Hot Air Balloon Birthday Card

Although I have learnt to doodle this image, I loved the hot air balloon so much, that whenClarity turned it into a stamp - I just had to buy it.     I made this card for a male family member, as I thought in this time of lockdown we were all dreaming of being "up, up and away!

The stamp set is great as it comes with a masks too.   I know it is a bit of cheat from actually drawing it again myself, but sometimes we just have too! 

Doodling - Africa - a few more stages + completed

Having drawn the pencil sketch, we then set about inking in and starting on the patterns:

The next stage was to make a start on the frame.   I found this a tad difficult. as I couldn't see it very well,  and went wrong on the top frame, and did my own thing on the side frame.

Finally on Friday we learnt how to draw an acacia tree with a man sitting under it.  and elephants.   My pencil elephants weren't too bad, but it went a bit pear-shaped with the baby one when it came to inking it - turned out more like a dog!  lol!

I then spent the afternoon colouring in the image.   Quite pleased with my efforts from week 9.

Back to Doodling - Africa

By the time you read today's blog, I will have done a lot more to this.  In fact we will probably have finished it   This was the first stage of our doodle on Monday this week and is my pencil drawing.  Gosh - who knew I could draw!  I certainly didn't!

More to follow as we progress with this week's lesson.

Doodled Birthday Card

Having learned all the doodling and colouring techniques over the past few weeks, I thought I would put them into practise on a birthday card for a granddaughter.   I haven't add her age, as I thought she might want to frame the card into a picture at some point.

I also knocked up a quick cake for her to try and make this isolation birthday a little bit special.    Nothing fancy as she was only at her Dad's for the morning of her birthday.   She wanted a brownie mix cake, and just a small one. with water icing on it as they don't like sugarpaste.  So it was an experiment to try and cook brownie in a small round tin instead of an 8" square tin  (In hindsight probably should have gone for a 6" square - it might have made it easier to trim!).

Brownies by their very nature are crispy and crumbly on the top and sides and gooey on the base.  I turned the cake upside down - that will give her a surprise when she cuts it and finds the goo under the water icing!   I didn't realise how much had crumbled off until I took the photo - If I had realise I would have turned into a heart shape.  Not one of my best efforts - but at least it will taste good as a favourite mix and it's the thought that counts and that she has cake!)

A Water-coloured Birthday Card

Having share the watercolour I did the other day - I decided to use it as part of a birthday card for a pal.   I imported the photo of it into Craft Artist and added the wording.

Watercolour painting

My final bit of crafting last week, was to watch some Matthew Palmer demos on Hochanda.  I watched the demo for the above picture on "rewind" and decided I was way out of practise with my watercolouring.  I couldn't blame it all on the eyesight - my paint was too wet!

Undeterred I watched a later programme and actually painted "live" in real time whilst he was doing it live.   This result was a tad better.   I think I need more practise at vinette paintings, a not quite confident with leaving the space at the sides.   I  much prefer to paint up to masking tape and then get a definitive white border.   It's just a case of practise and confidence.

This week's "doodle" - colouring lesson 2

This week we were back to learning colouring techniques with this postcard, which was a challenge for the eyes, especially when we learned pointillism for the speckled hen; but I succeeded

 Here are a couple more of the stages in reverse order:

A Green Man

I bought this lovely Green Man mould with a view to casting him in resin, but chickened out at the last minute (although I will cast him in resin in due course).   However,  this one was created using air dry  clay and then painted with acrylic paints.    I was really pleased with the finished result.   I may apply a very thin coat of resin on him to protect him and make him weatherproof, or use weatherproof varnish.     I am hoping that they make the moulds in smaller sizes eventually too.

I also sent for some more craft concrete, and I will make him using that too. which will also make him weatherproof.  He would look great on a flowerpot

Decorating a Canvas Bag

Towards the end of last year, I spent an afternoon creating background papers with heat transfer paints and shaving foam.   You may recall that some were used on mugs.

As I still had a box of prepared papers, I decided to cut them up and try and create a design on  a canvas bag, with the help of some leaf die cuts I made.   It wasn't awfully successful, as I had forgot that the paints were really better on a polycotton material, and I should have treated the canvas bag with some  special primer (which I have but forgot!).   This was the result!  Not brilliant and not as vivid as it should have been.

 

 Undaunted I decided to do some paint fusion with some fabric paints on the other side...........

.......I then had a brainwave - do some more fabric painting to enhance the squares, and tie them all together - yes it worked!

I also discovered this little panel in the box of fabric paints - so decided to paint that too

Sunshine and my Crafting Mojo has returned

I have taken advantage of the beautiful weather this week and been up in the Den or sitting on the patio crafting.   However I have been lax in not keeping up to date with the blog as a result.

Firstly I managed to have a play with some inks, acrylic paints and resin, on some wooden flowers.  The big ones were done with alcohol inks and the small ones with acrylics, as I wasn't quite sure how the inks would turn out.   Thy were then all had resin applied to them.   I must admit I was pleased with the results.

(Excuse the messy mat but this was the best way to coat them without them sticking to everything.)

Having done the first bartch I decided to do the other design.   This time I used all alcohol inks.   The picture above is the before and the picture below is with the resin on them.   I also added little gemstones and gold leaf in places.   I had a little leftover resin and put that in a mould along with some dried flowers, but confess I wasn't too happy with the result.

