Tutorial: Simple Paper Snowflakes!

So here's the deal, kids. The holidays are fast approaching. It's time to start decorating! And when you're a starving artist like me, you need to decorate on the cheap! So the other day when I began to ponder cheap-as-free decorations, one thing came to mind: paper snowflakes!

Now I figured nearly everyone and their moms know how to make paper snowflakes, so I grabbed some paper and sat on my bed and then realized that I needed some reminding for how to make them! So for all you people out there like me, here's a little refresher course:


You Will Need: Paper. this is 8.5 x 11 regular old printer paper. Scissors. Imagination! And a flat surface for folding. Optional: some Planet Earth to put on as background noise.


Step One: Fold in half diagonally.


Step Two: Cut excess off so that it's a perfect(ish) square. KEEP THE EXTRA PIECE. You will see why later.


Three: Fold in half diagonally again.


Four: Fold in half diagonally one more time. Then lay it flat.


Five: Using your scissors, cut the top of the triangle off, so that it forms a curve. You don't have to do this, but it helps make your snowflakes more circular instead of square-ish. The crease from your last fold-in-half should be on the right side of the triangle, as you hold it in your hand.


Six: This is the best part! Just cut some shapes! Make it as insane as you want, it doesn't matter what you do.


Seven: This is what mine looked like. If you want a hole in the center, cut the bottom point off.


Eight: Unfold and shabam! You have a beautiful snowflake! Aren't you amazing! Aren't you creative! Don't you want to make a bazillion more? Go for it! BUT WAIT. There's more!


Nine: Remember this little guy? Since I am a bit obsessed with wasting as little paper as possible, I figured this piece of excess paper would be perfect for a mini snowflake or three!


Ten: Fold in half diagonally, making a tiny square. Cut off the excess paper again.


Eleven: Fold in half again, and then once more, just like with the larger one.


Twelve: Cut the top in an arc again, then cut some crazy shapes into it like before.


Thirteen: Unfold and viola! A pocket-size snowflake! How cute is that! You can make a good three out of one sheet of excess paper from a large snowflake.


Fourteen: There you go. Large and Small snowflakes, for next to nothing. I made a ton of them and then strung them on some twine with a hot glue gun, and hung them through the house. They add just the right amount of seasonal flair and each one is different! You could make them out of patterned paper, that would be awesome, or hang them on a tree - one year we strung them individually from the ceiling at varying heights so it looked like it was snowing indoors.

Does anyone else do any D.I.Y. holiday decorations? Any favorites?

Keep On Keeping On

Wow kids, it has been far too long since I've updated this place! Work is just killer lately, and on my days off I just sit in bed and try to recoup. I know, it's the same excuse over and over again! Well no more - I'm getting back in the groove of things.

And speaking of the groove of things, here's a little something I've been working on lately! It's inspired by the latest album, The Hazards of Love, by The Decemberists, whom you may have seen on The Colbert Report the other night.


But Father, don't you fear
your children now are here
singing oh, the hazards of love

The story is that this guy (the Rake) decided he didn't really like his children so he killed them all, and then they come back and do away with him. In short. That's just part of the album. It's sort of amazing.

ANYWAY. Yes. It's a 4x6 shadowbox as a frame. I painted the inside white. Cut out the Rake from some white cardstock, and the ghosts of his children are from tissue paper (which is extremely hard to cut!). I left the back off to let the light through. I think it looks pretty darn cool!


Well that's all for now. I'm working on some new paintings and lots of other things. Tata and see you soon!

Wind my Heart

I've been doing some silhouette cutouts today and yesterday. Hurray! I love them, they are fast and fun and who doesn't like cutting things with exacto knives? It was always my favorite part of my Graphic Design classes. That, and peeling off the excess rubber cement with those fancy square erasers. Hahaha, I am so easily entertained.


Of course there had to be a Mick one. I accidentally forgot that you have to make bridges when you are cutting things, or else whole chunks will come away because they are no longer connected. DUH, Kat, you are so smart!

Now I think I will do some masking fluid watercolor portraits, because I find them very entertaining and quick to do, and I really enjoy the way they turn out. Maybe I'll make a tutorial or something? Though I'm not sure anyone would be interested.

Yet again a post with pretty much no content, I'm sorry. Next time, I promise, I will have something to talk about! Maybe.

The Whale Part Two

The inspiration for this and possibly some future works comes from two things: first, I've been watching Horatio Hornblower a lot lately. Second, I've been obsessing over silhouette art the past few days. And so. This came about.

Poor Mick, he's always getting into bad situations like being shipwrecked or being eaten by a whale. At least he has a lantern. And I'm sure it will turn out alright for him somehow.

In Which My Stomach Makes Funny Noises

I actually sold five things at my etsy today. Whew! What a day! That's the kind of encouragement I need! Now I feel like I could take on the world, hahaha.

I forgot to post this picture back when I finished it; remember that cut-paper Mick I was doing? Maybe? I blogged it here. Anyway, I finished him the next day, I think. Here's what it ended up looking like that day:


I say "that day" because shortly after I took a few pictures, I took the background apart because I was unhappy with it. Now he is taped to my wall in the rigging that leads no where. I'm sorry, Mick. Someday I'll put you in a better background.

I think my post was going to have a point besides that, but now I can't remember what it was. Oh yes. I drew some more today! So yes, three more paintings will be coming up either tomorrow or the next day; two mermaids (one with Mick), and an Easter themed one, possibly to be made into a notecard. Who knows.

Oh, and Scotskipper. In response to your comment on my last entry: I never really thought about that. I suppose the poor ship always seems to meet an untimely end in the paintings I've done. Believe it or not, I have lots of sketches and unfinished works sitting in my portfolio with the ship all in one piece and functioning well. I'll have to actually finish them to prove it, I suppose!

I Love His Little Hands

I started a little cut paper Mick, and I realized as soon as I finished his body that he was too big for his frame! Now I will just have to make my own frame. Or go frame shopping, moohahaha.

Yes, I did cut myself, hence the band-aid. It's not that bad. But stupid me slipped and, because it is a brand new exacto blade (thank you, dickblick!) when it poked me it started bleeding profusely. :[


I sold a print at my etsy this morning! My first sale! It is so exciting. Thank you, buyer!! <3 I was going to post a new item tonight but I forgot to take photographs of the print in the daylight, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow, booo. I hope people continue to buy stuff :D

I also have a ton of watercolors sitting in my book waiting to be painted. Oh life. So much art and not enough time to do it in.