Vlog from Bozcaada

The Murrays went on vacation right before New Years. We spent three or four days on the island of Bozcaada. You can read the post about the trip on the family blog here.

Of course I vlogged while we were there. I finally got around to editing and uploading it. You can watch that video here :)

Collage Art! or Advanced Colouring

If you follow me on Pinterest you might have noticed that I’ve been pinning Disney colouring pages. Well, it’s because I have a project. I’ve wanted try the technique in this video ever since I saw it before Christmas.
The basic idea is that you take a drawing and instead of colouring it with markers (etc.) you use patterned paper.
Because I’m lazy and didn’t feel like drawing, I decided to use a colouring page instead of an original sketch.
Rapunzel and Flynn worked out so well that I decided to make another & a step-by-step blog post. 

‘Cause I can. 

Scrapbook paper & markers

(The colour I used for their skin was too pink so I went over it with some watercolour.)

OKAY!

Start by choosing a simple drawing or colouring page. I found my pages via Pinterest.
This particular drawing can be found here. 

Once you've printed your page trace the design onto card or bristol board using a light box or window.

(WHOA my hand looks freaky. It'll probably haunt my dreams now...)

Once you're happy with the traced outline go over the pencil in WATERPROOF pen/marker.

(Using waterproof pens is ESSENTIAL if you're going to use water based markers or watercolours at any point.)

Okay, now trace the parts you want coloured onto the scrapbook paper.

If the scrapbook paper is too thick and you can't see the drawing underneath you can always put the print on top of the paper and cut it out. I had to do this with the Beast's jacket.

Alright! Now you can colour in whatever you aren't going to cover with scrapbook paper.
Since I don't have a nice skin tone in marker
 I decided to use my water colours for their skin and hair.

Place the cutouts onto the bristol board tracing and make sure everything fits. 

Glue it all down with a your favourite craft glue.
 I personally like stick glue because it doesn't soak into the paper and make the paper wet.
After you glue everything down you can add details & shading.
Keep the colouring page near for this!
Because the watercolours didn't work with the scrapbook paper I used my water based markers for the shadows.

BOOYAKASHA!

 You're done.

Can I just say that this project is SO MUCH FUN and that I'm going to go make twenty more?

'Cause I am.

Monthly Report Cards February 2016 GOALS

----Random picture found here----

Don't you just love February? 

Actually I don't. 

I hate it. 

For me, February is the month of slump, & meh.
The weather here is overcast, rainy and utterly crappy.
But strangely, February 2016 hasn't been like that.
It hasn't rained much (if at all) and it was sunny just this morning.
I made a quick costume this month, and I've been painting a lot. 

What would I like to accomplish this month? 

Finish another book

I've set a goal on Goodreads to read 50 books in 2016. So far I've read 8!

Record a cover
The last one I posted was around Christmas time...

Learn another tune by heart

I picked up my violin for the first time in forever (yesss let that song play in you head all day) back in January. I've been playing it pretty consistently recently, and I'd like to continue the upward trend.
(Of course, now that I've made it a goal it'll fall off my list.)

Find a Graduation dress

It's time to stop buying onesies, goldfish and art and actually get a dress...
It's gonna be fabulous ya'll!

Keep up with English and Math
For the first time in my life I'm doing tutored online courses, and I find it overwhelming.

Monthly Report Cards: January 2016 REPORT

I have thought about this post exactly five times. I don't know how I left it this long, we're already a month in to February! 

Finish my second X-Wing helmetI did do this! It has a FABULOUS paint job, but I screwed up the front. 

Do some figure studiesI was going to say that I didn't do this, but I did do a study of flamingos. That counts, right?

Keep my room liveable-y cleanYeeeeahhhh, pretty good. Fairly good. Fine. It's fine. 

Monthly Report Cards: January 2016 GOALS

It’s a week into January and I haven’t posted my goals yet, oh no!

Finish my second X-Wing helmet
I made one without a pattern and it was rather  very misshapen. It makes me laugh every time I put it on, it is so wonky. Round two is constructed with Pepakura, strengthened with papier-mâché, probably sanded and then painted. Wish me luck!

Do some figure studies
I got a GIANT sketch pad for Christmas, what better way to enjoy it than with some studies?

Keep my room liveable-y clean
I mean, I can live with a fair amount of mess, and to be a constant crafter I have to be.
However, there comes a point where I have to ask the dust bunny population to leave.

Monthly Report Cards: December 2015 REPORT

It's now 2016? Really? Okay...

Put the finishing touches on the Cinderella dress
I did not do this. I actually just took the dress off the mannequin and put it under my bed.

