) sheet of NOT paper
• 2B pencil
• Paints: ultramarine blue; cerulean blue; yellow ochre; sap green; burnt umber; burnt sienna; Payne’s grey
• Brushes: Nos.12, 6, 4 and 3 round-headed; 19mm (¾in) and 7mm (¼in) flat-headed
• Gum arabic
• Natural sponge
• Stiff card
• 2 jars of water
• Palette
• Tissues
• Cotton buds

Painting is a wonderfully rewarding
hobby, and anyone can do it.

Watercolour paints are readily available and easy to use and with a few brushes and a little imagination you can set about creating your own masterpieces. Slightly textured paper (known as NOT paper) is the most commonly used, and acid-free papers don’t go so yellow with age. Thickness is indicated by weight, and paper under 300gsm (140lb) is liable to bubble or warp unless previously stretched.

You’ll probably find watercolour to be much more attainable than you thought. One way to discover various tried and tested techniques is to follow a step-by-step project. The one described here takes a beach photograph for inspiration (above). The artist also made a sketch of the scene while on location (below). The basic painting is set out in layered washes. The water, foam and shingle are developed by working into the layers – blotting, scraping, re-wetting and spattering. Wet washes can be dabbed with a sponge or scraped with card to achieve the desired effect.

Dry washes can be lightened using stripes of clean water. The paint dissolves into the water and the pigment migrates to the edges of the newly wet areas, creating bands of lighter colour. The striped effect is enhanced if you blot the wet stripes. Spatter a dry wash with water for a speckled effect.

Capture the mood To create an image that is more than a copy of the scene, start by simplifying the forms, looking for interesting shapes and patterns. As the painting evolves, pay less attention to the photograph and use the marks you have already made. As you move away from the original subject, the painting becomes less literal, more personal and more creative. Here the artist has experimented to find a way of achieving a particular effect.

The hint of fields and hedges on the headland, and the two figures and dog on the beach, give a sense of scale and recession, and create a focus.

1 Using the 2B pencil, make a basic outline drawing to plot the main elements of the landscape.

2 Mix ultramarine blue and cerulean blue, and, using the No.12 brush, lay the wash for the sky, leaving the white of the paper to stand for the clouds. Add more water and take the wash down over the headland. Add yellow ochre to the mix and apply this colour over the water, using the same brush. Dab the edge of the cloud with damp sponge to soften it. Sweep a damp brush across the lower sky and headland to thin the wash, leaving a pale film of colour.

3 Cut a piece of stiff card about 3cm (1¼in) wide to make a blunt spatula. While the wash is still wet, pull the card vertically down the paper to remove parallel wavy strips of wash. These lighter bands suggest the waves surging on to the shoreline. Work into the edge of the cloud with a moist brush to soften it even more.

4 Use a mix of sap green, burnt umber and Payne’s grey for the headland (No.6 brush). Use yellow ochre mixed with a little burnt umber for the beach area. Darken with more burnt umber and Payne’s grey and apply along the base of the headland. Mix a darker ultramarine/cerulean/yellow ochre wash by adding more of each. Add a drop of gum arabic to increase the paint’s gloss. Apply this colour over the sea (No.6 brush), taking it around the silhouette of the breakwater, and pulling it down the sheet in parallel ribbons, leaving slivers of the base colour showing through. Leave to dry.

5 Darken the sea colour by adding ultramarine and burnt sienna and use this mix to paint the shadow of the headland. Using the small No.3 brush, lay parallel lines to suggest the wavelets on the water’s surface. These should be narrow and close together because they are in the distance. Load the No.12 brush with the same dark wash and take broad strands of this colour down the paper.

6 Wet the No.3 brush and, starting near the horizon, lay narrow, horizontal bands of water. This causes the paint to open up gradually, producing stripes of lighter colour. They should be close together near the horizon. Make broader marks that are wider apart as you move forward to create a sense of recession from the foreground towards the horizon. Change to the No.12 brush near the bottom of the picture. Apply the water freely so it floods and one band runs into another. Lay the bands so the paint gradually opens up to create interesting textures and patterns.

