Sketchbook Practice: Paint Blobs to Birds

I'm happy you're here today!

Over the past months, I've shown you pages from my sketchbook where I make art just for myself. I've tried out collage, developing a color story, and drawing everyday objects like fashion accessories. It's a sketchbook practice to exercise my creativity and to make time for mindfulness even on a busy day. 

The empty page is always very daunting, but here's a new way to turn a blank sketchbook page from blah to TADA! I learned it at Sketchbook Revival from visual artist and creative encourager Terry Runyan. Her style is simple: make a blob and turn it into a bird.

On a blank page, Terry makes different blobs using a paintbrush and watercolors.

Then she adds more defined blobs like heads and tails.

Once the paint is dry, she adds more details with a black fineliner pen. She starts with the feet...

Then adds wings, feathers, eyes and beaks...TADA! That wasn't hard at all. Anyone can easily do this.

Below is my attempt:

On a page of my sketchbook, I made a few blobs. I was intentional with the shapes because I wanted to make different kinds of birds.

I added a second layer of paint and slowly, each bird began revealing its character.

I limited my color palette to blue, blue green and purple.

Following Terry's steps, I completed their looks. I used a black pen to draw feet, faces and fashion. Notice that each bird is wearing an accessory? 

Earrings, sneakers, a basket, a choker, a brooch and a scarf for each of these feathered friends.

A printed dress, a bowler hat, crown, sweater, headband, beanie, gold cross on a chain, eye glasses and bow tie combination, and  a pearl necklace...TADA! These birds are the fun and fashionable kind!

I'm proud of this new addition to my sketchbook practice and can't wait to try it out with other animals. I hope you enjoyed this and if you want more crafty ideas delivered to your inbox, please subscribe here.  

Dried Flowers: Hydrangea

I hope you are feeling great!

I've been doing a lot of projects involving dried flowers and flower pressing. These treasures from nature are quite inspiring and don't cost anything if you already have the materials on hand. I also like to do it because it preserves a moment in time that I will never get back. 

 

During the summer, I pick up hydrangeas from the park. I flatten it in the flower press and frame it afterwards. I like that the lilac colors of the petals are still vibrant. 

In the winter, you'll still see some hydrangea bushes around but the flowers turn into these petrified specimens. Their color and soul seem to have disintegrated with the cold. But hey, let's give them a chance.

 

I took some dried hydrangeas home and put them in my flower press.

I also separated the petals in smaller clusters. 

I sandwiched the flowers in between layers of paper and cardboard.

I screwed the lid on and tightened it every day for a week. 

This is what the flowers look like after pressing...TADA! 

Let me show you some crafty ways to use these dried hydrangea flowers:

I got this clear locket from the craft store. I gently placed the pressed hydrangea petal inside the locket and closed the hinge.

A necklace charm with antique and sentimental feels...TADA!

For the next craft, let's use dried hydrangea flowers to add flourish to our cards and letters.

I've seen calligraphers do this trick. They add dried flowers like baby's breath at the center of the envelope.

Pour a bit of melted wax and emboss a wax seal to keep the pressed hydrangea in place.  

Such a romantic touch! But these should be hand-delivered because the dried flowers will never survive the mail. But if you'd like to mail them, put these inside a padded mailer envelope.

For the final craft idea, here's what we'll need: pressed hydrangea flowers, a mason jar with removable two-piece lid, scrapbook paper and acetate (both cut in the size of the mason jar lid).

Sandwich the elements in this order: (1)flat bottom of mason jar lid, (2)scrapbook paper, (3)dried hydrangea flowers, (4)acetate, (5)screw-on mason jar lid. Use one finger to hold the elements in place while you screw the lid onto the jar.

It makes for a nice memory jar. Fill it with souvenirs from a trip (ex. small rocks and shells) or use it to wrap small gifts like jewelry.

Note that even without a flower press, you can still press flowers using heavy books (just position the flowers in between layers of paper and cardboard to protect the pages of the books).

These are just a few ways I turned dried hydrangea flowers from blah to TADA!

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Repurposing Ribbons and Beads

I'm so glad to be crafting with you today!

I came across this necklace in an old catalog:

It's made up of two kinds of grosgrain ribbon, beads, baubles and gems. While it may be quite an over-the-top accessory, it inspired me to create something similar using ribbons and beads from my craft stash.

These stripe grosgrain ribbons once decorated a gift I received. I never throw things like these away. I save them with this ribbon storage technique until I'm ready to use them.

 

I decided that I'm making hair clips with the grosgrain ribbon. For that, we'll also need a set of barrettes in various sizes that I got from the craft store. 

I found a necklace and two bracelets that I no longer wear. Time to give them a new purpose.

I unfastened the beads from the jewelry findings using a pair of pliers. 

