Somewhere over the Rainbow (in pink) Original Watercolor by Jodi McKinney 11×14
Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
Where rainbows are iridescent pink…
and hearts have wings…
and drip like rain…
That’s where you’ll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow.
Another piece I painted on my “pink binge” this weekend in the art room.
Maybe not as elegant as yesterday’s, but something about this makes my heart soooo happy!
Playful and fun and full of love. That’s where you’ll find me!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A Happy Retirement Candy-Gram.
A friend of ours recently retired.
Instead of just a card, I thought it would be fun to do a Candy-Gram.
It is fun to pick out a bunch of candy bars and try to make them into a message.
Great fun for special birthdays and holidays.
And the best part is – it’s a card and gift all in one!
Happy Retirement Bob! We are so happy for you. Enjoy the candy and enjoy your free time!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Paper Cut-Out Hearts.
Paper cut-out hearts,
X’s and O’s,
Handmade cards,
Love notes…
These are the things that truly melt my Valentine heart.
Cheers & Happy Valentine O’s,
Jodi
Heart Bouquet of Love Watercolor
A Bouquet of Love.
If I could pick the perfect bouquet,
I’d pick a bouquet of love.
It would be filled with memories of special kisses…
a first from a shy young man who I still get to kiss goodnight each evening before falling asleep,
a first on the forehead and nose and cheeks and mouth of each of my baby boys the day they were born,
a first on the forehead and nose and cheeks and mouth of my granddaughter the day she was born,
the last one I gave my grandma when we said our final goodbyes,
the ones I watched each of my sons give to their wives on the days they said “I do.”
It would be filled with memories of special hugs…
that one my dad gave me when we first saw each other after almost 40 years apart,
the one his wife gave me the day she met me and told me my dad always promised her a daughter, and now she had one,
the ones I receive and give upon greeting and saying farewell to friends and family I love so dearly.
It would be filled with memories of cherished moments…
those every day moments –
a text, a Snapchat, a phone call, a visit,
walks with Charlie,
sunrises, sunsets, snowfalls, birds tweeting,
a card or letter or package received.
So as I spent just a teensy bit of spare time last evening
doodling and splashing paint to create a simple, inspired* Valentine,
I created a bouquet of love.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
*Pinterest inspired watercolor – source unknown
Cozy Cabin Winter Wonderland Watercolor 11×14 140lb cold press
Cozy Cabin Winter Wonderland.
I stole away early Saturday morning before the day got too busy and allowed myself some time to paint.
Everything seems to get so busy and stressful this time of year. Work schedule… holiday shopping and preparations… All wonderful things, but busy nonetheless.
And it seems my painting is one of the things that takes a back seat in times like this. Understandably so – but still something I miss.
So I’m trying to allow myself at least once a week to stow away in my art room for an hour to relax and do what I enjoy so much – watercolor painting – something – anything – as long as I can put some paint and water to paper.
This week, I painted this cozy little cabin in the wintry woods… maybe wishing for the coziness and relaxation that it evokes.
When finished, I thought it would make a lovely Christmas or Holiday Card or even thank you note for holiday gifts, so I’ve added this painting and prints and cards to our McKinneyX2Designs Etsy shop.
We were away this past weekend and awoke Sunday morning to a beautiful blanket of snow. When we returned home, however…. no snow.
So I’ll just pretend, for a while, that I’m snuggled under a fleece blanket by a fire in this cozy cabin while the snow is falling outside, and then I’ll go about my busy work and holiday schedule – feeling thankful for it all!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A 60th Birthday Candy Bar Card (in large print for the sight impaired!)
Turning 60 is nothing to SNICKER about.
Your joints may start to CRUNCH,
and your WHATCHAMACALLIT may not work like it used to.
You'll likely have BUTTERFINGERs,
and your mind may play TWIX on you.
We still wouldn't trade you for 100GRAND.
You are a HOT TAMALE and MOUNDS of fun!
Wishing you an EXTRA special birthday!
We celebrated a friend this weekend.
I've known Mary for over 30 years.
