• Home
  • About
    • This IS My Real Job
    • 5 Things I’ve Learned…
  • Beautycounter
    • Become a Beautycounter Consultant: FAQs
  • Contact
  • Recipe Index
  • Travel
  • Amazon Lists
  • Instagram
  • Fitness
    • Bloglovin
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Heather's Dish

Heather's Dish

I Painted a Painting

Share
Pin
Tweet
0 Shares

Y’all, I have been feeling so crafty lately.

How to DIY:  Fall-Inspired Abstract Leaf Painting

Honestly I don’t know why or how – I like being creative, but I haven’t ever had just this burning desire to make something at all times.  Could it be the waning pregnancy/postpartum hormones?  Or the fact that I have a baby now?  Or now I’m staying at home with our little guy and (as if I don’t have enough to do) and I can actually take time to make things if I want to?

 

No clue.  But I’m going with it.

 

Embracing it even.

How to DIY:  Fall-Inspired Abstract Leaf Painting

Truth be told, I saw this video from the beautiful Casey and just thought, “HEY! I can do that!”

 

Granted her painting is WAAAAAAAY cooler and prettier and more whimsically awesome than anything I could have done, but the point is I tried, right?

 

When I was in college I took a class where we basically had to plant flowers and then paint pictures of their development with water colors – a kind of mish-mash of both science and art.  Guys, that was the last time I painted anything other than the bathroom in our old house, so I wasn’t really expecting much even though I was HOPING.  I ran to Michael’s and got a canvas (50% off), a beginner brush and 4 paint colors and came home.

 

Then I let it sit on the counter for a week or so.  And then I started.

How to DIY:  Fall-Inspired Abstract Leaf Painting

I had no idea what I really wanted to paint, although I knew the color scheme because it’s basically my favorite colors ever.  I knew I wanted it to feel fun and colorful, but otherwise I had zero inspiration.  So I started at the beginning:  I painted the canvas with a fairly neutral yellow/white combination with a paper towel to create some texture.

 

Let it dry for a day.

 

Then I figured I’d do something fall-inspired.  The skies are just the prettiest blue, and the leaves have so many colors and shapes – so I went outside in the yard, picked up some leaves, and figured I’d use them as stamps to make the painting look like a big pile of beautiful fall leaves.

 

Let’s just say it was much easier thought than done 😉

How to DIY:  Fall-Inspired Abstract Leaf Painting

Sigh.  I love the way the painting turned out – the colors are beautiful and it was really fun to play with paint and make a mess.  That being said it’s not exactly what I was hoping for, but I definitely learned a lot about how and what I would paint in the future!

  • Doing the neutral coat + texture before was great and I’m glad I did it.  I like paintings that stand out both figuratively and literally, and the added texture really worked well for this.
  • The whole leaves-as-stamps thing was a good idea, but it took me doing the entire thing wrong before I figured out my right way to do it.  I was putting too much paint on the leaves before stamping, so a lot of them turned out like blobs rather than leaf shapes.  The key for me was to paint the leaves (the back where the stem stands out) lightly with a paintbrush before stamping.  It was more time intensive, but gave me the look I wanted.
  • I don’t have an easel so I taped a big trash bag on our counter to catch the paint – worked great!  I also don’t have anything to put the paint on, so I taped a gallon plastic bag to the counter and mixed my paint colors on that. It was great because I basically had 4 surfaces I could mix paint on and mess up since I could turn the bag inside out and use the inside as well!
  • Next time I think I’ll sketch out what I’m wanting to do first. I just dove in to this one and got a little frustrated at times because it didn’t look like what I wanted it to.  The reality is that I had no idea what I really wanted though!
  • Like Casey’s video I was really wanting to put Wes’s foot or handprints on the painting, but since he’s a master wrestler and always has things in his mouth I decided I’d wait til he’s older.  No one wants to clean paint out of a baby’s mouth!

How to DIY:  Fall-Inspired Abstract Leaf Painting

So there you have it: my first painting.  The next craft (my yarn wreath!) is almost done, and I have about 4 other things that I’m thinking/dreaming about!  Now if I can just find the wall space to hang it all…

Share
Pin
Tweet
0 Shares


7 Comments

Subscribe for the latest.

