Posted in Creative

Teaching Myself to use Watercolor

Today I will blend some rules while teaching myself to use watercolor paint.

I like to think of myself as a creative person, but I’m not very good at the means of traditional art. I have an image in my head, and sometimes I have difficulty putting it on paper when drawing or painting. I’m also a little hard on myself since I’m a perfectionist.

Now I’ve seen a lot of videos about painting, and everyone says the same thing. Watercolor is harder to use, so I should start with acrylic paint. Controversial opinion, but I’m not too fond of acrylic paint. I like the control I have when using watercolors.

Thank god for the internet. I’ve learned different tricks and tips from watching YouTube and TikTok.

And these people are self-taught artists – I mean, every artist is probably self-taught. I mean, these people are definitely not art school graduates.

Now my goal isn’t to become the next Monet. I want to experiment with art without feeling like I’m wasting supplies or my time.

Now I didn’t rush out to buy expensive art supplies. I used the paint from a Target art supply kit, and a friend gifted me the paper.

I just used layers. I started with a thin detail brush and made a rough outline. I don’t like sketching with a pencil in watercolor painting because I don’t know how well I’ll be able to cover the pencil.

It was mostly layering colors, and I don’t know if there’s a word for this, but I would use a dry brush to remove paint when I thought it was too piled up.

I’m pleased with my results.

I need more practice. I want to experiment more and learn to paint bigger pieces of art. I would love to one day own my own house and have random art on the walls and have some of those be my art.

Posted in Creative

And when I felt like I was an old cardigan

I’ve said a few times that I want to be more creative and try to express myself through different types of art. I have a habit of starting hobbies and then never following through. I’m trying to change that and use all the materials I have at my disposal. I’m going to start actively giving updates on projects and calling it Blend The Rules.

This is obviously the Lately, I’ve been searching for a crocheted or knitted cardigan.

After searching for what felt like forever, I found some sweaters. I didn’t have any specific pattern or design in mind. I wanted a chunky cardigan. The only downside was all the nice ones I loved were between $200- $400. There’s no way I can spend that much on a sweater. I’m poor.

So my self-confidence led me to believe I could make my sweater. I don’t know where that confidence came from, honestly. The last time I knitted, sewed, or crocheted was in 2017. I made a cow print and denim skirt, and everyone around me was like, “eww, cow print.” only for it to be the next popular trend.

So now I’m stumbling through a teach yourself to crochet book. It is worth it. It was $12 from Walmart. It’s a complete kit; you only need to buy the yarn.

I haven’t done much yet, but I did make a tiny little heart.

I don’t have a pattern for the sweater. I’m going to play it by ear.

Posted in Creative

Do You Comma Here Often

I’m not the most skilled writer.

I’m challenging myself to become a better writer. I rely on the use of adverbs and adjectives in my storytelling. My primary weak points are grammar, spelling, and sentence structure. That is one of the reasons why it takes forever for me to get to a point.

“Adverbs are the tools of a lazy writer.” -Mark Twain

I’m not terrible at writing, but I still need to work. Am I better at writing now than I was in high school? Yes. Will I be a better writer in another seven years? Yes. Getting better at anything takes practice, time, and effort.

My partner got me a 100 prompt notebook after I told him I wanted to practice my writing skill. I love a supportive partner.

So welcome to our new Wednesday segment: Do You Comma Here Often?

Today’s prompt is to write a short scene without using adverbs or adjectives.

“The path to Hell is paved with adverbs.” -Stephen King

The scene:

The sun is beating down on the field as the high school football game is about to begin. A group of boys are looking for seats on the bleachers. One of the boys spots a familiar face in the sea of faces. The girl notices him at the same time. Waving her hands, she yells, “over here,” getting the group’s attention. The boys make their way to her. Sensing the group’s hesitation, she moves, smiling at the person closest to her.

“Why don’t you come over here by me?” She asked, batting her lashes. The boy’s face blushes as he sits beside her.

Before anyone can say anything else, the drum line starts on the field.

Posted in Creative

What Would Nora Roberts Do?

If that name sounds familiar, it is because she is the woman who rewrote the rules of romance. Even if you haven’t read her work, you have probably seen one of her books everywhere. She has written over 225 novels, and about 40 of her books are sold every minute. Maybe that should be my next reading challenge read every Nora Roberts book?

Aside from Stephen King, she is the most successful novelist I can think of. I look up to her a lot.

My favorite book by her.

As someone who wants to be a published author and have that be my career, it is impressive to see someone like Nora Roberts do that and maintain it for many years. She writes in very distinct genres, mostly romance novels; she’s written paranormal romance, fantasy romance, and crime mysteries.

