Eggnog lady sweetened the Black Friday deal!

Eggnog lady sweetened the Black Friday deal!

So tell me, did Eggnog Lady crack you up too? By the comments she received, I think she served her purpose! ha! She’s not making another appearance, but she DID whisper an idea that was a good one: ADD TO the goodies we’re giving away this weekend!

First, there’s the original drawing – about 8×10 – that I knew would make a lovely printable. I needed to not only create this so I could work out the drawing details for the line drawing, but then make samples. 

Black Friday deals made sweeter

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

(If you missed Eggnog Lady…)

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Beary Good Friends printable & class

The course is ONLY available when purchasing the Beary Good Friends printable…so it’s not listed publicly on the site. But since you can get the printable just by adding $50 to your cart, then the class comes along with it automatically! (After this weekend it’ll be priced at $14, but if all you want is the printable and class, you can get that for a sweet $10!)

YouCan Toucan class

At $100 you’ll ALSO get the YouCan Toucan class — which has three printables in it too! The lessons are in colored pencil, water-based marker, and alcohol marker. If you get to $100 you’re getting plenty of stuff! This class will be available after Black Friday weekend, but right now it’s on sale for only $23.99.

Happy art mail, anyone?

I was talking with an art bestie recently about how our overflowing sketchbooks are full of a lot of stuff that’ll never see the light of day. And there’s some good stuff in there! So I’ll be willing to part with a few of those for people who purchase $200+ in the Black Friday sale at Art-Classes. I’ll probably look at the kinds of things you purchased, and maybe send something related if I can! 

Check others’ art shops today!

If you have a favorite artist—I’m talking an indie person, not a multiperson shop—may I encourage you to go look and see what they’re up to? We’re all frantically trying to get eyeballs today, and everyone can use YOUR help in getting the word out. Artists appreciate that kind of support so much!

Funky fold cards for artists like me

Funky fold cards for artists like me

Are you like me? Love all those fancy funky fold cards with things that have multiple folds, flip and slide? I play with them til they fall apart when I get one because they’re so. much. fun!

However, when I make cards, I’ve focused on coloring for years now – and had gotten rid of a lot of the tools needed for all the fancy shmancy stuff. But I decided to finally get down to finding some funky folds that’ll work with my colored panels for cards.

Tutorial: Funky Fold Cards for artists like me

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Funky Fold Class

Over at Artventure , the class is mostly available (I say mostly because Apple is slow about getting approvals done; if you’re on an iOS device, you can go to the web and purchase the class and it’ll become available to you also on your phone or ipad.) But it’ll be fun for the folks who want to do something a little special with your colored cards – whether scenes or just an image.

As I had promised a while back, I used the 20 images colored in the 4 Favorite Things classes (all seen on the Holiday page) to create cards in this class that’s all about the engineering of the card bases. There are five templates, some have both horizontal and vertical templates….and since completing it realized I had another idea or two so there might be more added to it, too! 

To get to the class, just pop into Artventure and look in the list of classes on the left hand menu!

Swap is almost closed!

If you were thinking about signing up, get on it! Deadline for signup is October 31. Go to Artventure and look for this orange graphic in the Featured section.

Weekly Zoom calls

I’ll be continuing weekly Zoom calls through Thanksgiving – please do join us! They’re in Artventure (are you getting the idea that’s my social hub? lol!) and the kettles colored below were in the Thursday call. Unfortunately the replay didn’t capture the right screen, so only those who showed up got to see it. But I did post some tips on a post over at Artventure; the kettles drawing is in the Watercolor Favorite Things class but I colored them in pencil. Monday’s Zoom will also be colored pencil, so be sure to weigh in on the medium in the comments on the event page!

Heads up for cardmakers

My next video is also a card video – woohoo! Be sure you’re subscribed to either my blog or YT to get notified!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

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In Case You Missed It…

In Case You Missed It…

If you’re a blog subscriber only, you might well have missed a few things! So today I’m catching up a tidge.

A few things have changed

This year I changed up my schedule, and it’s very much agreeing with the YT algorithm:

  • Videos are at noon on Tuesdays and Saturdays
  • These are usually “Premieres” which means if you hop onto my YT channel at noon that day, there’s a live chat you can join in. If there’s a Premiere set, then it means I’ll be there for Q&A or just to say hey.
  • Fridays are YT shorts – often cards!

I don’t post about the shorts here on the blog because, well, they don’t “embed” well in blog posts. If you like shorts and want to see them when they post, subscribe to my YT – or check Artventure. I tend to post everything there, though sometimes in chat when it’s small stuff like a little short.

But – below you’ll find some thumbnails to tap on that are linked to that short. OR you can click HERE to see all the shorts on one page.

GOULDIAN FINCH

And a good lesson learned!

MOUSE SKETCH

Such a cutie patootie! ( Animals classes)

GREEN WATERCOLOR MIXES

Trinity Stamp Gnome Stamp

TORTILLA CHIP DAY

Totally easy card!

SIMPLE BAMBOO

Pair this bamboo with your panda stamps!

Instagram break

I’ve been on an IG break – I’m so mad at the changes they’re doing that are treating creators terribly, as well as viewers – so instead I’ve been sharing some of my extra creations instead over at Artventure. It doesn’t mean I’m gone from IG and I might post something there this week just so the site doesn’t think I died. LOL

(I was gone for a week and SUDDENLY I had 100 new followers!? What’s up with that!?)

