Boho Floral Hand Lettering

Watercolor and hand lettering are some of my favorite ways to make art. I also love that there's always something new to learn. 

I learned this technique, boho floral hand lettering, from Kelly Klapstein at Workshop Week. 

This is what she made: a framable artwork that combines line drawing, watercolor, and a quote done in brush lettering...TADA! 

She used a light pad to trace the flower onto her paper (but we can use transfer paper, a transfer pencil or drawing the flower freehand). Then she used a waterproof fine liner pen to trace the outlines and add details. 

She painted watercolor circles, allowing them to dry in between adding a new color so they don't bleed. 

Once the paint was dry, she added the quote (also with the aid of a light pad). Using an alphabet stencil or freehand lettering are other alternatives. 

Here is my attempt using quotes that I've come across recently:

A tiny version in my small sketchbook...TADA!

A useful reminder that can be framed to decorate a workspace...TADA!

This lovely quote is from J.R.R. Tolkien. 

And finally, a motto I use whenever I turn blah to TADA!

I hope this inspires you to practice your lettering as you ponder wise words and affirmations. 

*****

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Wise Words on Alphabet Bead Bracelets

Hello everyone!

I stumbled upon these greeting cards that came with a little gift:

"I Am So Grateful for You" made by Little Words Project 

"Happy Valentine's Day" spotted at HomeGoods 

These are bracelets with wise words that you can wear...TADA!

I really like this idea, an alternative to personalizing a bracelet with your name. Every time you wear the bracelet, the word is a reminder of a desired state of being: gratitude, love, peace, courage, grace, etc. A version of our higher selves.  

Of course, I had to make some myself:

Using alphabet beads, beads, and elastic string or stretchy cord that I found in my craft drawer, I spelled out "Bloom" and "Shine" on these bracelets...TADA!

Using a key ring, cord (rescued from a paper bag), and alphabet beads, I created this bag charm that spells "Love"...TADA!  

I found some scrapbook paper and paper that I decorated myself (using rubber stamps and paint). 

I attached my bag charm to the cardboard backing. I can write a message on the back side and put this inside an envelope when I'm ready to give it away. 

The message on the scrapbook paper and the word on the bracelet make perfect sense -- This moment: Bloom.  

Same for this one -- You glow differently when you're happy: Shine.

Accessories that are handmade with words that uplift. These can turn someone's day from blah to TADA!

*****

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A Junk Journal Made from a Brown Paper Bag

Hi there and thank you for stopping by!

Brown paper bags are readily available from shopping trips and takeaway meals. I always save them and turn them from blah to TADA! 

I've used them as the main material for collaged gift bags, painted gift bags, tiny gift bags, and DIY envelopes. I have so much of them in my stash, here's another idea I came up with:

I made this tiny junk journal...TADA! Essentially, a junk journal is a booklet made from recycled materials and is used like a scrapbook.

First, I started with a brown paper bag that I opened up by cutting the seams so that it lays flat like a piece of gift wrap.

Then I cut them into long rectangular strips like this.

I glued two rectangular strips together to make the pages heftier. I used regular white glue. 

Then I folded the piece into squares (if necessary, trim any excess paper to form a perfect square).

Here's how I added color and texture: abstract art using watercolor, a wax seal, a ribbon closure using left-over twill tape, and collaging with paper remnants. The blank yellow pad is an easy way to make a label (ex. title of the journal or who it's for).

This is what it looks like inside:

As you can see, it reveals a wish or affirmation (made with alphabet stamps) for the recipient as a new page is opened...TADA!

A junk journal filled with sincerity. That is how I turned a brown paper bag from blah to TADA!

*****

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Three Things for April

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter! 

Hooray, April is here! I love this month because:

Spring has finally arrived - the promise of warmer weather, lighter coats, blossoming trees and basking under the cherry blossoms. 

Capturing nature's beauty - after a long, dark winter, seeing color come to life really turns blah to TADA! I like to capture what I see in my sketchbook and in different crafts like sewing, handmade stationery, and pressed flowers. 

Baskets spotted at Dille & Kamille 

Bring out the baskets - for some reason, I think of baskets now that days are longer and there's more time spent outdoors. Farmer's markets, picnics, and outdoor entertaining are just a few places to put our baskets to good use.

Here's to a beautiful April and an exciting spring!  

Sketchbook Practice: Drawing Fantasy Trees

As I've mentioned before, I keep a sketchbook and an art journal where I practice my art. 

I once was so overwhelmed by the scary blank page. What will I draw? How can I fill the whole page? What if what I make turns out terrible? 

