mini-doodle stamps

not too long ago, we brought home our sweet little two-month-old
mini-goldendoodle puppy, Gidget…..

and it's hard to believe, but this weekend 

we're celebrating her first birthday already!  woo hoo!

she is just as sweet as she can be, and some of her favorite pastimes are

playing, eating treats, playing, barking at nothing, carrying big sticks,

going outside so she can try to eat some mulch, playing, stealing socks….

and running in the field.  

she absolutely loves to run in the field.  she's a very normal puppy.

  

well….normal….until i mention that she also loves to go to the post office 

with me.  i know.  that's a little less normal, and kind of a long story. 

but, the other day i was thinking about how we've got a  

less-than-normal-puppy-who-loves-to-go-to-the-post-office….

and inspiration struck! 

i was thinking how the post office likes to commemorate big events with
 a series of new stamps, and since Gidget's first birthday is a big event

{and me actually surviving the first year is an even bigger event!},

i've decided to create a series of illustrated faux-postage stamps 

for our mini-goldendoodle who loves to go to the post office!

so, the first thing i did was start sketching lots of different stamp shapes…..

 and then i created a template of the stamp sizes i liked the best

by placing a couple of strips of packaging tape 

over my drawings and cutting out the "middles".  then i trimmed the 

tape around the edges of the paper, and now it's nice and sturdy,

and the paper won't tear as i'm tracing around the inside to create my stamps.

the next step was to draw the "stamp" template shape onto my paper,
then i added some drawing and coloring…..
and here's our Gidget with her very own faux-postage stamp
to commemorate her big day!

and here's a sweet little "initial tag" for her to wear on her collar!

i have lots of fun ideas for more "mini-doodle stamps", 

now all i need is the time to create them…..

when there's a puppy around, finding creative time is the 

biggest challenge of all!  :))

{this faux micro-postage stamp is about 1/2" wide, and was created on

fabriano artistico 140 lb. HP paper using prismacolor verithin pencils,

and a 0.5 mechanical pencil}

inspiration monday

my little dutch sweetie recently treated me to a wonderful trip to savannah, georgia.

what a fabulous city! 

 we did lots of walking, lots of eating, and lots of shopping.....is that the perfect recipe for a magnificent weekend, or what?

if you haven't already visited savannah, i highly recommend it.   there's eye candy everywhere......

and it's filled to the brim with inspiration!

journal page created in savannah using supplies from my art-travel-kit:  micron pens, pencils, favorite watercolor pencils, niji waterbrush.  pan pastel added later at home.

inspiration monday

the more inspired you are to do something, 

the more fun you're gonna have.

i guarantee it!  

still having a ball creating these little faux postage stamps!

journal page supplies: watercolor pencil, micron pen, 4B pencil, pan pastel, niji waterbrush

flutterby

i had so much fun with the first butterfly stamp, that i just had to add another one to my journal......

this one is more of the color-me-happy variety!

supplies used:  watercolor, watercolor pencil, micron pens, 4B pencil, uniball signo white pen, niji waterbrush

inspiration monday

there are many times when i'm really inspired to create something, but i have no idea what that "something" is.  so, i've been on a scavenger hunt this past week.......in search of my muse.  and as it usually does, inspiration snuck up on me as i was rummaging through my closet and found my little collection of old postage stamps.  once i saw these butterflies, that flickering lightbulb over my head was suddenly shining bright!!

so, here's my sketchbook interpretation of that orange-tip beauty.
thank you, inspiration.

{want to know how alisa burke finds inspiration? click here!}

dragonfly, dragonfly

i stumbled upon this paper and went crazy...and you know that i bought extra,  just to keep my paper stash happy!  finds like this really make my day, and when i noticed that little faux postage stamp, well, that was the cherry on top!  don't you absolutely love it when a plan comes together?! 

handmade, coptic bound book with decorative paper wrapped around italian velata signatures. 

you can find this journal on flickr and etsy.