What a privilege it is to have "old" friends! :)
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Purple Pansy Watercolor – 6×9 140lb Saunders Hot Press
A Pansy for Your Thoughts.
I painted this pansy one night this past week, and it kept “speaking to me” in a thoughtful way.
It just keep saying, “A Pansy for Your Thoughts.”
Anyone that knows me well, knows I’m a bit of a “deep thinker.” In fact, you might say I overthink things. But it is who I am, and now that I’m in my fifth decade of life, I’m pretty okay with it. A nice place to be.
So today, I just wanted to share a bit of me, and I’d love to hear about a bit of you. You know… A Penny… A Peso… A Pansy for Your Thoughts.
I care what people think…
about me…
I really wish
I didn’t.
But I always want
everyone to like me.
And if they don’t,
it bothers me – a lot.
And it is not possible for everyone to like me.
I really do “get” that.
But it still troubles me,
no matter how hard I try.
My head
understands this.
But my heart,
which I prefer to think with,
Or just can’t help
but to think with…
just can’t wrap
its arms around the notion.
Is it just a part
of my DNA?
That is what
my personality assessment reveals.
I’m a High “I”
not matter the circumstance.
So I truly believe,
though I wish it weren’t so,
I will still think this way
if I live to be 108.
Do you care what other people think…
about you?
A Pansy
for your thoughts…
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
I am O-Fish-Ally Hooked on You Daddy!
If you are looking for a cute and easy, creative Father’s Day Card to make from a child or grandchild to his daddy or grandpap, how about this cute little hand print fishy? (Especially if Daddy or Pap enjoys fishing!)
My little granddaughter and I made this for her Daddy for his first Father’s Day. On the inside, we wrote: “You are the best daddy in the whole sea!”
A great little gift idea to go with the “theme” that we did was a gift bag full of fish: Swedish Red Fish and Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers, which come in at least a dozen different flavors ranging from Vanilla Cupcake, S’mores, and Fudge Brownie to Pizza, Chedder, Pretzel, and Honey Mustard and Pretzel Blends.
Hope all the Daddys and Grandpaps out there are o-fish-ally recognized and surrounded with love on their special upcoming day.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
Idea inspired by: gluetomycraftsblog
Baby Girl Baptism Card
A Sweet Baby Baptism Card.
It has been a while since I’ve played with card stock and embossing folders and the Cuttlebug, but I wanted to make a sweet and dainty and special card for a very special baby who is being baptized today.
As she is surrounded by family and friends who love her dearly today, my hope is that she grows up feeling completely loved and blessed by these people and others who are in her life and as she grows. I hope the love she feels today is something that stays with her through good and bad times, ups and downs, ins and outs, and all arounds.
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
A 30th Birthday Money Flower Card.
If you are looking for a creative card and/or gift for a special 30 year old in your life, how about making them a money flower card?
I needed a special card for a very special young lady (my daughter-in-law, Colleen) who turned 30 this past weekend. I was trying to think of something creative like the Happy Birthday Money Cake I made for my son (her hubby!) a few years ago.
For the card, I started with a piece of black (any color will do) poster board cut to approximately 20 inches wide by 10 inches high that I folded in half to form a large card. I also used two pieces of white 8.5 x 11″ card stock, 30 $1 bills and 1 $20 bill, approximately 33 dimensional adhesive dots, Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue, a small piece of ribbon, and some colorful Sharpie markers.
I rolled all of the dollar bills tightly and adhered the loose end of each with a dimensional adhesive dot to the first piece of white card stock in the shape of a flower. I used the $20 as the flower stem rolling it the long way. I then drew around the flower with colored Sharpie markers, added two leaves with “Happy” written in one and “Birthday” in the other. I drew a big bold “30” in the center of the flower, tied a bow on the stem, and then glued it to the front of the folded poster board using the Tombow glue.
On the inside, I listed 30 things we love about Colleen. (That was the really easy part!)
You could use this for other milestone birthdays too and create different shapes. It might make a fun wedding, anniversary, or graduation card too.
It was really fun and super easy to make, and even more fun to give to her.
Make giving the gift of money fun and creative!
Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi
the creative life in between 