Watercolor Background for 2022 Page

 

Doing a layout that tells a story guides how the page comes together.  Doing a layout with a nice photo that just captures a moment allows freedom to really make the page with any supplies.

I'm using this page as the title page for all of 2022.  I had already printed the photo 5x7 so I just needed to create a background, add a title and embellishments. Months ago, I ordered some Strathmore 12x12 watercolor paper. It is the only paper that comes in that size I know of, at least that is reasonably cost effective.  I wanted to use it for scrapbook backgrounds.  For this page, I painted dahlias as that was one of the flowers growing in the garden we were visiting when the photo was taken.  I used one of my own yellow dahlias as a rough guide for how to paint them.  I added markers for a more graphic look.

The numbers 2022 were actually one of the more challenging aspects of the page.  I do want to find different ways to do lettering as I'm not planning to replenish my Thicker stash when I finally wear it down.

Here is the process video:

Likely my future videos will be more technique specific.  I enjoy making process videos but with only 100 views or so per video, I honestly do not feel I am reaching a large audience for the amount of work that goes into these.  I so appreciate those of you who watch. I do plan to continue to scrap and make videos while looking for a way to create content that helps more people.  

Thanks for watching!

My First Watercolor Sketchbook

I started painting with watercolors over a year ago.  At first it was just to create cards.  I wanted more variety than I could get with stamps.  Frankly, I didn't want to keep investing in stamps which took up money AND space.  I would practice a particular design until I could paint it decently, make cards and move on.  Eventually though I enjoyed painting more and more things.

Many people paint in a sketchbook but I wasn't sure it was for me. I was concerned that 1, I would mess it up.  I would paint something I hated and then see it every time I flipped through my sketchbook.  And 2, what if the opposite happened and I painted something I loved. The 2nd thing was happening with painting on loose watercolor paper and those things that were pretty good were getting turned into cards.  Then they were gone and I had no reference.  So eventually I bought an Etchr Labs Watercolor sketchbook and was hooked.

It took me less than 3 months to fill it. Here are all the pages in this video:

Let me know what your favorite is.  Thanks for watching!

A Ribbon for Quilting

 

Last year I entered my first quilt show.  I've been quilting on and off since the 1980's. I've never worried about creating something for a show.  This quilt wasn't really created for the show but I entered it because I was particularly proud of the quilting.  Apparently the judge liked it to as it won Best Free Motion quilting - Stationery Sew Head.  This was a local show with about 300 total entries.  Many are quilted on traditional long arms and some were hand quilted. 

Here's the layout I created to celebrate:

Thanks for visiting today!