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A Birthday Dachshund Puppy

/ Jodi / 50 Comments
8x10 Watercolor Dachshund Puppy on 140lb Saunders Cold Press

8×10 Watercolor Dachshund Puppy on 140lb Saunders Cold Press

A Birthday Dachshund Puppy Watercolor Painting.

I have to say I was a bit taken aback when we received a message on our McKinneyx2Designs Etsy page from a sweet lady named Sarah telling us (my daughter-in-law, Colleen and I) that she loved our shop and asked if I could paint a dachshund for her best friend’s birthday.

My first reaction was to immediately decline.  Then I decided to wait a day before responding and secretly give it a try… just for fun… to see if I could even do it.

I seriously allowed myself to have fun with it.  Not worrying if she would like it or not.  I had recently picked up a tube of Daniel Smith Lunar Black just for kicks recalling Debi Riley mentioning a while back, and thought this would be a great opportunity to give it a try.

For this painting, I used only three colors:  Daniel Smith Lunar Black, Yellow Ochre, and Permanent Deep Red, and I painted loosely and quickly.

I’m happy to report Sarah loved it!

And don’t tell Charlie…. but it makes me want want one of these cute little Dachshund puppies!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

A Special Happy Birthday

/ Jodi / 61 Comments

Watercolor Birthday Card in Prussian Blue and Burnt Sienna

A Special Happy Birthday.

Every year on this day
is a very special day to me.

27 years ago
on a Saturday at 1:57 a.m.

a perfect and chubby 10 pound
baby boy blessed my life.

That sweet little boy
grew into an even sweeter man.

Thank you for the joy and happiness and love
you bring to my life.

May this year be the best…
until the next.

When I wish that it is the best,
like I feel being your mom.

Every year was the best – until the next,
and they still continue to be.

Happy Birthday NIck!

With so much love,
Mom

She is Beautiful

/ Jodi / 44 Comments

scan20161220_11004501

“She was beautiful,
but not like those girls in the magazines.
She was beautiful for the way she thought.
She was beautiful for the sparkle in her eyes
when she talked about something she loved.
She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile
even if she was sad.
No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks.
She was beautiful deep down to her soul.
She is beautiful.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Let’s teach this to our daughters
and granddaughters
and sisters
and friends.

And….
let’s teach this to
ourselves.

#BestGiftEver #LoveYourself

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Baby It’s Cold Outside

/ Jodi / 42 Comments
Seymour Snowie - Watercolor Holiday Snowman with Cardinal - 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Seymour Snowie – Watercolor Holiday Snowman with Cardinal – 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Baby It’s Cold Outside…

I swear everything reminds me of some song.

No matter the discussion, I typically can break out into song about it…

or at least have a song running through my head at the same time.
(If you are anywhere nearby, you will likely hope it only runs through my head as carrying a tune is not one of my stronger talents!)

This time of year,
everything brings to mind a Christmas Carol.

It started snowing yesterday!
And turned C O L D!

I really can’t stay…. but Baby, it’s cold outside….
I’ve got to go away…. but Baby, it’s cold outside….

December snow is the best snow.  It is when most of us actually get excited to see snow – as opposed to March snow – when we are usually soooo over it!

So I was inspired to paint this chilly little guy – Seymour Snowie.

He is a holiday snowman, and he is chatting with his little friend Cameron the Cardinal.  I think they are so GLAD it’s cold outside!  At least Seymour is.

Wishing you cold, snowy fun outside, and warm comfort inside!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

(PS – I thought this might make a cute Holiday Greeting Card or Holiday Thank You Note, so I made these little cuties into cards for our McKinneyX2Designs ETSY shop.  You can check them out here!)

snowy-snowman-holiday-greeting-card

Winter Wonderland:  World Watercolor Group

Oh Christmas Trees – In Pink & Gold

/ Jodi / 35 Comments
pink-orange-gold-christmas-trees-card-2016

Pink Orange Gold Watercolor Christmas Trees 5×7

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
Thy leaves can be so changing;

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
They need not be unchanging;

Not only green like everyone;
But you can be whatever you want.

O Christmas Tree!  O Christmas Tree!
Pink and Orange and Gold look good on thee!

Embrace the magic!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

#itsnotthistimeofyearwithout…

Thankful – Grateful – Blessed

/ Jodi / 26 Comments

thankful-grateful-blessed-thanksgiving-card-stampinup

Thankful thoughts,
Grateful glow,
Blessed beyond belief.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

*Thanks Stacey Ailes of Studio Designers for hosting the StampinUp card-making class where I made this Thanksgiving card.  It was so fun to create this and a few other fun projects a couple of weeks ago with friends and my daughter-in-law.  And hopefully this card made it to its intended recipients today in time to show my thankfulness, gratitude, and blessings.

On this day… three years ago

/ Jodi / 45 Comments
happy 3rd anniversary watercolor and mixed media card gesso newsprint, tim holtz tea dye ink, perm rose

Mixed Media Card – Newsprint, Gesso, Watercolor, Tea Dye Ink

On this day three years ago, I gained a very special daughter-in-law.

On this day three years ago, I watched my oldest son’s dreams come true when he married the girl I always knew was “the one.”

On this day three years ago, my youngest son gave the most incredible toast to his big brother and new sister I have ever heard in my life.

On this day three years ago, I danced to “What a Wonderful World” with my son…

and my husband brought the house down dancing to Katy Perry’s “Firework” with our McHendy daughter, Jackie.

On this day three years ago, a new family was born – a family that during their third year will take 1 + 1 and = 3.

Happy Anniversary Jake and Colleen!

Love you,
Mom ❤

For this #WorldWatercolorMonth card, I painted a thin coat of white gesso over some newsprint DSP.  Once dry, I painted a watercolor heart in Permanent Rose using my Rekab320s brush and added some splatters.  I then sponged some Tim Holtz Tea Dye Ink around the edges and used a distressing tool to “age” it.  I finished it up with a black die-cut “happy,” a few pearls and some baker’s twine.

A Birthday Cake Card for Colleen

/ Jodi / 55 Comments
birthday cake abstract impressionistic birthday card

Abstract Impressionistic Watercolor Birthday Cake Card

Yesterday was our dear daughter-in-law, Colleen’s birthday, so along with the Sprinkle Cake I made for her, I thought I’d paint an abstract, impressionistic sprinkle birthday cake card in watercolor.

I’m not sure which one I had more fun doing… baking the cake or painting the card.

Hubby noticed my cake was a bit crooked, and it was a bit wonky…  that’s how you know it’s homemade – right?!  Well – I guess it’s an impressionistic cake too!

Not matter what – I enjoyed doing both because they were for a special young lady who I love a lot!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Eva’s First Birthday

/ Jodi / 52 Comments

Eva Birthday 1 Card

Some of you might remember little Eva from some photos I shared several months ago.

Well – time sure does fly, and Eva just turned ONE!

Eva’s Aunt Liz asked if I would make a special card for her sweet little niece’s first birthday.  The request included incorporating an elephant, so Eva’s baby elephant is glammed up a bit with a purple velvet bow and a tiny pearl.

I had so much fun drawing and painting this card for an exceptional little princess.

Wishing you a day and year ahead as special as you little Eva!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi