Patriotic vintage post card tutorial

A Facebook friend asked if I would share a post card painting

Step by step... I want to share with you, too!

I do not paint directly on my vintage/antique papers.

I scan them into my computer & print them onto card stock or

80 lb. watercolor paper. I also have color copies made onto these papers.

If you could try both ways... they have unique results.

Leaving the white of the paper for the stars & white stripes...

Once my colors are down I like to add a natural tone to antique it~

My first ink in this piece is Nut Brown from Winsor & Newton~

Allow to dry completely...

Add black ink to finish the fine details of the nest~

While allowing to dry completely... pick out the perfect stamps!

I find bags of used/canceled stamps at antique stores.

Once your artwork is completely dry you can lay it face down

onto a clean, dry towel & press it on low heat.

Red, white & blue stamps... 

Old & worn~ they had brought a note to somebody years ago!

Curious toes!

Tippy boy finds me semi-entertaining...

As much as humans can be to fancy cats~ 

Wishing you a safe 4th of July holiday, Sweet Friends!

Garden Peony prints~

Hello, Sweet Friends!

I hope you're having a wonderful day~

We are very soggy once again...

The rains have our flowers drenched & laying on the ground.

The Peonies were so very beautiful this year~

Just added these two prints to my 2nd Etsy shop!

I scan the vintage post cards & bill heads into my computer.

The originals are kept safe & restored.

I print the vintage images onto watercolor paper & then paint!

Thank you for all of your sweet comments & visiting here~

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Fabric Illustrations~

Hope your morning is off to a wonderful start!

We have sweet sunshine & birds fussing at the feeders~

On my desk this morning...

Oodles of pen & ink illustrations to package & list for Etsy!

Smiles to you, Sweet Friends!

Art prints as artsy frames...

I have been adding new prints & original art to my 2nd Etsy Shop~

This new print is a lot of fun!

The little wren is happily perched on a vintage style tag!
The tag is printed from one of my antique ephemera files...
I cut the ephemera in the shape I wanted, punched a hole &
with watercolor aged the edges & painted a salmon-tone hole enforcer.

I like these vintage-style photo corners...

Most craft stores carry them~ sometimes they are in the fine art area.

One example of how you can "add" to my Wren print~

I found a vintage photograph of the dearest baby!

You could add graduation name cards, a little poem...

A sweet stitched piece...

A little love note~

I love vintage treasures~

A finished piece, ready to frame~

Another print I will add to my shop soon!

Hope your day is filled with fun and creative projects~

If the rain stays away I have squash to plant!

Summer Bee

Just look at his little legs!

There are those days when each step seems to be a struggle~

This little guy is carrying precious cargo.

His load heavy...

He is so strong!

My favorite~

"In his heart a man plans his course,

but the Lord determines his steps."

Proverbs 16:9

In my garden this morning, inspiration through this sweet bee!

Keep going~

No matter how small the steps... 

Keep moving forward!

Hope you have a wonderful week, Dear Friends!

Vintage Teddy Bears...

Teddy friends have been a favorite to paint since I was in college.

They sit in the studio alongside my needle felts and

line our mantel at Christmastime. 

They are good sports, willing to sit & pose for various photo references...

Kind enough to wear a pin that I have made~

Content to display a bunting of my pen & inks!

These two prints are made from my original watercolors.

They are sweet baby shower gifts~ 

I always try to purchase receiving blankets from the shower registry.

I place the print inside a shirt box, protect it with tissue paper &

Wrap the box with the receiving blanket!

Sweet & unique~

Hope your Friday is off to a great start, Sweet Friends!

Outside My Window 2014

Artist samples have arrived!

"Outside My Window" 2014 wall calendar featuring my watercolor paintings~

~Legacy Publishing Group... such nice quality calendars!

The sun is streaming through my studio windows...

A peek at some of the months~

Feathers and flowers...

Hope you're having a wonderful day, Sweet Friends!

"The Girls"

"The Girls" were very kind and shared their pasture with me...

They allowed me to splash around in the creek bed while they

took a drink and cooled off their toes~

They have the longest eyelashes... the softest noses~

Never seem to be in a hurry...

Always curious as to what I was up to!

Tender memories of my childhood~

Prints of "The Girls" are in my 2nd Etsy Shop!

Congratulations to Harriet Hicks!

Your name was pulled from the bucket for our latest giveaway~

Another giveaway coming soon...

Thank you for so many wonderful comments, Sweet Friends!

Hope your day is sunny and sweet!

Giveaway Time!

Giveaway time!

Greeting cards featuring my watercolor images~

Collection of ten cards.

Most of these cards are designed using my calendar images~

Another beautiful product from Legacy Publishing Group!

I added a tiny signature near my name on the back of each card~

Please leave a comment here sharing your favorite occasion to

give a card & your name will be put in the bucket to win these!

This giveaway is also posted on my Facebook page~

If you comment there, your name will be put in a 2nd time!

Hope your day is off to a wonderful start!

Mice & baby birds...

Kneeling in my garden & a little mouse skittles past me...

I'm sure she was catching up with a fuzzy friend to talk about their day!

Beautiful starlit skies~

Just listed these new pen & ink illustrations in my Etsy shop~

I think it would be grand to sing with a Sparrow & a mouse~

Baby birds seem to peek out from every hedgerow & shrub~

Their little voices so tiny... but loud enough to call for a snack!

My cup does overflow~ with love... with joy... with His blessings!

There was a sweet little stitched poem on my childhood bedroom wall.

I would only read the first line... night after night~

Then I would fall asleep while saying my bedtime prayers.

Wishing you sweet dreams!

Thank you for visiting my blog and so many sweet comments~

Happy Father's Day~

Wishing all dads and those who fill that important place in hearts~

A WONDERFUL Father's Day!

Mouse & Bee~

"Tell me about your morning, Love~"

We all know they have conversations...

I'm sure her little bee friend is sharing where the brightest flowers are!

Then he tells her where the strawberries are the ripest~

Mmmmm... hope you can find a bucket for some fresh berries!