This little drawing in my sketch book was perfect for a mini canvas.

I drew on the design in pen first…

Started adding some color on with my Inktense pencils…

Let the fun begin with the water-pen…

Added in detail and outline with pen…

Added a bit more green to the background…

And the butterfly has asked the turtle to…

This tiny canvas is listed in my Etsy shop for CS research.

Please pass on the link to anyone you know who may be interested!

It’s a small endeavor with a big heart. 

Thanks for coming by and Happy Tuesday!

Each time I draw a girl finding a turtle it turns out a little bit different from the time before.  I’m having *fun* so I’m just going to keep going with these turtle girls.  Just like my first Turtle Girl from last week, I transferred my design from the sketchbook to the canvas. This time it’s a 6″ X 6″ gallery wrapped canvas.

Using my *favorite pencils ever* (Derwent Inktense) I colored in the design nice and bright.

Pretty turtle with a rainbow shell…

Added some rosy cheeks to the turtle…

I sponged on some Distress Inks for a light colored background…

Heavy on the edges…

Added some details and outlining with a ZIG  pen…

And now for just one more thing.

A paper crown…

For the princess? Nope.

For the turtle….

This little turtle painting is available in my Etsy shop.  All proceeds from my shop go to research for my son’s rare disease called Cockayne Syndrome. There are around 150 children in the world known to have this rare premature aging condition, probably many more that are undiagnosed. Please pass on the link to my shop if you know anyone who might be interested. Thank you!

And thanks for coming by and be sure and hop on over to Paint Party Friday and check out more original artwork from around the world!

I know, I know. It’s too early for Christmas, but you know how these art magazine challenges go. The holiday stuff needs to be sent in now!

I’m submitting these for the ‘Homemade Holiday” challenge for Somerset Life, so think  *holidays* for just a few minutes.

I took plain wooden clothespins and clipped them on a line outside and let them age for 3 months.

Then I gave them a wash of antique white.

***

I decorated these clothespins with embroidery thread, wire, beads, tissue tape, and a few other odds and ends.  Last but not least, I sprinkled them with some frosty crystal glitter.

I recycled these magnetic calendars from last year, gluing pieces onto the backs of the pins.

Now they can be used as magnets, too.

A set of three would make a wonderful gift.

They can be used to display photos on the refrigerator, as a pretty embellishment on a package,  an easy way to clip a gift card onto the tree…I’m sure you can come up with many more uses for holiday clothespins!

This package is wrapped in butcher paper, netting from a bag of onions, and then tied with some tulle scraps, with the clothespin clipped on.

Thanks so much for coming by~

And if you’re visiting for the first time, please leave a comment so I can return the visit and see what you’re working on!

Not much time for art this weekend, but I did manage to play on Polyvore for a few minutes.

My neighbor recently gave me some walnut shells which are perfectly cracked in half, thanks to her pet scarlet macaw. I’ve been having fun trying to come up with projects using these nutshells.  This collage gives you a hint about some of the ideas I’m working on.

Hope you had a great weekend!

I transferred this quick little sketch onto a “5 x 7″ canvas.

I blocked in the design with some light acrylic colors and found some text I liked. I left out the big moon in the background because I thought it would be too much yellow.

Added in some details with a pen.

*Favorite Pencils Ever*

These pencils are water soluble but they color beautifully right onto the page.  But the real magic comes when you blend over them with a water-pen. The colors are amazing!  The larger set comes with a non-soluble out-liner so you can sketch your drawing without worrying about the water washing it away.  You can even layer on more color after it’s dried.

I colored with the pencils right over the paint and then blended with my water-pen.  The only thing I didn’t color was the turtle because I wanted it to look illuminated, like moonlight was shining on it.

I made some tiny star stamps out of pencil erasers. I used my ZIG .005 pen to draw stars on the tips…

Then I carved the stars with my small exacto knife.  It slices through erasers like butta’.

This painting is available in my Etsy shop, where all proceeds go to Cockayne Syndrome research.

Linking up with Paint Party Friday for the first time! Check out more wonderful paintings over at their site: