Table of Contents
Watch the video: “DIY Paint Brushes” by Create to Inspire
If your paint box is ready but your brushes aren’t, this beginner-friendly tutorial turns everyday odds and ends into a capable set of six brushes. A waste pen refill becomes your handle, tape your ferrule, and materials like silk thread, broom bristles, coconut coir, sponge, cotton, and wool do the painting magic.
What you’ll learn
- How to build six different brush heads (silk thread, broom bristle, coconut coir, sponge, cotton, wool) on a pen refill.
- Simple tying, taping, and trimming methods that lock fibers in place.
- Where each brush shines: detail lining, flat fills, texture, dabbing, and fluffy marks.
- Quick tests to gauge flow, coverage, and texture—before you paint big.
Introduction to DIY Paint Brushes Why Make Your Own Brushes? When the art bug bites, materials shouldn’t hold you back. This video shows how to start with a clear, waste pen refill as a handle and secure found fibers with tape—no specialist tools required. It’s practical, budget-friendly, and perfect for kids and curious beginners.
What You'll Learn By the end, you’ll have a small arsenal: a silk thread detailer, a broom bristle flat, a coconut coir texture brush, a sponge dauber, a cotton dauber, and a woollen pompom. You’ll also see each one in action to compare results.
Pro tip If a bundle tries to slip while taping, pause and re-tie the bundle tightly with thread before wrapping tape. The tie is what keeps everything aligned.
Watch out Scissors do most of the work—cut bristles, thread, and sponge carefully, always pointing blades away from your hand.
The Versatile Silk Thread Brush Materials & Setup
- Silk thread
- Cardboard (3 cm width)
- Waste pen refill (handle)
- Tape
- Scissors
- Extra thread for tying
In the video (00:29), a 3 cm wide cardboard piece acts as your winding guide. Silk thread is wrapped 60 times (00:32), then removed, tied at one end, and cut at the other to create a uniform bundle ready for mounting.
Step-by-Step Assembly
- Wind silk thread 60 times on 3 cm cardboard (00:32).
- Cut the wound bundle free and tie one end tightly (00:39–00:46).
- Cut the loops on the opposite end to free the fibers.
- Seat the tied end at the tip of a waste pen refill (01:08) and secure with tape (01:14–01:38).
- Trim the tip evenly (01:38–01:47) to shape the brush.
Quick check Tap the silk tip onto scrap paper first. You should see smooth, fine marks—ideal for lining and small shapes.
Best Uses The silk thread brush is shown later painting precise petals with clean edges (09:00). Use it for outlines and detail fills.
Crafting the Broomstick Bristle Brush Gathering Bristles
- Broomstick bristles
- Thread for tying
- Waste pen refill
- Tape and scissors
Cut the base of your broom bristle bundle to length (01:52–01:57) and tie it tightly (01:57–02:11). Firm tying helps the bristles sit level once taped.
Assembly & Shaping Press the tied bundle onto the pen refill tip (02:11–02:18), tape it securely (02:18–02:35), then trim the end evenly (02:35–02:41). A clean, flat end gives consistent coverage.
Painting Techniques Expect broad fills with a slightly textured look (demonstrated at 09:10). Pull for bands of color; dab for mottled texture. embroidery frame
Unleashing Texture with Coconut Coir Harvesting & Preparing Coir
- Coconut coir strands (peeled at 02:47–03:04)
- Comb to smooth the fibers (03:04–03:23)
- Thread, refill, tape, scissors
Peel, comb, and smooth the coir until strands separate and lie consistently (03:04–03:23). Tie the bundle firmly before mounting.
Brush Construction Seat the coir bundle at the refill tip (03:41–03:46), tape to secure (03:46–04:05), and trim for an even working edge (04:05–04:13).
Achieving Unique Effects Coir is all about texture. Use light pressure to create wispy, organic marks or swirl for bark-like patterns and foliage suggestions. The creator notes in the comments that this and the broom bristle brush are personal favorites for results that stand out.
From the comments When asked which is best, the creator replied that all brushes work—choose based on your need—and mentioned personal favorites: the broomstick bristle brush and the coconut coir brush. Multiple viewers also reported success making these at home.
Soft Touches: Sponge and Cotton Daubers Creating the Sponge Brush - Cut a small sponge piece into a tapered or triangular shape (04:17–04:40) to control pressure and footprint.
- Place at the refill tip (04:40–04:47), tie tightly (04:47–05:01), and tape (05:01–05:17).
Assembling the Cotton Brush
- Shape cotton into a compact, rounded bundle (05:22–05:31).
- Seat on the refill tip (05:31–05:38), tie tightly (05:38–05:56), and tape (05:56–06:12).
Ideal Applications Both daubers specialize in dabs, stipples, and soft blending. They excel at leaves, flowers, clouds, and softly filled shapes. A viewer confirmed the sponge one worked well at home, and the video demonstration shows cotton used to add soft dabs to a tree branch.
Watch out Tie sponge and cotton tighter than you think—soft materials compress under pressure. A tight tie keeps the head from shifting under dabbing.
Practical note One commenter asked if these brushes are washable; the creator replied yes. Let brushes dry thoroughly before storing to maintain shape.
The Fluffy Woollen Pompom Brush Winding & Combing Wool There are two approaches shown in one extended segment: - Approach A: Take three strands of woollen yarn (06:17), loosen and comb them until the fibers separate and fluff (06:27–06:46). Tie tightly when smooth (06:46–07:10).
- Approach B: Wind woollen yarn 30 times around 5 cm cardboard (07:39), cut and tie one end, cut the other to create a pompom bundle (08:08–08:16).
Securing the Pompom Head Mount the combed or wound wool to the refill tip (07:10–07:15, 08:12–08:16), tape (07:15–07:27, 08:16–08:39), then trim evenly (07:27–07:35, 08:39–08:56).
Textured Painting Ideas The pompom brush is perfect for dotted textures, blossoms, or fluffy foliage. Its forgiving footprint makes it a fun tool for kids and beginners practicing pressure control. magnetic embroidery hoop
Testing Your Handmade Masterpieces Demonstration of Each Brush At 08:59, the video moves into brush tests: - “First brush” (silk thread) paints petal details with precision (09:00).
- “Second brush” (broom bristle) fills areas with a gently textured look (09:10).
- “Third brush” (coconut coir) adds distinctive natural texture (09:18–09:25).
- “Fourth brush” (sponge) and “Fifth brush” (cotton) both dab and build soft shapes (09:30–09:51).
- “Sixth brush” (woollen) dots and soft-blends (09:45–09:56).
Tips for Different Effects
- Outline then fill: Use silk for edges, then broom for broader color inside.
- Layer textures: Coir first for bark/foliage, then sponge or cotton on top for volume.
- Pressure maps the mark: Light taps give delicate dots; firm presses widen the footprint.
Quick check Before a full painting, test each brush on scrap paper with one color. Note the mark range you get with light vs. heavy pressure and with short taps vs. longer pulls.
Troubleshooting
- “Does not work”: If marks look uneven or fibers splay, re-tie the bundle tighter, then re-tape. Trim again to reset the edge.
- Rough first strokes: Some natural shedding can happen on first use. Tap and wipe the brush on scrap to release loose fibers, then paint.
- Head shifting: Add a second layer of tape over the first, slightly extending onto the refill for extra grip.
From the comments (washability and favorites)
- Washability: The creator answered yes—you can wash these brushes. Let them dry fully to keep shape.
- Which is best?: The creator suggests choosing by need; personal favorites are the broom bristle and coconut coir brushes.
A note for cross-crafters We’ve seen many makers discover this brush tutorial while exploring other craft tools. If you landed here while searching broader making gear—say magnetic hoops, mighty hoop, or even embroidery machine for beginners—welcome to a low-cost, high-fun paint technique that complements your creative toolkit. magnetic hoops for embroidery machines
Another crossover thought If your studio shelves already hold fabric-focused tools like embroidery hoops uk or a favorite brother embroidery machine, you’ll appreciate how these DIY brushes mirror that same spirit of accessible making: simple components, reliable assembly, and satisfying results.
Conclusion & Creative Inspiration Embrace DIY Art This project is a gentle reminder that “good enough to start” is already in your drawer: a waste pen refill, tape, thread, and everyday fibers. The video shows each step clearly—wind or shape, tie, mount, tape, trim—and proves that simple materials can paint beautifully.
Share Your Creations Several viewers shared that their versions worked great at home; others asked for slower pacing in future videos and more ideas. Try these six, note which marks you love, and challenge yourself to invent a seventh from safe, tie-able fibers. If you’re experimenting across mediums, you might even be organizing tools for stitching as well as painting—search terms like magnetic embroidery hoops or dime magnetic hoop often bring makers into the same creative orbit. Wherever you start, let your brushes lead the way.
Watch out Always trim after taping. The final snip reveals the true edge and keeps fibers aligned for clean strokes.
Quick check After washing, reshape the head gently with your fingers and let it air-dry before the next session.