Watercolor

Let it Bee

/ Jodi / 32 Comments

let it bee bumble bee watercolor

When you feel that cleaning or laundry or household chores
come before time with family or friends…
Let it bee.

When anxiety or worry steals the joy
of the moment you are in…
Let it bee.

When you think that your parenting
falls short of the “super” mom or dad next door…
Let it bee.

When your dinner is burnt or undercooked or less than gourmet,
but your family is gathered around the table anyway…
Let it bee.

When you look in the mirror and critique what you see,
thinking you are too big or too little or too this or too that,
but you have a loved one that thinks you are the bee’s knees…
Let it bee.

Let it bee, Let it bee, Let it bee, Let it bee…..
Whisper words of wisdom…
Let it be.

Bee Happy!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

PS – The WINNER of the Thanks a Latte Card this week is Paul from My Cluttered Attic! Hubby chose #17, and that’s you buddy! Send me your address to mckinneyjodi@gmail.com, and the card will be on its way.  Enjoy writing a funny note to a friend you’d like to thank while sipping a triple shot latte.

PSSSSSS – I know just who I am going to send this watercolor card to- a brand new bee keeper who I think is the bee’s knees!

Watercolor West Village

/ Jodi / 50 Comments

West Village New York Watercolor Rusty Railing Brownstone

Some of you may remember a recent photo I shared, “You Caught My Eye Most of All.”

I was encouraged by a few to try watercoloring this photo.

Very amateur – very loose – here is my take:  Watercolor of West Village.

Cheers & Happy Weekend Hugs from Mars & New York & Everywhere “inbetween,”

Jodi

Watercolor Butterfly

/ Jodi / 19 Comments

watercolor butterfly Jill bday

Today is my BFF’s birthday.  And what kind of bestie am I when I am pretty sure she is going to see this card here before she receives it in the mail???!!!  UGH!

BFF Jill is one of the most creative, supportive, generous, loving people I know.  And here I am late getting her card to her…

I have been wanting to draw and watercolor a butterfly for a while now.

This past week, however, had me in New York City for three days, home a day, and then off to Cleveland for an overnighter with another bestie for Saturday and Sunday.  All awesome stuff I must say, but little time for relaxing and creating.

Sunday evening, I finally found some time to sit down and be “creative.”  It was good to get my watercolor paint out again, draw a butterfly outline, and let it flow.  I was inspired by some designs I had seen done using a butterfly diecut at SimonSaysStamp.  For my card, I just drew a butterfly outline and then dropped in some color.

Jill and I have been through so much together.  I don’t know what I’d do without her. She and her family are our chosen family.  She is there for me in the most important of times (difficulties with family, emergencies, doubts, disappointments, but also celebrations, holidays, and milestones).

Many years ago, Jill and I went to a Bette Midler concert.  We’ve watched the movie “Beaches” together.

You know how couples have a “song?”  Well, Jill and I have a “song.”  It is “Wind Beneath My Wings,” by Bette Midler.  (and yes – hubby and I do have a song too – wonder if he knows it as the same one I do…. Merv?!).

So a butterfly seemed the perfect card for Jill – the wind beneath my wings.

If only I could have got it there on time….

Love ya Jill!  Happy Birthday!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Laura had a little Lamb & Doodling

/ Jodi / 21 Comments

pink lamb baby card watercolor

When I heard the news and saw the beautiful photo of a dear young lady’s sweet baby girl who was born this week (and made our sweet Liz an Aunt), I couldn’t wait to make a card.

And for some reason, I kept thinking, “Laura (that’s Momma’s name) had a little lamb.”  (You don’t want in my head – eh?!)

I had seen a cute cartoon drawing of a lamb I thought I’d draw and just add some watercolor too.  It had to be pink of course!  🙂  Get ready Laura – everything is going to be pink for a while!  And oh what fun!

I used a Micron pen to outline the shape and make it stand out.   (Thanks for the great recommendation, Laura!  They are glorious to draw with!)

In fact, I liked drawing with them so much, I did this silly little doodle at about midnight the other evening – just not wanting to quit.