Scones and Bread Pudding

I originally wanted to make plain scones for my little Isolation VE Day Street Party tea, but couldn't get any clotted cream (and I really fancied scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream).    I finally got some cream on my shopping delivery this week, so yesterday I made scones.  I can report they were scrumptious - warm from the oven!

I also had some bread crusts saved up in the freezer with a view to making a bread pudding, which I haven't had for ages.  So whilst the oven was on I made the bread pudding too, having defrosted the crusts and soaked them in water overnight.     As you can see it made a huge pudding.   It is a recipe that has been handed down through the family - originally just sort of word of mouth, although I have now written down vague instructions on how to make it.   My mum used to make it and so did my Nana (my dad's mum) and I call it Nana's Old Fashioned Bread Pudding as I am sure it was her recipe originally.   It is very moist and has grated carrot and apple in it.

The bread pudding in the tin

a portion of the pudding

I eat it on its own, but you could have it with custard, or even cream  (especially clotted cream if you want to be indulgent!

Finished Dreamcatcher Doodle

drawing arrows

Getting there slowly - I did make a bit of a booboo on the arrows - I wasn't paying attention properly when Barbara did the decoration on them ........ but then we learned how to finish off the composition .....

The finished picture

..... ok- a couple more booboos, but generally I am quite pleased with it, considering 8 weeks ago I wouldn't have been able to draw anything!

PS.  If you liked the hot air balloon and the bird table pictures, Clarity Stamp have now brought them out as stamps and Groovi plates.

This week's "Doodle" - work in proress

This week's doodling takes us to Albuquerque and learning how to draw a Dreamcatcher.   This has been fun.   A bit daunting at first - particularly when it came to the feathers.  (This is our drawing after three days).   I could have made the feathers more elaborate, and penned in the details, but knowing my dodgy eyes, I took the easy option and just shaded them, as I didn't want to mess up my efforts.

I have really enjoyed doing this and can't wait to learn what we are going to add during the rest of the week.

"Lock Down" Birthday Card

It was my son's birthday this week and I made him this card.  I actually forgot to take a photo of the card.   This is just the topper I created so you will have to imagine it on a square white card!

I did manage to knock up a quick cake for him, but am not sharing that picture as I failed miserably when it came to icing it and ignored my own advice when writing a name to start in the middle and work outwards!  Duh!   Still I gather it tasted good - so that's all that matters.

Homemade Bread

I was so behind with the blog last week, that I had forgotten I had made some home-made bread - so better late than never I am making a record of the fact as it was delicious!

VE Day in Isolation 2020

Something a little different today, whilst I discover what this week's doodling will involve.

The top part of our road had a little "Isolation" VE Day afternoon, with us all out in our front gardens  We had a most enjoyable time - and one of the neighbours provided some appropriate music.
This was my little effort:

cucumber sandwiches, corned beef and tomato sandwiches, cheese scone and a

fairy cake, together with a glass of bubble and a mug of tea  (I know it should

have been a cup and saucer, but I brought it up to date!)

Homemade Cheese Scones

Butterfly Cakes

Home made bunting etc.

Doodling - learning to colour an image.

This week in the Clarity SHAC shack, we have been learning to colour a postcard sized image.  Using Perga Liners and colouring pencils (whatever we had).     You think you know how to colour, and probably like many of you, I have colouring books that I dip into every now an again, but had I been colouring correctly.   I think not.

Above is my the start of my attempt to colour the nuthatch - I had a lot to learn about blending.   I got slightly carried away and started on the tree.  Erm .........

then I learned to do it properly.

There was another stage doing the leaves, which I forgot to take a photo of !   ......   and finally we learned to do a night sky.   Not brilliant, but a good learning curve.   I need more practise on my blending.  I might have been better doing a lighter sky!

Onwards and upwards as they say, and count a day lost you don't learn something new!   Can't wait to see what next week brings!

MDF Rainbows

I spent yesterday in the sunshine painting MDF rainbows for neighbours.

I did do some a few weeks ago for myself and one set of grandchildren.   My eldest granddaughter painted her own - but it seems I didn't blog them - so here are a few photos from then:

I painted the back a sort of night sky

Doodling - Geisha (A week of doodling in one go!)

Well it was week 5 of our Doodling Adventure with Clarity Stamps SHAC Shack.   On the first day we learned to draw the Geisha and stone stones in pencil and then inked them it.

Day 2:  We pencilled in the design on the kimono and then inked it in.   She is beginning to get a bit of character now.

Day 3:  We started the Zentangle patterns on the stones.  I got slightly ahead and pencilled in the circle, but you will see from day 4 that I moved it slightly.

 Day 4.   We drew the tree and learned to draw cherry blossom and added more stone (or fields) to the background.

Finally Day 5:   ...  and the end of the week and we put in the sea and the rising/setting sun and started to colour the image with polychromo pencils.  (I am a bit new to polychromos - although I have attempted to use them on parchment - but need more practise.)    

I shall probably do a bit more colouring on the picture, but will use my best colouring pencils, as am more used to shading with them.

It's been an exciting five weeks, and am pleased with what I have achieved so far, having never been able to draw before; but with the guidance of Barbara Gray I can now say I can draw.    I know need to stretch myself and try and draw something without guidance.

Here's to week 6 and Lockdown doodling ....... whatever that will bring.