7 Mix a wash of burnt sienna and yellow ochre and use the No.4 brush to lay this on to the beach below the groyne. Use the tip of the brush to dot more colour on to the wash to suggest the shingle. Leave to dry.

8 Load the No.3 brush with water, hold it over the paper and tap it with your forefinger to spatter droplets of water on to the beach. Then spatter wash on to the same area. Use a cotton bud to lift some of the re-wetted wash, creating very light areas to suggest lumps of chalk.

9 Mix raw umber and Payne’s grey and, with the 7mm (¼in) flat brush, paint the uprights and planks of the breakwater. Vary the amount of Payne’s grey in the mix to create a variety of tones. Leave to dry. Then wet the edge of a piece of stiff card, and apply to the breakwater to create a wet line. Re-wet the card and repeat to create parallel wet lines. Blot with tissue to lift the colour.

10 Wet the 19mm (¾in) flat brush and work into the white water breaking over the breakwater, creating flame-like shapes. Use plenty of water to dissolve the washes around the white paper – don’t blot it but allow the dissolved paint to flow into the white area, creating softly graduated tones. If you like, suggest fields on the headland and two figures and a dog on the beach.

Article taken from Dairy Diary 2012.

The midweek rush to get a meal on the table can often result in a hastily cooked pizza or other oven-meal.

However, if you prepare ahead a little when time is not so precious, you can eat great food mid-week too.

Try making Spiced Plums for the freezer. You can make not one but two delicious meals from it – such as Stir-fry Pork with Spiced Plum Sauce and Plum Semi-Freddo.

Don’t miss your chance to
win a superb Dairy Diary Apron

High quality, highly practical and
of course, highly desirable!

Enter the Prize Draw.

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Maybe I haven’t quite grown up yet, but I think I love the magic of Bonfire night just as much as my two year-old!

We enjoyed an organised firework spectacle on Saturday and have our own version this weekend coming – no doubt with spectacularly unimpressive fireworks!

So, I shall be busy making some warming food for us to savour while watching the fireworks fizzle. If you’re planning a Bonfire party give Red Pepper Soup a try. It’s perfect in a mug with a hotdog or cheesy toast on the side.

Competition

Don’t forget, you still have a chance at winning a Good Grips Apple Corer/Slicer http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/competitions.html

Ideal for a quick and tasty snack. Try crisp English Cox apples; serve with a couple of crackers and a chunk of your favourite cheese.

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You want to enjoy every minute with them but thinking of ways to keep them occupied can be daunting.

You don’t have to spend lots of money on expensive toys, with just a few materials and some imagination you can all have an incredibly rewarding time together both at home and in the great outdoors. Try some of these ideas during the summer holidays – all taken from the 2011 Dairy Diary, available online now!

All ages

Visit your council office or library, read the paper for details on local events and places to go. Pick up leaflets at places you visit – they sometimes have discount vouchers. Many local amenities are free or really inexpensive: Art galleries and/or museums often have scheduled events and workshops for children; Your local library may offer reading groups or music time; National Trust and English Heritage properties are free if you are members. They offer quiz trails, dressing-up, craft activities and special events; The park is perfect for ball games, the playground and picnics; Local leisure centres will offer swimming and lots of others sporting activities for all ages.

Under 5

• Create a very simple treasure hunt at home with one word cards to follow, such as table, chair, toybox etc.
• Food packets and tubes can be used for lots of activities: your child can sort them into different shapes and sizes; they can stick them together to build objects; they can paint them in different colours.
• Make a themed collage (by colour or season or transport, for example) with pictures cut from magazines. If they are very young, cut the pictures out yourself.

