Easy Whimsical Watercoloring

While perusing Pinterest a while back, I came across some sweet and simple watercoloring ideas in my hand-stamped card searches.

I looked at the ideas presented to me and thought "these are easy!"

Now, I know what you are going to say...

"Yeah, sure they are!  You are creative already so it would be easy for you."

In some ways, I am creative, BUT... I'm not an artist when it comes to paints unless were talking Sherwin Williams and a wall.

But, seriously... these are easy and I DARE you to try them.

In fact, I'm going to take you on a MULTIPLE IMAGE tutorial so that you can copy mine and then venture out into your own watercolor creations.

Let's get started.

First, gather your supplies.

I got the watercolor paper and paints from Amazon and the little palette and brushes came from the Dollar Tree.

You can use a simple Crayola Watercolor palette as well - you don't have to go fancy on your paints.

(They do have watercolor paint at Dollar Tree, but I've never used it.  It might be worth a try though.)

I do highly recommend using watercolor paper, however.

The texture and design of this paper are important.

Watercoloring on regular paper will not work as it will wrinkle and warp when water is added to it.

The first thing you want to do is add water to each of the paints that you will be using.

Watercolor paint can be used very thick or very thin, based on the amount of water you add to it.

The thinner the paint, the easier it is to spread and work with.

Adding the water helps to activate it so that you have more control.

I make several pools of thinned color in the lid of my paints.  I can add more water or paint according to if I want it thinner or thicker.

Here's a good rule of thumb:

Thicker paint means initial deeper color but less ability to move the paint around.

Thinner paint means a lighter to sheer coloring, but more ability to control the paint.

You can always paint over a thinner consistency to add depth, but you can't do that with a thicker application.

Starting with some green to create leaves, I used my brush to gather up my thinned out paint and I placed it on the paper.

I pushed the bristles slightly to spread them out, creating a leaf-like shape.

As I pulled down, I eased up on the bristles to narrow the leaf at the base where the natural leaf stem will be.

I painted a series of these in a natural pattern, following an "unseen" stalk with leaf stems coming out of it.

I used several Pinterest pins as inspiration and visual guidance.

Don't get caught up in making these "leaves" perfect or matching.

The trick is to get them on the paper in an organic random form.

Use the same technique of push and pull to create "flowers."

With a combination of oranges and reds mixed together, I drew thick to thin "petals" into the shape of a bowl or half circle.

Making them "messy" helps out as you don't have to have precision when creating flowers like this.

I did the initial layers and as they dried I added darker layers on top of the still slightly wet base.

This helps to bleed the top and bottom layers together - the water does most of the work anyway!

It also gives it an appearance of depth.

Some petals appear in the foreground while some appear in the background.

I drew some long leaves, slightly darker than my original ones.

I then added a smaller flower to the left of the leaves to balance out the whole scene.

At this point, I needed to dab some pooled water with a tissue.

This allowed me the opportunity to add a few more petals in the back of the flowers.

Now, I had all the main watercolored elements on my paper.

It looks very random, but trust me, the rest is just as easy as this.

I decided to add some yellow "berries" among the leaves.

This was done with just dots of color in and around the leaves.

Now it was time for the secret weapon...

A dual-ended black Sharpie marker.

Here is where the real magic happens.

Using this PERMANENT pen will help to define all my watercoloring.

Do not use a water-based pen as it will bleed and spread into the paper just like watercolor did.

I first drew the stem/stalk with the fine liner, not worrying about making it straight or even.

Nature is not straight, so I wasn't going to try either.

I used the fine liner to loosely outline the berries as well.

I did not try to follow the edge of the watercolor, instead, I just drew haphazard circles, ovals, and squovals around them, sometimes overlapping the beginnings with the ends.

I outlined the leaves in the same way.

Loose shapes that somewhat followed the watercolor.

I connected the berries to the vine in some long and short stems that have some organic curves to them.

I added loosely drawn "triangular" shaped to the bottom of the flowers.

Again...NOT perfect or precise.

I added a few squiggles coming up from the triangles, looping around the petals and over themselves.

A few dots on those ends make it look whimsical.

Back to the leaves and the rest of the elements of watercolor on the paper.

I used the "fat" end of the marker to make more substantial stems for the flowers as well as the other stem of leaves.

Here's where I was at this point.

I looked good, but I wanted a sort of "messy doodle" outcome.

I decided to continue on with my Sharpie to fill it all in.

A skinny stem with little circles on them added a whispy touch.