So much negative self talk. 

Over the years, I've learned to treat every page as practice. Just practice. Nobody needs to see it. I don't have to post it anywhere. I'm just playing. It doesn't have to be perfect.

These are some of the learnings I picked up from Sketchbook Revival, an online workshop taught by very talented artists. I've been attending for several years now and if you'd like to participate, get on the list for details and updates.  

One of the artists is Este MacLeod, a surface pattern designer and teacher. In her workshop, she taught us fun approaches to create trees in watercolor. 

Above are Este MacLeod's drawings and here are her tips:

• Create interesting tree-like shapes just by writing down and combining the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3.
• Use a cardboard roll stamp or handmade stencils to form the tree.
•  Make a multitude of effects through layering of color, lines, and marks.

Her trees really look whimsical, don't they?

Let me try out Este's techniques in my art journal (an old book). 

First, I covered the pages in gesso. It's really a surface primer to make the paint grip better, but I also like it because it tones down the text and drawings on the page. You still see a hint of them but they just add dimension, not distraction. 

While I let the gesso dry, I find an empty paper towel roll and cut it into smaller circles.

I put some green acrylic paint on a flat surface (yogurt container lid) and used the cardboard circle as a stamp: dip it in the paint and stamp it on the paper. I made different circles and slightly pinched the cardboard circle to make oblong shapes, too.

With a paintbrush and the same acrylic paint, I filled the circles/oblongs with patterns like stripes, dots, lines and curves. I put this aside to dry. 

I added color to each circle/oblong using crayons, colored pencils and collage...TADA!

I added the tree trunks using another cardboard circle (pinched to form a rectangle), filled it in with brown paint, and let it dry. 

I just added some background color (ex. blue sky, green grass) and there you have it, my fantasy trees!

And that is how a transformed a blank page from blah to TADA!

*****

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In My Crafter's Tool Box: Modeling Paste

Howdy creative people!

Are you familiar with modeling paste? I've never heard of it before until I read this book:

"Get Messy Art" is a book about art journaling and is written by the talented Caylee Grey, a South African artist. She pioneered the "Get Messy" community and I admire her approach to making art: "My art journaling adventure began as a way for me to get messy, ditch perfectionism, stay accountable, and consistently create art." 

In the book, Caylee describes modeling paste as "an acrylic medium that feels like thick cake frosting. Pair it with a stencil to create an image that has dimension or mix it with acrylic paint to add texture. Smearing it onto the page really is like putting the frosting on the (art) cake." 

She had me a cake frosting! 

So I went off and bought myself some modeling paste so I could try it out.

One of the projects in the book is a demonstration on how to use modeling paste. As you can see, it does give an embossed finish to the flower...TADA! 

I'm excited to experiment!

To start, we will need the following materials: acrylic paint, modeling paste, and a palette knife

We will also need stencils, low-tack removable tape (like washi tape), and paper. 

Step 1: Make sure you cover your surface with scrap paper. Decide on which part of the paper you want to place the stencil image. Using washi tape, attach the stencil to the paper to keep it in place as you apply the modeling paste. 

Step 2: In a shallow dish, take some modeling paste. This is about 1/2 teaspoon worth.

Add some acrylic paint. This is around the equivalent of 1/8 teaspoon.

Use a palette knife to mix the modeling paste and acrylic paint together until well blended and no streaks are visible. 

Step 3: With the aid of the palette knife, spread the mixture on top of the stencil. Spread this evenly and make sure all gaps are covered. Remove any excess mixture with the palette knife.

Step 4: While the mixture is still wet, carefully peel off the stencil from the paper. Make sure the stencil pattern on the paper is not disturbed and that no part of the paper tears. 

Immediately submerge the stencil in a container of warm water so the modeling paste doesn't permanently harden on the stencil (you will no longer be able to use the stencil if this happens). Caylee's tip: You can place the stencil between two baby wipes to keep it moist until you're able to clean it. 

Step 5: If there is any leftover mixture, don't let it go to waste. Make ephemera with other stencils and sheets of paper and use these for scrapbooking, card making, collage, and more art journaling. 

Playing with modeling paste is so much fun! It takes some practice to get an even coat but the imperfections add to the handmade look.

It helped me turn all my paper remnants from blah to TADA! 

By the way, if you are interested in collage and all things paper, Strawberry Moon Magazine might be right up your alley. Issue 10 is all about collage (tips from A to Z) and there are free collage papers included. 

I also wrote an article (collage organization). If you are curious to know more or would like to purchase a copy (print or digital), you can visit Strawberry Moon Magazine.

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