What the peep?

Ok...I promise I am not getting vulgar!

Just having some fun...Easter is coming...lol.

I love the look of peeps and the marshmallow smells so good.  I just don't like biting into the sugar.

Well...I am not really going to talk about Easter....

I want to share with you some little bits of art I have been doing.

I have been playing around with lettering.

I need a lot of work, but practice always helps.

Here are some atc cards (they are white cardstock pieces of paper the size of a playing card)  I did...first the lettering on a card...just using a black sharpie.

Then I watercolored it...very simply I might add.

I was enjoying the painting alot. 

Here is what is looked like before.

Just me goofing around.

There are globs of ink and letters that look goofy....but I was trying to let myself just play around. 

Isn't this funny!

I love it! 

I love this one....believe it sooo much!

If you can't be nice, then either I am leaving or the pest is!! lol

I watercolored it with some favorite colors....then I added a border using the free photo editor

Pixlr 

I love pink also....my digital sign"Everything is better in pink" sells constantly on Etsy...I think there are alot of pink lovers out there! 

I added pink watercolor...which I had to make mixing red and white together since I didn't have it in my watercolors.

I think you should try making some of these to.

Take a favorite saying....write it on a atc card using a black sharpie...then watercolor.

It doesn't matter if something didn't turn out...you an always throw it out if you hate it.

Play alittle today!!

Come to thrifty Thursday!  Come to the Pin me linky party! Come to the Party Bunch!

Pretty color palettes

I love working with color palettes.

Here I took a watercolor painting I did ...years ago....and extracted some colors out of it....using Adobe Illustrator.

These colors can then be used in other projects. 

It is great when you really like a set of colors from something.

Here is an old valentine...scanned in and some of my favorite colors extracted out.

I like doing this since I usually get bogged down with the same color choices all the time.

I tend to use the same over and over ....when there are tons of colors out there.

Here is a picture my daughter took.

It has some lovely colors!!

I took out lots of colors for this one!

I have used these colors for many illustrator projects.

This would also be handy when painting too....not knowing what colors I would like....I could refer to this!

It is fun to just take any photo I have....that may have some great color...and getting this color group.

On adobe illustrator, there is this tool that is called an ink dropper.

You can fill a rectangle with the ink dropper tool....by having the ink dropper tool over any color in the photo you want.  It is like basically selecting colors...with just a click of the mouse.

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Notice colors around you.

What colors do you use in projects?

What colors do you decorate with?

Sometimes going through old magazines...ripping out pics you like then noticing the colors....gives you great insight.

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I took this on a country drive last summer....I have spring fever bad!

I am thankful our winter has been pretty good though.

I am really looking forward to those signs of spring!

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Don't quit your day dream!

Come to the party bunch!  Come to Thrifty Thursday!  Visit the Pin me linky party!

Valentine banners...and so much more!

Hey y'all!

I am feeling soooo valentiny...not sure that is a word or not?

This is my new collage sheet available in my etsy shop.

With my artwork...you can make banners.... 

and Valentines.... 

I provide this sheet on sahpes to make them with. 

Here is what the collage sheet looks like...just download and print.

The larger images are 2 1/4" x 3 1/4". The smaller images are 1 7/8" x 1 3/8".

You can make these images into banners, valentine hearts, tags, jewelry, cards, and more! Make banner from pink cardstock (using shape provided) and glue the images on...so easy

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I want to decorate for Valentine's...have you?  I don't want to decorate too early but I want my house to be red and pink..lol.

 

Come to the pin me link party &  the Party bunch!

Glittery art spool stands

I am pulling out the glitter again!

I wanted to make little stands for my artist's trading cards! 

These little pieces of art deserve some attention.....not to just be tucked away all the time!

Start out with empty spools and paper clips.

These are often at thrift stores and at antique stores in bags.

Collect up a variety of sizes.  Small paperclips seem to be a little too small.

Insert your paper clips and hot glue them in place.

Make sure the clip area is on top so you can put a card in it.

Get out your glitter, elmers glue, and paintbrush.

Apply a generous amount to the spool.

Sprinkle and shake off.

Pretty!

Let dry!

Here is my mom....I made her into a valentine.

