Just Make Stuff

100 Day Project...

I crocheted while listening to a few podcast episodes over spring break, including this episode of Elise Gets Crafty where the 100 Day Project was discussed.

It barely took anytime for me to think of something I could do...and what I came up with is probably barely a project.

I am going to use watercolors to make one color a day.

I have gathered a couple jars for water, a brush, my pallet, and a stack of one hundred small cards of watercolor paper.

Mixing the colors together has really been my favorite part, so it will be fun to have an excuse to do that for a few minutes everyday.

And, since it will only take a few minutes, I might be able to pull it off for 100 days. 

Take a break...

In the middle of job application stress I decided to try something a little different than my usual "what's happened on Instagram in the last thirty-five minutes?" break.

So instead I broke out the watercolors and listened to a podcast.

Best idea ever.

The first of many...

After seeing the beautiful watercolored pie charts this past weekend, I had to try to make my own. I spoke with the person who painted them and she said she just drew out the lines, painted in between them and then erased the pencil marks. 

Those messy lines coming together are my new favorite.

Autumn Leaves...

A couple of weeks ago I shared this project on Eighteen25. 

Do one thing everyday that makes you happy...

I saw this earlier today, so I decided to take a few minutes with some watercolor crayons and a paintbrush.

Well Wishes...

A stamp, watercolor crayons and so much cutting my hand cramped up.

You have to try this...

Even though it's been a couple months, and it's really all I know how to do, I still love just mixing watercolors together. All you do is take a wet brush, dip it onto the dried watercolor to pick up some paint, make a puddle, clean the brush in some water, pick up a second color, or a third, or a little bit more of the first color and mix together whatever you would like in order to make a new shade. As I start to brush the paint onto paper if there is too much paint/water I dab some off on a lightly damp sponge. I really love that you will never get the exact same color twice.

I really wish I could send everyone supplies to have some water coloring fun, but I was able to gather some for two people. I made a little set of six of my favorite colors, I have a brush, a sponge and a little tray to mix colors in...two envelopes of supplies are packed up and ready to be sent off. If you would like one, leave a comment with your very favorite color. Please make sure that you have shared a current e-mail address that you check often. I will randomly select two people on Friday morning and, instead of announcing it, I will email you directly to get your mailing address.

Oh and my very favorite color is chartreuse. Can't wait to hear yours...

Well Wishes...

The watercolor splatters I shared last week were actually thank you notes for my birthday gifts, but I didn't want to share the whole thing since some of the individuals that received them read this blog thing. Every time I get to craft up a set and send them off I cannot help but think how darn lucky I am.

Here are birthday thank you notes from year's past...2012//2011//2008//2007

Splatters...

A nice and neat house is ridiculously important to me, so you can only imagine Sean's surprise when he came home from work yesterday to find me in my craft room happily splattering tiny watercolor droplets all over paper with no regard for the carpet below. Not sure how I came to the decision that making a mess was a good idea, but it sure was fun.

Watercolors yet again...

In this week's version of "Nora is still obsessed with watercolors", I drew wonky scallops and got to work coloring them in. I see them cut out and used as a border on a scrapbook page...assuming I can resume an original hobby, now that I have managed to start a dozen more of them.

Next up is trying to make my own version of Orla Kiely's multicolored stem. 

Just about a million to go...

I mentioned after the watercolor class that my very favorite thing to do is mix together tiny puddles of color. I have already dug into my paint pallet a few times this week, determined to find every single combination.

And the package goes to...

When I said I'd do a random drawing on Friday morning I really meant late Saturday night...sorry about that.

The winner is comment #9...

Ellie Augustin said...Random is an awesome thing :) Happiness in the mail would certainly be a welcomed cherry on top! March 07, 2013 at 07:15 AM

Ellie please e-mail me your address so I can send the package off in the mail to you.

What I learned...

1. Watercolor painting is my new favorite hobby.

2. This bucket is great for cleaning brushes.

3. I have pretty much no desire to draw fruit. 

4. However, making a mess of mixed colors and brushing it onto paper is something I could do endlessly.

5. This was one of the best gifts I have ever received...thanks mom.

An artist...

By the end of this weekend I will be a watercolor artist. Up until now I have only really dragged a paint brush or even a q-tip in a wonky line and considered it painting. However, one of my Christmas gifts from my mom was taking a watercolor class together. It's actually an eight hour boot-camp over Saturday and Sunday. Surely, by then end of that I will be cranking out masterpieces, right?