A New Thistle Painting and Card Front...

Hello there, and hope all is safe and well wherever you are when you're reading this.

It turns out that thistles (yup, those spiky plants) are deeply satisfying to draw, and come in the prettiest shades of purple and sage green, too.

The original digital watercolour was hand drawn and painted with a graphics pen.

And swiftly found its way into being a great card front for St Andrew's day, thistle-themed weddings, and all things Scottish.

Purple Thistle printable card front-click here for info

(You can download a sheet to print out right now-plus yummy matching inserts and backgrounds-from my Craftsuprint shop, here).

And whatever you're up to this week, have a good one.

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Free October Pumpkin Illustration, And Some News...

Click, tap or right-click here to download this illustration

Hello there

Yes, it's early in the week again, but thought you would appreciate having chance to see (and download, if you'd like), the free illustration for October.

About this image: The end of a series

The original image was a sketch in Inktense paint pans and pen, (finished with gold gel pen dots) which I then scanned into the computer, and boosted a little in Photoshop, so that it got back to its pre-scanning brightness.

More importantly though, image is a landmark in that it's also the end of a series. Over the last year or so, I have created at least one free illustration for each of the months (sometimes more than one) and also for other events,  most recently, the Equinox.

With this October drawing, this "seasonal," set of illustrations feels complete, at least for now. The free seasonal illustrations will all stay here as long as the blog does. I have no plans to move them, and you're absolutely welcome to use them (as set out in my angel policy) for as long as I can foresee when writing this.

What's next?

Moving forward, am feeling a real pull to take this blog back to its roots. I used to post simply whenever there was something I really wanted to share with you (which often meant that I posted more than I do now, rather than less). I really want to go back to posting in this way, rather than on a schedule, that can end up feeling a bit forced for all of us.

I also used to post art (like the pic below) related to my participating in online challenges, and I may do that again too.

"Yay!" One of my "Art Every Day Month"
images from November 2019

Honestly, it isn't all worked out yet...I just know I need to go back to the simplicity and joy of sharing work I enjoyed, along with the story of how it came be, and where it has ended up (be that a commercial design, or someone else simply enjoying it in their hands, or showing of what they've made based upon my design).

One of my first pieces of digital art,
from exactly 10 years ago-along with its story, here.

Honestly, there may also be more "how to", posts, because if I can learn to do this, really *anyone* who feels they really want to, can do it too, and I'd love more people to be able to experience the kind of joy that the last 10 years or so of art have brought me, for themselves.

There are also likely to be more (fun!) experiments as I love to share and try new things, and it keeps the energy high. Am thinking of things like this quiz, for instance...

Click here for the quiz...

What will the blog be like now?

Blogs at their best always feel to me like a cosy place in which stories like this can be shared, much more easily  than they can on other social media. (Which, I have to be honest, am using less and less. Please sign up here so that you always get to hear about my blog posts, if you currently follow me mostly on other social media).

So it feels as if  what's coming is that this can be a space of joy for all of us, rather than posting-or-reading-just-because-it's-Friday.

Will there still be freebies?

One thing you can be pretty confident about is that there will still be freebies. I've offered them whenever I can for the entire ten-years-plus of this blog, and I can't see that changing.

Most of all though...

Thank you *so much* for being here, for reading down this far, and for sticking around. It means a lot.

Watch out for new beginnings...soon...

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Equinox Spinning Globe Animated Gif

Click here to get this image without the watermark

Hello there, and hope all's well with you today.

Yes, I know it's extremely early in the week for me to be in touch. 

But it's September 20th already, so thought you might like this image to use in your projects or posts.

Researching the matter a bit more, it turns out that the Equinox this month seems to be taking place later than usual...Reports vary, and some even put the actual moment of Equilux (equal day and night around the globe) as late as Sept. 23rd, or even 25th. Can  you tell I'm not an astronomer :-) ?

Anyway...

What if you don't want to use it signed/watermarked?

If  you'd like to use it without the "BoundingSquirrel" signature, please consider  get it here. I've specifically designed it so that it's relevant for any Equinox, and as I type this, you can click here to grab it for an experimental pay-what-you-want price (including free).

That's all for now, but thanks so much for dropping by, and more soon.

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A Splooting Squirrel "Take It Easy" Gif...

 Download this squirrel gif here if you wish

Hello there.

What a week. Don't know about you, but I'm left baffled and wondering about so many things this week.

Without boring you with any of them, it also meant that when this squirrelly figure and his or her most important message demanded to be drawn, I was more than willing.