« Sweet & Smoky Blueberry Barbeque Sauce
The Most Delicious Red Chicken Chili »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You have to agree to the comment policy.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Becky says

    December 3, 2012 at 9:31 pm

    Oh I would love that! We don’t have any plans to visit Lubbock soon but when we do I’ll let you know.

    Reply
  2. Becky says

    December 3, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    Its so healthy to have artistic outlets. Wish we lived closer so I could craft and paint with you!

    Reply
    • Heather says

      December 3, 2012 at 9:29 pm

      I’m actually really surprised at how great it’s been to get out of my comfort zone and do crafts! I so wish we lived closer too…maybe a rendezvous in LBK sometime soon? We can do a Bless Your Heart/West Coast date and then craft all day…with our little ones! 😉

      Reply
  3. Kim in MD says

    November 29, 2012 at 7:54 am

    Aww…I love this! I have been wanting to take an art class for years, but haven’t found the time. Who needs a class when you can paint at home? Great job, Heather!

    Reply
  4. Liz @ Tip Top Shape says

    November 27, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    I think a little boost of creativity is always a good thing. Great painting 😀

    Reply
  5. Urban Wife says

    November 27, 2012 at 11:08 am

    Awww, it looks great! Seriously. And the colors are perfect. 🙂

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to DIY: Easy & Inexpensive Christmas Card Holder | Heather's Dish says:
    December 19, 2012 at 5:00 am

    […] crafting of the insufficient crafter continues; this time we’re throwing a little holiday decorating into the […]

    Reply

Subscribe



Featured on BlogHer.com




Instagram

Just a couple quick reminders: ⭐️ healthy doe Just a couple quick reminders:

⭐️ healthy doesn’t have to be hard
⭐️ you’re allowed to “mess up”
⭐️ you’re allowed to be multidimensional
⭐️ don’t overcomplicate it 
⭐️ YOU ARE CAPABLE 

I have so many thoughts swirling around in my head these days, and half the time I don’t know which way is up. But I do know this: focusing on simplicity is the name of the game this year for me. It starts with the things I can control: my food intake, moving my body, my thoughts, my actions. The rest will stem from there!

Does anyone even do a word of the year anymore after 2020? If you do I’d love to see you share it below!
“I’m angry with God.” With those 4 words my “I’m angry with God.”

With those 4 words my Daddy forever changed the way I saw God. A pillar of fire didn’t come from the sky, the ground didn’t open up and swallow him whole, we didn’t get in a car wreck on the way home from piano lessons. And my Daddy never turned his heart from God; a short 20 minutes later we sat down at the dinner table and he praised him through prayer before we ate dinner. 

He taught me that when we are sad or frustrated or anxious or angry or feel that surely the weight of life will kill us - God is big enough to handle those feelings. Not just handle them, but walk closer than our breath through them. He cares, he’s there, and he even wants us to tell him. The more I think about it the more I see that my dad sharing his anger with God was the most honest display of faith I had seen up to that point.

The other day I uttered those same words in front of my boys, “I’m angry with God.” Just like me, they looked around to see where my smiting would come from, likely shocked (as I was) when it didn’t come. And just like me, they will see their parent praise God even in the midst of a firestorm of emotion. 

Why? Because God is good no matter what. My life feels like it’s crumbling before my eyes and I have no way of stopping it...but He is still on his throne. I will praise him no matter the circumstances because he has been good to me. I will write his word on my windows as a constant reminder that this life of mine is dedicated to his glory.
For someone who loves words so much, I really don' For someone who loves words so much, I really don't have many of them right now. 
.
On December 26, 2020 - after over a decade of fighting Corticobasal Degeneration, a rare progressive neurological disorder - my incredible, near-perfect Daddy left this world and has made his home with Jesus. Ever since then I've been struggling to find the words to pay homage to the most amazing man in the world. How do you sum up the life of someone who has impacted so many for good? How do I ever share how the little day-to-day expressions, smiles, words, wit, strength, grit, grace, humility, hard work and love have been woven into my very being? One of the last things I told him before he left was that there truly are no words yet for the kind of love he shared with me, my sister, and our beautiful mother. He was truly one-of-a-kind in every way, and we are so blessed because of the way he poured himself out for us. 
.
Daddy, I love you so much. The only thing that's softening the pain of your absence is knowing that those very last words I said to you - "I'll see you soon" - will come true because I know you'll be waiting for me in Heaven. My very own Daddy - you are always with me. I love you beyond words.
Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! Just two gals who crushed a 50 minute run today! 