I added a few of those on both sides, weaving them over and under the other flowers and stems.

I also added a few pod-like flowers as well.

I drew a rounded "candy corn" shape.

Added two lines.

Then gave it some fuzzies at the top.

I also added a skinny stem to the bottom of the paper.

I then added some arrays of dots in a triangular pattern.

I just randomly looked for spaces to fill in and went from there.

I thought I was done, but there was this little space in the center that I just felt needed something.

I quickly went to Pinterest and entered "Snail Doodle."

Tons of cute critters came up and I did a combo of different elements.

A curlicue with a head and tail gave me a sweet visitor to my watercolor garden.

I decided at this point to use a while Jelly Roll pen to add something extra.

A few dots and lines were all it needed.

This step could easily be skipped if you don't have a pen.  It's simply a matter of preference.

I added a bit of brown to the snail as an afterthought and my painting was done!

I haven't done anything with it yet, but it could easily be framed or used as a card front.

I'll figure it out, but for now, I'm just enjoying my whimsical watercolor.

Don't forget to sign your masterpiece!

Practice makes perfect, so if you are not happy with your final outcome, look it over and decide where you want to improve and start again.

Practice some ideas from Pinterest on the back of your attempts.

But, don't give up!

Keep creating...that's what defines an artist!

House Sale Prep

If you are a frequent visitor to my blog, you know that we are in the process of packing up 21 years and downsizing into a smaller home.

In fact, we've already bought a house.

In Utah.

2400 miles away.

And...

We've only seen it on the internet.

Photo Credit: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chaparral-visuals-leeds

But, that's a story for another post.

This post is about how we've navigated the process in preparation for moving and how we are sure that you too can manage it as well.

Here are my top 8 tips!

#1 - DOWNSIZE!

Photo Credit:  EVG Photos

Yes, you WILL have to get rid of stuff if you a going smaller.

You will have to get rid of stuff if your new home's footprint is different.

Let me explain.

We are only downsizing by about 500 sq feet, BUT...

The floorplan is totally different than what we have.

Fewer walls, more open concept, and more built-ins.

I did a great post on the Secrets to Downsizing, so check that out if you are in the process of making decisions with your actual stuff.

We've had to make some hard decisions (read hubby sometimes struggles here, me, not so much) about what we really want to haul 2400 miles across the country.

Having a clear goal and perspective makes it so much easier.

#2 - TAKE A HOME DIY INVENTORY

Photo Credit:  La Miko

This is one of the critical things I recommend you do, starting about a year out of your projected move date.

Take a sheet of paper and a pen and walk through EVERY SINGLE room in your home, making notes of things that need to be fixed.  

For example:

Are paint touchups needed in places?

Are settling cracks needed to be filled, sanded, and painted?

Should the old bathroom faucet be replaced?

Could the tub area improve by getting recaulked?

Do you need to add door seal to your outside doors?

Should you paint over the 90's red paint in your entryway?

(Yes, we did this!)

Little investments like these will pay off when you place your home on the market.

I say this from the experience of looking at THOUSANDS of homes on the internet.

Until we landed on the home we bought, I was constantly evaluating what we would need to do in order to make the home to our taste.

Upgrading things like 70's faucets in a bathroom to something on-trend can cost you under $50 at Lowe's, but pay off with hundreds more on your asking price.

Our new home has been totally repainted to a neutral white and the bedrooms recarpeted by the current owner.  This was was a big plus in our offering for this home.

If you feel like you are not good at evaluating what needs to be done, ask your realtor.

Their experience will be invaluable.

#3 - CHECK LOCAL REQUIREMENTS

Photo Credit:  David McBee

In Sussex County, DE, if you are on a septic system, you must have a specific septic inspection, performed by a certified septic inspector, before your home changing hands.

So we did not have an "OH CRAP" moment, we had our Class H inspection done PRIOR listing our current home.

We we SO VERY HAPPY when it passed with flying colors and we had nothing to fix or replace.

I know several friends who have not been so lucky.

In fact, one had to TOTALLY REPLACE their septic system (at their cost) before settlement, or the financing would not go through.

I totally understand the need, especially environmentally, but it can be a big hit to your budget if you have to spend thousands on large ticket items like this.

Be proactive and check your local requirements to see if these types of things need to be inspected.

Do this when you are making your DIY List!

#4 - HIRE A REALTOR

Photo Credit:  Lukas

This goes without saying.

Hire someone whom you trust, is fully capable, and works with you to sell your home for its true value.