For one thing, when would I not draw a squirrel? (This is "BoundingSquirrel.Com after all. And there's not easier way to cheer up-IMHO (!)-than by drawing a squirrel).

For another, am just feeling a tad exhausted (we also received sad news about a friend's death on a personal and *not* global level this week) and really needed the reminder to take things easy. 

There's a lot "in the air" right now for all of us, whether you're feeling it personally or not. So maybe am not the only one.

But I still haven't answered your most important question, have I? Which is probably...

What the heck is "splooting", anyway?

Splooting (don't you just love the word, without more?) it turns out, is the name for that posture that squirrels (and other furry mammals) do when they lead to lose maximum heat on a hot day, and so lie flat and stretched out with their bellies against the coldest surface they can find.

By doing this, they lose heat from the maximum surface area they can in the shortest time, apparently. (And in the most comfortable, and most exertion-free way too, am guessing).

It seems that the original name for this was "heat-dumping,". But there's no contest between the two, is there? "Splooting," just describes the posture so well, and almost viscerally.

Sooo...

So that's the week in a nutshell, folks (sorry, couldn't resist the pun). Please *do* take this as you permission slip (if you need one) to take things easy as well.

And feel free to download and share the gif with anyone else you think might like or appreciate it.

Take care, and more soon.
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Quick Sketch of a Corgi

Hello there

It's Friday, but very hard to know what, if anything, to post on a day like this. 

Here in London, the atmosphere is so...quiet.

Whatever a person's opinion about royalty as a concept, anyone who spent 70 years  opening hospitals and listening to pontificating politicians at dull dinners,  deserves at least a nod, and thanks for their service.

That got me to thinking about, by contrast, how important and enjoyable her corgis might have been for her. 

So, in very much a change to the post I was planning this week, here's a digital line and wash painting of a corgi. It was a quick affair, this morning, obviously,  in Krita.

Quick corgi sketch-download here

 But I hope it makes you smile. And feel free to use it if you need it in a project, either now, or later.

More soon.

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Free September Illustration/ Clip Art Graphic To Download

Hello there.

I know this is a little early for the week, but wanted you to have it promptly, so that you can actually use it in September projects, newsletters and whatever else. 

Free "September" Illustration by Clare Walker
Right click, click or tap here to download.

As with all my freebies, it's my own illustration (in Krita 5 digital watercolour in this case) and you're free to download and use this in any way you like as long as you don't sell it as is or claim it as your own (copyright stays with me). Right-click on the image and save (or tap and save, depending on your device) to download it.

Have fun with this-more soon.

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A Falling Leaf Freebie for You...

Hello there, and as ever, I hope you've had a great week, and are thriving.

Without more ado, let me present to you, as promised, your "falling leaf printable background," freebie...

Click, right-click or tap here to download.

As ever, copyright here remains with me, but you're welcome to use this in any way that fits with my angel policy.

If you're into watching demos, there's also a recording showing how this pattern came to be. I've just uploaded it to YouTube-(this link should now take you straight to it. ) At the very least, the comedy of errors that went into its making might give you a laugh...There are reasons why I make so few videos...:-) ).

And other than that, the entirety of everything have been up to this week is simmer school learning on patterns, designs, and a whole host of related things. (Am not sure it was entirely sensible to jam in four classes in 10 days, but somehow it worked).

The upshot of all this for you will be brighter and clearer patterns and designs, am hoping. Watch this space.

In the meantime, enjoy your freebie, and if you know anyone who'd like it, please share the link to this page too (many thanks!).

And above all, have a lovely weekend (and an extended one, if it's Bank Holiday on Monday for you too).

So many thanks for reading down this far, and there'll be...

More soon.

P.S. I forgot when first posting here (duh!) but there's a 20% discount on all my card making and craft backgrounds this weekend (ends Monday 29th August 2022 at midnight BST) over at my Craftsuprint shop. If the sale has gone when you read this, Craftsuprint's prices are still ultra-competitive all-year-round.

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Celebrating Pink Lilies and More...

Pink Lilies, by Clare Walker. Available on Craftsuprint.Com

Hello there, and hope all is well and thriving in your world, despite these crazy times.

In these parts, the week saw plenty to celebrate. I'd like to say that the biggest celebration was getting the card kit completed for the yummy pink lilies you see in the picture above. And, to be fair, I am a little bit in love with the kit, the watercolouring of pink flowers being one of my favourite things in life. 

Am also happy that have  managed to jam in verses, a background, loads of layers and a gift tag, as well as the main card, into the kit and still keep it a manageable size for you to download.