5-12 year-olds

• Make a calendar or clock. Decorate a paper plate then paint on numbers and secure cardboard hands with a paper fastener. To create a calendar, choose month-appropriate pictures from a magazine and stick onto 12 sheets of card or paper. Print out dates from the computer or write them down. Hole-punch each sheet and secure together with string. Both these craft projects will encourage your child to learn about time, days and months.
• Use food packets and boxes for lots of activities: Your child can create their own shop (using scales to weigh things, stickers to price things and change to learn about money and counting); they can make a money box and learn how to save; they can paint windows, doors, flowers etc. on boxes to create a model village.
• To make an impressive mosaic picture, draw a large, simple design (such as flowers) on a piece of paper, cut small squares from coloured paper or magazines and use one colour to fill each section of the design.

For all these activities, stay with your child to ensure they are safe. Pay particular attention to choking hazards with very young children. If you are doing any craft activities it’s a good idea to wear aprons and cover surfaces with newspaper.

Teenagers

Teenagers are much more independent and less likely to want to take part in structured activities. They may still enjoy crafts (card making, drawing, painting, sculpture), cooking, or reading but it is important to treat them as young adults when suggesting these ideas. Out-of-home activities may be more successful, such as ball games, swimming, skating and visiting local attractions.

Win a set of fun cookie cutters

You are still in with a chance of winning a fabulous children’s baking set. Visit http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html to win.

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The Dairy Diary office is now just down to one very busy person! In the 2011 Dairy Diary we have lots of fab holiday tips, including this handy checklist. Perfect for those who always forget something when they go away!

Not many of us are in the mood for cooking when we return, so why not plan ahead and freeze this delicious Ratatouille and Ham Pasta Bake.

For more freeze-easy ideas try Clever Cooking for One or Two, Dairy Cookbook available online or for free – if you’re lucky!

Win a copy of Clever Cooking for One or Two
We have 5 to give away http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html

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I love Easter, with spring in the air; the mix of lovely pastel colours; the children’s excitement; and some quality family time. The countdown to the big event is on.

Here are some ideas you might like to try:

• Make Easter cards. These are so simple – ribbon interwoven (my current craft obsession) and taped to a piece of card, attached to a card blank with an egg sticker in the centre.

• Make marbled eggs. Isaac and I had great fun experimenting with colours and patterns. These can hang from ribbon on a few twigs, taking centre-stage on the dining table. For details see How to decorate Easter eggs

• If time allows, make some flowery bunting for one dining room wall – see How to make bunting flags

• Create an easy Easter egg hunt (let’s hope the bunny comes!) with a single word treasure hunt that children of all ages can enjoy.

• Buy a few pastel coloured flowers, cut the stems short and fill your favourite teacups with them to make the table extra-pretty.

So, get creative everyone, but most of all enjoy the long weekend. Let’s hope we get lots of sunshine!

And finally, cook a traditional free-range roast chicken with all the trimmings followed by a slab of this gorgeous Simnel cake. The 11 marzipan balls on the top represent the apostles, minus Judas.

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It may just be my obsessively organisational nature but there is something lovely about opening a new diary and filling in all your details – with your best writing pen and handwriting of course! Then two weeks’ later the book is full of lots of scribbled notes in several different pens!

It’s been a very industrious and Christmassy weekend, with craft projects and ‘Stir-up Sunday’ – traditionally, the day when Christmas puddings are made – with the whole family joining in to ‘stir-up’ the mixture. We made delicious Calypso puddings from the 2010 Dairy Diary, refreshingly different with pineapple and mango as well as prunes and apricots.

Isaac's Christmas card

Working on the 2011 Dairy Diary, with its card-making feature, has inspired me to make cards for loved ones this year. I’m afraid time as a working mum doesn’t allow for all my cards to be home-made but the special people in our lives will get mummy-commissioned cards made by my son, who will be two in December. First we found all the buttons cut from my clothes over the past ten years (some in frightening colours and patterns!) and sorted them into colours. I drew a triangle on a ready-made card and Isaac spread the triangle with glue and covered it with buttons, placing an extra one underneath for the ‘trunk’.