Remember how I said she’s written over 225 books over the decades? She writes four novels in a single calendar year with no ghostwriter. In an interview back in 2011, she said it only takes her 45 days to write a book, and she only writes three drafts of each story. There is some overlapping in projects because she’s said she writes while she waits for her editors to get back to her. This woman stays busy; I wish I had her work ethic.

“My only job is to tell the story.”

Nora Roberts

She said credits her success to discipline, drive and desire. She writes daily, starting around 8 am and ending around 3 pm. And she doesn’t allow herself to be distracted by social media, tv, or the internet. She does allow herself to use the internet to look things up. And after she’s done writing for seven hours, she works out for 90 minutes. If only i had that energy.

So why did I write an entire post about a 72-year-old lady that doesn’t know I even exist? Well, I’m going to try to write like her. Write every day for 7ish hours without distractions. Jumping between projects if I need to and learning to push myself through the complex parts.

Following her three-draft method, maybe I, too, can finish a novel in forty-five days.

The first draft is the discovery draft. Creating the characters, the setting, the pacing, relationships, conflict, and dialogue. And just write everything you feel at the moment.

The second draft starts from the top. Going to page one and working more thoughtfully on the language and expanding or getting rid of things that don’t make sense. It’s the fix-up draft.

The final draft is to polish any rough edges and wrap up loose ends.

Wish me luck.

Posted in Creative

Jinkies It’s Almost Halloween!!!

We have 11 days to Halloween, and I haven’t been my usual Hallowqueen self this year.

I started this month off so strong by watching Hocus Pocus 2 and making spooky crafts. But I haven’t done much since. It’s almost time to see the little cuties dressed as princess and Jedis or whatever the latest trends are.

But it made me realize that my niece’s Halloween party is next weekend, and I forgot to get a costume. I didn’t buy a costume last year since I had to work. And I guess this year, with going to Vegas and visiting my family and everything else; I spaced out.

Now getting a costume isn’t hard. I have Amazon prime- gotta love two-day shipping. But the price of an outfit is ridiculous.

Fifty bucks for a cheaply made costume I couldn’t even wear again next year? You can’t be serious! Don’t even get me started on the fact that I have to pay extra since I’m buying a plus sized costume.

Instead of buying a costume, I’m going to make my own. In a lazy, last-minute type of way. I already had to talk myself out of trying to sew things together. I just decided to use what I had in my closet. I don’t even know if it will be cute. If you couldn’t tell from the title, I’m going as Velma from Scooby Doo.

For the fit. The closest skirt I could find to the one I have currently is on Amazon. I’m just wearing a regular orange t-shirt but I kinda want to get this shirt cuz it’s like a mock turtleneck and Velma is known for her turtlenecks.

I would also recommend using thigh or knee high socks but my thunder thighs do not work well keeping socks up. So I wear tights. I think I got mine from target or Walmart but Amazon has some good ones. I’ve used these before and they offer them in orange.

Posted in Creative

It’s All Write

I recently got the idea to restart my book. I started working on this story a year ago. It was a sketchy concept; there wasn’t a story. And recently picked up the story and began to play with it, and some of it clicked.

I’m obsessed with this story right now. I haven’t been this obsessed with any of my writing projects in a while.

I originally wanted to wait for NaNoWriMo. But If I waited, I would overthink and outline it to death. I would kill this story before it even began.

In the past year, the only thing I have I have is a very rough outline. I’m trying to blend some things and make them into something more legible.

The story is still relatively underdeveloped. But I’m just going to jump right into this.

I would love to write in chronological order. But let’s be honest, that probably won’t happen.

Posted in Creative

Tiny Haunted Houses

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/BUAgd7BH/2cdc7b0b-4f3d-450c-8cd6-2248c886975a-1.mp4

This has been my favorite spooky craft. Almost everything for this project was from the dollar store.

As a person who loves being crafty but isn’t super creative. This is one of those crafts you can’t mess up.

You Will Need

  • • Any dolls house
  • Spray Paints for the base. Black or white is the best bases
  • Acrylic paints for detailing
  • Mod Podge spray
  • Added Details (dried Spanish moss, popsicles sticks)

Steps

This doesn’t really have steps.

Base Layers: Remove all stickers before doing the base layers. Spray paint was used for the base. I like an even coat so we did two layers with the stray paint. Once the base layers were applied spray with a matte mod podge.

Detailing: this is the easy part. It all depends on what you want your house to look like. I recommend you hunt around and see what you can find that might suit your haunted house. I think twigs, spiders, and pumpkins can be fun.

Posted in Creative

Milk Carton Skulls

As a basic witch who loves getting spooky, I’ve been busy.

