New Year's Eve Cocktail Dress And A Watercolor Test Sketch

The upcoming new year has me in organizing mode.  Out with the old and in with the new.  I've been going through my art supplies and discovered some tubes of paint that are in bad shape.  Lids have cracked, tubes have split open, and paint has dried up.  Hmmm.... , I think it is time for an art supply shopping trip!! I'm in the mood to try something new.  Back in October I visited Art Supply Warehouse for one of their great tote bag full of freebies sales and this little Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Dot Try It Card was included.  If you want to try one, you can order it from their website for $5.99.  I finally got around to trying mine out today while I have a little piece and quiet on a Sunday.  Although I couldn't achieve a really deep color wash with these little dots, they did give me some idea of the colors and how they will lay down on the paper.  I really like the jadeite and amethyst colors.  I also had fun with the red fuchsite and sugilite because they've got some sparkle to them.  I always love a little sparkle! ✨

So here's my little watercolor test sheet and sketch of the perfect little cocktail dress for the New Year's Eve party you might be invited to.  The Maggy London Illusion Yoke Crepe Sheath is available at Nordstrom. 

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Have a Happy New Year!

Painting Tutorial For A DIY Christmas Holly Card

The holidays are the time for doing some fun crafts and handmade gifts.  This year I got the crazy notion to hand make my Christmas cards.  I must admit that I narrowed my list of recipients as I am short on time. If you don't have the time, you can just make these cards for a few special people.  That said, I did keep in mind that I would be making several of these so I kept it simple.

The first step is to clear a space and gather your supplies.  I already had a pack of blank cards and envelopes from Michael's Craft Store .  I'm not sure how long I've had my set, as I always try to keep some blank cards and envelopes and tags on hand for emergency gift giving!  I used an off-white set that has some speckles in the fiber of the paper, but you can use any kind you wish.

List of supplies I used:

• set of blank cards and envelopes
• pencil
• paint brushes size 5 and 0 ( I used Simply Simmons round brushes)
• acrylic paint: Apple Barrel White and Honeysuckle Pink
                        Delta Light Foliage Green
                        Craft Smart Holiday Red and Sea Mist Pearl
                        Folk Art Inca Gold
                        Martha Stewart Glitter Craft Paint in Cotton Candy
• Tombow Dual Brush Pens in #249, #242, #757

These are just the supplies I had on hand. You can use the colors you have.

I used my pencil to draw a simple holly shape on the front of my card.

I used my holiday red and light foliage green acrylic paint, leaving some of the paper untouched as the highlights.

I used a little of the Honeysuckle Pink on the bottom left side of the berries.  This is an optional step. It adds a little depth but won't make or break your painting if you leave it out.  Then I went in with a second coat of the green for the leaves. 

It's hard to see here but I added some strokes of the Sea Mist Pearl following the directions veins of a leaf would take on the holly leaves.  In person it adds a pretty and subtle shimmer.

I then added a little Cotton Candy Glitter right over the Honeysuckle Pink on the berries, below and to the left of the white highlight on the berries. This will add some sparkle for the holidays.

Now add a bit of white to the highlights on the berries and a few strokes on the leaves.  A little white goes a long way.

After all the paint is completely dry, I outlined my leaves with the Tombow dual brush pen in #249 using the larger brush side.  Keep the strokes light and playful.

I used the Tombow pen in #757 (a wine color) to outline the berries.

Using my smaller brush I painted some Inca Gold acrylic dots and stars scattered around the holly.

I then used the Tombow pen #242 to write my message on the inside of my card and followed up with some more gold dots and stars.

I hope this was helpful.

Happy Holly Days!✨

Wrapping Up Christmas Gift of A Coach Poppy Perfume Watercolor Print

Coach Poppy Perfume Art Print

I can't believe it is already December, but when the Christmas orders start rolling in, I guess I have to believe.  Then of course I felt compelled to take down the Thanksgiving decorations and put up our Christmas decorations and lights.  I always have a Christmas movie playing while we decorate.  And I try to bake something too, so the house will really smell like the holidays.  It was Chocolate chip cookies this time!  Yum!  Now here I am packing up a Christmas order for a costumer.  This is a print from my original watercolor painting of a Coach Poppy Perfume Bottle.  If you've got a fashionista on your shopping list there's lots to find in my Etsy Shop.  Happy Shopping everyone, I hope you have a stress free holiday.