He thoroughly enjoyed himself with gluing and sticking and they looked surprisingly good. The most effective card is a shocking pink with black buttons (especially for Auntie Claire according to Isaac!). Let’s hope Auntie Claire isn’t reading this…….

We enjoyed a pleasant walk using local footpaths recently and the children were intrigued by the fattening blackberries on their brambles.

It’s one of the first signs of autumn, which officially begins tomorrow. We will make a special trip – armed with baskets – to pick these delicious fruits when they are fully ripened.

With a young toddler, I might need to consult my Dairy Diary stain removal page after our excursion!

Plump blackberries ripe for picking

It’s wonderful though to be able to enjoy the bounty of our countryside, from picking through to cooking and eating. I might try a bramble jelly this year and I will certainly have a go at the Blackberry and Apple Tartlets recipe – yum.

In Britain, in was once considered unlucky to pick blackberries after a certain date, often Michaelmas (29th September), as it was believed the devil would have spat or stamped on them. I don’t think I will be passing that little nugget of folklore on to my son during our forages!

I absolutely adore this season, with crisp sunny walks through rustling leaves, warming autumnal soups, the excitement of bonfire night and fireworks, and the changing colours of the countryside. I can’t wait to try leaf prints with Isaac when they start to fall from the trees – perfect for making cards for those who enjoy autumn Birthdays. It’s times like these when I love living in Britain with our varied weather and beautiful scenery.

Do you have a favourite blackberry recipe that you would like to share? Click the “Leave a comment” link below.

In the current economic climate, almost everyone wants to buy great quality gifts at a very reasonable price.

Well it’s no different in the Dairy Diary office. In the next month we will commence research on the contents of our next giftpack, so we have been trying to create a shortlist of good products at a price we can afford.

This year’s Dairy Diary Giftpack is already proving to be exceptionally popular, with its wooden bookstand – perfect for trying out recipes from the diary or cookbook, or simply for displaying your diary’s weekly events. But how can we improve on that within budget?

Do you have a great idea for next year’s giftpack? Let me know by clicking on the “Leave a Comment” link at the end of this post.

It’s no different in my house either, although I still buy gifts for friends and relations, I have less to spend now and often supplement the bought gift with a home-made present. Although my friends may disagree, I hope it shows I am not too stingy but also take time to make something personal.

I often use inexpensive glass beads (in their favourite colour of course), to make bracelets for female friends. For my son’s Birthday I am going to paint a large floor mat with fields, roads, rivers, a farm and a village – something perfect for all his beloved animal and transport toys.

Take a look at this divine recipe for Luxury Florentines that I am going to try as a treat for my friends – wrapped in cellophane and ribbon they should look very pretty and taste fabulous too!

I’d love to know about any of your home-made gifts ideas, so click on the “Leave a Comment” link below.

Recently on Twitter I have seen National Tapioca Pudding Day, National Blueberry Muffin Day and National Piña Colada Day!

Surely, these must have been made up by some over zealous (or desperate) marketing agency?

Believe it or not the humble ploughman’s lunch was also created in the sixties by an advertising agency to promote the traditional pub lunch! I certainly don’t take exception to this though, as there’s nothing nicer on a warm summer’s day than sitting in the beer garden of a country pub enjoying a delicious wedge of cheese with pickle and a hunk of bread – washed down with a cold half pint!

Have a go at this gorgeous Chutney – no ploughman’s lunch is complete without it. It’s well worth the effort. Let me know how you get on.

Isaac and I decided to dodge the rain and try out a new exhibition at the museum. We were there for hours! It was wonderful!

There were so many hands-on exhibits for Isaac – magnifying glasses for examining mini beasts, dressing-up costumes, puzzles, crayons, Velcro pictures and much more. I am so glad I have encouraged museum visits in my recent Family Fun feature for the 2011 Dairy Diary.

