DIY Watercolor Animal Cards

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Valentine’s Day is one of the top holidays when the puns just can’t help themselves! Some are cute, some are cheesy, some are just plain genius – all work because we become big piles of love mush {or love stinks grinches}, so on Valentine’s Day we eat them up {most of the time}.

An easy and pretty way to decorate a card for someone you love is with watercolors – you don’t need to have an ounce of artistry for this one – just add color to the paper. We hopped on the train of puns with these! Embrace your creative side, brainstorm the puns, get the kids messy in paint and send a little extra love in the mail this year.

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Materials:

  • Watercolor paper
  • Watercolor paints
  • Paintbrushes
  • Water
  • Blank fold-over notecards. If you don’t have any, cut card stock and fold them.
  • Elmer’s glue
  • Sharpie marker, thin tip

Directions:

Trace and cut out animal shapes on watercolor paper. You can find images online, trace and cut. We used our Silhouette electronic cutting machine to cut the animals for us. If you like to create, the machines are worth the investment. We love ours.

Paint the animals with watercolor paints. Let them dry.

Apply glue to the back of the animals, and stick them to the cards.

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Write your words with a thin black Sharpie marker.

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YOLO DIY Cosmetic Bag

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My sister-in-law and I went shopping, and I tried on a pair of designer jeans on sale for $100 from $200ish. I liked them, but didn’t really NEED them. You know, that age-old teaching we teach our children and tell ourselves – need vs. want. Do I really need this? Or, do I want this? My sister-in-law said, “Just get them. My new motto in life is YOLO.” I did a semi-smile and nod reaction, then asked, “What the heck does YOLO mean?” You may be thinking that I live under a rock, and perhaps I do, but I honestly had no idea what YOLO meant. She shared her hashtag wisdom upon me that day and told me that YOLO stands for…You Only Live Once. #YOLO

What powerful words that we often forget. You Only Live Once. We have one shot at this ONE beautiful, amazing, hard and miraculous life. Why waste it? Make the most of everyday, and live your best life…and life will give it’s best to you. YOLO!

Long story short, I bought the jeans. And, I learned what YOLO stands for.

Shortly thereafter my sister-in-law embarked on a new journey in a new city with a new job. She was nervous, but brave. I sent her off with a reminder of what she taught me that day, and some tips to go with it.

DIY YOLO Cosmetic Bag

You’ll Need:

  • Cosmetic bag {mine was $3 from Target}
  • Acrylic paint
  • Golden GAC 900 Medium, to make regular paint into fabric paint
  • Freezer paper
  • X-acto knife
  • Paintbrush
  • Gifts to go inside. I found most of my gifts {see below} from my favorite small town bookstore, The Bookworm
  • Watercolor paper
  • Watercolor paint
  • Gold sharpie or gold leaf pen

Directions:

First, I used Microsoft Word to design my YOLO to place in the middle of the bag. Print YOLO on regular computer paper, then trace it onto freezer paper.

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 Use an X-acto knife to cut out the words and a border. Then, iron in onto the costmetic bag.

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Paint YOLO with black ink.

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Design a pattern around YOLO. I chose to do triangles, so I randomly made a geometric triangle shape print with Frog’s Tape. Then, paint inside the triangles.

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Shop for all your small gifts that go inside the YOLO bag.

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Once your YOLO bag design is complete, start to make the tags to go along with each gift. Cut watercolor paper into triangles. Freehand the words of wisdom for your friend in gold sharpie or gold leaf pen. Then, use soft watercolor over it.

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My tags read:

Wear red | red lipstick
Set your own direction | Compass button
Indulge in sweetness | Curly Girl chocolate bar
Remember to laugh | Blue Q funny chewing gum box
Celebrate | Hyrda Soap Hangover Bath Tea Bag
Stop to smell the roses | Paddywax Rose scented candle
Believe in yourself | Quotables The Sky is the Limit matchbox
Be Kind | Be Good to People chapstick

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Attach the labels to each item.

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Place all the fun items inside the DIY YOLO cosmetic bag and gift.

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Bloom into Spring with DIY Watercolor Flower Cups + Giveaway

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Clearly, Jessica is in the mood for paper cups and watercolor this spring. Jenna was described as the ‘flower child’ growing up, but it seems Jessica’s inner flower child is coming out now. First came the bunnies, and then came the flowers.

Our Nani, fabulous as ever at age 79, is a proper lady that loves to entertain and host. She’s good at it, too. Amazingly, she has more energy then we do. Just like mother’s do, she will still walk up to us at a party {even in our 20’s and 30’s}and remind us to say hi to Mr. and Mrs. so and so, and congratulate them on their recent successes. We never understood it until we became mothers. Being the hostess with the mostess that she is, the thought of using plastic and paper glassware and flatware at a party is unbearable. It must always be china or glassware.

But, these DIY watercolor flower cups got the seal of approval from good ‘ole Nani P. They are paper, but they look lovely, and they don’t look cheap. You can fill them with water, juice or a fave cocktail, or fill them with a favor. They make for a great place card, too, with custom names painted on them. Use them for Easter, a spring brunch, bridal shower or baby shower.

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If you like them, and think they would be a great fit for your next event, follow us on instagram, then tag a friend in comments under the photo of these cups. Those who follow and tag will be entered to win a set of 30 of these watercolor cups for FREE – you can choose to receive a variety, or pick your faves. We are not professional artists, and what you see is what you get. But, for free, they are darn adorable. Giveaway starts March 25 and ends March 31, 2015. Giveaway is not sponsored by Instagram. Names are NOT included on cups for giveaway. Good luck.

Questions? Email us at hello@jsorelle.com.

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To make them, you’ll need:

  • Paper Cups {$1 for a pack of 10}
  • Watercolor paints
  • Brush
  • Water

The amazing one step tutorial is…explore floral inspiration in your head, online or on a print, experiment with watercolor paint.

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{images via j. sorelle}