Midnight Doodling All You Need is Love

Does what you mindlessly doodle speak to what you are thinking?  I guess I was filled with love <3.  So I made it into a card…

Cheers & Doodley Hugs,

Jodi

Watercolor Week 7 – Mikey

/ Jodi / 69 Comments

watercolor mikey

For this week’s watercolor experiment, I decided to try to paint one of my favorite creatures on the planet – my furry son, Mikey.

Mikey head shot

I used this photo from Mikey’s recent guest post as my inspiration.

Gosh I love this little guy so much!

How did I ever become one of “those” people that oogle and google over their dog?!

I guess when I realized how much joy a pet can bring to your life.

If I leave the house for five minutes or five days, I get the same excited greeting – like I am the best thing that ever happened to him and he is so happy to see me.

Sadly, Mikey has cancer, and we are not sure how much longer he will be with us.  He is slowing down every single day.  And every day, I tell him how much I love him and what a good boy he is at least 10 more times than the day before.

Maybe he will surprise us and rally, but for now, we are enjoying every single day we are given to enjoy this precious creature that loves like none other.   And not only us – but every person that comes to our home – from the UPS man who bring him cookies to the mailman who is not allowed to give cookies, but always gives him at least two minutes of ear scratches and chin rubs, to every visitor that sits on our living room couch who is almost certain to have Mikey jump in their lap for at least a few minutes (to make them feel welcome of course!).

We “rescued” Mikey from the humane society about seven and a half years ago, where he was living after being saved from a “kill” shelter in another state.  He is a “mutt” in terms of dog definition – guesses are part beagle and part Jack Russell.  But I think what really happened is Mikey rescued us – not the other way around.  He has shown us pure unconditional love and joy and gratitude and gratefulness and goodness.

I wish I could have done his beautiful spirit better justice, but I don’t think I have it in me to redo.  I don’t have the ability to capture his beautiful spirit just yet.  But it is in my heart, and that is a gift I will cherish forever.

mikey watercolor

So here’s to Mikey – the best ever!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Happy Draw a Bird Day!

/ Jodi / 39 Comments

First Bird Drawing and Watercolor Downy Woodpecker

Today is the “official” “unofficial” monthly Draw a Bird Day, and with the support and encouragement of my buddy, Laura at Create Art Every Day and inspiration from Jill at Jill’s Art Journal, I was brave enough to draw and watercolor my very first bird.

I used the photo I took the other day of the downy woodpecker hopping on the back deck as my inspiration.  (Don’t laugh  – – – too much!  It is my FIRST!)

I had a bit of a block about doing this, so first I stamped a bird from the StampinUp Love Life Stamp Set and watercolored it.

love life bird watercolor card

Then, still worried about trying to actually draw something that resembles a bird, I decided to do a silly owl drawing and paint it.  And to be even more fun, I added some nut brown Flower Soft to make fuzzy feathers, a couple of googly eyes, and a linen thread bow.

silly owl watercolor

After doing these is when I allowed myself to try drawing a bird.  I have a long way to go, but I made the first step and drew my first bird.

And it was FUN!

Happy Bird Day Friday!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Watercolor Whimsy – Week 6

/ Jodi / 28 Comments

whimsical green and purple polka dot birdie watercolor card

This week I went in a little different direction with my watercoloring…

Wanting to loosen up and just create FUN like my artsy bloggin’ buddies, Laura at CreateArtEveryDay and Jill at JillsArtJournal, I poked around on Pinterest and found some super fun work by Lucia at StressieCat.  Such unique, original, crazy, zany, whimsy!  I used Lucia’s inspiration to draw and paint this first crazy green and purple polka-dotted bird.  You should check out her blog – crazy awesome talent!  Mine turned out nothing like hers, but I still kinda like it.

whimsical green and purple polka dot birdie watercolor card birdie doo doo inside birthday

And any card that has a crazy green and purple-polka dotted bird on it naturally needs some green birdie doo doo on the inside!  Right?

whimsical watercolor birdie card

Then I made this other silly guy from a photo I saw that stuck in my head, but I’ve lost the source (since I did it over two days – starting one evening and letting the base dry and polka-dotting the next day).  It was a paper mache bird, but I thought I’d recreate it in watercolor and for a card.  I just tore off a piece of watercolor paper and went to town.

whimsical watercolor birdie card 2

I really had fun making these silly guys, and this green one is already on its way to a friend who is celebrating a birthday this week.  He’s a pretty great guy – so he even gets a Superman stamp!

whimsical green and purple polka dot birdie watercolor card read to mail

Have some fun today – and EVERY day!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Hugs

/ Jodi / 34 Comments

too kind hugs watercolor card

I sadly needed a sympathy card for a special co-worker friend.