Put the finishing touches on the Monster Project 
HAHAHAHAHAHA yeah, no. I tried editing, but I really just need to give the project some space, think about other things. (In other news, the project turned one year old yesterday!)

Listen to lots of Christmas Music
I listened to some, and it was gooooood :)

Do a bunch of the things on my Christmas to do List

I did everything on my list! That's pretty great, I think I have a perfect (nearly perfect) record with completing the things on the lists I make. 

Okay, so I pretty much failed this month. That's okay I guess, maybe I'll manage next month better.

Reasons to Love: Cinderella 2015 vs Ever After

I was just looking at my posts and I realised that I really haven't been posting very much. Not that it matters, but since I have some time, I thought I'd put together another installment of my favourite series.
*Announcer voice*
 This week on Reasons to Love, we're doing something new. Instead of just listing some reasons that I like certain movies, we're comparing and contrasting two different movies. This time it's going to be the new live action Cinderella and Ever After, which is literally as old as I am. (1998 was the year of fantastic, yet under-appreciated things. HAHHAHAHA. Kidding.) Bother are based of the classic fairy tale of the Little Cinder Girl. But which one gives you more reasons to love it?

1. Transformation

 The transformation in Cinderella is pretty sweet.


Ever After however does not rely on magic, and thus there is no transformation scene.


POINT CINDERELLA


2.  Evil Stepsisters
A pet peeve of mine is that the stepsisters always wear the same clothes.

Well done, Ever After, the stepsisters are two completely different women.


Cinderella....well you see my point (not a GIF)


POINT EVER AFTER


3. Character of the heroine

Ella is kind to the point of being a door mat.


Danielle has things under control.




Okay, I'll just carry the prince then. No problem. 
Heck, and later she saves herself. No prince required for that, thanks.

POINT EVER AFTER

4. Step Mother

While I like Ever After's Villainess (who has eyebrows to rival Elrond),


I love Cinderella's. She is elegant, selfish and she wears grief wonderfully well. I also like how she is almost  a sympathetic antagonist. Her happily ever after is snatched away from her when her husband dies. She thinks she has an opportunity to start another one with Ella's father, but he's so caught up in his daughter and the ghost of his wife that he neglects her. Of course, she could have handled the situation better, but I still love her.


POINT CINDERELLA

5. What about side characters?

In Cinderella, extra characters are pretty slim. Unless you count Mr. Goose.

"I can't drive, I'm a goose!"
Who is priceless (and also speaks my favourite line of the movie. Next time you need a chauffeur this is what I'm saying)

OH Wait, how could I forget the captain?



Ever After has DaVinci who is THE BEST


And the maids are pretty great too


This is a really tough call, but I'm going to have to go with Ever After.
POINT EVER AFTER


6. How about fathers in-law?

Ever After's Prince Henry and his dad have a few issues...


So do Kit and his father, but they have a better relationship


This is also a tough call, but I'm going to say EVER AFTER

7. Costumes

 Cinderella is written as a fairy tale, so the costumes are EPIC.
lsdgnsdlaflsafksksafskldwsbdvksnf;ksdn


Ever After is period, but I don't love it as much.

POINT CINDERELLA



8. Princes

Ever After's Henry has a bit of a dramatic flair


Kit is good, but he's perfect. Which is great for this fairy tale. But what happens when you hide his shampoo?


Henry is written as a very real, three dimensional character. Because of this, he kind of freaks out when he finds that Danielle is not of noble birth.

"Henry, please."

Kit, knows all along and decides that it's no big deal.

POINT EVER AFTER

9. Funny scenes?

Ever After's DaVinci once again takes the cake, mister "perhaps I should leave walking on water to the Son of God..."  Nice boat shoes, though. They'll be hot next season.


Cinderella has the lizard footmen, who speaks my second favourite line in the film. "I'm only a lizard!"  (not a GIF)
(Also the lizard footmen are kind of frightening.)

POINT EVER AFTER

The final score? Ever After 6 Cinderella 3. Both are wonderful movies, but I think Ever After has more things to love.

Monthly Report Cards: December 2015 : GOALS

It's December, that means my sister's birthday, Christmas,  & New Years Eve.
 Let the holidays begin!

Put the finishing touches on the Cinderella dress
If I get to this I'll have a blog post or two and a photo shoot 

Put the finishing touches on the Monster Project 
Unless I change my mind and change the plot (again) I have a bunch of little things to do

Listen to lots of Christmas Music
I made  a play list, but there's room for more, what are your favourite Christmas tunes?