Every Halloween my friend has a party for her daughter and her friends and other little kiddos who live in the neighborhood. It’s always super cute and fun and we go all out decorating.

The theme this year is a kid-friendly hell house. We’re going spooky but not too spooky.

I don’t know where my friend gets her ideas from but I love them.

We got a little bit of a headstart on some of the decors since we’re making most of them ourselves.

These milk carton skulls came out amazing. Now they are a little tricky to make.

What you’ll need

  • • 1 skull made of cement or resin (whatever won’t melt)
  • heavy dutyglove
  • heat gun
  • ice water
  • sponge
  • scissors
  • electric hot knife
  • masking tape
  • glue gun with glue

Steps

Step 1: Set up your guide skull in a safe place to use a heat gun and hot glue so you don’t accidentally set something on fire or melt something you didn’t mean to.

Step 2: Cut the handle off the jug and position the jug over the Guide skull with the long part over the face.

Step 3: Wear gloves. To begin shaping the jug, set the heat gun on HIGH and begin to sculpt but holding the jug about 3 inches from the plastic until it turns clear. Once clear, you should be able to manipulate and shape it. Using your gloved hands, shape the plastic against the Guide skull and tuck at the cheekbones.

https://videos.files.wordpress.com/gp7X6Ppf/img_1589-1.mp4

Step 4: Now begin to heat the rest of the plastic again until clear. Then grab your sponge and dip it in ice water. This will cause the jug to mold to the skull’s details. Press it gently into the nose and eyes to deepen them, but be careful not to rip the plastic. The harder you push, the more detailed it will be, but watch out for tears.

Step 5: Trim the excess plastic under the mouth and tuck the remaining plastic to finish the jaw.

Step 6: Now you can cut the back of the skull to get it off the Guide skull. The easiest way to get it off is to draw a line going up the back of the skull, then a wide V on top. This will create the guide for the Y-incision you will have to cut to get the jug off the skull. Heat your hot knife then cut on the Y-incision guide. A box cutter will also work.

Step 7: Pull the mold forward off the skull. Tape the incision from the outside. Use your hot glue gun to seal the incision closed from the inside. Let dry.

You can fill them with LED lights for a cool nighttime look

Posted in Creative

October Book Club

Fall is in full swing.

If only California had sweater weather. I’m ready to cuddle up with a book and warm tea and enjoy the peace. Instead, I’ll cuddle up with an iced coffee and read.

I Fear My Pain Interests You by Stephanie LaCava is a short novel that follows Margot, the daughter of a famous mother and father. Margot is an aspiring actress but feels the pressure of living in her parent’s footsteps build up, so she leaves her hometown and stays at her friend’s secluded house in a small village. The book focuses on the characters and Margot’s complicated relationships with the people in her life.

I read all my murder mystery books these last two months I needed some drama.

I go into a lot of books blind but I think it allows me to make predictions about the story and analysis the book as I’m reading. These predictions have become helpful when I’m watching a movie or tv because I can infer what’s going to happen in scary movies and makes me less afraid.

My predictions for I Fear My Pain Interest You.

  • At least one Suicide attempt from the main character.
  • A toxic relationship with a male. “savior” character. “I just want the best for you.”
  • A friend will either die or abandon the main character due to the drug abuse and parting
  • I don’t think the main character will grow as a person. For some reason, the book gives me Breakfast of Tiffany’s vibes
Posted in Creative

NaNoWriMo 2021!!!

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is an annual event in which participants commit to writing a 50,000-word novel between November 1st and 30th. To win this November writing challenge, you’ll need to write an average of 1,667 words per day. Once you’ve hit the 50,000-word mark, you can upload your novel to the NaNoWriMo website to verify your word count. 

I’m participating this year for the second time. If you remember my 2021 goals I put I wanted to finish my novel. I originally started it in 2018 for this same completion. as the years passed I changed the story and now I’m completely rewriting it.

Instead of just mentioning my novel I should probably announce my NaNoWriMo project. This month, I will be working on my WIP. A romantic story that’s lived in my heart for a while. A zany romance with: 

  • early 2010s internet throwbacks
  • idiots to lovers
  • hurt/comfort

All We’d Ever Need

Joy and heartbreak are hopelessly entwined. 

When Jeanie, a young writer, stumbled into Teddy White’s baker looking for her mischievous daughter, she never thought the encounter would go farther. After a few more awkward encounters, it feels like the universe had been hell-bent on pushing them together. 

Being sensible people who know you make your own fate. They decide that being just friends is enough for them. But were they ever really just friends? The answer becomes more complicated the longer they are together.

My goal is to open my manuscript every single day.