creative jewish mom

Simple Cloud Cake Toppers Are Cute For Any Occasion!

I am rushing to post this cloud cake topper DIY as tonight is the beginning of the 9 day mournign period on the Jewish calendar, and we certainly won't be throwing any parties.That said I wanted to post this now as a message to all those who might be trying their hand at illustration or painting: save anything you do on heavy paper, you can cut it up and use it in a pinch! As I was trying to pull together a whole display of fun party decor for my daughter's 18th birthday, I spied a small pile of illustrations I'd made two plus years ago, and realized that the little gouche cloud illustration would be perfect to cut up and use on her cake, and phew, it came together really quickly with sweet as can be results. I also used some watercolor strawberry paintings we'd done together years ago, so really, save those art projects, they don't take up much space, and who knows, maybe you, like me, will be pressed for time and needing something to cut up and transformi into a cake topper! Actually come to think of it, if I hadn't already cut up the watercolor strawberry and used it in a centerpiece, that would have been a really adorable cake topper too! I think I may just repost that tutorial next. Okay, lets take a closer look at these cute cloud cake toppers that would be perfect for just about any occasion that warrants a cake and a message!

And I just realized that this could also be a post about how to make a quick cake stand, like the one you see here, so keep on reading for that!

5 Minute Paper Cake Toppers Using Your Old Art

Today is my daughter's 18th birthday, and so after 18 years of raising her and throwing birthday parties with lots of homemade decorations and cute DIY cakes I got it together rather at the last minute and pulled off a really cute birthday surprise complete with lots of recycling crafts that I can't wait to share. The thing is, tonight is the beginning of a very sad 9 day mourning period on the Jewish calendar, so while I'm posting the DIY birthday cake decorations today, I think the rest will have to wait until after T'isha B'av so that my blog reflects what is actually going on in our minds and hearts during this time. My daughter was fortunate to have been born on the last day of the month of Tammuz, when throwing a birthday party (without music) is still allowed, so phew for her!

Now, lets get down to business! I have always made paper cake toppers using illustrations and cut paper with skewers or toothpicks, so why stop now? My daughter is now the baker in the house, and while she thought of baking her own cake, she didn't have time, so I sent my son up to the bakery to buy one, so that I could spend my time on the decorations! Things were a bit pressed for time, and when I had completed everything, whoops, what about the cake? I almost thought of not decorating the cake, but banished that thought and instead whipped up some five minute cloud cake decorations using a gouche cloud illustration I had on hand from two years ago!

The lesson here is, don't throw away all those art experiments or practice sheets, you can always cut them up to make cake decorations! And boy was I happy at the moment I realized I could just cut out some of the painted clouds, write a few words on them and voila, a cute cake topper was born! Okay, lets take a look at the gouche art I used (or something similar, actually) and get to work!

A Peek Inside My New Landscape Format Sketchbook

I just love the idea of a creative practice that involves a sketchbook, or even multiple sketchbooks and while I have yet to actually develop a consistent sketchbook routine, there is always hope? I am starting to realize that patience and persistence are key when it comes to developing yourself or your skills, be it in a creative arena, to not, so rather than sigh about the lack of progress in the landscape sketchbook that I purchased last year, I'll share with you what I have accomplished, which is certainly a start. Now if I can just figure out how to fill some more pages.......but in the meantime, here's a little peek inside my landscape format sketchbook!

White Gouache Illustration On Watercolor Wash

As you can see, I am just loving the idea of illustrating with gouache, and so I have one more simple technique that produces great results. Ready? One of the benefits of gouache, as opposed to watercolor paint, is that is is opaque, meaning you can layer one color over another, yes indeed! So, one simple way to take advantage of this attribute is to make a beautiful background with either watercolor paint or gouache, though or course something rich, like my blue backgroud, and then paint lovely details on top of this background with white gouache. And if you want to take it one step further, add some ink details, and voila, you've created something wonderful! Need a bit more information to make this happen? Let do it........

Simple Gouache Illustrations With Ink Details

Yesterday I shared with you some simple botanical illustrations using gouache, and today I am sharing some more results in my little gouache painting series. Introducing gouache and ink floral illustrations! I painted these in New York a few weeks ago having just spent two plus glorious weeks in Sweden. And now I can see that all those fields of tiny wild flowers certainly did make on impression on me, as these suddenly look like Swedish summer, or at least my version of it! What I learned here is that very simple gouache shapes or a simple painting that doesn't quite hit the mark can be transformed by adding black ink via a fine-lined permanent marker. So go ahead, paint a bunch of wonky flowers and then transform them with some inkm shall we?

Simple Botanical Illustrations With Gouache

I packed a journal as well as gouache and watercolor paints in my suitcase as we headed off for our summer adventures, with great hopes of painting and sketching. As it turned out the travel adventures were so captivating that I used up my creative energy simply drinking it all in, especially during our 2 1/2 amazing weeks in Sweden! I did paint a bit, though not nearly as much as I had planned, but of course I have plenty of photos to use as inspiration should the need start bubbling up from within now that we are home. I will share my few journal paintings soon, but first I'd like to show you what I did finally have time for once we founds ourselves with family in the USA for 5 days: a little introduction to painting with gouache and watercolor. Gouache is chalky and opaque, yet can also be used like water color paint, so it is very versatile, and no surprise the paint traditionally used by pattern designers to create artwork for textile design. Gouache is also pigment dense and comes in small tubes, so perfect for  travel as well. To give credit where credit is due, my paintings are the result of a lovely 30 day online workshop by Carolyn Gavin on creative bug. Lets take a closer look!