How to Paint a Leaf in Watercolors

Materials:

watercolor paper- 5x7

leaf

pencil

watercolor paints

paintbrush

gold acrylic paint (optional)

black ink pen

Step 1: Grab a fresh leaf off a tree or from the ground and lightly trace the outline onto some watercolor paper in pencil.

Step 2: Optional- if you want to add a cool golden effect to your leaf, start out by painting in a few areas of the leaf on your paper in some gold acrylic paint.  You can water the paint down or leave it nice and thick.  Your choice. Let this paint dry.

Step 3:  Pick a color scheme- like greens and yellows for one leaf, or reds, oranges, and pinks.  Paint in the remaining areas of the leaf with these colors, varying the shades throughout.  You can paint on top of the previously painted acrylics in some areas or paint around it in others.

Step 4: With an ink pen, trace the outlines of your leaf to give it some definition.  Let the ink dry before the next step so that it doesn't smear all over your paper.

Step 5:  Now look at your actual leaf from outdoors.  With your pen, recreate the veins inside the leaf and.....you're done!

Photos of the Week

These are scenes from my new stomping grounds, which used to be my old stomping grounds.............kinda confusing I know.  We lived in this area before we bought our first home and, for the time being, we are back! It's more rural out here and there's more nature to photograph!  Yay for me!

My biggest sale ever

I have some exciting news!  This year I'm offering a WEEK LONG BLACK FRIDAY SALE in my Etsy Shop!  This is the biggest sale I've ever had ...... 40% off baby! Starts tomorrow, November 22nd and goes through the 29th.

Please visit my shop tomorrow or sometime within the next week and enjoy 40% off anything and everything I have to offer.  Use the code BLACK40 at checkout.

Cube Infinity Scarf Pattern

It's here!  The pattern for my new crochet infinity scarf is here! 

Cube Infinity Scarf Pattern

by Elise Engh

Materials:

Worsted Weight Yarn (I used Red Heart Super Saver Yarn in Jade)

Size J/ 10-6.00MM Crochet Hook

Yarn Needle

Size:  6.5 inches wide by 51.5 inches long

Abbreviations:

ch= chain

dc= double crochet

tr- triple crochet

sc= single crochet

Notes:  To adjust the width of this scarf, make the beginning chain a multiple of 8, plus 5.

Pattern:

Ch 21

Foundation Row:  1 dc in 4^th ch from hook (this section counts as dc), 1 dc into each ch to end. (19 dc)

Row 1:  3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of next 2 dc, * 3 ch, (skip 1 dc, 1 tr into next dc) twice, 3 ch, skip 1 dc, 1 dc into each of next 3 dc; repeat from * to end. Turn.

Row 2:  3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of next 2dc, * 3 ch, 1 sc into each of next 2 tr, 3 ch, 1 dc into each of next 3 dc; repeat from * to end, working last dc into 3^rd of 3 ch. Turn.

Row 3:  3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of next 2 dc, *1 ch, 1 tr into first sc, 1 ch, 1 tr into next sc, 1 ch, 1 dc into each of next 3 dc; repeat from * to end. Turn.

Row 4:  3 ch (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc into each of next 2 dc, * (1 dc into next ch, 1 dc into next tr) twice, 1 dc into next ch, 1 dc into each of next 3 dc; repeat from * to end, working last dc into 3^rd of 3 ch. Turn. (19 dc)

Repeat rows (1-4) 17 times, making 18 cube sections total.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail end. Using your yarn needle and the long tail end, stitch the two ends together with a whip stitch.

Fasten off and weave in ends. 

Circles and Florals

A few small watercolors, painted before the move..........

The floral painting was inspired by this watercolor print

and the circles by this large abstract circle print on canvas.

It feels so good getting back into my groove, posting my watercolors and making things I love.  It's my thing :)