stand up eight

i've been on a path to better watercolor the past couple of years,

and that means practice, practice, practice.

but i've noticed that after all that practice, 

some days (actually many days!) it doesn't seem to look much better!

so i decided to switch gears and open my long-lost walls notebook.... 

....and remind myself of some really good advice:

if at first you don't succeed....

try, try again!

looks like it's time to get my paintbrush back out.....

but oh, how i love my walls notebook!!

 :))

you can see more entries in my walls notebook here

{supplies:  walls notebook, derwent w/c pencils, paintbrush,

micron pens, graphite pencils}

inspiration monday

i recently went on a little "retail safari" through amazon.com, 

and discovered this fabulous walls notebook!! 

and just as the title promises, it's filled from cover to cover with
fabulous photos of blank walls.

at first, it might seem like a really odd subject for a notebook, 

but it makes the heart of the hidden-graffiti-artist

inside me beat a little bit faster just thinking of how i can decorate, doodle, and 

jot down important reminders on those blank walls.

because i think some things are important enough to 

shout-out-loud-and-stand-proud on the side of a big blank wall somewhere,

don't you?

and p.s. ......
you really ARE so much stronger and braver than you think!


{supplies:  "walls notebook" by sherwood forlee, micron pens, 
4B graphite pencil, white uni posca marker, white uniball signo gel pen, 
derwent watercolor pencils}

inspiration monday

i know it's really none of my business.....

but when i saw this picture in my walls notebook,

 i started to wonder what he could be so deep in thought about

(mainly because i'm a little nosey at times...).

as it turns out,  he was channeling one of the great masters......

of nonsense, silliness, and pure inspiration!
here's to you, dr. seuss!

you can watch an excerpt of dr. seuss' "green eggs and ham" here!

{this journal page was completed in my walls notebook using pitt pens,

derwent inktense w/c pencils, 4B pencil, white charcoal pencil, white pan pastel}

building doors

i took a creative opportunity to have a bit more fun
in my walls notebook!


{supplies used:  "walls notebook" by sherwood forlee, micron pens,
4B graphite pencil, white uni posca marker, white uniball signo gel pen,
prismacolor colored pencil}

inspiration monday

every time i flip through my walls notebook,  i always ask myself

"what in the world am i going to do with this page?"

but thanks to the wonders of pinterest....and this quote......

along with a little available transportation.....

and lots of inspiration.....

the answer was easier than i thought!


{this was created in my walls notebook using pitt pens, white chalk pencil,
derwent inktense pencils, waterbrush, and an 8B graphite pencil}

smile big

there's something about thumbing through my walls notebook

and finding the "perfect page".......

that puts a great big smile on my face.

because the thought of being able to fill in all those
fabulously blank spaces definitely makes me happy!

:))


{this artwork was done in my walls notebook using micron pens,
derwent watercolor pencils, white pan pastel, white uni posca marker,
white uniball signo pen, 2B and 6B graphite pencils}

inspiration monday

i think life is kind of like opening your favorite notebook to 

an interesting page......

and then realizing all the wonderful and fabulous

opportunities you have to fill it.

once you're inspired to take a chance 

(out of all those ba-zillion choices)......

everything just kind of falls into place!
(and the really great thing is when you're ready,
you can always turn the page and start another adventure!)


{pages completed in my walls notebook using micron pens, 4B pencil,  
white sharpie poster paint pen, white uniball signo pen, pan pastels,
prismacolor colored pencils}

inspiration monday

there are some days when i find myself staring at a blank page,

and i feel like i'm completely in the dark when it comes to creativity.

but,  i've discovered that one of the best ways to shed some light

on the situation is to call on inspiration.....

(and maybe even ask for help from an inventor of bright ideas)

and before i know it,  a creative light bulb pops on over my head
 and that blank page is a thing of the past!


{this was created in my walls notebook using pitt artist pens,  pan pastels,
derwent inktense pencils, 6B graphite pencil, and a uniball angelic white gel pen}

world of change

happy weekend to you!
:))


{walls notebook, pitt pens, 4B graphite pencil, derwent inktense pencils,
dr. martin's bleedproof white,  calligraphy nib, white chalk pencil}

heartfelt cheer

take a blank canvas...

and grab a handcarved stamp covered in green ink.

add a heartfelt message….

and you've got a holly-jolly reminder of good cheer the whole year through!
:))


{supplies:  walls notebook, handcarved stamp, stamp pad, pitt pens,
derwent inktense pencils, pilot "choose" white pen, 8B graphite pencil}

inspiration monday

i'm a firm believer that inspiration can be found anywhere.

all you have to do is think about what makes you really happy…..

and most of all,
follow your heart.

and before you know it,  the doors of inspiration will open to you
where you didn't even know they existed!


{supplies:  walls notebook, pan pastel, sakura gelly roll pens, pitt pens,
derwent inktense pencils,  8B graphite pencils, white pilot choose pen}

inspiration monday

inspiration absolutely loves to hang out in lots of familiar places!
  for example.....

you might find it in a popular little blue box....

or maybe your own favorite handbag......

and your very own holly golightly lipstick.

or you never know,
you might even spy inspiration as you're having breakfast.....
tiffany style!   :))


{this was created in my walls notebook using pitt artist pens, pan pastel,
uniball signo white gel pen, inktense pencils, 8B graphite pencil}