Yellow Daisies {Tutorial}

Here's a little tutorial I made for my application for Faber Castell's Guest Design Team. Even though I didn't make the team, I thought I would still share my work :)

Are you ready to play? Let’s get started!

1.       Cut & Paste: Using patterned paper cut out your design (free-hand, die-cuts, punches, etc.) and adhere with Faber-Castell’s Gel Medium to wood or canvas. Let dry. (Use your heat tool or hair dryer to speed it up…it’s so hard to wait, I know!)

2.       Outline & Doodle: Using a Black PITT Artist Pen S, outline everything inside the edge of the image (this gives you a border to work with later). Add doodles until your heart’s content! The more the better.

 

3.       Watercolor:Using Ranger’s Distress Stains, apply a layer of coordinating color to each image by simply pushing your brush onto the dauber to fill the brush with color. Then paint over each image as you would with ordinary watercolors.

4.       Seal:Add second layer of Gel Medium to seal in the watercolors. Let Dry.

5.       Marker Time: Pick a light and dark shade of the same color to coordinate with each image.  Using the lighter shade first, start by adding a little color in the middle of your image with small lines or swipes of the marker.  Blend the color with your finger, using circular motions.  With your darker shade, add small amounts of color to areas that would be shaded and blend with your finger.  Finally, fill in that outlined border you drew in Step 2 with your darker shade. Blend lightly with your finger to soften your color.

TIP: The color of the PITT markers is “buildable,” keep adding layers to deepen your shade.

 

6.       Final Touches: Trace the outside of each image with a light grey PITT marker. Add darker gray to fill-in or highlight some of your doodles.

 TIP:Keep baby wipes near-by to wipe away mistakes. The Gel Medium gives a great, smooth surface that allows us to manipulate the color. Once the marker is sealed with a top coat of Gel Medium, it becomes permanent.

7.       Signed and Sealed: Add your signature and one last coat of Gel Medium. You’re all done! It looks great!!

Hopefully this was inspiring! It definitely makes me want to get my markers out!

 

Coop's Event Barn {Open House}

How beautiful is this?! My BFF and business partner, Trisha, and I were invited to attend the Grand Opening of Keith and Linda Cooper's Coop's Event Barn in Dodge Center this past Saturday. Their future plans include having a vendor market (hence the reason for our attendance). I can't think of a better backdrop to sell my folk art!

The sun was setting on this perfect August evening as we walked around, enjoying the property and soaking in all of the little details. Can you believe that moon?

 Just image getting married or attending a wedding here! Even better, imagine living here! I didn't even need to close my eyes to picture my two kiddos spending their days running around and playing with the freedom only known to childhood.

 

Oh, the light of the setting sun!

 

 The attention to detail was simply awe-inspiring! In fact, I spent some time on Sunday "junking up" my yard. I had everything I needed, I guess I just needed a little frame of reference.

 

"Don't you just love this picture?" I said to my almost-7 year old. "No, mom, there's nothing in it." That's the beauty of it- something so simple and everyday-ordinary can be so inspiring.

 

It was an honor to be a part of this event. I should mention the catering by Omar's Kitchen and Apollo Liquor and music by Brandon Sampson that provided the perfect soundtrack to an inspiring country night.