Cute holiday gift tags

I made some holiday gift tags recently and thought it would be fun to show you how it worked out. They are so easy to make and lots of fun.

My Supplies
Mixed media paper
Tombow watercolor markers
Micron pen
Scissors

I selected some bright colors from my stash of dual tip Tombow markers for some pretty lights.

In my mixed media sketchbook I used a pen to make squiggly lines for a string of lights. Then I started adding small lights randomly placed on the strings.

Here is a view after adding more lights in different colors. The shapes aren’t perfect but that’s ok.

I added a little base to each light. That little detail really makes a difference. Here’s a view after I cut the page in half.

I trimmed each section into smaller rectangles and then snipped the corners of each tag. They turned out pretty cute. 😊

I was inspired by theshabbycreekcottage on Instagram. She painted the lights with watercolor using a small brush. I thought it would be fun to try using my markers for this instead. I love how they turned out.

I hope you are doing well and having fun. Thank you for all of your kindness and support. Until next time, share a smile and shine on!

💚 Patty Anne

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

More fun in my sketchbook

I’ve been playing in my sketchbook and have a few pages to share with you. I layered watercolor shapes with markers. It was a fun and easy exercise that I hope you will try as well.

I’m always inspired by watching Shayda Campbell videos on YouTube. She has so many great ideas for filling your sketchbook. I love her style and enjoy her watercolor tutorials.

I painted simple watercolor leaves and flowers all over the page. I love the combination of peachy pinks and soft browns together.

Once the page dried I used my dual tipped Tombow markers for some detail. I’m always amazed how adding detail with a pen or marker really wakes things up. I tried to keep the detail all very simple but I did get carried away with a few of them. 😉 Looking over my page, I really like the simple flowers much more.

Note to self…whether painting or drawing with markers, you have to know when to stop.

For my second page, I switched up the colors. I covered the page with a variety of leaves. I ended up with a nice little playful pattern.

Wow, the fuschia really added a nice punch of color. Nothing shy or boring about that color.

These dual tip markers are really nice to work with. They have a fine tip on one end and a larger brush pen on the other. I do need to practice more to learn how to control the brush pen though.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Art is for everyone and I hope you play and fun in your sketchbook too.

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

A few pages in my sketchbook

It’s been a while since I opened up my sketchbook for you. Today I have a variety of sketches made using pens and markers.

It’s been challenging getting nice photos of different pages in my sketchbook. It always seems to be either too bright or too dark when I’m taking photos of my artwork in winter… 🙂

I layered tiny flowers and vines in this sketch using both Tombow markers and Micron pens. The little unexpected blue leaves and flowers make me happy.

A practice page of flowers and leaves. I love how this little sampler turned out. It was a good way to try different colors together and see what works. Most importantly, it was fun and very relaxing.

A simple little bird sketch found its way into my sketchbook. I think I’m going to start adding more birds in my sketchbook.

Tulips with marker pens. I love how the stripes of different green markers look on the leaves. I played around using the large and small tip of the markers. Parts of this sketch I really like and other parts not so much but this is a sketch and it’s important to explore and try different things.

This was an in progress piece. While prepping the photo for this post, I accidentally rotated it to the left and now it feels complete. In my sketchbook the top of the page has the three magenta vines on top. I really like it better with them on the left as you see here.

I’m going to have to remember to try this with my paintings as well. Sometimes simply changing the orientation can make all the difference.

I hope you enjoyed this walk through my sketchbook. I encourage you to play and have fun sketching. I really need to remember to do more of this myself.

Until next time, share a smile and shine on!

🌻 🌼 Patty Anne 🌼🌻

Join me on Instagram at pattyanneart

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Watercolor Birthday Cards

I’ve been painting birthday cards and have a few to share with you today.

Happy Thursday, friends! 💚

I taped off the center area of my cards (with painters tape).
Then I painted layers of leaves and buds all around the tape.

