September desktop wallpaper

I honestly don't think it's almost September. Can't possibly be since we've been marinating in humidity and baking in the hot sun for over a week. But someone told me it's Labor Day weekend, so whatever, I guess it's true. 

I'm working on creating more patterns around here because it's something I'd really like to get better at. A good friend gave me a Spoonflower gift certificate and I can't WAIT to try making my own fabric. Ooh-la-la! So this month's desktop wallpaper/calendar utilizes a pattern I was fiddling with. I used the glasses from my back to school illustrations and added some apples. It might be a tad busy for a monitor but I still like it, so feel free to use it yourself if you like things a tad busy.

Download the original size image (2560x1440) here

Back to School printable sticker labels!

Summer . . . summer is . . . busy. And I've been busy too. With summer. BUT. Summer is soon ending! Around these parts school doesn't start until after Labor Day, so we still have one more week to squeeze in everything we meant to do over the last three months. In reality, my kids are actually pretty excited to go back to school. And I'll let you in on a secret, as much as I love hanging out with them, I'm pretty excited for them to go back to school too.

This week we'll be bringing all those new school supplies in to their classrooms (another secret: I love school supplies), so we're busy sorting and labeling. I also kind of love labeling. Is that weird? It seems weird. Anyway, I'm mildly obsessed with free printables and this year I tried my hand at making my own "back to school" printable sticker labels for my kids and the whole wide world (if you want them). You can use them for all those shiny new notebooks and folders. I hope you enjoy them and your kids enjoy them too. Happy Back to School!

 

Download the stickers here.

* Simply print on sticker paper (like this) and cut out! You might want to adjust your printer to print at a higher setting and/or on premium paper to get the best results.

Happy belated Father's Day

While we're on the topic of me finishing things in a timely manner . . . here's an illustration I started shortly before Father's Day and am just getting around to finishing. Ahem. Maybe I'll print it as a card next year! Still playing around with different techniques in digital illustration - it's still all so new to me. This is a combination of an illustration started in Illustrator and finished in Photoshop.

July 2013 desktop wallpaper

I've been wanting to try my hand at making some desktop wallpapers. I'm constantly changing mine, usually monthly, because I have visual ADD like that. Lately I've been into calendar wallpapers. I like the "seasonality" to it. Below you'll find my first stab at a wallpaper for this July (which is already half over, I know, but sometimes my projects get stalled). I'm still working on all the technicalities like sizing, formats for mobile devices, etc. I'm slow on the uptake there. But if you'd like to use this first attempt yourself, click on the image below. Maybe I'll start working on August now.

Fun with Illustrator

I've been taking some more online classes with Nicole's Classes, this time in Adobe Illustrator, which has been super fun. Below you'll find a few of the things I've worked on as I continue to learn how to use the program. It's not my typical style but I'm really enjoying myself! More to come I hope.

The new kids

Here are a couple pieces I did awhile back based on sketches and/or drawings with ink, then finished in Photoshop. These both became gifts for some new babies in the family. Thanks for being my guinea pigs! You have now joined the long list of people who get all the stuff I make and then need somebody to give it to! 

For the mamas

A day late . . . boy, was it crazy town around here yesterday between Mother's Day and Olivia's 7th birthday! I wanted to share a little image I put together from one of my watercolor paintings and some chalkboardy-like text that I used as a Mother's Day card. Here's hoping all the mamas had a great day.