Our realtor is also one of my dearest friends, and we trust her completely.

She came through and walked the house with me and made different suggestions which I followed.

She's working hard, even through a MAJOR PANDEMIC, to sell our home.

(Our state closed down 3 days AFTER we put up the sign and only opened back up 2 weeks ago.)

Don't be afraid to ask questions when listing your home and set parameters as well.

We don't want an Open House and are requiring 24 hours notice before showings.

You can always do a google search for ideas and ways to approach subjects with your realtor.

Remember, they are offering a service and are happy to work with you to sell your home successfully.

But, it's up to you to do your due diligence.

#5 - MINIMIZE

Photo Credit:  Paula

I can't say this enough!

You probably don't need all the stuff you think you do, and do you really want to drag it to a new home?

I always ask myself these questions as I'm packing:

Have I used this recently?

Do I want to move this 2400 miles across the country?

Where will I store this once it gets there?

These questions have really helped me pare down items and take only what I believe I will truly need and use.

I do realize that I am still taking too much, but I've done some research on thrift and consignments stores in our new area and am confident that I can still minimize once we arrive.

I may be taking too much, but I'm not taking everything!

#6 - DEEP CLEAN AND STAGE

Photo Credit:  Pixabay

Now is the time to roll up your sleeves or hire someone to come in a really clean your home.

Things like windows and sills need to be thoroughly wiped down till they sparkle.

Corners and under heavy furniture need to be dusted or vacuumed.

Cabinets need a good soaping and shine to remove grease and accumulated gunk.

You get the drift... your home needs to be sparkling.

Once it's clean, you need to set it up so it presents well to buyers.

Photo Credit:  Karolina Grabowski

There's a whole psychology when a potential buyer walks into your home and tries to imagine it as theirs.

To appeal to that, you need to remove the personal pictures and tchotchkes so that buyers can imagine their own stuff where yours used to be.

Of course, the large family portrait, smiling down from over the fireplace can stay.

It tells potential buyers that a happy family has lived here and theirs could be the next happy family.

Packing away extra clutter also frees up spaces and makes them look bigger than they really are.

When a buyer's eye can take in the whole room and roam around it without distraction, you present your home in an appealing light.

This is also the time when your realtor will want to come in and take photos for the internet and possibly take footage for a video or 3-D viewing as well.

Our new home has the 3-D capability and I literally "walk through our new home" 3 to 4 times a day.

In fact, I've "been in" our new house more than if we actually set foot in it for real.

#7 - PUT UP THE FOR SALE SIGN

Photo Credit:  Photo Mix Company

Once you've done all of the above, set a date, sign your listing paperwork, and have your realtor come and hammer in the yard signage.

This is a critical moment because it means you are really moving forward.

Don't psyche yourself out here either.

A line of cars will probably not be pulling up with the last blow of the hammer on the sign.

This is the time to relax and enjoy your spotless home.

It's also a time to continue packing up things in drawers and cupboards so that you are not overwhelmed when moving day actually arrives.

You will need to check your email or text messages frequently as technology and home sales have advanced and are using them as ways to communicate with sellers and buyers.

We have done absolutely everything through email and text messages for our home in Utah.

In fact, we are settling on it remotely.

The first time we step into our Utah home will be when we pull up with the moving truck.

#8 - MAINTAIN WHILE IT'S ON THE MARKET

Photo Credit:  Mark McCammron

Until your home sells, you will need to keep it in a manageable state, ready for a quick zhuzh for showing.

This means that you need to set a cleaning schedule and create a list to quickly check off in preparation.

Talk with your realtor and about what you need to do before leaving the house before a showing.

For instance, wiping down all the sinks and faucets with a clean damp cloth removes spots and dried toothpaste remnants.

Making sure all the drawers are closed on dressers presents a tidy appearance.

Also, you will need to leave lights on throughout the house so it appears bright and welcoming.

You and your realtor can do a mock walk-through to set these ideas in place.

Right now, we are cleaning different parts of the house every day.

Running the vacuum and doing a quick dusting prevents me from losing my mind when I only have a 24-hour window till a showing.

I created a list that helps us quickly ready the house.

In fact, all the feedback so far from lookers has been highly positive.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/24129-Beaver-Dam-Dr_Seaford_DE_19973_M69290-47552

Life's transitions happen to us all, but there are ways to make them workable and successful.

What are some ways you know to tackle them?

I'd love to hear your comments below and help anyone who is also in the throes of moving.