I hope he and his family feel the heartfelt hugs I sent when they receive this card.

This card was a labor of love and a combination of water coloring and stamping.

I first dropped some green watercolor paint into the bottom left corner and then blew through a straw to push it up to resemble blades of grass.  I then brushed watercolor paint onto the Stampin Up Too Kind flower stamp and lightly stamped it, letting it loosely spread.

The “hugs” sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Sentiment stamp set.  I love the font, and this set has a bunch of other fun ones I’m sure you’ll be seeing in future cards.  I finished it off with some “signature” jodi splatters, then distressed the edges of it and some complimentary colors of card stock.  I wrapped it with some linen thread and adhered it to some vanilla cardstock.

Cheers & HUGS & Happy Friday,
Jodi

 

Watercoloring Week 5

/ Jodi / 41 Comments

watercolor poppies

How did it become Monday already?!?

I hope you had a nice weekend.  We sure did!  And there is so much to share…  I’m certain it will take all week.

Our “Best Book Club Ever” started up again for this year, and Hubby got to choose the book and lead the discussion.  He rocked it talking about one of his favorite real-life adventure books, “Touching the Void.”

It was so great to see friends we haven’t seen for a few months, spend time at one of our favorite places on earth with some of our favorite peeps – the hosts – my cousins Joyce and ‘Oh Rob,” and drink wine and share some good food and discussion.

watercoloring

Joyce is another one of my artistic mentors, so the poor thing hardly had a chance to open her eyes and have a sip or two of coffee Sunday morning…after a very late night…. before I started drilling her with watercolor questions.  We sat in her studio for a couple hours yesterday morning (while the guys went out to breakfast) where she shared with me about the type of paper she uses, brushes and paints she likes, and a chest full of books she has used through the years for inspiration.  My discouraged passion was re-ignited, and I wasn’t home long before I was perusing the books and mixing paints and at it again.

watercolor poppy

To top that off, we arrived home to find an amazing package in the mail from a fellow blogger – and artist extraordinaire – Jill Kuhn @ Jill’s Art Journal – with a special drawing in it that I fell in love with and an extra gift to boot (I’ll be sure to share soon!).

AND to top the whole weekend off ….. we arrived home to an egg in the cardinal’s nest!  WOOHOO!!!

The sun was shining, the air was crisp, trees are budding, flowers are bursting open, and we thoroughly enjoyed our weekend.

I took about an hour to paint these two little paintings.

After reading through some of my newly-borrowed books and watching a YouTube video by Art TV, I did these two poppy watercolor paintings.  The fun thing about these is that I did NOT sketch them ahead.  Simply took water and paint to paper and created.  It was quite liberating and enjoyable!

These will become thank you cards for a few special peeps I need to thank.

Happy Monday my friends!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi

Vintage Birthday Card

/ Jodi / 31 Comments

masculine card hero artsferns watercolor penny black letter background

This card was one of those projects that just evolved….

I had no idea where I was going with it, but I love how it ended up.

I felt like just splashing some watercolor on paper.

I wanted to get “wild and crazy” and just tear the paper instead of cutting it.

After the watercolor dried, I stamped Penny Black’s Letter Stamp on top.

I then heat embossed Hero Arts’ ferns on top of that.

Then I splattered…

and I sponged the edges…

and I wrapped with some SU linen thread and a wooden button.

masculine card happy birthday paper smooches sentiment hero arts fern watercolor

For the inside, I painted some “leftover” watercolor paint onto the Hero Arts Fern stamp.  I LOVE how it turned out.

Then, I used the Paper Smooches Happy Birthday Sentiment on top of it.

masculine watercolor penny black letter hero arts fern vintage card

It turned into a birthday card for a very special brother-in-law.

I hope he feels the love and passion that went into each step of the creation.

Kinda like the love I feel for him. 🙂

Happy Birthday Ron!  May your birthday be as special as you!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

P.S.  I am entering this card in the CanYouCaseIt Designer’s Choice Challenge this week (CYCI#66).

CYCI66