More valentines....sweets for the sweet!

Easter.....sweet Easter.

My thanks vets atc.....see how I didn't put enough glue on this spool!

Meow!!!

I love these.  I am sure they could hold all kinds of things...like cards, display info at a craft show, placecards at a dinner table, alittle favorite saying to inspire you....etc....

I hope you glitter it up!

A little slice of heaven

A little slice of heaven....that is what Artist's trading cards are to me!

I love these little guys that are the size of a playing card.

You can paint, glue, draw, color pencil, pen and ink, or whatever you want to do with them.

 

I have blank ones by my couch...so that at any moment I can draw something with pencil and then go over it with a black permanent marker.

I later paint....sometimes with watercolors.

I love Americana....and I love being a Vet!

I always scan them for my business....then put a protective clear sleeve on them. 

With these witches...I used my best old pics and dressed them up.

This is just a wide variety of my babies.

It is hard to part with them.

I usually keep my favorites in this dollar store container.....Purple!

You can buy everything you need from art stores, hobby lobby, and Jo Anns.

I like these cards that you can get to put your ATC's in.

I love pumpkins!!! 

Any one can do art if they practice enough.

I had one drawing class for half a year in high school.....in the eighties......and that is it (until just recently I took an online class).

So all these years of designing art/patterns...I had one class of knowledge.

 So anyone can improve with practice.

These are so fun to mess around with and play. 

Try some little pieces of art...if it doesn't work ...throw it away and start again.

Etsy Seller Tips !

Hi Everyone!  I am back to work...busy designing all kinds of Halloween projects.

I just wanted to share some Etsy seller tips with ya!

I have a pretty successful etsy shop...over 2600 sales....I thought I would tell you tips that work for me and may work for you too.

My biggest tips is....list only a single item at a time...which means don't list something with an available amount of 20.  It is better to list a product, then later list it again....several times...but never in a large amount. Every time you list something to sell...it goes at the top of the search engine....which is what you want for more views and sales.

List often on your etsy site...put plenty of items on your site.  Also try to list a variety of items with different prices to fit everyones budget.

Make your etsy store have a cohesive look. Show your unique style!

 Your store banner makes an etsy store pop out and gives your store a professional look.


Use all 13 tag when listing....I sometimes use 2 words in one tag....it works!
Describing your item in your tags are very important....and also make sure your title is very descriptive...the closer the important words are to the front of the title....the more the search engine finds it!

Always connect your esty shop to your blog and facebook!
Add your items via pictures to pinterest. 

Take clear photos!  Protect your art by adding a watermark or your name to it.

You can have etsy sales....it is really easy to create a coupon code for a discount.  Email your customers about sales!  Describe your item very well....with all the details....measurements are very important!
Answer all etsy questions right away...customers appreciate it!
When sending your item...make sure to add your business card and other info....I love repeat customers...they are soooo sweet!
I LOVE ETSY!!!!

Happy Birthday America

July 4, 1776 (236 years ago)

Happy Birthday, America!

The United States Declaration of Independence was finally adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies then at war with Great Britain were now independent states, and thus no longer a part of the British Empire. Written by Thomas Jefferson, with the help of John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, the Declaration is the formal explanation of why Congress had voted on July 2 to declare independence from Great Britain, more than a year after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War. Although the wording of the Declaration was approved on July 4, the date of its signing has been disputed. Most historians have concluded that it was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed. However, the birthday of the United States of America, Independence Day, is celebrated on July 4, the day the wording of the Declaration was approved by Congress.



Lil sweet watercolor paintings



These are my new ATC's ....I had a blast painting them....I just kept going and going.

Blooming posies tabby cat

Best friends in the garden

These gals look like best friends, but could be sisters 2.

Marmalade tabby cat and toys

I had a fat ornage tabby cat growing up...he was a charactor!  My fav memory is him following us all the way to the store...he would wait outside and then would walk home with us.

Rainbow puppy dog

This is a weiner dog...love the short legs!

Sweet as candy witch

She has such sparkly eyes!

Yellow tabby cat

This is my favorite....a sweet lil face!

These are all on my ETSY

Come to the party....at Whipperberry friday flair!