Collection Feature: Love Bug

Love Bug is a collection of bright lively ladybug patterns based on a bright, bold watercolor ladybug I delighted to paint. The idea to paint a ladybug came from the ladybugs who decided to move into my art room this winter. I'm not sure what they ate, but they seemed happy crawling on my windows. My son was so excited to catch one on his finger that he promptly adopted it and named it "Eli Junior." The relationship didn't last long because Eli Junior flew away and Eli the Human needed to run off and get a snack, but the ladybug itself has lived on as a bright rosy red, yellow, and orange ladybug. The idea for my ladybug might have come from a bug, but the inspiration…

Rent Friendly Hacks to Decorate with Wall Art

Decorate without leaving holes Decorating a rented space can be a challenge, especially when you're hesitant to put holes in the walls. Don’t let that discourage you from turning your rented house into a beautiful personal home & haven though. I want to encourage you to rise to the occasion and make your space yours with just a little bit of out of the box thinking! There are plenty of creative and temporary options that allow you to personalize your living space without leaving a mark. In this blog post, we'll explore some innovative ways to decorate with wall art for renters who want to maintain their security deposit! First, Prep the Walls Before you jump into the fun part of decorating, you might need to do some…

How to Start Your Own Monarch Butterfly Garden

Start a wildflower garden for monarch butterflies Cozy winter evenings are the perfect time to dream of spring flowers, and here in the middle of a cold windy December we’re talking about planting a garden for everyone’s favorite, the Monarch butterfly! Read more about Monarch Butterflies here Want to make your little piece of land welcoming and homey for butterflies? Keep reading to gather some great ideas on making your own butterfly garden.  In this guide, we'll explore the steps to create a vibrant haven for monarch butterflies, turning your garden into a flourishing ecosystem. Where do you live? Before diving into the delightful process of creating your monarch butterfly-friendly wildflower garden, you need to know your garden zone. For some people this might be as easy to…

A Complete Guide to Hanging Artwork Confidently

Make your home your haven by using the walls as a canvas to tell your own unique story! Decorating your space with photos and art that you connect with can transform a house into a HOME.  Unfortunately, sometimes we stall on actually hanging pictures and art up because putting holes in the wall and actually committing to a picture seems overwhelming. I know I have commitment issues when it comes to putting up picture frames, and my husband was a drywall contractor and can fix almost anything! You might also be stalling on hanging up pictures because you don’t quite know how to. The process of hanging a painting can be more complex than it appears at first glance. Ensuring that your artwork is securely mounted and perfectly…

Complete Guide to Create an Art Gallery Wall

Your home is your haven. It’s a space to relax after a long day, a safe place to reflect on memories and dream of the future, and a spot for your family and friends to gather to create great new memories! Design a bold, fun gallery wall to showcase your personality along with your favorite artwork and photos.  A beautiful collection of photos and artwork can transform a plain wall into a visual masterpiece that reflects your unique taste and experiences. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the process of designing a gallery wall that not only enhances your living space but also tells a story. Step 1: Define Your Style and Theme Before diving into the world of frames and artwork, take a moment to…

Maple Rabbit Desktop Calendar

Scroll through to enjoy each page of the 2024 Maple rabbit desktop calendar. Each month features a charming original watercolor illustration of Maple enjoying a fun little slice of life, along with her short & sweet advice!

The Amazing Story of the Intriguing Butterfly Effect

Math has never been my favorite subject, but I am completely charmed by the butterfly effect! What is the butterfly effect you ask? Visit my Shop to browse more butterfly art The Butterfly Effect Defined A part of chaos theory, the Cambridge dictionary defines the butterfly effect as "A situation in which an action or change that does not seem important has a very large effect, especially in other places or around the world." In a commonly used example, "it is sometimes said that the flapping of a butterfly's wings in one part of the world can cause a hurricane on the other side of the globe." Tiny changes in initial conditions of a chaotic system like the atmosphere "can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system" (Merriam-Webster dictionary) Basically, it's the idea that small changes can…

Great Gifts for Butterfly Lovers

Today I'm going to be shari ng great gift ideas for butterfly lovers. Complete Kit to Raise a Butterfly Enjoy the whole process of raising butterflies from caterpillars. Watch them eat and grow by the day, create a chrysalis, and eventually emerge as butterflies right in your home! This kit includes a cup of 5 tiny caterpillars and all the food and supplies they need to grow into Painted Lady Butterflies. House them in a sturdy reusable pop up 12 inch mesh habitat. It collapses and stores flat until you need it again. Enjoy learning about the butterfly lifecycle as they grow with a great STEM butterfly journal that includes fun activities for the kids. Insect Hotel for Garden This adorable insect hotel will provide a cozy home…

Watercolor Supplies on a Budget

Want to get started on your own watercolor journey? It's simple to start, and your watercolor supplies don't have to break the bank! Many professionals will tell you that you have to buy the most expensive paints, brushes that are so expensive you're afraid to use them, and only the best, thickest paper. I'm here to say that is not true and I think my artwork can support that! Check out what I use below to make my bright, beautiful, nature inspired artwork. Canson Watercolor Paper This 18x24 inch pad of Canson Watercolor Paper is what I use for all my watercolor paintings. It is NOT 100% cotton, which makes it much more affordable. I like buying large pads like this because they are more cost effective, and…

Tips for writing heartfelt cards

Picking the perfect card for someone is so fun! (Check out mine if you still need one!) Facing a blank page inside? That can be nerve-wracking. Here are a few tips to writ the perfect card, be it for your best friend, boss, or anyone in between. I’ll address some general tips first, then offer suggestions for different types of cards.

(If you want some quick card printables, check out my shop. For printing, check out this paper and envelopes from Amazon)

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Best Tips to Give Art as Treasured Gifts this Season

Connect to Shared Memories

Use a gift to spark shared memories with the recipient. A beach scene to remember a girls trip. A coffee mug with a fun reminder of an inside joke. A vintage postcard style image of a place you both wish you could visit. The options are endless when you look back and think through favorite memories with friends.

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Enjoy Art to Become More Thankful

November is a bit of a calm before the chaos of the holidays. Time to stop and reflect on what you are grateful for. Time to make a point of talking about what you are thankful for and blessing others who you are grateful for! One of the many reasons to love art is that by nature it helps you focus on gratitude. (Grab my free 30 days of thankful journal page here) Here's how . . . Art makes beauty a focal point An artist creates to bring a unique vision of a specific moment or feeling to life. It doesn't have deep or dark feelings to be helpful. A painting can serve a wonderful purpose by bringing beauty and peace and joy into focus. This is…

Thanksgiving Free Printable Gratitude Journal List

Change is in the air as leaves cover the ground and November is the perfect time to reflect on our many blessings as Thanksgiving approaches! I'd like to share with you a free watercolor printable featuring my "30 Days of Thankful" blank list to use as a gratitude journal in your personal notebook, homeschool, classroom, Sunday school class, etc. It is a simple 8.5" by 11" pdf download featuring a watercolor of one of the beautiful Sugar Maple trees that light up our driveway! It takes some discipline to fill in each day, but recording what we are thankful for has been such a blessing for our family over the years! We started making a giant "thankful pumpkin" from orange construction paper to record what each person in…

The Minimalist, Cheap way to Decorate for the Seasons

Want to keep your home feeling fresh and up to date with each season without having boxes of decorations? How do you make your home reflect cozy autumn or fresh, energetic summer without constantly changing out clutter? Keep reading for some of my best tips. My home has a fresh, rustic feel, but these tips will work great for any style Have a "Capsule Collection" and add to it You've heard about a capsule wardrobe, but the same idea can work for decorating too. Have your basic style, color pallet, and feel that you like. Keep a minimal amount of useful, practical items that you will need through each season (think storage bins, mail holder, cabinets, etc) Build a basic "background" of decorations with the amount of things…

Modern Fall Decorating

How to decorate for Fall while keeping it modern and fresh with some simple tips and watercolor examples