Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Cardmaking and Paintingmaking and and and

Sometimes, my life turns into a hurricane of activity.  Except not as much fun.

When the storm clears, and the air calms and I'm left sitting amidst a pile of debris- however, I think, "Wow! That was fun!  Let's do that again!"

It's a horrendous cycle of abuse.

The new play that I'm stage managing opened last week.  That's stressful enough, on its own!  But even without being able to sleep for a week, I still managed to find fifteen minutes to sit down and make one of my 'Fifteen Minute Cards.'  

No, I don't time them-  it's an estimated average.  They might not even take fifteen minutes. 

What I've found, about my cardmaking, is that the less time I have to obsessively move layers of papers around, the better my card turns out!   So that's some advice, from me, if you're having trouble coming up with a design.  Tell yourself that you've got fifteen minutes, total and at most, to make a card, and if you don't finish it in the allowed time, then you'll die or be late to work (whichever is more frightening to you). 



I needed a birthday card for my beloved boss- and since the first day of spring is (too freakin) near, I wanted something with a spring theme. 

To speed up the process, I used a tip that I picked up from May Flaum's e-book, FASHIONABLY FAST- which is available from Big Picture Classes.   I'm preparing a review of the book, as not only were they so kind to include me when sending out review copies- but also because IT IS A GOOD BOOK.  What's the tip I used?  Well, actually I used two- but the main tip I used, which to be fair is a tip I've heard a couple of places so far- is to use one line of product.  I don't know about you- but sometimes I just need to be told the most obvious of things.  If you don't have time or the skillz to match papers, just grab a collection pack!  Too easy, huh?  Yeah- that does kinda take some of the fun out of it (for me) but if you're in a hurry or if you just want to concentrate on the layout instead of the color- well hell, make it easy on yourself and grab a collection.  Nobody gonna judge you.  If they do, remind them that you know what they did last summer. 

I used BasicGrey's FACT AND FICTION - you know, that line that I went crazy for at JoAnn.  Not only did I buy every bit of it- but I bought multiples.  I'd be back at JoAnn and see it on sale and I can't pass that up-  aaaaaand I'd think, "Hmm. I don't think I got that, anyways."   Imagine my surprise to find five of each thing when I tried re-organizing not too long ago...

So that was the only 'technique,' to that card, really-  I chose a collection (Fact and Fiction) that had the look I wanted at the moment, picked out the appropriate sentiment- Happy Birthday, from a sentiment set that I picked up on clearance at Hobby Lobby for a dollar, and layered a few embellishments.  The bird was part of a larger journal card- but I really liked that bird (and my boss LOVES birds) so I cut him out.  Cuz that's allowed. 

What else have I been up to?  Really?  You're still here and you want to know more?

I've been learning how to paint with WATERCOLORS! 

I can't tell you why I thought it was something I wanted to know more about-  it just occured.  I got out a pad of watercolor paper and my paints and did a Google search for a tutorial.  I don't know about you- but in the past, to use watercolors, I wet my brush and rubbed it on the little cake in the plastic pan, then rubbed it on the paper.  HOW DO THESE PEOPLE MAKE THOSE BEAUTIFUL DREAMY PAINTINGS?!

Imagine my surprise to learn all about adding water, mixing trays and etcetera!

Following along with an online tutorial, I set out to complete a watercolor.  Here it is, my first attempt, ever:



I promise, I'm not deluded into thinking I'm a master painter or anything- but it sure looks better than I thought my first attempt would look like! I'm sorry I can't find/remember the link to the tutorial - I will find it and add it, as I want to credit the site responsible for all the fun I had, learning a couple of things!

I struggled through a coupla more tutorials- fish, a flower, a butterfly, an unfortunate mountain landscape... finally, I decided I wanted to try something of my own-  my first complete original watercolor.  Of course, I chose to paint a portrait of my beloved son, Nelson. 


Given my limited drawing and painting skillz, I naturally opted for a more 'wiggly abstract' look, than attempting any sort of photo-realism!

Okay, I've got work to do and teeth to make (prop teeth- no, I'm not an at-home dentist) and collage materials to cut out:



Come on over and play, if you'd like! 

-kory k


11 comments:

  1. Great job with all of your projects. For only an online water color tutorial you are off to a pretty damn fine start. I love your bulldog portrait. It is very expressive.

    Keep up the good work.

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  2. Wonderful job! Like your card love watercolor painting they are cool. If I could I would come over and play! But I live just a little too far away, lol. Hope your week is going good so far?

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  3. Great job Kory! I'm going to try the 15 minute thing. The painting of Nelson is awesome. And your first attempt looks like a professional.

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  4. Your posts are always such fun to read :)

    Great start with the watercolours! Very impressive (although for the benefit of balance I think we should also see the unfortunate mountain landscape!).

    Have fun with your prop teeth.

    x

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  5. Beautiful card Kory, your boss'll lurve it. As you say, it's a great tip to use from one collection and so obvious we forget it. As for your watercolours, my jaw is on the floor. Your paintings are really impressive. Watercolour is one of the most difficult mediums to create with and you're proving to be a dab hand at it. Pxx

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  6. OHHHH!!! I absolutely LOVE the Nelson!!! :) That is frame-and-center-of-the-living-room-wall-worthy!! Great job, as always, my dear! :)

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  7. K- your card is great but I have to say I am astounded and in awe of the watercolors! I come from a family of painters and watercolor is the most difficult! You totally nailed the technique! Great job!

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  8. Holy smokes!

    I just found you (in a totally unstalkerish way) via the SC message board, and boy am I glad you posted there!

    I love your style, both in writing and crafting and those watercolors are ah-mazing. Thank you for being brave enough to share your first attempts! Now I want to go bust mine out, do some Googling of my own and give it a try. I am reasonably sure I won't be showing mine to the Internet though ;).

    Looking forward to browsing through past posts.

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  9. I just found you too, same way as paper pixie. I love your watercolours, they turned out great, wish I could paint.
    So glad I found you as I am now going to be an avid follower
    BTW The teeth are very realistic ;)

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  10. Your son is a beauty, and so is your painting of him.

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  11. Could you share the watercolor tutorial?

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