Now that all the materials for the hair clips are ready, let's begin.  

I took a strip of grosgrain ribbon (this is 5.5 inches long). I made a running stitch on one end of the ribbon with needle and thread. 

Pull the thread so that the grosgrain ribbon gathers up into a circle.

Make the ends of the grosgrain ribbon meet and sew them together with the needle and thread. Finish the stitch with a few tight knots. 

Instantly, we made a ribbon rosette...TADA!

Embellish the middle of the ribbon rosette with beads, sewed on securely with needle and thread.

Take another strip of grosgrain ribbon (this is 6.2 inches long).

Connect the ends together by sewing. We'll end up with a circle like this one.

Press the ribbon circle to form a bowtie. Pinch the middle section together and sew so that it stays in place. 

Attach the ribbon rosette and bowtie by sewing them together on the back side.

Then sew on the barrette (sew it on both ends and at the center). 

Take a look at what we made: a grosgrain ribbon hair clip...TADA!

Now, let me show you another kind of hair clip.

Take another strip of grosgrain ribbon (this is 13 inches long) with the tails cut on an angle. Form the ribbon into a bow and stitch the center to keep it from unravelling.

Next, make a bowtie using another strip of ribbon (this is 6 inches long). 

Join the two by sewing them together on the back side and attach a barrette. Decorate the bows with a smattering of beads.

Pretty hair clips for young ones and adults. That's how I turned some grosgrain ribbon and beads from blah to TADA! 

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Earrings Made from Leather

Accessorize to change or complete a look. 

Why yes! A cute cuff or a statement necklace can turn a plain outfit from blah to TADA! While I'm always on the lookout for fashion jewelry at the shops, I never back down when I need to make my own. 

Now the word "need" may sound like a desperate plea, but that's what I felt when I found some leather scraps in my craft stash.

This piece of pink leather cried out, "Please transform me!"

And I replied, "Your wish is my command!"

First, I cut a pair of teardrops. Then I made some small holes with a needle and added these earring findings.

It's a fast and simple process and we end up with a pretty set...TADA! 

I had enough to make another pair. This time, I added a splatter effect on the leather. 

Here's how I did it:

Take a medium-sized paintbrush (or old toothbrush), dip it in acrylic paint, and with one finger, flick the tip of the brush close to the leather. Keep repeating the process until the dotty pattern you want is achieved. It's best to work outdoors if you can. And cover your surface with scrap paper to avoid getting paint where you don't want it. Then let the paint dry for a few hours.

Trim the leather and add some holes and findings.

Here is our second pair...TADA!

But wait...there's more!

The remaining leather scraps, I cut into squares and glued them on to these blank gold pendants. 

I slipped them on these wire earring loops...TADA!

One is casual, one is bohemian, and another is elegant...TADA!

  

Fabric Face Masks

The year is finally coming to a close. This 2020 was difficult for all of us because of COVID. But I am extra grateful for all that I have NOW and what I've taken for granted before the pandemic. I am still hopeful and look forward to new opportunities to turn blahs to TADAs.  

via Lancaster Online

One of the things that defined this year was the face mask. When there was a shortage of PPE in March, crafters from all over the world sewed face masks from their stash of fabric and patterns they found on-line. Then sent these to hospitals and nursing homes to protect frontliners and patients. Doing what you can to help, I think that's TADA!

Even I have started a small collection of face masks. I prefer these cloth ones because they can be washed and used over and over again. I add a coffee filter in the filter slot for added protection. These ones are from Hedley and Bennett. They're in the business of aprons but they quickly converted their factory to make face masks to fill the need. Their buy one, give one model (buy one for yourself and a mask will be sent to an essential worker) encouraged me even more to support them. 

I also sewed some myself using remnant fabrics and old t-shirts...TADA!

And I received this package for Christmas -- masks and hand sanitizer. So cute and useful!

When walking around New York City, landmarks remind you that you must wear a mask to protect yourself and others:

The sculpture of Atlas across St. Patrick's Cathedral

Atlas wearing a mask 

One of the lions outside the New York Public Library

It's a good thing many locals and visitors are compliant:

A new year is just around the corner but these masks aren't going anywhere.

That's why I made a lanyard for my mask, so it's still on me for the occasions I need to take it off (in the car or while eating).

It's fashioned out of an old necklace.

And the two ends have lobster clasps to easily attach to any mask I own...TADA!

To end this post, here is a photo of one of my plants:

My dear friends gave this to me when my Dad passed away in 2018. While I don't know how to care for orchids, it's still alive to this day with regular watering and sunshine. The buds developed and bloomed in late December. This orchid is always a reminder of a painful season in my life. But every time it blooms, it tells me that life must go on and that there is still beauty on the other side.