Panda by email

It was a friend's birthday and so I painted her a card with a panda, because of her purchase on a recent trip to Build a Bear.

But, as she lives in USA and I wasn't able to get it to her on time I sent her a virtual card (a storyboard of me opening the card) by email.

Sunshine, showers and rainbows

May sunshine and showers bring many rainbows into your life, a photo by Snowfairy on Flickr.

A small card for a little boy's baptism.

I found most Christening and Baptism cards quite solemn and serious, considering it's a happy event. I wanted an illustration that showed this is a joyous occasion, celebrating new beginnings and life. Lots of bright colour and a bit of fun.

Also it gave me an excuse to draw sunshine and rainbows.

Painting cards in bulk

This week is the end of term and to say thank you to the volunteers at our under 5s group I painted a series of cards. The basic image is the same but due to the nature of painting and because I am unable to duplicate, each one is slightly individual. Whether a spotty dress or a heart dress, a tractor tshirt or monster.





Another series of cards painted this week, was for moving house/retirement cards. I had painted one for my brother who has just moved house, then was asked if I could put together a couple more for some people at the local school who are retiring and, or moving house.

Sketches from June

So much going on, but still finding time to make birthday / thank you cards, you won't believe how much money I save by sketching my own. Here are some of June's sketches:

Little Red Riding Hood illustration, for a 5th birthday card.


Peanut butter and Cucumber card
For my brother who doesn't really like birthday cards, but he really likes peanut butter and cucumber.


The family portrait thank you card, version number two.
First attempt was destroyed in a four year old's tantrum. But ended up being a nice end of the week shot for 7days.



End of term 'Thank you teacher' card.
Time to move up a year and a new teacher, so I think Miss H needs a thank you. School summer dresses are just the best.



July and August are full on birthday months. So much more to come...

A first birthday present

My lastest fairy painting, a little something for my cousin's daughter. We celebrated her first birthday a couple of weekends ago with a family party. It's nice to be able to give something individual and if they don't like it they can always use the frame for something else.

I also sketched and painted a little bunny card, because I like to try something new.

Preparing for Mother's Day

This week it was the toddler group Mother's Day service. The children are told a Mother's Day story, sing a few songs and then the children collect a small posy of daffodils to give to their Mummy.

Mother's Day is a perfect excuse for me to be creative, so here are the illustrations, gift tag and colouring sheets I put together for the event.

Illustrations

The story this year revolved around all the things that Mummy does for Teddy and so to say thank you he gave her some flowers.  I updated my previous teddy sketch to illustrate, these were then dropped into a PowerPoint and shown on a big screen, as the story was acted out.

Printable Mother's Day Gift Tag

Usually the Mother's Day flowers are couple of daffodils held together with an elastic band, but I though we could make them a little bit more special just by adding ribbon and a gift tags.
A pdf of the Mother's Day gift tag is available to download and print.

Colouring sheets

I also put together a couple of colouring sheets of Teddy and his Mother, just for fun.

Love hearts in love

I haven't drawn for two months. My desire to create vanished or perhaps my brain was busy thinking about other things so there was no room for creativity.

Today, I thought I should at least try and do something. So using a Valentines sketch from last year I set myself a goal to make a little something in illustrator, for no other reason than to prove to myself that my creative ability hasn't totally vanished.