As we move into goal setting for the new year, may I suggest starting with your physical health? Not to fit the bikini body mold that society normalizes, but to actually BE as healthy as possible. When everything hit the fan for me this year I dug into two things that have been integral to creating positive growth and a healthier mindset: 

1️⃣ my relationship with God
2️⃣ my physical health

What that’s looked like for me on the health front: holding fast to my commitment to whole food nutrition, grace for the days when I choose otherwise, pushing myself to lift heavier in workouts, and taking up running again. 

What’s happened as a result? When I push myself physically, when I choose to practice discipline to do what I know is best for my body, it makes it infinitely easier to choose that same healthy discipline in every other area of life. You want to dominate your goals? Start with your health!
Remember when I blogged about food? 😂 Gosh the Remember when I blogged about  food? 😂 Gosh the past few months have been nuts. I’m still over here figuring out how to eat well without sacrificing my life in the kitchen, and this is a bowl I couldn’t NOT share with y’all. The best thing is that everything is almost always on hand in my fridge, it’s packed with nutrition, and tastes AMAZING!

In the bowl:
-rice mixed with Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce
-broiled shredded Brussels sprouts
-chickpeas
-baby  arugula
-grilled chicken breast
-Romesco sauce (from Trader  Joe’s but I usually make my own)
-a little  tzaziki sauce

This meal has been on repeat all week, only changing the rice for riced cauliflower and omitting the chickpeas on low carb days. YUM! I find that if I have a variety of roasted veggies, grilled chicken, and a few different sauces on hand I can almost always come up with a great bowl for almost any meal!
It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday It’s a beautiful day for Small Business Saturday y’all! Almost 4 years ago I took a leap of faith and said yes to this job in an effort to create another stream of revenue. I had NO CLUE that it would change my life for the better in almost every way, that it would reignite my passion for health and community, that it would provide in so many beautiful ways. But it has, and I am so thankful to all of you who have trusted me and supported me along the way. 

When you shop with a small business you are literally a hero in their eyes, validating and supporting and protecting them. You guys are my heroes, and I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️ 

#smallbusinesssaturday #happydance
Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t Affirmations for YOU today. Even when you don’t feel it, these are truths that I’m holding for you. ❤️
3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day: 3 things you can do RIGHT NOW to improve your day:

1️⃣ SMILE! Even if you don’t feel like it, smiling (even forcing it to the point of feeling weird) has actually been scientifically proven to improve mood, lower stress, and boost your immune system. I actually recommend doing it awkwardly around other people because it’ll make them smile too 😉

2️⃣ GRATITUDE! Right now, before you talk yourself out of it, say or write 3 things you’re thankful for. Big, small, or in between. In this moment I’m going to say sticky notes, my Le Creuset Dutch Oven, and the Hamilton soundtrack. BOOM!

3️⃣MOVE! Get up off your tush, right now, and move your body. Walk around your house, do some jumping jacks, lock yourself in the bathroom and do a little dance, whatever. This isn’t about looking cool, it’s about giving yourself a better day. 

Things are hard, ambiguity and uncertainty isn’t fun, but we can control ONE THING: ourselves. Praying that you choose to gift yourself a little bit of happiness today! 

Now, tell me below, what’s one thing you’re thankful for RIGHT NOW?
HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog HASHTAG MOOD. Y’all, I’m so jealous of my dog 😂 Who else feels me here? 🙋🏼‍♀️ #dogdays #2020mood
Follow @HeathersDish
POPSUGAR Select PLUS

You might also like…

Let’s Get It Started

In Love

Brown Sugar Cookies with Sea Salted Caramel and Dark Chocolate

because it's OK to be uncomfortable

It’s OK to Be Uncomfortable

Oreo Pudding Cake

Copyright © 2021 · Heather Disarro · All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2021 · Heather's Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in