butterfly thank you

here's a fun way to create something for someone special,
using your journals as inspiration!

trace your image and transfer it to a piece of speedy carve, and then carve the stamp.  then stamp your image onto paper (i used distress inks to stamp the image onto watercolor paper.  the image comes out a little splotchy, so i used my waterbrush to even out the color and give it a more "painterly" look.).

add some details.....

and cut your image out, leaving a small border around the edges.

then adhere it onto a blank note card (i used glue only in the middle to give it some dimension) 

and sketch in a little message......

then add some finishing touches using your favorite pens and watercolors!


{i used these supplies to make this card:
art journal, tracing paper, speedy carve stamp material, carving tools, distress ink pads,
waterbrush,  90 lb. watercolor paper,  scissors, micron pens, 2B pencil, koi watercolor, glue}

les papillons

when it came time to get ready for my girls weekend in orlando a couple of weeks ago, one of the first things i did was pack my "hotel goody bag"......you know, that sweet collection of art supplies (along with a little stash of chocolate to nibble on) that you just can't live without while you're away from home.  i took one of these new journals from strathmore......

my growing collection of tombow markers.....

and these.  no way could i ever leave home without 'em!

we took a side trip to the craft store to see if there was anything we just couldn't live without.....(have you ever noticed that it's SO much more fun at the craft store when you're with your art buddies?!)......and i found these fabulous butterfly stamps......

and later that night i played in my journal, using this technique, while nestled in one of those hotel dream beds, surrounded by my favorite supplies......and my chocolate stash......and proving to myself that it really doesn't take a lot of supplies to be creative.  (but please don't mention that part to my little dutch sweetie.....he might start to wonder why i need all that "stuff" in my studio........ :))

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!}

red botanical

i feel like i've been neglecting my etsy shop again. i don't know how i always get so sidetracked....i have SO many things that i want to do and the day is gone before i even get started on my list! anyway, i was out snooping for supplies the other day and saw this paper..... and immediately started to drool....so, it went in my cart....automatically.

actually, if you've visited my blog before, you probably already know that i didn't just buy one sheet of this paper, i bought three. that way when i use one, then i'll still have two. there's logic there somewhere....it's when i try to explain it to my little dutch boy that things get sketchy.....

see more details of this journal here!

butterfly coptic

i was instantly drawn to the calmness of this paper...and i'm especially loving that big white butterfly on the front!  this journal was constructed in the same way as my other recent journals:  a coptic binding, with 70 lb. writing paper inside, along with some other coordinating decorative papers.  i have some other ideas for switching things up a bit inside.  now if i could only find the time to do it all! 

house butterfly

walther and i went for a sunday drive yesterday, and ended up in a tiny town towards the west coast of florida.  i love the big city, but it's always refreshing to be in a place where white picket fences line the front yard and people make eye contact and give you a smile.  as we walked down the street, we came upon this house, and the metal butterfly hanging over the front door immediately caught my eye.  i can't remember ever seeing a butterfly ornament on a house, but it makes perfect sense to me.  a house is always being updated, changed, transformed.  and so is the family who lives in the house.  our family has endured a lot of change within the past several years, and i'm sure that's why this has made such an impression on me.  our new house begins construction next month...time for me to begin my search for a butterfly. (click on photo to enlarge)