After pulling off the tape I had a nice framed area in the center for writing a message.

I decided to add a few of my little paper birds and flowers to this card. I like how it balanced out the frame and added some fun.

My dual tipped Tombow brush pens worked great for writing the birthday message. I practiced a while in my sketchbook before deciding on the blue marker (small tip).

I glued few of my paper flowers on this card and then couldn’t resist adding a little bling. 😉

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love.

Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram @pattyanneart

Joyful flowers

I have a joyful sketch to share with you today. This simple piece makes me happy. I hope it brings you a smile as well.

Happy Sunday friends! 💙

I started out with some playful flower shapes using my two of my Tombow watercolor brush pens. Nothing difficult, just having fun. Oh, I love those colors!

9 x 12 inch – Love is Love

Then I used a pen to outline my flower petals and add a few simple touches. The ink pulls it all together and brightens up this playful piece.

Once again I am reminded that less is more 😊

I think this would make a lovely card. I’ll have to give that a go.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Until next time, share a smile and sprinkle kindness everywhere!

🌸 Patty Anne 🌸

Join me on Instagram @pattyanneart

Snowflake doodles

I had some fun with snowflakes this week.

Happy Thursday, friends! 😊

 

After playing and doodling some fun shapes, I added watercolor.

A little blue and purple combined with playful brushstrokes made some fun snowflake shapes.  💙❄️

This page in my sketchbook just makes me smile.

 

Later I had some fun with my new Tombow markers. Oh, I just love these gorgeous colors!

I hope you find time to do more of what you love.

Wishing you all the best in 2020!! 😀

Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!

🌸 Patty Anne  🌸

follow me on Instagram @pattyanneart

One idea leads to another painting

I have a few wreaths to share with you today. One of those times where one idea leads to another. You never know where it will take you.  😊

Happy Sunday, friends! 💚

 

I was playing with my Tombow watercolor markers and created a little welcome wreath. Just a simple wreath using my Neon markers set.

This little wreath inspired me to try a similar style in watercolor.

 

A few layers of watercolor and it just didn’t end up the way I hoped it would.

I decided instead of throwing in the towel on this one to add a little ink with my sepia micron pens and see if that would help.

 

Ink doesn’t always fix everything but it did make me a little happier in the end.

I’m glad I used sepia with this one since it is warm and didn’t overpower the piece.

My advice is to allow yourself to play and have fun. Many times that is where creative ideas surface.  I hope you find time to play and create art.

Until next time, share a smile and stay excellent!

🌸  Patty Anne  🌸

I’m on instagram at pattyanneart

Patty Anne Art

Leaves in a few different styles

I have been having fun sketching and painting leaves and vines lately.  Today I have a few different styles to share with you.

Happy Sunday, friends! 🌿💚

This first piece I created using Tombow watercolor markers.

I started sketching the the vines adding more and more neon colors. Then I outlined them with a black pen.

These leaves remind me of Fruit Stripe gum from back in the day. I loved that gum!

 

9 x 12 Bee mixed media sketchbook

For this piece, I painted with watercolor first and then added ink detail on top. I like to keep the painting loose and not worry about perfection with shape. Then the last step of outlining with ink cleans things up a bit.

 

6 x 9 inch Bee watercolor paper

Using a large round brush I painted simple vines using different shades of yellow, green and blue. I love the color palette and simplicity here. This is probably my favorite of the four pieces.

 

7 x 10 inch Arches watercolor paper

Using a large 1 inch flat brush, I played with large leaf shapes. The Arches cold press paper has a nice texture and creates some interesting patterns.

Each piece has a different style and feeling. It’s fun to take the same subject and create something totally different by switching up supplies and technique.

I hope you are inspired to create art and do more of what you love. Thank you for following me on this creative journey.  Until next time, share a smile and shine on!

🌸  Patty Anne 🌸

follow me on Instagram at pattyanneart

Patty Anne Art