Watch Me Work - Confessions of a Makeup Addict

This piece is a quote from my sister.

While recently discussing the release of the Holiday 2018 palettes at Sephora, I mentioned I didn't think I needed another eyeshadow one. To which my sister replied (via text): My brain hurts. I don't understand "need". I consider makeup my destiny.

And in the interest of full disclosure, the eyeshadow palette IS in my shopping cart, I just hope it's still there when I go and purchase it tomorrow 😂 .

Not surprising though, because I'm VIB Rouge at Sephora.

How about you? 💖 Makeup Addict or 👎 No thanks, I've got art supplies to buy instead!

MATERIALS USED (the following contains affiliate links, which do not increase an item's price to you, but does pay me a small commission if you are so kind as to make a purchase based on my recommendation)

Small Brush Pen - Pentel Touch Sign Pen, FLEXIBLE Tip

Large Brush Pen - Tombow Dual Tip Brush Pen, or you can get This Starter Pack

Water Brush - Pentel Aquash Brush, I have 3 different sizes and use them all

Metallic Watercolor - Finetec Watercolors (though I think they are changing their name?)

Paper - HP Premium LaserJet, holds up nicely to watercolor blending

Watch Me Work - No Use Crying Over Spilled Coffee

The reality is, I'm MORE likely to cry over spilled coffee than milk, but I've spilled enough coffee that I might be numb to the entire situation.

In my latest (failed) attempt to not be a spaz, I managed to knock over my coffee cup and spill over my Little Dude's Immunization Record two days before I need to turn it into his preschool.

BLERG!! But did I get angry?

1. No. This wasn't my first coffee calamity, so I just reached for the paper towels.
2. I was pretty "Benadryl Drunk", hence the knocking over of the cup to begin with. Heck, I was one long blink away from falling asleep where I was standing.
3. I realized this would set the appropriate framework for the school to judge my parenting. At least when my Little Dude shows up with uncombed hair and Chocolate Pop Tart breath, NO ONE will be surprised.

First I made a watercolor background using simple circles and a hint of Gold Finetec.

Then I used watercolor to letter the word "Coffee" and brush pens for the rest.

I tried to get "fancy" and save my flourishes for the end. I kinda failed, but mostly because I also had planned on doing a flourish off the "l" in "like" and completely forgot. Oh Well.

Insight 💡: wetting the surface BEFORE I put the watercolor down made for a much more even distribution of paint when drying. You can see in the first dark brown circle in the upper left corner there are more noticeable variations in the paint after it dried than in the other circles.  

Anywhoooo. What's something important you've spilled on with coffee? 👇 Feel free to let me know I'm not alone in my clumsiness. 😂

MATERIALS USED (the following contains affiliate links, which do not increase an items cost to you, but does pay me a small commission if you are so kind as to make a purchase based on my recommendations)

Brush - Pentel Aquash Brush, I should have used the larger one for the watercolor background as it would have made painting the circles easier

Paint - Ecoline Watercolors, I started with the 10-Pack, but you can purchase them individually here (not an affiliate link)

Gold Paint - Finetec Metallic Watercolors, gorgeous paints

Brush Pens - Pentel Touch Sign Pen, FLEXIBLE TIP, make sure you get the flexible tip, or you will not get the necessary variations in your upstrokes and downstrokes

Paper - Generic Cardstock from Staples (not an affiliate link)

Watch Me Work - Watercolor Leaf Branches

I wanted to work on my watercolor skills, so leafs are kind of the most basic things you can do. 

BUT DON'T PAINT LIKE I DO 😂

1. If you are left-handed, start on the RIGHT side of the page, that way you are less likely to smudge what you just worked on
2. It's better to make leaves using a smooth downward pressure on your brush in two long strokes, than just using the tip of your brush, as I did here 

I tried to add a little orange Finetec sparkle, but you really couldn't tell from the angle I was holding it at 😑 .

Also, try and remember to dot ALL the 'i's in a piece too <facepalm>.

If you want to know who won my giveway, you can check my Instagram. (Winner will be announced Tuesday, September 20 at 8ish AM)

MATERIALS USED (the following contains affiliate links, which do not increase an items cost to you, but does pay me a small commission if you are so kind as to make a purchase based on my recommendations)

Paint Brush - Pentel Aquash Brush, I recommend the 3-pack as all three brushes are useful to have 

Paint - Ecoline Watercolors, the 10-pack is a great starter set. You can also purchase them individually here (not an affiliate link)

Metallic Paint - Finetec Pearlescent set of 12, but you can also buy them individually (not an affiliate link)

Paper - HP Premium LaserJet Paper, it's 32lb and super smooth, so it works well for blending colors and holding up to water

Watch Me Work - Things My Child Says - This is CNNN

Sometimes when you're not sure what you want to letter, you just need to take a second and listen to the words floating around your own home. Fortunately for me I have a pre-schooler, so there is never a shortage of "interesting" things being said 😅.

Part I is the watercolor background for the piece.

This is a great technique if you wanted something that won't distract from your lettering. I used 1 color, but you can use multiple colors and blend them together to give beautiful backgrounds. I also used some metallic watercolor paints to help give it additional shimmer. It's important to make sure your brush is *really* wet when you do this, so the color blends more easily.

Part II is the lettering

I often struggle with composition, so I still think the last word placement is a little awkward, but I'm not sure where it would fit better 😑 (I'm open to suggestions). 

Anywho, this was an actual conversation I have with my 4 and a half year old Little Dude

Little Dude: Mom, I NEED to watch CNNN

Me: Why? Who do you want to watch?

Little Dude: President TRUMP! 

Me: Um, really? Who's your favorite to watch?

Little Dude: Jake Tapper!!

Me: Okay, do you remember who was on vacation this week?

Little Dude: Mr. Wolf Blister 

And of course, his favorite part is the channel announcement done by James Earl Jones. Though he doesn't *quite* have the word order correct 😂.

This was filmed with Hyperlapse and Edited with Flow (speed changes) and Chromic (visual edits). The materials I used were as follows (yes, these are affiliate links, unless otherwise noted, and do not cost you extra, but do pay me a small commission if you are so kind to make a purchase based on my recommendations). Thank you!

Watercolor Paint - Ecoline Watercolors. I used Pastel Red here, but by far, the best place to find them online are here (Blick Arts, NOT an affiliate link). If choosing colors overwhelms you, I do recommend this 10 color set 

Metallic Paint - I really love my Finetec metallic paints. Here's a comparable set from Blick Arts (not an affiliate link) that has really pretty gold and silver colors (though it's out of stock until Tuesday 😒) (This set is currently in stock on Amazon) . Also, this Kuretake Gansai Tambi set is supposed to be very similar in quality for a lower price.

Water Brush - perfect for watercolors, this set of Pental Aquash water brushes is by far the best price I've found. (And YES! You'll use all three)

Brush Tip Pen - the Tombow Fudenosuke Twin Tip is my FAVORITE brush pen of all time. It's perfect for practice and final pieces. (YES! Get the 3-pack! You'll never want to be without it, plus when it "dries out" you can just dip it in different color inks and create gorgeous ombre lettering!)

White Paint - You CANNOT use the Uniball Signo white pen on red - it turns pink. If you want to create details like I did in the video, you need to use Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White. I used a dip pen to make my lines, but this ink works just as well with a brush / water brush too.