The Los Angeles Pony and Critter Club hold a Holiday party each year and we do a handcrafted gift.  I have made hot pepper chocolate, pralines, and spaghetti sauce. For two years i painted toy boxes.  This year I am painting something original.  First I plan my paintings in pencil on white paper.  i use the same white paper to protect my dinningroom table while I paint in acrylic.

And these are my finished paintings.  Not exactly what I planned but I think allowing creative impluse to take over is important.  Also, I really like the texture you can make with acrylic.