Do a bunch of the things on my Christmas to do List
I made a list, and by golly I'ma gonna cross off those things
(Especially making eggnog and brownies. Very Important)

Monthly Report Cards: November 2015 : REPORT

I only had one goal this month, and I'm proud to say that I completed it with flying colours. My Monster Project now has 50,000 words!! I feel like it’s mostly done now, all it needs is some tweaking in places and a careful round or two of Spell Check ;)

Though I was editing and not technically doing NaNoWriMo I made my self a certificate anyways. The story I have now is extremely different from the one I had in June, so I think I'm justified! I'll be back in a snap with some goals for December.
- Nicole

40,000 Words (PARTY!)

I looked up today and realized that November is drawing to a close. The good news? Me reaching my goal of 50,000 words in my Monster Project is actually looking probable. I hit the 40K mark this evening, and I thought I'd take a moment to celebrate.
I've been working hard this past month, editing nearly everyday, I've added some new scenes and I like to think I've made it better. However, I've reached the point where I understand what's going on, but I'm not sure I've told the reader what they need to know...
But 40K! That's awesome! Only 10,000 more words (5 to edit 5 to pull from thin air)  and I'll have punched my goal in the face (in a triumphant, kindly way).
So yay for attainable goals! Feel free to eat a cookie or a whole cake in my honour, you know you want to. ;)

Monthly Report Cards: November 2015 GOALS

It's November already! This month I only have one goal, and that is:

Finish editing my Monster Project 
November is Na No Wri Mo month, so I'm buckling down to get version 8.5 under my belt. This will take a lot of effort as I'm tweaking the plot as well as fixing 44,900 words.
Wish me luck!

The Pain! The Agony! (the emotional sting of cutting good scenes)

I have a story novel  headache that I’ve been working on since January 2015. I’ve worked on it exclusively, and as of September I had around 44,900 words.
November is National Novel Writing Month, and instead of writing another story, I’ve decided that I will spend this month editing my Monster Project.
 And that was going really, really well.
Until a few days ago.
it was then that I entered the Problem Zone. The Problem Zone has given me trouble since day one, it’s the part of the story where a lot of important information is introduced and my MC (main character) learns of her father’s death.
I’ve spent hours and hours writing, editing and weeping over these few chapters, trying to make my favourite scenes work with my ever evolving plot. And because of all those hours, I couldn’t bear the thought of removing those scenes.
But tonight I faced the facts and started cutting.
I cut the scene that has two really funny lines.
I cut the scene where my elderly guardian ships the MC and her male friend.
I cut the well written scene where I give an answer that was supposed to be a surprise.
I cut and cut and cut.
And it hurt while I did it, but now I’m starting to think that it was the right choice. The bulk of those scenes supported plot devices I abandoned months days ago. They were just dead weight, holding me back.
If this goes sour and I realize that I really do need some of these scenes, I can always go dumpster-diving in my ‘out takes’ file. But to find out for sure, I need to try the story without those scenes.
So yeah, Johanna you were right. I did have to kill my darlings. 

Reasons to love Prince Charming from Once Upon a Time

He's Snow White's prince, and he's awesome.


 He teaches the Evil Queen how to dance.
 


He cleans up goooood


He has plenty of personality, sometimes he gets mad and kicks things.


He and his daughter make a pretty sweet team


The actor who plays him is married to the actress who plays Snow White in real life.

Hello again

No, I didn’t forget about this blog; I keep on meaning to write something, but I’ve had a stunning lack of motivation lately.
In spite of my indifference, October has been shaping up into a fairly interesting month, what with school starting, my birthday and octopuses. (You can read about that here.)
I brought back a ton (it literally felt like a ton) of new art supplies and fabric in my suitcase. I’ve got several projects in mind for my new stash, but when I’ll get to them is still a mystery.
I’ve been participating in Inktober this month and you can see some of my work here.
That’s all for now, folks.

-Nicole

10 Reasons to LOVE Strange Magic

Johanna and I have been trying to watch Strange Magic since June. Every time she/we went to the movie store it was checked out. HOWEVER all of that changed and we were able to watch it.

So now, without further ado:

10 REASONS TO LOVE STRANGE MAGIC

#1 There's this thing. I can't even remember what they called it.

#2 There's a lot of singing.

#3 A lot of singing.

#4 There was a duel!

#5 There was an annoying brat who was obsessed with his hair

#6 ...who does impressions 

#7 The sisters have a sweet relationship 

# 8 SO MUCH SINGING

#9 Everyone on the internet is mixing it with Frozen.

#10 The Main Character was as confused about the movie as me.

BONUS #11 It written by George Lucas

. 

All in all a very fun, entertaining movie with lots of older music.