Art vlog: How I refilled my empty creative tank

Art vlog: How I refilled my empty creative tank

There are many ways to experience an empty creative tank – sometimes it’s just “I have no ideas.” Or “I don’t have the skills to create what’s in my head.” Any thoughts that paralyze you can result in a big blank page in front of you without any hope of that changing.

I experienced that empty creative hole inside me after last week’s epic alcohol marker series and a new class….and boy oh boy did that hit hard! I had to find my way out, and I think last night, I actually did.

Tutorial: How I refilled my creative tank

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Recreate old art

Find a piece of art you made a while back, whether a physical one or a digital photo of it. Remake it now with your current skill level. It’s a great way to visibly see what your growth has been! This is the original painting:

Change up the medium

You can use a current favorite; a few months ago I tried this in watercolor and made it a winter scene:

But last night, late in the studio when all was quiet, I got out a medium I haven’t used in a while…a ballpoint pen! It’s a super fine point so gives a thin line for excellent detail. This is in a sketchbook I picked up in an airport, by the way. Not even a brand name on it. Draw on anything! When it comes to JUST MAKING, that’s the idea. Sit down and do it.

More on Artventure

I have more of a personal post at Artventure right now, so I recommend having a read over there if you need a little encouragement when you’re stuck. The community there is growing and thriving, and they’re the ones that pulled me out of my hole last night. I’m so grateful for them!

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

  1. Uniball Signo Gel Pen .28 
  2. Sketchbook – a no name brand I picked up at an airport! Draw. On. Anything.

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Christmas Vacation | Holiday Party Invitation | Virtual Craft Fair

Christmas Vacation | Holiday Party Invitation | Virtual Craft Fair

I’ve been burning it up over here.

With a pyroggraphy pen that is.

Wood burning.

I keep finding wood objects – looking for them at places like Goodwill, since I’m on a tight leash for buying stuff – and I found a bamboo cheeseboard dirt cheap! 

Guess in your head what shape this is before moving on!

Vlog: Christmas Vacation | Holiday Party Invitation | Virtual Craft Fair

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Holiday Party at Artventure

The Zoom party will be on Artventure – December 17th, at 4pm Pacific (the site SHOULD translate it into your time zone when you go to the EVENT tab to rsvp). We’ll be sharing cards made during the exchange we’ve got going on and finding out who sent what. Then we’ll play a game that will have PRIZES! And it’s all free. Pop over and join the fun!

Virtual Craft Fair #2

Lots of ornaments are available! Serious ones, cute ones, funny ones, elegant ones. Small ones, big ones! And for those who buy a drawing or painting from the rest of the shop, I’ll also send a Christmas card while supplies last…coz I made more than I needed. Tap on the image to start shopping!

The peony for my niece

Aint she purty? Even if she’s in the shape of Kentucky, the flower came out so great! And yes, fingerless gloves here. During the time I worked on the peony cheese board, my furnace was broken for several weeks and I was freezing cold! But it’s all fixed now.

Meanwhile…

My to-do list has swamped me, of course, as does the life of any entrepreneur while on vacation! I’m trying to dig through my emails and put out anything on fire, but if it takes a little while, please forgive me. Santa, leave me some extra time in my stocking this year! 😉

Supplies

Some product may be provided by manufacturers for review and use. Compensated affiliate links are here at no cost to you. I appreciate your support of my work with your purchases! Full affiliate and product disclosure | My trusted partners in art

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24 Tags of Christmas 2022: Creative Holiday Tags Class!!

24 Tags of Christmas 2022: Creative Holiday Tags Class!!

I’ve been hard at work on this year’s series — thank you to those who’ve been asking where it is! — and decided to put it in a different place this year – and make it even MORE fun!

Vlog: 24 Tags of Christmas 2022: Creative Holiday Tags Class!!

The news is all in the video!!

Watch the video below and scroll to the end to leave comments or questions — or click HERE to watch it on YouTube and leave comments over there. I read both dutifully!

Register for the tag giveaway!

You can take the Creative Holiday Tags class at full price if you want, but I might have to take your temperature. Ha!

If you’re already on the right email list, you got an email earlier this morning with the coupon code. Whether you take the class or not, you’re entered into the drawing to win a tag – good luck!!

If you didn’t get that email today telling you that you are on the list, then click HERE to go sign up for the list under “subscribe.” I only send out periodically from that list, so don’t worry – I won’t spam you!

By the way…

I wanted to see if I could make Monday’s technique work on cards, knowing that a lot of my followers won’t even look at my fine art if they can’t see how they can use it. (Spoiler alert: watch more fine art instead of crafting videos and you’ll start to do things no one in crafting has ever thought of doing before!) So I then tried it with two stamps: Snowman Kisses from Sunny Studio and Graham & Tristan from Purple Onion.

Are you a tag maker?

Do you make your gift tags? Or buy them? I flip back and forth, but most of the time I make mine. This year I think I might be ahead on things; my family is having an early-December Christmas celebration, and we’ll have a shopping day when we all get to the east coast. That way nobody has to ship or pay for baggage – it’ll be a crazy frantic time but I might just make tags so I feel like I put a little more into gifts! ha…..