Pink Gingham Fashion Illustration Print

Pink Gingham Fashion Illustration Print

Just in time for summer, a pretty pink gingham dress!  This was the first time I used my new Angled Sapphire 3/8" Robert Simmons Watercolor Brush.  I always use round brushes.  But I really liked using this angled brush.  It covered a lot of area in a short amount of time.

The Cutest Little Camera Bag Disguised As a Bowling Bag/Purse!

I finally broke down and bought a real camera (Canon EOS Rebel T5).  Well, as real as I can get on my budget.  What a difference!  I'm very happy with it.  However, it is bulkier then the little point and shoot that I previously had.  I suddenly realized, I need a camera bag.  I started looking around for one and was a little sad at the prospect of a bulky and unstylish camera bag.

Then I came across a photo of this cute Red Camera bag that looked like a bowling bag/handbag!  So excited!! Unfortunately I couldn't get my hands on it.  As far as I could tell, it is only sold in England and no longer shipping to the U.S.

Acme Made The Bowler DSLR Camera Handbag

Although I wasn't able to purchase this really fun Acme bag, I did find something similar.  It still has the bowling bag shape and can also pass as a handbag.  It comes in a couple of different colors; white with black handles, red with black handles, and black with black handles.

Fujifilm 2011 Bowler Bag For Camera

This Fujifilm Bowler bag is sold on Amazon for between $26.65 - $17.95.  And although it is listed as a Dark Blue, mine seems more black then blue.  And it came with a white shoulder strap.  Great deal, huh?

The bag is small, but there is plenty of room for my camera, the charger, cord and manual.  Or you could use that extra space for your phone and wallet or an extra lens.  There are two outside pockets with velcro to store keys etc. in.  The divider is on velcro so you can adjust it.

From A Simple Sketch To Printed Artwork

The little doodle that started it all!  Most of my paintings start out as a little doodle.  The challenge is to keep that spontaneity and translate it into the final painting.

Working on the “P.S. I Love You” artwork.  When hand lettering, it sometimes takes a couple of tries to get it just the way I want it.

P.S. I Love You Print

What Red Lipstick Is Marvel's Agent Carter Wearing?

I was so excited when I heard that ABC was releasing the show "Marvel's Agent Carter".  Actress Hayley Atwell reprises her character, Agent Peggy Carter, from the films "Captain America: The First Avenger" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier".  After watching the first Captain America film, I wondered what happened to Peggy Carter.  I thought she was such a strong and intelligent character, but was left back in time, when Captain America woke up in the future.  Well, now we get to find out with this TV series.  I just love stories taking place in the 1940's, one of my favorite eras.

The series picks up after WWII is over.  All the men have come home, and now Peggy Carter is being treated more like a secretary than a secret agent.  Unbeknownst to her coworkers, she is being sent on secret missions by Howard Stark (Iron Man's dad).  And of course she looks fabulously stylish while doing all this!

So what is that perfect shade of matte red lipstick that Peggy Carter is wearing?

1946 - Red Velvet Lipstick by Bésame $22

And now you know where to get that perfect 1940's red lipstick.  Isn't the packaging so cute?  Bésame recreates modern versions of classic luxury makeup.

Watch "Marvel's Agent Carter" on ABC Tuesday nights.  Catch up on all episodes on Hulu.

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

My daughter's class Valentine's Day party was yesterday.  For her Christmas party I brought Black Forest Cupcakes and it was a big hit with her classmates.  So this week I was looking around to find a treat that would have the same "WOW Factor" and be just as easy to make.  That's what I always look for, something fun, cute and super easy to make!  My 8 year old had a lot of fun helping me make these.  It went something like this.... one for her tummy, then one for the class and so on.

I found a recipe for Chocolate Covered Pretzels on a really cool blog called Love From The Oven.  Her photos are much better than mine.  I just snapped this shot really quickly with my phone before the pretzels were attacked by a bunch of hungry 3rd graders.  Yes, they were a big hit with the kids, the parents and the teachers!  Thanks Christi from Love From The Oven.  Through your recipe, I made a lot of people very happy:)

Chocolate Covered Pretzels

I used White Chocolate/Almond Bark (I found at Walmart)

Snyder's Mini Pretzels

Sprinkles, Pink Sugar, and Chololate Jimmies

Wax or Parchment Paper

Melt chocolate according to package directions.  Don't over cook or add water.  Cook for one minute in microwave at 50% power, then stir.  Return to microwave for another 30 seconds at 50% power.  Stir really well.

Dip pretzel in melted chocolate. Tap pretzel against the side of the bowl, before dipping in sprinkles.  Dip the entire pretzel into bowl of sprinkles once chocolate has cooled a bit.  Then lay on wax paper to cool and set.  Pop them in the fridge if you are in a hurry to have them set.

If I was making these for grown ups, I would go easy on the sprinkles. But for the kids, we put a ton of sprinkles on.  They look so festive that way!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Finding The Perfect Mascara

I'm always in search of the perfect mascara.  My lashes need a lot of help!  I found the Maybelline Full 'n Soft Waterproof Mascara in Very Black at Rite Aid.  It sounded like just what I need.  I have to curl my lashes and a lot of mascaras I've tried are too heavy and just flatten them out again.  So I was very happy with the Maybelline Mascara.  It felt soft, gave some volume, lengthened and kept the curl.  If I have the time and can apply several coats, it really does a good job on my lashes.  So I would buy this again.  The only down side is, that I would like more volume and the tube didn't last as long as some of the expensive mascaras.  But for under $7.00, I really can't complain:)

I have to admit that my daughter and I loved the tv commercial for L'oreal's Miss Manga Mascara, and this inspired me to buy it.  Of course my lashes did not come out as full and beautiful as the model on the commercial (I'm sure they used fake lashes on her), but it was comparable to the Maybelline Full 'n Soft.  My lashes were able to keep their curl and if I applied several coats, I could get the length and volume I wanted. But unlike the Full 'n Soft, Miss Manga mascara gave my lashes a more spikey feel.  I didn't like this or the bendable wand.  A couple times the wand bounced too much when I wasn't expecting it to and smeared Mascara on my eyelid.  Plus, there is a problem with flakes during the day. So I'm not so sure I will buy L'oreal Miss Manga Mascara again.

Finding The Perfect Mascara by debralynn5 featuring a waterproof mascara

DIY Bluestar Cat Valentine's Day Tag - Free Download

My daughter is very into the Warriors books by Erin Hunter and her favorite character is a cat named Bluestar.  So this year for her class Valentine's Day exchange we decided to do a DIY Bluestar tag for some paw print pencils I found online on the Oriental Trading company website.  These pencils came in a pack of 24 for $4.25.  Which is perfect because there are 24 kids in my daughter's class.

I traced one of my daughter's drawings of her version of Bluestar and painted it in watercolor then lined it with a black Micron pen.  I also painted a heart and paw print for the border.  My daughter came up with the saying "I'm never blue when I'm with you".  Then I scanned this all into an Illustrator file.  I printed it on cardstock and used a mini Fiskars hole-punch to make two holes to slide a 1/8" (3mm) red satin ribbon through it to tie the tag on the pencil.

So if anyone else is a fan of Bluestar, Warriors, or Kitty Cats, here is a free downloadable PDF file for your own little Valentine's Tags that can be used to tie around pencils, candies or any other treats you can think of:)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Bluestar Downloadable Valentine Tag