The kit has its origins in a private ecard, which am relieved to know the recipient loved. So it felt only right to offer it on a bigger basis to you as well.

But, there was *rain*

Yeah, I'd *like* to say that all of that was the biggest thing we celebrated this week, but that wouldn't strictly be true. Because, (drum roll) we had *rain* here, people. After seven weeks without any meaningful rain (which normally just doesn't happen in the UK) we've had three days of proper rain here.

I would include a picture here of my face as I stuck my head  out into the rain to enjoy it, honestly I would. It just felt like pure joy...a primal moment, when the force of the heat giving way to the rain. I wish the same for you with all speed, if that's what you're needing in your part of the world too.

I *would* include such a picture, but luckily, none were taken ;-). However, I can include a picture of our resident snail, who hadn' t budged from his post on our window frame for two months...until stretching out luxuriantly yesterday...

Snail photo by Jim Fernbank

And for anyone not into snails, can I report that they may have been given a bad press? Despite having not eaten or budged for eight weeks, the snail in this picture had a first meal of *dead* leaves, not green ones...And continues to prefer dead leaves to green ones, as far as we can tell. 

But...

But I grant you, it *is* a long way from snails to luscious pink lilies. So I'll leave you with a picture of the full, "Pink Lilies" downloadable  kit (which you can read more about and buy by clicking or tapping on this link).

Pink Lilies Downloadable card making Kit. Click here to find out more.

And of course, am wishing  you a very lovely weekend indeed.

More soon.

P.S. and update on August 26th 2022: Marion Kimberley-Scott has been busy again, this time with a lovely make of this "lilies" kit.

Photo and make by Marion Kimberley-Scott

Photo and make by Marion Kimberley-Scott

(Please do click here to see all of her makes in more detail).

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Well, The Sunflowers Are Enjoying It...

Hello there

Hope you're doing well and thriving in your part of the world, whether you have the heat that we do (yes, still...I know, it's crazy, isn't it?) or something else.

The sunflowers, of course, *are* absolutely loving this weather. And as ever, when they poke they're heads up into the sky ('cos they really live in next door's garden) I can never resist doing my best to capture them in some way. They just exude such happiness and joy...

Sketch of Next Door's Sunflowers...

This year's effort is a quick-very quick-pen and wash sketch on new Bockingford hot-pressed (ie absolutely smooth) watercolour paper. And with the equally new-to-me Derwent water brushes. (They could soon become my new favourites, as being able to control how much water is on the brush with a button, is soooo good. Watch this space).

In other news...

In other news, despite the heat, the wonderful Marion Kimberley-Scott has still-somehow-been busy making cards with some of my new summer floral backgrounds over at Craftsuprint. 

Please do head on over there to see them in action. But here are just a couple of her pics of her makes to whet your appetite. (So many thanks to Marion for allowing me to use those pics, too).

Nasturtiums came first...

Nasturtium design by Clare Walker,
made and photographed by Marion Kimberley-Scott.

And am also loving what she made using both the new butterfly bush background and its main matching card sheet from some time ago...

Butterfly Bush design by Clare Walker,
made and photographed by Marion Kimberley-Scott.

Sooo many thanks to Marion for making these look so amazing, and please do also check out everything she makes too.

Soooo

That's about all for now-am feeling a need to settle down with a glass of something very long and very cold.

But thanks so much for reading down this far, and I hope you have a lovely week with whatever you most need at hand to feel comfortable, too.

More soon.

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A Happy Beach Hut Design...

Hello there, and hope you've been having a good week.

Whether or not you're actually beside the seaside as you're reading this, today's post is all about these pretty summer beach huts, and the lovely things that are now carrying this design.

The inspiration for this design was actually British seaside beach huts. But am sure the beach vibe can travel just as far as it needs to and to beaches and lakeshores everywhere.

It turns out that although I came up with idea as a set of three downloadable craft sheets...

The design (and the pattern that came from it) loves to be on lots of fun beachy items too...

Whether you want to use it at the beach, on a tote or drawstring bag, or blanket...

Beach-Hut Patterned Tote Bag

Beach Hut Patterned Drawstring Bag

Happy Beach Hut Throw Blanket

Or just put a bit of beachy vibe into your life every day, whether in a really watery way (like this shower curtain)...

Happy Beach Hut Shower Curtain

Or a completely different one... This look suits everything it seems, from a desk mat to a mug...

Happy Beach Huts Desk Mat

Happy Beach Huts Mug

Whatever your preference, thanks for reading down this far, and may some seaside happiness be with you, one way or another.

More soon.

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