Christmas Illustrations

About a week before Christmas day - which is tomorrow (oh, how time flies!) - I devoted a few hours a night to paint a card (or two) that says "Happy Christmas" in a different language - most of them are the native languages of close friends and almost-family (I intend to upload the photos on Facebook and tag people, knowing how the post operates during the holidays). 

It was quite a challenge that I subjected myself to, since I was pretty much bored most of the time, and also because I wanted to practise painting with watercolour, experiment with other media, and to test my skill in lettering, which, I can honestly tell you, is really poor.

Making the cards was not easy. In fact, it was mostly frustrating. It's a lot like me writing, when I'd curse myself for doing badly in my pursuit. 

Anyhow, I am happy about how the illustrations turned out, cos they're not that bad or too embarrassing to show you.

Happy Christmas, everyone! :)

CZECH
I chose to paint a wreath made of colourful Christmas lights for this one.
I used a metallic pen to add the silver twinkly effect. :)

SLOVAK
I went a bit overboard with this card, but I really like how the nail decals
complemented with my watercolour "painting".

DUTCH
I've always wondered why the girl and the boy in the
popular Dutch ceramic souvenir are kissing, so I gave them a
reason to kiss: I placed them under a mistletoe. Haha! :)

FRENCH
Inspired by the wreath we have at home, I combined sprigs and hollies to
make this card.

FINNISH
Thinking it's probably like Frozen in Finland right now,
I made use of cool blue colours to paint baubles that
come in different shapes.

SPANISH
I love poinsettias and I love the Spanish language, so I thought, why not
combine the two? ¡Jaja! :)

ENGLISH
I wanted the English greeting to look playful, so I mixed cheery colours
with metallic ones.

FILIPINO
I had a difficult time deciding on what I should paint for the Filipino
greeting, probably because I wanted it to mean a lot, since I'm a Filipino
myself. Then it came to me: the PAROL! It's the most significant
emblem of our Christmas, so that's what I painted!

♥Andz

Music Monday: Yuletide Mix

I'm the kind of person who occasionally listens to Christmas songs even when it's not Christmas. (It's not that weird, really, cos I know some other people who do that.) But. of course, listening to Christmas tunes on Christmas is still more special. Here are some of my old and new favourite Christmas tunes that are currently in my Yuletide playlist. Most of them are contemporary renditions of Christmas classics that I really like. I hope you like them, too. :)

"Baby It's Cold Outside" - Idina Menzel ft. Michael Bublé

"Mistletoe" - Colbie Caillat

"Sleigh Ride" - Jason Mraz

"Hark the Herald" - Corrinne May

"Christmas Present Future or Past" - Workshy

"Christmas Time Is Here" - A Charlie Brown Christmas

"The Christmas Song" - Kris Allen

"All I Want For Christmas Is You" - Mariah Carey

"Angels We Have Heard On High" - David Archuleta

"Home For The Holidays" - Keke Palmer

"Santa Baby" - Taylor Swift

♥Andz

3 Easy Christmas Nail Art Designs

I clipped my nails really short recently, and I easily regretted my decision because there's just a ton of cute Christmas nail art designs that I wouldn't be able to try with my super short nails. But, of course, nothing can stop me from painting my nails with some Christmas-inspired patterns. So, girls with short nails who still want their nails to look Christmas party-ready or just Christmas-ready (I'm not a fan of parties myself), this post is especially for you. :)

"Let It Snow"

Freehand + Applique

Colours used: metallic blue, white, silver

1. Start with a metallic blue base coat.

2. With a fine tip brush, paint tiny asterisk-like patterns with six lines.

3. To make the asterisks look more like snowflakes, draw tiny accents like flicks or dots along the lines. I attached tiny rhinestones at the centre of each snowflake for extra shine. :)

4. With a dotting tool or a toothpick, dot tiny white and silver polish on the blue spaces to create a snowy effect.

5. Brush on a clear top coat.

"Deck the Halls"

 Sponged + Freehand + Applique

Colours used: dark metallic green, glittery yellow-green, white, clear/natural

1. Start with a clear base coat to protect your nails.

2. Dip a tiny piece of sponge in white polish. Dab the excess liquid on paper before pressing the sponge onto your nail. This creates the frosty effect. Repeat for each nail.

3. With a fine tip brush, draw dark green holly leaves. 

4. This step is optional, but if you want to achieve the same look of the leaves as mine, brush on some glittery yellow green polish on the half of every holly leaf.

5. With a dotting tool or a toothpick, make three Hidden Mickey-like dots where the two holly leaves intersect, and attach three tiny red rhinestones.

6. Make your design last longer with a clear topcoat.

"O Christmas Tree"

Taped + Freehand + Applique

Colours used: white, black, yellow, red, green, blue, metallic dark green, glittery yellow green, silver

1. Start with a plain white base coat.

2. With a fine tip brush, draw black lines and loopy curls for the wire of the Christmas lights.

3. Use a dotting tool or toothpick to make the tiny colourful Christmas light bulbs. Just dip whatever tool you have with you in the coloured polish, dot on your nail near the "wire", and drag the lacquer a bit.

4. For the Christmas tree, cut two pieces of tape and form an inverted "V" shape. Gently press the pieces of tape on your completely-dried nail.

5. Brush some metallic dark green polish on the triangular space formed by the pieces of tape. Follow with a glittery yellow green colour.

6. Carefully peel off the tape, and leave the design to dry.

7. Decorate your "tree" by attaching some studs and rhinestones. As you can see, I used two gold star-shaped studs and tiny red rhinestones.

8. With a dotting tool or a toothpick, dot tiny silver bits of "snow" around the tree.

9. Finish with a clear top coat.

♥Andz

My Christmas 2014 Wishlist

I'm too old to be included in Santa's list (never mind the fact whether I've been good or bad this year!), but, hey, nobody's too old to make wishlists! So, here are a few stuff I'd really appreciate to find under my Christmas tree.

1. Lomo'Instant

I first saw this genius upstart project in Kickstarter a few months ago, and I just fell in love with it. It's a lomo camera and an instant camera rolled into one gadget of pure awesomeness (and hipsterness). 

2. Brevellier's CretaColor Calligraphy Set

I suck at calligraphy, but that doesn't mean I have to suck at it forever, because I really, really want to learn it, and I think these tools will give me the right push I need.

3. Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

I've been following HONY for quite some time now, and I truly admire Brandon Stanton's work and how he inspires people through his photographs. Seeing an image of someone who's got the same issues or simple joys as yours from the other side of the globe does make the world seem smaller.

4. A printer, copier, and scanner

About time we replace our busted printer and scanner at home!!!

5. Katie Daisy's Live Simply 2015 planner

OK, I don't really use planners that much, but I'd definitely love to have a planner illustrated by my favourite artist Katie Daisy just so I can flip through it, and remind myself that life - no matter how much it sucks - is just as beautiful as the pages of this planner.

♥Andz

PS.
I'm also good with cash. Haha! jk!
#PoorGirlProblems