Father's Day Gift Idea.

Father's Day is coming up next weekend,

so I thought I would post an easy and fun craft/gift idea.

I find that men can be difficult to find gifts for,

but most men have that undeniable love of food,

and giving some special snack foods always seems to be a good choice.

I have a habit of collecting jars that I think are an unusual shape.

I also have plenty of canning jars around, so I came up with some fun labels

and purchased special foods my husband likes and doesn't always get.

My husband always finds a way to add humor to the cards he gets for me at holidays,

I try to reciprocate, although I think he has me bested most of the time.

 I still have a few more things to finish up before next Sunday.

I created these tags on Microsoft Word and then colored some of them with my Copic markers.

If you would like to use some of them or print some up for your children to use,

just click on the image, right click on it and click "View Image."

You should then be able to print that up and it should print in the correct size.


After I printed and colored the labels, I picked out some scrapbooking paper in colors I liked and cut them slightly larger.  I covered the jar with these first and used double sided tape to hold them on.
I then affixed the colored label in the same way.

 I posted a few of them in color here and left the rest in black and white,

for those who want to use their own colors and wording.

Stickers in the center would work well, too,

especially for toddlers who are not quite efficient in their vocabulary yet

but would like to give Dad their own "craft".

Sorry this was a little late getting posted.

My computer wanted to run slowly today.

Let me know if you have any problems.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Vintage Image: Foot Bridge Over a Summer Stream.

Welcome back.

Today I chose to clean up an image I found in a late 1800's book

of an inviting footbridge over a quiet stream.

I cleaned it and made it in brown and white for an antiqued look,...

 and I created a black and white image of it as well.

I thought for fun I would show what can be done with these images.

I colored one of the antique images with my Copic markers.

 (The fine detail in these old images never ceases to amaze me!)

To make cards, I printed up four of the black and white images and colored them.

(Once colored, it is easy to see by the two different images I colored
that the browned ink image definitely has a more vintage look,
whereas the black and white image has a more modern look to it).

 I wanted to add some messages on my cards since one was for a graduation card

and the other is a thank you card for a friend.

I used my fine tipped calligraphy pen and scratched some verses onto paper
(well, it seemed like my pen was scratchy today;
every artist can blame it on the pen once in a while, right? :)
More likely, I was not calm enough to attempt calligraphy;
but these will work for today).

 I used two verses on cards, and made another 2 cards with just the image on them.

Feel free to use any of the images for your own use,

including both the colored images

if you should want to.

(I explain how to use Microsoft Word to copy and paste images in a previous post
  >CLICK TO READ IT<,

if you happened to miss it and would like the help.)

Thanks for stopping by.

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Art Lesson: A Mother's Day Sketch.

For mother's day,

I wanted to draw a picture of a good friend who just had her first baby
(I will refrain from using her name for her privacy).

 I love this picture.

It speaks volumes.

Sometimes, to help me get the correct proportions, I take out a ruler and measure what is there,

so I can get a better idea of the proper sizes/placement of the image on the paper.

 I measured the full length of the image.

 I also measured the widest section,

from the mom's back to the edge of the baby's blanket.

 I took facial measurement since they are so important to get right

and are often what I find to be the hardest part to get correct.

 A few other helpful measurements are taken.

 I then lightly sketch in a rough outline, remembering the measurements and adjusting as I go.

My image is not the same exact size as the original, so I have to roughly enlarge each section,

sketching not so much in exact inch measurements, 

but in half, thirds, and quarters, etc.

 Because I want to make this into a card,

I decided to add a border, choosing a heart shape.

 Sometimes, when I want to check on how to see the image in a more simple way,

I use whatever I find handy to set it up visually for me to better see it.

I had some unused craft sticks on the table, so I used them to help me check on my angles and proportions.

 First I put them on the picture I was drawing from as I drew in some of the details.

 Then I put the craft sticks on my own picture to see how it was measuring up and adjusted it as necessary.

(the white bits in her hair are scratches on the copy...

just thought I should make mention in case somebody wondered)

I was having trouble getting her eye to look right,

so I focused on the light by squinting at the picture.

I realized there was a "bubble" along the closed eye, where the eyeball shape from underneath was visible,

so I worked at this til it looked right,

adding some curled eyelashes as well as the slightly opened eye underneath.

I then began to work on the nose and lips, lightly at first, and darkening when I felt I had caught the look I was trying to get.

 I find I am always looking back at the original to correct the lines I draw,

back and forth,

and sitting back to analyze

(as I am right now and want to get up and go correct something I see in the lash line and where the top of the nose starts because one of the biggest necessities of being an artist demands constant critiquing to get the lines right).

 Sometimes, artistic license can be used to change a picture, 

such as my decision to let some hair fall down the back.

It isn't necessary, but I wanted it this way for the card.

Getting the proportions of sweet baby's head was tricky,

as well as his barely visible sleeping eyes.

When I needed a break from all the exacting details, I began to sketch in some flowers around the border,

as well as part of a bold edging. Sometimes I like to break up delicate images with confident, distinct ones.

 It is looking the way I am wanting, but I set it down to share these tips with you

and will continue to finish this.

I hope to have the finished version of it up before mother's day

(if my own sweet bairns do not steal all my attention away).

Happy sketching and thanks for stopping by!

(The completed sketch can be seen >HERE<)

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