Watercolor is a cool, organic technique that's the perfect antidote to summer’s oppressive heat. It’s also a great technique to experiment with…in the comfort of air conditioning, of course. Here are five DIY projects that embrace the flowy, unpredictable look.

Watercolor Floral Plates

These stunning plates may look like something you’d buy at that expensive, boho-chic store we all love, but trust me, you can totally do this! With plain white plates, some brightly-colored porcelain paints and a few simple techniques, it’s easy to create your own custom set.

Make This: Watercolor Plates

Sharpie-Dyed Watercolor Pillows

This project is too cool not to try. As Marianne demonstrated in an HGTV Crafternoon episode, you can easily create a watercolor effect on a cotton pillow cover using nothing more than colorful permanent markers and a spray bottle of alcohol. 

Make This: Sharpie Tie-Dyed Pillowcase

Nail Polish-Marbled Votives

Marbling — mixing several colors of paint on top of water before dipping an object — creates a similar flowy effect. This technique can be used on paper or fabric, but one of the simplest ways to experiment? Nail polish! Choose the colors of your choice and see how simple it is to customize plain glass votives for your next party.

Make This: Nail Polish-Marbled Votives

Watercolor Note Cards

Bring the look of blooming summer flowers inside with beautiful watercolor paintings to use as wall art or greeting cards. These step-by-step instructions make it simple to create professional-looking results.

Make This: Watercolor Note Cards

Custom Watercolor Party Decor

This is my favorite project of the bunch: Marianne started these fun party decorations by painting one herringbone design. Then, she scanned and printed the design to create one fun, cohesive set of party decor — all while doing the work just once.

Make This: Watercolor Party Decorations