Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Lettering Practice : Faux-lligraphy


(Reminder I have a little giveaway going on here)

I've mentioned that I'm on a journey to learn hand lettering and I also mentioned in my 2017 New Year's post "The Stop Doing List" that I would normally not post things unless they were "perfect". This is a combination of those things. 

Sharing a piece I worked on last night inspired by a commerical for the upcoming "Beauty and The Beast" movie. 

I'm not 100% happy with it but the one thing every lettering artist I admire says repeatedly is "practice practice practice" so I'm practicing. 

The style I used here is considered "faux-lligraphy" or cheater calligraphy so if you want to try a calligraphic style, this is an easy way to do it. 

Dawn Nicole Designs has a great video tutorial here, and Amy Latta of One Artsy Mama has a beginner's tutorial here

Since I'm still figuring out how to digitize my projects (eg scan vs photograph) this is going to be the most basic basic how to! 



Lettering vs handwriting is really more about drawing letters so that's why I used the word draw vs write. 

Step 1:
Draw your letter(s). I still sketch out my words in pencil first to get spacing and size right but for this illustration I just went right with the pen!  

Step 2: 
Outline. You want to focus on the downstrokes, so wherever you bring your pen/pencil down, that's where you want to create a parallel line that makes an outline. Make sense? 

Step 3: 
Color ( or I guess fill would be a good term too) . Color in your outline ( doesn't have to be black...the letters look great with different colors too). 

One thing leads to another so while I've been on this lettering journey I started expanding my drawing and doodling skills. It never stops in the creative world right? 

I'm a visual learner so You Tube has been invaluable. This is the video I watched ( several times!) to do the rose. 

Supplies used: 
  • Strathmore Multi Media Sketchbook
  • Farber Castell drawing pen, slim and medium
  • Tombow dual-tip markers 

Here's another piece I did last week: 


Monday, March 6, 2017

Scrappy Spring Tags and a Giveaway


Who else is excited that it's almost Spring? Not that it's been a particularly bad Winter (OK wettest February on record in the PNW)  but there's something about Spring...the sense of freshness and renewal (probably associated with longer brighter days and things sprouting from the ground) that's invigorating. 

One of my 2017 challenges to myself was to work outside my usual color palette. Another was to use up things I have in my stash, especially when it comes to my paper collection and paper scraps. Those came together this weekend when I worked on some tags just because that was what I was in the mood to do. No rhyme. No reason. 


Aren't they Spring-y? 




I went through my paper scraps and pulled out a bunch of coordinating Spring-y scraps to play with. 


Got out my favorite tool for small projects, the Xyron 2.5 sticker maker, and cut out some tags on my Silhouette. 

I think the reason I love making tags so much I there's no plan. I just like tearing papers, seeing what goes together, embellishing them w/ bits and pieces. 


I used some paper flowers, punched some more from glitter paper scraps, added bits of washi tape ( glittery and otherwise) and some adhesive pearls. I think I'm happiest when I'm making for the sake of making. Ya know? These put me in a really good mood. And what's the best thing to do when you're in a good mood? SHARE! 

So I'm giving them away. Two sets of eight. With Spring holidays like Easter and Mother's Day approaching, or Spring birthdays, showers etc. who can't use a tag to dress up a gift? 

Here's how to enter. The giveaway will run through Friday 3/17! 




Thursday, March 2, 2017

BFF Open House Link Party


Happy Friday Eve and Happy March everyone! Been sidelined w/ a virus this week so haven't done much creatively except enjoy looking at your creations from last week's party. Here are a few ideas to share: 


Let's start with this insanely FABULOUS Pottery Barn inspired knockoff from The Navage Patch. I'll take 2 please?!  A Silhouette was involved but not how you think!


Most of the wall decor in our home is DIY and even if you don't "create" it yourself , these days there are so many options where you can have it made easily and inexpensively. Jenny Louise Marie shared what she did with prints she ordered online.


Speaking of Wall Art, Simply September shared this DIY piece which I love for it's simplicity and sentiment. 


This week's chocolate feature combines several favorites in one. Mr. Chocolate's favorite milkshake is hot-fudge banana so I think he'll like this one too. From The Young Mrs. blog. 

Now on to this week's party! 

   
   


Sunday, February 26, 2017

Hand Lettered Cards


When I became intrigued by hand lettering, one of the things I hoped I'd be able to do was to incorporate it into my card making. So when I had a couple of cards to make this weekend, that's just what I did. 

I started by doodling the wreath for each card, then added the initial. It just so happened that both recipients have the same initial. 


I chose some coordinating papers , trimmed the focal piece, matted then stamped the sentiments for each with Staz On ink onto white cardstock scraps. Matted those w/ coordinating paper scraps. As I continue to practics and get better at lettering, I'll do the sentiments too but for now, stamps lol. 


To add some dimension, I dotted the berries on the doodled branches with clear dimensional drops ( Nuvo clear). 


Supplies Used: 
  • Decorative Scrapbook Papers: Crate Paper pack ( Michaels)
  • Lettering Paper: Strathmore Watercolor 
  • Staz On Black Ink
  • Sentiment Stamps : Michaels (Impulse buy a while ago)
  • Drawing Pen: Faber Castell (my personal fave)
  • Coloring Pens: Tombow Dual Tip (my personal fave)



Saturday, February 25, 2017

Free Printable: "I Craft..."


This week's link party continues here !

Playing around with a fun pack of images for Crafters that's a free download from designbundles.net

Click to bring to full resolution. PC users, Right Click to Save As.  I also saved it as a PDF file so if you'd like that, email me at theanswerischocolate@comcast.net






Thursday, February 23, 2017

BFF Open House Link Party


Happy Friday eve all! Can you believe it's already the last week of February? The good news is that means Spring is on the way. What Spring things have you been working on? I haven't even started! 

Let's take a look at some of  the great ideas shared at last week's party. 


Kileen from Raven Would shared not only a great Goodwill find but what she did with it to make an awesome Spring centerpiece.  See that cute bunny? She's also got a tutorial on that !


Even though it's technically a few days before Spring officially begins, I always think of St. Patrick's Day as the first Spring holiday. My Busy Beehives has a great printable to add to your decor. 


Despite what Mr. Chocolate thinks, I do not in fact have 99 lipsticks. But, who can't use a cute cosmetics bag? Maggie Lois shared this one that I love! 


Finally if Spring is not quite around the corner in your neck of the woods but you want to bring some in, Heather from Woods of Bell Trees has a gorgeous transitional centerpiece . 

Now, on to this week's party! 

   
   







Sunday, February 19, 2017

For the Cost of a Donation: Upcycled Cabinet Door Tray


I dragged Mr. Chocolate to a flea market last month. It was held at an architectural salvage place in Seattle called Second Use. While the flea market didn't yield any treasures, a stroll through the Second Use Warehouse did. 

Of course Mr. Chocolate looked at the two cabinet doors and me like we were nuts. I'm used to it. He now loves the tray I made from one of the doors. All for the cost of a $5 donation to Habitat for Humanity. Two good things in one! 


This is what I started out with. I liked the panels and the way this door was framed. I mean I immediately saw a tray!  So I painted it with a white bisque acrylic paint. I didn't care about full coverage because I knew the look I was going for and it wouldn't matter. 

Back Side of Door

After my first coat was dry, I went over it with a coat of Espresso acrylic paint. Again, I didn't care that it was all streaky. In fact that was better. 


Then, using my tried and true glue crackle technique, I slathered on a thick coat of cheap white glue, let it dry until tacky, then went back over top with another coat of the Bisque White and watched the magic crackle process happen. 

Crackle Step 1 : Cover With Glue






One of my New Year's resolutions was to use things in my stash that I hadn't because I was hanging on to them for some irrational reason. So I pulled out a stencil that I'd never used and added some leaves using  Martha Stewart acrylic paint: Grey Wolf: 


To finish, I added a pair of door handles I picked up at Target ( the screws weren't long enough for the thickness of the door so I just glued on using extra strong glue) . 



The cup is one I painted at a paint your own pottery place. 

Not so crazy now am I Mr. Chocolate?