One of my favorite things about watercolor is how portable and personal it can be. Whether I’m working in the studio or sketching on the go, I love having tools that invite play, experimentation, and discovery. That’s exactly why I wanted to share this creative way to use the DANIEL SMITH 266 Watercolor Dot Card—by turning it into your very own watercolor flip‑book.

This simple DIY project transforms the full Acquarello Extra Fine™ range into a compact, interactive reference you’ll actually use. Think of it as part color library, part inspiration tool, and part planning companion.

To make your DANIEL SMITH Watercolor Flip‑Book, gather the following supplies:

• DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine™ Watercolor Dot Cards – 266 colors
• Ruler
• Scissors o paper cutter
• Hole punch (I used a 10‑hole puncher)
• Click‑binding spiral, string, or metal rings

That’s it—no fancy tools required. (Emotional support cat and corner rounder optional!)

1. Trim the Dot Cards

Using your ruler and scissors (or a paper cutter), trim each dot card into uniform strips or cards.

I like cutting them so each strip holds a neat row of color dots—small enough to flip easily, but large enough to clearly see the color names. I cut mine into sections of 12 colors for each card. Just for aesthetics, I rounded the edges with a corner punch.

2. Punch the Holes

Once trimmed, stack a few cards at a time and punch holes along one edge. A multi‑hole punch makes this quick and keeps everything aligned, but a standard hole punch works just fine—just take your time.

3. Bind It Together

Thread your cards onto a click‑binding spiral, string, or metal rings. Choose whatever feels right for how you’ll use it. Rings make it easy to reorganize, while a spiral gives it that true flip‑book feel.

And just like that—you have a complete, portable reference of the entire DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine™ Watercolor range.

This flip‑book has quickly become one of my most‑used watercolor companions. Here are just a few ways I use it:

• Watercolor wishlist or inventory tracker
  

Mark the colors you own, circle (or heart!) the ones you want next, or jot notes on favorites and must‑haves. If you’re anything like me, all of the colors will be circled! I always say, DANIEL SMITH Watercolors are like Pokemon, you gotta catch ‘em all!

• Planning paintings

Flip through all of the colors at a glance when building a palette. It’s incredibly helpful to see how colors relate to one another before paint ever hits paper.

• Urban sketching & plein air painting

Slip it into your bag and take the entire DANIEL SMITH range with you—without carrying a single tube or palette!

• Color exploration & education

Re‑activate dots as needed to test mixes, compare pigments, and study staining levels, granulation, and transparency. Use the Opuscolo acquerello that comes with the dot cards to label the pigment numbers if you are ready to dive deeper!

It’s tactile, visual, and endlessly useful—everything I love in a watercolor tool.

There’s no right or wrong way to create your flip‑book. Customize it to fit your workflow: Add notes, tabs, or even painted swatches alongside the dots.

If you’ve been looking for a fun, functional way to get more out of your DANIEL SMITH 266 Watercolor Dot Card, I hope this inspires you to give it a try.

I’d love to see how you make yours—be sure to share and tag @danielsmithartistsmaterials so we can follow along with your color adventures.

Happy painting,

Ashley Hawkes
DANIEL SMITH Ambasciatore del marchio