Museums are not just for kids of course – there was plenty for me to learn too! Our lunch in the café was very disappointing though, dishes home-made from local ingredients (as you would expect) were sadly lacking. We opted to share a soggy jacket potato and beans followed by a very dry and definitely not home-made scone. Next time I think we will take a picnic and bake our own scones.

Drop in to your local museum next time you have a rainy day and let me know what it’s like (you might want to take these fabulous Wholesome Raisin Scones with you though!)

Some of you may know that we have been testing the blog online for a few weeks now. Well everything is running smoothly, so here we are and we’ll be posting a new blog each week from now onwards! And to celebrate we are giving away 20 copies of Just One Pot, the new Dairy Cookbook – to enter read on!

So what can you expect in the coming months?

• All the latest news from the Dairy Diary and Dairy Cookbook office.
• A free recipe each week to tempt your tastebuds.
• A growing library of recipes for further inspiration.
• Hints and tips for the kitchen and around the home
• Swap ideas with other Dairy Diary and Dairy Cookbook readers.
• Suggest recipes, hints and tips for future publications.
• Comment on all blog topics and recipes.

One idea we would like to explore is the possibility of an online reference section that expands on the excellent information already found in the Dairy Diary. Obviously we can only publish so much in the Dairy Diary – so what extra would you like to be able to find here?

Or what about a cookery workshop section where you can find “how to” instructions, specialist techniques, short-cuts and “secret ingredients” to ensure success in the kitchen?

To do all this we need your help! Do you have suggestions, great ideas or a little wisdom to share with your fellow readers? Yes? Well, here is your opportunity to do so.

Win a copy of Just One Pot

Win a copy of Just One Pot, the new Dairy Cookbook.

We are giving away 20 copies of Just One Pot exclusively to Dairy Diary Chat readers. From snacks to glorious desserts, Just One Pot will show you how to create fresh, home-cooked food without lots of pots and pans. Delicious recipes that use just one pot each. Fabulous food with less fuss!

Click here to enter the competition.

Good luck. And don’t forget to bookmark this blog and visit again next week.

I normally shun Rivita for more tasty things such as bread! However, I have been pleasantly surprised. Spread with a little St Dalfour jam (which is sugar free) and some low fat soft cheese they are really quite tasty!

I have chosen the crackers with sesame seeds for extra flavour. Coupled with lots of fruit and delicious baby plum tomatoes sprinkled with a little sea salt – I have survived my days at work.

The Hearty and Healthy Dairy Cookbook has been invaluable for evening meals, particularly Chinese chicken soup, Meaty twizzle sticks and Fruity Italian Sundaes.

For those with an aversion to crackerbread who want a healthy snack give this Spicy Bread Pudding a try.

Do you have a favourite bread pudding recipe?

I’m feeling very proud of a ‘leftovers’ culinary creation we enjoyed last night.

Usually I am no good at all at impromptu cooking, but rely on my myriad of cookbooks to get me through dinner.

However, no recipes for my fridge contents – a few sad looking veggies –  could be found. I decided to stir-fry the veggies – halved baby corn, halved baby courgettes, carrot batons, sliced red onions and halved mange tout – and serve them with noodles.

To give them a little more taste (and a little protein), I heated 3tbsp peanut butter, a good splash of milk, 2 tsp soy sauce and ½ finely chopped chilli in the microwave, then tossed everything together.

My other half was thrilled at what he expected to be a very boring dinner. I hate to waste food and always endeavour to use everything left in the fridge/breadbin/cupboard but it isn’t always as palatable!

Are you creative with leftovers? I would love to know of any good leftovers meal ideas.

How about giving Brunchtime French Toasts a try? Perfect for leftover egg, bacon and tomato.

My close friends Katy and James celebrate their first wedding anniversary next week. I have already made a card but have not yet bought a gift.

