Draw Kawaii Characters w/ DIY Star RainbowLillie

What can I use if I don't have a black fineliner, cotton swab, or white gel pen?

If you don't have a black fineliner, trace with a dark ballpoint pen or a well-sharpened pencil, blend the rainbow bands using a tissue or fingertip in place of a cotton swab or blending stump, and add highlights with a white colored pencil or a tiny dab of white acrylic paint instead of a white gel pen.

My rainbow colors look blotchy when I try to blend—what should I do?

Layer colors with light strokes as the instructions say, gently smooth transitions with a cotton swab or fingertip, then reapply and lightly blend again before adding the white highlights to make the bands look even.

How can I adapt this activity for younger children or older kids?

For younger kids, pre-draw the head, body, star, and wide rainbow bands and let them color with crayons, while older kids can add extra bands, detailed facial expressions, shading with a blending stump, and patterns before inking and erasing pencil lines.

How can we make the finished kawaii star rainbow extra special?

Personalize the finished drawing by adding glitter glue or metallic pen on the star and rainbow bands, drawing a background like clouds or a night sky around your character, or cutting and mounting the piece on cardstock to turn it into a card to share on DIY.org.