Of course I checked in my Dairy Diary to see what is traditionally given for a first anniversary gift – paper.

Hmmm….what paper-based present will they appreciate?!! I have deliberated quite a lot and decided to opt for a magazine subscription. They both enjoy travel, so a travel magazine seems like a gift they could both enjoy. Let’s hope they like it!

I am just glad it’s not their seventh anniversary with iron as the traditional gift! What on earth would I buy for that? I would love to hear of any innovative gifts given for wedding or wedding anniversaries. It means so much more to the recipient if it has been thought about.

Maybe a special cake is a nice idea? Try this special Celebration Cake recipe.

I have just finished writing a travel tips page for the 2011 Dairy Diary.

Before researching it I never realised how unprepared I have been when travelling abroad!

How many of us take the emergency number for our credit card company in case the card is stolen? Not me, that’s for sure! I seldom give anyone at home my holiday contact details either. In fact, I get so wrapped up in what I will wear/eat/drink/do when I am there that I completely forget about all the important stuff.

Thankfully, there has rarely been an emergency while I have been away – except when I was in New York the day before September 11th and no one at home knew my exact itinerary – it pays to be prepared.

When booking a flight do you opt for on-board catering or take something of your own? I deliberated this last week when booking flights for a family holiday. I plumped for the in-flight meal as I find all those little parcels quite exciting. The taste is never up to much though!

But what is the best thing to take to eat on a flight? I would love to hear any useful travel tips or advice on what to take.

Probably not a particularly ripe French cheese! Try these Cheese Flapjacks – easily portable with oats for slow-releasing energy.

I  enjoyed a gorgeous Sunday lunch at a local pub with some friends (and fidgety children) yesterday.

The scrubbed old oak tables and wooden floors looked fabulous, but the highlight was most definitely the home-made ice creams.

My personal favourite was apple pie – delicious. A friend of mine sampled the blackcurrant and liquorice ice cream, which none of us were convinced by! Heston Blumenthal is famous for his bacon and egg ice cream of course but I have not come across too many weird and wonderful flavours.

I would love to find out what bizarre flavours there are out there! Do you have a favourite? Or a flavour that you loath?

Perhaps it might be good to stick to the flavours we know we love, such as Rhubarb and Custard Ice Cream from Year Round Dairy Cookbook.

It was great to bask in the sunshine and simply relax and enjoy being at home.

After the compulsory burger and sausage we enjoyed bowlfuls of fantastic British strawberries. Mmmmm. They have to be one of my all time favourite fruit. I love them served simply with just a tiny sprinkle of brown sugar.

There are many recipes which make the most of this precious seasonal favourite but I particularly like the Courting Cake (see recipe below) from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook. It looks so impressive and well as tasting amazing. I might have to make this again before the strawberry season finishes. It would originally have been baked by young ladies for their betrothed so I had better be careful who I bake it for!

Try this fabulous Courting Cake recipe.

Any suggestions for wonderful strawberry recipes are gratefully received!

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My staple at the moment seems to be potato mashed with Laughing Cow cheese and butter, served with baked beans. Not a culinary masterpiece but Isaac loves it!

It is now my mission to make some new variations on mash and to serve it with other things for a change. I have looked back at some of our previous books and found some unusual suggestions. In fact one of our recipe writers has suggested a lovely twist on mash for our next cookbook – you will have to wait and see what that is!

The quality of potato makes a huge difference to taste. I had a delicious variety a while back called Anya. Anya was specially bred on the banks of the river Tay just outside Dundee and is a result of a cross between Pink Fur Apple and Desiree potatoes. Lord Sainsbury’s gardener grew the new variety for the first time in 1995, and liked it so much that he suggested it be called Anya after Lady Sainsbury!

How delightful and how many of us can say we have had a potato named after us?!

Have you tasted Champ mashed potatoes? Try it, I think you’ll love it.

Can you suggest your favourite potato variety for mash, and what do you add to yours?